What can you substitute for a Turkey as the main meal on Thanksgiving?

1. 71

   teaches12345posted 12 years ago

   What can you substitute for a Turkey as the main meal on Thanksgiving?
   
   I love turkey on Thanksgiving, but would like to serve something a little different this year.  What else could be just as festive and meaningful?

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2. 61

   freecampingaussieposted 12 years ago

   
   
   Roast lamb taste delicious with some garlic, mint & rosemary . love the taste a lot more than turkey & cooked on a fire it tastes even better !

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   1. 71

      teaches12345posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Freecamping aussie, wow, that looks really good!  I can see how this would make Thanksgiving special around here.  I love garlic, mint & rosemary on meat, especially lamb.  I am tasting this already.

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3. 60

   momsterposted 12 years ago

   Many people have been using ham roast as a substitute for turkey. Sometimes my family makes both turkey and ham. We always try to have a verity of meats, not everyone likes just turkey.

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   1. 71

      teaches12345posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      That is a great idea: I can have my turkey and ham.  Why not?  I can see how this would please most guests in our home.  Thanks.

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4. 72

   lburmasterposted 12 years ago

   Ham. It's one of my favorites. A gigantic ham with a honey glaze sause. However, you can still have the turkey, just cook it a different way. My partner and I are frying a turkey this year. I've never had it before but he loves it.

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   1. 71

      teaches12345posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I am thinking honey ham is one of my favorites at Easter, but why not Thanksgiving too?  My hubby has always wanted to try fried turkey, but I don't know about guests.  Sounds good.

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5. 79

   North Windposted 12 years ago

   Hi teaches,
   
   I agree with the roast lamb option. It is festive, delicious and meaningful. Lamb is, after all, the meat of the Passover and you are giving thanks to God at Thanksgiving.
   
   You could also think about doing a roasted goose. I hear that is delicious. Or even duck. They are both festive and they are delicious but I think the lamb has the most meaning.

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   1. 71

      teaches12345posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I do love lamb.  I also think the association of the passover and giving thanks to the good Lord above is a good way to stress the meaning of the celebration.

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6. 57

   Megan's Thoughtsposted 12 years ago

   Well, ham and turkey are my family's main go-to's, but my dad usually makes me his famous chicken and dressing also...I think he uses certain spices to make it feel Thanksgiving-ish.

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   1. 71

      teaches12345posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I really do enjoy roasted chicken and your suggestion is quite appealing.  I will have to consider this option.

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7. 63

   annstaubposted 12 years ago

   I would say ham... or lamb that sounds like a good idea too. I always have chicken on Thanksgiving, but that's more due to the fact that I haven't had a functioning oven in maybe five years now. We just buy some rotiserie chickens and eat those. I can cook a lot of things in my toaster oven that would probably surprise most people, but turkey just isn't one of them!

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   1. 71

      teaches12345posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Well, I guess if the oven is not working, that would make it easier to decide.  You have improvised well.  The store near us does have some yummy rotiserie chicken.  Thanks for the idea.

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8. 60

   Historicusposted 12 years ago

   A nice roast of pork preferable the Boston Shoulder cut.  Bake 3 to 4 hours in a 275 degree oven.

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   1. 71

      teaches12345posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Now that is another wonderful suggestion!  I would add some baked apples and rice to compliment the dish.

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9. 69

   Alecia Murphyposted 12 years ago

   I'm going to go out on a limb and say seafood. That is barring any major allergies that anyone in your family might have. I haven't done it but my aunt and uncle did it with fish and other seafood one year simply because they didn't feel like cooking a turkey and sides.
   However, in case they don't like that- how about pepper steak? It's a one dish meal I make throughout the year and my family seems to enjoy that.
   Good luck and I'm looking forward to hearing how everything goes at your Thanksgiving meal!

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   1. 71

      teaches12345posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      May have to think about this idea. I do love fish.

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10. 86

    Sunshine625posted 12 years ago

    Turducken! It's a de-boned chicken stuffed into a de-boned duck, and both are stuffed into a de-boned turkey. I've never tried it and never would, but I have a friend who told me about it and they enjoy it.
    
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turducken

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    1. 71

       teaches12345posted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Love all three poultry options and put together would satisfy many guests.

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11. 90

    Lipnancyposted 12 years ago

    My sister and I have started serving the favorites of everyone invited. Everyone just chooses their favorite dishes for the host to cook. It is amazing how well balanced the meals are and everyone is pleased. We started this because no one really likes Turkey in our family.

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    1. 71

       teaches12345posted 12 years agoin reply to this

       That is a very nice thing to do, Lipnancy.  I would imagine the food variety would be quite interesting and fun to sample.

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12. 58

    HawkeyeNDposted 12 years ago

    I love it when holiday meals are symbolic and reflective of the reasons we take time to pause and celebrate.  Therefore,  lamb at Easter has apparent symbolism (we actually make it a three day celebration; from good Friday with biters to Sunday with savory and sweet).  Pork and ham at Christmas continue the ancient symbolism of the Boar's Head Feast; which the early church used to commemorate the power of the incarnation of the Son, to overcome and banish the Beast and our sins from us.  (More than a thousand years of symbolism here if you want to delve into it)  However, you where looking for ideas for thanksgiving- while turkey offers a great symbol in our countries history.  Fish offers a great reflection to that first Thanksgiving, to the common grace of the Lord that can unite his quarrelsome fallen creation in brotherly love.  If you want to broaden the symbolism- fish has great meaning throughout the Old and New Testaments, and in the early Church.  So, try several varieties of fish, but I love a smoked salmon- it goes VERY well with other traditional Thanksgiving dishes- and is typically popular with even avid fish haters!  May you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and God bless!

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    1. 71

       teaches12345posted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Hawkeye, you have me drooling over your smoked salmon suggestion.  It does go well with almost any meal or dish. Fish was our Lord's most common meal and over which he gave thanks many times.

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13. 0

    GoldenThreadPressposted 12 years ago

    I'd like to stay with poultry, so might I suggest goose or even a large roasting chicken. Both go well with stuffing and yet provide enough meat to serve a small crowd.--Deb

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    1. 71

       teaches12345posted 12 years agoin reply to this

       I think I am following that thought right now.  Something different but a small bird for the traditional celebration folks.  Thanks for your help.

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14. 85

    peachpurpleposted 11 years ago

    i vote for chicken because there is no turkey on sale in our country. Ham is too expensive too. So without budget roasted chicken is great. Everyone loves it, every year

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