Alternatives To The Traditional Thanksgiving Menu- The Appetizers

2nd post of 5

Appetizers are a great idea to consider for the Thanksgiving meal and they deserve special attention. While everyone is waiting for the main event to come out of the oven, you can have appetizers around for guests to enjoy before the big meal is served.

This is our second post of five (click here to see the first) where we give you a list of unique ideas to consider that are alternatives to traditional Thanksgiving appetizers. These choices can be plated or passed appetizers and work in a formal or casual environment. Here are some items we have chosen based on seasonality and traditional ingredients:

• Oysters On The Half Shell with Champagne– Pomegranate Mignonette– It’s a good time for oysters and this is a nice addition to the meal without being filling. Add pomegranate juice to the traditional mignonette.
• Purée Of Chestnut Soup with Sautéed Apples– Chestnuts are festive and this is a decadent soup. Finish with a little sherry or madeira and sautéed apples.
• Purée Of Galeux d’Eysines Squash Soup– Most of the hard winter squashes work well when baked, puréed and made into a nice soup and Galeux d’Eysines is a favorite. Garnish with Crème Fraîche and herbs.
• Potato Pancake with Caviar– You can’t go wrong with a little caviar. Use potato pancakes or blinis.
• Crab Cakes with Truffle Aioli – Celebrate the beginning of Dungeness Crab season by making crab cakes. Garnish with the aioli and chive sticks.
• Sweet Potato Crisps with Crab– Bake thin slices of sweet potato or yam in the oven (or deep-fry) and add a little picked crab on top, garnish with herbs.
• Porcini Crisps with Duck Confit– Bake thin slices of porcini mushrooms in the oven (or deep-fry) and add a little shredded duck confit on top, garnish with pomegranate seeds.