Q: I am celebrating Thanksgiving with my family in Palm Springs this year. I think we should take advantage of the ready availability of Mexican ingredients to inspire the menu. I'd love to hear some riffs on this idea that will help me satisfy the Thanksgiving purists in my family...
....who need stuffing, sweet potatoes, etc. And! we have one vegetarian, so we need to include him too. This is also just a selfish attempt to get some mole on the table for the turkey (my favorite combo.) Thanks so much for any suggestions.
Sent by Courtney
Editor: Courtney, that sounds so delicious and appealing! (And Palm Springs — lovely.) I do love the idea of these flautas with turkey inside (maybe as a Thanksgiving leftovers recipe?).
Readers, what would you suggest? Any ideas?
Related: Thanksgiving Dinners Inspired By Ethnic Cuisines
(Image: Nealey Dozier)
Floral Drink Dispen...

Make sure you have pickled jalapeno and carrots on the table. My in laws are Mexican and having those with a bite of Turkey is now one of my favorite things! Salsa on the table is always a good call.
In terms of dishes tortilla turkey soup? Spicy gravy? Margaritas? I recommend stuffing made with chorizo.
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Ancho-Sweet-Potato-Puree-15709
Turkey taco bar! Serve tortillas, guac and cheese instead of crescent rolls and butter!
-Anne
www.hammer-and-heels.com
We did a build-your-own-taco Christmas Eve dinner a few years ago. I love meals where people can dress the food just how they want (great for picky eaters!)
Chipotle mashed sweet potatoes!
Here's the way I grew up eating calabaza (pumpkin) back in Guadalajara. Roast your favorite pumpkin in the oven, clean but include the seeds, brown sugar (piloncillo is better than brown sugar) and Mexican cinammon....You will be amazed how delicious the pumpkin seeds are in the syrupy mess. Serve it in pieces with the peel on and let your guests carve as they eat.
If you're serving turkey mole, you need a white rice, but make it Mexican. Add chicken broth, sliced poblanos and onions into the broth. Yummy. This will balance well with the thick spicy mole sauce.
For dessert, you could make a pumpkin flan --with a pepitas brittle. There's several recipes online.
So excited for you! Remember to say GRACIAS at the table...:-)
This is America...learn a second language! :-) The beauty of America is that it's diverse. I say more power to the people who embrace difference.
Aaron Sanchez has a great recipe for achiote roasted hens with cornbread and chorizo stuffing. It is so delicious it has become a new Thanksgiving tradition for my partner and I!
Perhaps some chili cheese cornbread muffins? Much more exciting (and spicy!) than your average corn bread.
These black bean and butternut squash enchiladas satisfy the squash requirement for your thanksgiving meal...
http://outoftheordinaryfood.com/2011/10/31/black-bean-butternut-squash-enchiladas/
And pumpkin and black bean empanadas have the whole pumpkin clout. Plus, they're delicious!
http://outoftheordinaryfood.com/2012/09/29/pumpkin-and-black-bean-enchiladas/
Amen!
From what I understand, turkey has its origins in Mexico, so you're right on target (Thanksgiving notwithstanding)
http://www.voanews.com/content/us-thanksgiving-turkey-is-mexican-immigrant/1550452.html
Cranberry salsa and I second chorizo stuffing.
This recipe is awesome. I've substituted drained cottage cheese for the farmer cheese and it worked great.
http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/squash-gratin-with-poblanos-and-cream
Stuff a turkey with candy, blindfold the kids, then have them beat it with a stick until all the candy spills out on the ground.
I made a pumpkin and roasted garlic hummus for our veggie platter this year, and as I was making it I was thinking that it would be delicious with chipotle instead of (or along with?) roasted garlic. Also, chiles rellenos would be a delicious vegetarian main dish. Good luck!