Weekend Wine Pairing: Vegetarian Thanksgiving Main Courses with…
On the heels of a major meat lovers Thanksgiving post (we dove into the world of what wine pairs with Turducken), I felt we needed to address the challenge of a meatless holiday dinner. Ironically, this will be my first Thanksgiving as a vegetarian and I’m a bit perplexed. No turkey, really? No stuffing, c’mon! However, there are plenty of alternatives to dive into, and you can still gorge yourself on the majority of side dishes.
Here are a few ideas you could sink your teeth into…
Spanakopita (view recipe)
A classic recipe from Greece: a rich and delicious spinach-cheese pie.
Wine Pairing: Sauvignon Blanc - a grassy white wine with herbs & smoke
Winter Squash Risotto (view recipe)
Risotto isn’t difficult to make, but it does require a lot of standing at the stove, stirring away. The end result, however, is delicious.
Wine Pairing: Pinot Gris - same as Pinot Grigio, but a different name with honeydew melon and kiwi flavors
Sweet Potato Gratin (view recipe)
Sweet potatoes layered with black beans, rice, and spinach make a hearty, healthy main course.
Wine Pairing: Grüner Veltliner - an Austrian wine with flavors of lemon-lime, grapefruit, arugula and pepper
Shepherd’s Pie (view recipe)
This is a simple, yet delicious lamb less version
Wine Pairing: Chardonnay - a ripe and crisp wine with fruit flavors such as apple, pear, and citrus
Vegetable Lasagna (view recipe)
Lasagna is basically a casserole made with layers of flat noodles, vegetables, cheese, and sometimes meat. There are a million variations on lasagna, but here’s a vegetarian favorite.
Wine Pairing: Cabernet Franc - a smooth red wine with berry flavor, green herbs, bell pepper and dark earth
Vegetable Potpies with Sweet Potato Biscuits (view recipe)
Wonderful individual pies, filled with a mix of sweet celery root, brussels sprouts and parsnips in a sage-infused cream sauce and topped with tender biscuits made with roasted sweet potato.
Wine Pairing: Pinot Noir - a red wine with red berry, cherry, & truffles
Need some wine pairings for Thanksgiving? Our free wine recommendation apps will suggest specific wine brands for variations of Turkey, Ham, Chicken, Hen, all the fixings…and desserts!
Happy Turkey Day!
Jim from Hello Vino
