Healthy Thanksgiving Recipe Roundup

It's almost that time of year again! And while Nora Ephron is back with the 2nd Annual Huffington Post "Tell Us What You're Cooking For Thanksgiving This Year" poll, which has now become the Top 10 Thanksgiving Recipes By HuffPost Commenters, we thought we'd offer a slightly healthier alternative on Living. And so, these are our Top 10 healthy thanksgiving recipes -- untested and judged purely on appearance and recipe.

Tell us yours in the comments! But remember: only the healthy ones! Send your sweet potato pie and your extra buttery, double-fat mashed potatoes over here.

• • • • • • • • • • Cranberry and Walnut Relish

1) Cranberry and Walnut Relish

2) Brussels Sprouts With Mustard, Apples and Caraway

3) Cider-Glazed Roots with Cinnamon Walnuts

Here we roast a variety of roots with a brown sugar-cider glaze. Make them instead of candied sweet potatoes at your Thanksgiving celebration. If you include red beets, the whole dish will take on a gorgeous ruby hue.

4) Root Vegetable Gratin

The rich flavor of Gruyere cheese brings out the nutty flavor of the roots in this creamy gratin. Any combination of roots works in this recipe, but if you use red beets, they will streak the gratin with bright color. A delightful side dish for any roasted meat.

5) Southwest Rubbed Turkey

Smoked paprika is the key to the turkey rub in this recipe. It can be purchased in gourmet markets and online at www.tienda.com. Roasting the bird breast-side down for the first half keeps the breast meat succulent and moist.

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6) Lemon Garlic Roast Turkey and White Wine Gravy

The zesty lemon-garlic rub for this turkey gives it amazing flavor. Instead of using a conventional supermarket turkey that's been "enhanced" with added sodium solution, here we brine a natural or organic turkey to keep the meat extra juicy without a lot of extra sodium.

7) Cider Gravy

Make this low-fat gravy in the roasting pan while the turkey rests. Apple cider adds rich fall flavor.

8) Citrus Ginger Cake with Spiced Orange Compote

This festive olive-oil cake can be made with orange juice or Meyer lemon juice. The cake tastes even better if made a day in advance, as the flavors get a chance to intensify.

9) Pomegranate Poached Pear

A delicate pear painted with the deep, garnet hue of pomegranate juice provides a striking finale to a meal.

10) Pumpkin Coconut Tart

Dark rum, coconut milk, cinnamon, ginger and cloves give this pumpkin tart a complex flavor that matches perfectly with a cup of chai laced with milk.

Comments

[Bystander]

For those that don't like turkey for Thanksgiving, I strongly recommend quail. We hunt quail specifically for our "game" breakfasts on Thanksgiving and Christmas, which also include venison, duck and wild turkey. Great eating!

[SimplyKindness]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBM0NULDYl8

For all of you who have been posting that it is OK to eat turkeys and other animals, please take a moment to look inside a major turkey farm by clicking on this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBM0NULDYl8

This was filmed only a few days ago at one of the largest turkey producers in the US. Please click on the link and then search your hearts. Its not about what we "can" do or have the "right" to do, but it is about what is we know is correct in the deepest part of ourselves. It is a test of our character to do the right thing when we dont have to. Please, take a moment to watch. Happy Thanksgiving to all sentient beings.

[Wood]

oh,... heelllllll­llllllllll­llllllllll­lll no!

[mockstar]

Thanks, but there is no way to eat turkey that can possibly be deemed "healthy."

[Quaoar]

It's certainly not healthy for the bird.

[dctackett]

Cranberry Chutney

1 Bag Cranberries
2 Cloves of Garlic (chopped)
1 piece of ginger (about the same size as the garlic cloves – chopped)
2 teaspoons salt
1 cup water
½ cup sugar
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Put the cranberries in a large pan on medium-high heat, the cranberries should be in one layer so that all cranberries touch the pan.
When the cranberries begin to pop, wait 1-2 minutes, then add vegetable oil, salt, ginger and garlic. Stir, then add water and sugar and stir. Lower heat to a simmer/boil for about 8 minutes. Stir and smash any unpopped cranberries… taste and add any salt/garlic/ginger if you like.
*For spice included crushed red peppers.

[walk0nwalls]

But what about the great American tradition of Turbaconducken?!

http://www.neatorama.com/2008/11/21/turbaconducken/