Make These 12 Meatless Recipes for Your Gluten-Free Visitors This Thanksgiving

Household, meals, and soccer—talking broadly, that is Thanksgiving. After all, it’s about connecting with family members and expressing gratitude, however these acts are sometimes carried out across the desk—a desk filled with historically gluten-laden meals. There’s stuffing, breadrolls, biscuits, macaroni and cheese, gravy, pie … even the inexperienced bean casserole could have some hidden gluten by means of the fried onion topper. 

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What’s a vegan and gluten-free individual to eat in addition to a uncooked brussels salad and cranberry sauce? With just a little prep, you possibly can have all of it—sure, even the biscuits and pie.

Thanksgiving meals will not be inherently vegan and gluten-free, however now we have loads of recipes that can assist you out. Whether or not you’re internet hosting or bringing a tupperware filled with a Thanksgiving-meal-for-one, these recipes will guarantee you possibly can get pleasure from Thanksgiving simply as a lot as everybody else on the desk. 

What Thanksgiving meals include gluten? 

Earlier than recreating your complete Thanksgiving meal, let’s determine the dishes that doubtless include gluten. Gluten is a protein present in wheat, barley, and rye. Basically, something made with flour is a no-go for these adhering to a gluten-free food regimen. Apparent culprits embody bread, baked items, macaroni and cheese, and stuffing, however flour can be utilized in various different not-so-obvious dishes. Listed here are six different dishes you’ll be stunned to be taught may additionally include gluten.

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1 Gravy

Gravy is a condiment all gluten-free eaters must be skeptical of. All gravy is made with a thickener, and whereas some recipes use cornstarch, flour is a well-liked alternative, in keeping with Martha Stewart. “[A] mixture of fats and flour is a vital step in guaranteeing a thick and wealthy gravy,” Stewart notes. When unsure, ask your host if the gravy in query incorporates flour. 

2 Inexperienced bean casserole

Inexperienced bean casserole additionally incorporates gluten, most frequently in its crispy onion topping and within the cream of mushroom soup. Nevertheless, there are of course gluten-free fried onions on the market. Sprouts makes an natural model that’s made with buckwheat as a substitute of wheat flour. “Regardless of its title, buckwheat shouldn’t be wheat and incorporates no gluten,” Beyond Celiac confirms. 

To keep away from the gluten within the canned, creamy soup, we suggest making yours from scratch (recipe beneath). 

3 Gluten-free stuffing mixes

Earlier than you attain for that gluten-free stuffing combine, verify the components. When you gained’t discover gluten, many boxed stuffings include animal merchandise. For instance, Dealer Joe’s Gluten-Free Stuffing combine incorporates non-fat milk powder, hen fats, and eggs. And whereas this can be appropriate for gluten-free eaters, it’s undoubtedly not appropriate for individuals who adhere to a gluten-free and vegan food regimen.

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4 Cornbread

Sure, cornbread is made with corn, nevertheless it will get its cakelike texture with the assistance of white wheat flour. Like gluten-free stuffing, gluten-free cornbread mixes may additionally include animal-based components like milk or eggs, so verify the again of the field earlier than buying. 

5 Vegan roasts and meats

For vegans, the principle dish can be gluten-rich. Any roast made with seitan (important wheat gluten) or any centerpiece wrapped in puff pastry is out of the query for the gluten-intolerant. Most plant-based meats, apart from a choose few like Abbot’s, additionally include traces of gluten. 

6 Pie and different desserts

Lastly, any dessert made with conventional pie crust, wheat flour, or graham crackers must be averted for the gluten-averse. 

Vegan and gluten-free swaps for Thanksgiving dishes

All of that being stated, being vegan and gluten-free doesn’t must restrict your enjoyment of the Thanksgiving meal. You’ll be able to go for naturally vegan- and gluten-free recipes like those beneath, or you possibly can swap in allergen-friendly components in your conventional recipes. Listed here are our favourite swaps. 

RELATED: Make a Present-Stopping Thanksgiving Unfold With These 51 Vegan Recipes

King Arthur Baking Firm

1 Gluten-free flour

Not all gluten-free flour is created equal, however general, this class has significantly improved in style and texture since its early days. Many blends declare they can be utilized in a one-for-one ratio for wheat-based flour. We’ve tried a couple of manufacturers, and whereas some nonetheless make our baked items really feel grainy, King Arthur is pretty dependable in the case of our gluten-free desserts. 

2 Cornstarch

Whether or not you want a pie to set or gravy to thicken, cornstarch is a gluten-free ingredient you’ll need readily available. We took a web page from Serious Eats and realized to at all times create a slurry (cornstarch mixed with a little bit of water) earlier than including it to a scorching pot of gravy to keep away from disagreeable lumps and create a clean texture. Cornstarch’s thickening properties are activated with warmth, which is why it helps a liquidy pie solidify within the oven or tightens a pot filled with inventory right into a velvety gravy. 

Kikkoman

3 Gluten-free breadcrumbs

From macaroni and cheese to any type of casserole, gluten-free breadcrumbs are important in creating that signature, crispy topping. We’re not choosy about manufacturers, as most are naturally vegan as effectively. Strive Goal’s Good & Collect model or Kikkoman Gluten-free Panko Japanese-Fashion Breadcrumbs. 

12 vegan and gluten-free Thanksgiving recipes

From appetizers to entrees and sides to sweets, listed here are 12 vegan and gluten-free Thanksgiving recipes. 

Allyson Kramer

Tanya Flink is a Digital Editor at VegNews in addition to a author and runner residing in Orange County, CA.