Thanksgiving, or as food connoisseurs like to call it, turkey day, is a National Holiday. It is celebrated in the USA, Canada, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Liberia on the fourth Thursday of November every year. I am sure you are quite aware of it. But still, let me walk you through a history lesson for the origin of this holiday. Bear with me!
Have you heard the story of the Pilgrim and the Native American? Well, that’s the Thanksgiving story. For those of you with a question mark hanging over your heads, I’ll be more elaborate.
In 1621, the Pilgrims, English settlers living in present-day Plymouth, Massachusetts, invited the Native Americans to a feast. It was a three-day harvest festival, and they ate, thanked God, and thanked each other. Hence, the name Thanksgiving.
Now, I don’t know what anyone tells you; I love this holiday. It is about gratitude, sharing, and above all, food. Food is actually a great part of this festival. I mean, I just called it ‘Turkey Day’.
Surprisingly, there was no turkey at the first known Thanksgiving feast. Cut to today; we can’t imagine a Thanksgiving feast without a giant roasted turkey. Also, by popular vote, ham is the next best thing for Thanksgiving if you are not big on a giant Turkey.
Thanksgiving, or any holiday, is incomplete without delicious desserts. Let’s also talk about the famous sides that go with the turkey: our beautiful cranberry sauce and thick gravy. Just talking about it is making me hungry. But with all the festivities comes the pressure. Oh, what pressure, you ask? You innocent human. The pressure of hosting a Thanksgiving dinner. I don’t want to freak you out, but it is kind of a big deal.
Just to give you an idea, you have to make the roasted turkey. The cranberry sauce and gravy are just necessary companions for the turkey. Also, you can’t forget the mashed potatoes, with or without lumps (FRIENDS reference, if you know, you know).
If you want to host a great feast and cook at home. The first thing you need to do is relax and take a breather. The next step is to find amazing recipes that’ll help you create a stunning festive dining table.
Gordon Ramsay is known for his amazing recipes, and he has an amazing array of recipes appropriate for every occasion. For you, I have compiled a list of Gordon Ramsay’s best Thanksgiving recipes below.
1. Gordon Ramsay’s Roast Turkey
Let’s start with the most conventional Thanksgiving recipe. A giant roasted turkey is many people’s definition of Thanksgiving (including mine). So, it has to be good. What if I tell you you’ll get the most amazing roasted turkey with this recipe?
I’ll make my case by telling you that this Gordon Ramsay Roast Turkey has golden, crispy skin. It is stuffed with vegetables, and its skin is rubbed with herb butter inside out. Also, not to give any spoilers, but it is covered and baked with rashers of bacon. So, the turkey is amazingly flavorful and moist.
2. Gordon Ramsay’s Roast Duck
Are you bored with seeing the same menu for Thanksgiving every year? Well, that makes the two of us. So, why not shake things up a bit? Try making this Gordon Ramsay Roast Duck and impress your guests with something different from just making Turkey.
It is juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside, leaving you wanting more. Follow the complete recipe and get it done right in no time.
3. Gordon Ramsay’s Turkey Breast
If you don’t want to cook up a whole turkey and just want to make a turkey for a few people, try Gordon Ramsay’s Turkey Breast. This recipe is great for an intimate Thanksgiving dinner as it serves two people. Perhaps, a Thanksgiving dinner date.
Gordon Ramsay’s turkey breast recipe is similar to his roasted turkey recipe. You have a seasoned turkey breast. Then, you apply a herbal compound butter over and under the skin. It is then roasted to perfection, and its pan juices are used to make delicious gravy.
4. Gordon Ramsay’s Turkey Gravy
Now that we are on the topic of turkey, let’s talk about its best friend, the turkey gravy. It is made with pan juices, the vegetables stuffed in the turkey, the rashers of bacon on the turkey, rosemary, and tomatoes. Cider and chicken stock are also added to the gravy.
All of this makes the gravy very flavorful. It is simmered until it has the strongest flavor. Pour this gravy over the sliced turkey and thank the Lord for all the delicious food. Thank me too, as I am giving you a shortcut to the complete Gordon Ramsay Turkey Gravy recipe here.
5. Gordon Ramsay’s Cranberry Sauce
While we are on the topic of traditional Thanksgiving recipes, let’s talk about Gordon Ramsay’s Cranberry Sauce. Cranberry sauce is the third wheel in the romance of turkey and gravy. You will love it, but you can’t go without it. Gordon Ramsay’s cranberry sauce recipe features complex flavors that pair perfectly.
The sauce is made with cranberries, apples, and oranges. So, it has a sweet but tangy flavor. There’s also star anise and cardamom to give it a little spicy heat. Then, a dash of wine adds depth and nuttiness to the sauce. Lastly, use caster sugar so the sauce is mainly sweet.
6. Gordon Ramsay’s Roasted Squash Hummus
If you want a unique dip at your table, try Gordon Ramsay’s Roasted Squash Hummus. This hummus will give a Mediterranean twist to your otherwise American Thanksgiving dinner. The squash is rubbed with a variety of spices and then roasted.
The spice blend is a mix of numerous spices, including mustard, cumin, fenugreek, fennel, and coriander seeds. It also has cloves and cinnamon. The blend has all the holiday spices. Additionally, the squash is blended with chickpeas and tahini.
A little olive oil is added to make the hummus smooth, and a squeeze of lemon adds a great deal of freshness and tang to the squash hummus.
7. Gordon Ramsay’s Yorkshire Pudding
If you aren’t having a turkey dinner on Thanksgiving and opt for roast beef instead, serve it with Yorkshire pudding, brown turkey, and roasted veggies. Gordon Ramsay’s Yorkshire Pudding is a pretty great dinner date idea.
Just mix milk, flour, eggs, vegetable oil, and salt. Pour it into muffin tins and bake it. There you have it. Your delicious Yorkshire pudding is ready to serve. What is great about this whole dinner idea is that it also goes with Christmas.
8. Gordon Ramsay’s Cauliflower Cheese
We all know fussy eaters (kids) who don’t want to eat the feast laid out in front of them but want something different, even on Thanksgiving. Thank you, Gordon Ramsay, for giving a solution to this problem as well. Instead of whipping up the old mac and cheese, why not make Gordon Ramsay’s Cauliflower Cheese?
The base is boiled cauliflower instead of boiled macaroni. After that, make the roux and season it with herbs. Ramsay adds three kinds of cheese to make it flavorful. The cheese makes the bake nutty and creamy.
The cauliflower is mixed with the cheese sauce and then baked with breadcrumbs on top. One bite into the dish and you’ll realize this is the end of the fuss of picky eaters. It is delicious, creamy, and cheesy.
9. Gordon Ramsay’s Eggnog
Age-old holidays need age-old recipes to go with. It just creates uniformity and keeps the multiverse stable (just kidding, or am I). Anywho, Gordon Ramsay’s eggnog recipe is a traditional beverage at its best. Eggnog usually contains alcohol, typically brandy, rum, or cognac. But you can make it without the alcohol as well.
Even though it has an egg in its name, the eggnog doesn’t taste like eggs. The smell of eggs is overpowered by vanilla and spices. Also, the eggs are tempered with hot milk, so you don’t get the distinct ‘eggy’ taste.
Instead, you get a smooth beverage that tastes like melted vanilla custard. If you are feeling fancy, you can serve the eggnog with whole nutmeg and cinnamon sticks. Take it out once you have got pictures for your Instagram. Before you do that, have a quick look at Gordon Ramsay’s eggnog recipe here.
10. Gordon Ramsay’s Turkey and Ham Pie
Want the best of both worlds, or just want to make the best out of Thanksgiving leftovers? Try making Gordon Ramsay’s Turkey and Ham Pie. It has both turkey and ham, so you are going into ultra Thanksgiving mode.
Cook mushrooms, leeks, and ham in butter, then mix with a creamy sauce. Cover with a golden pastry and bake it until golden and amazing (*chef’s kiss*). What? This is all there is to it. Well, not really, but you get the point. It is easy to make, and you’ll end up with a great pie from Thanksgiving leftovers.
11. Gordon Ramsay’s Holiday Stuffing
A Thanksgiving recipe list is incomplete without the holiday stuffing recipe. Gordon Ramsay’s Holiday Stuffing recipe is quite easy. Just mix the breadcrumbs and herbs. Then, make and bake balls of it. Then, make cornmeal stuffing and serve it with the breadcrumb balls and cranberries.
The recipe is easy peasy but not cheesy. You can whip this up in just 40 minutes and make an awesome stuffing with your turkey. Check out the detailed recipe and get this holiday stuffing done right in no time.
12. Gordon Ramsay’s Mashed Potatoes
Another staple at the Thanksgiving dinner is mashed potatoes. They also go great with steak and roast beef. Making mashed potatoes is not rocket science. It’s basic chemistry. Just boil the potatoes until tender, then mash them with skim milk, garlic, butter, salt, and pepper.
Top with chives, place them on the table, and watch them vanish. Now, there’s a magic trick they don’t show in Harry Potter. Find the recipe for Gordon Ramsay’s Mashed Potatoes here.
13. Gordon Ramsay’s Cornbread with Maple Bacon Butter
Gordon Ramsay’s Cornbread with Maple Bacon Butter is the perfect low-lift recipe for your Thanksgiving dinner. Just mix flour, buttermilk, cornmeal, and cheddar. Also, add jalapeños, onions, and coriander. Season well and bake it. But this is not all. You have a special partner for this cornbread.
To make maple bacon butter, cook the bacon, then combine it with maple syrup and butter. Serve cornbread with this maple corn butter. Don’t you want to eat this delicious cornbread with this butter? I do. You don’t even need to look for the recipe; it’s right here.
14. Gordon Ramsay’s Mini Apple Galettes
Last on this list is Gordon Ramsay’s delicious mini apple galettes. Galettes are small, flat pastry cakes often topped with fruit. Gordon Ramsay suggests using apples with high heat tolerance, like Pink Lady. Ramsay also tells you how to make the sweet shortcrust pastry from scratch. What else do you need?
The apples are covered with spices, sugar, and zest. They become tender and caramelized once baked. It is really a lovely sight. Also, these are individual desserts, so you don’t have to share them with anyone else. Looking for the recipe? Lucky for you, it’s right here.
Conclusion
So, these were some of Gordon Ramsay’s recipes for Thanksgiving. Try some or all of them and tell me which one you thought was the best. With this, I’ll take your leave. I have to go and buy a big turkey. Don’t want them to ‘stock’ out if you know what I mean. Goodbye, and don’t forget to be thankful this Thanksgiving.
