The day specifically made for a food coma is almost upon us! We know there are classic Thanksgiving staples, but we here at AAAFF wanted to share some more avant-garde options, ones that hold a special place in our hearts. Make any or all of these delicious recipes and no one will be disappointed!
GULAB JAMUN
Photo courtesy of Neha Aziz
This is by far probably my favorite South Asian dessert. Gulab Jamun is a decadently sweet treat that sits in a syrup sweetened with rose and saffron. It’s a dessert that my mom and I love to make together when we can. This very photo was taken in my family’s kitchen. Not that I am biased, but my mom’s recipe is the best, and she even wrote it out for y'all to enjoy!
- Neha Aziz, Director of Community Programs & Film Programmer
LECHE FLAN
Photo courtesy of Marlon Hedrick
Growing up mixed-race with a white father from the midwest left little room for non-traditional Thanksgiving dishes. The one thing that my mom could always sneak on the table was dessert, so we'd have all the usual Thanksgiving goodies (turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, rolls, etc.) and finish it off with leche flan. The recipe from Palasang Pinoy is very similar to my lola and nanay's and achieves a delicious custard flavor without coming across as too eggy.
- Marlon Hedrick, Social Media Coordinator
STICKY RICE STUFFING
Photo & Recipe link from Spicebox Travels
One of my fondest childhood Thanksgiving memories was in my elementary years there were a few Taiwanese families in South Texas that would gather together to celebrate. Being clueless about turkeys, I was easily tricked by an auntie that they went shooting earlier in the day for fresh turkeys to roast! Instead of the traditional breadcrumb stuffing, the family moms made a sticky rice stuffing full of shiitake mushrooms, shallots, and sweet Taiwanese sausage.
I continue to think about this stuffing to this day when it comes to Thanksgiving turkey although for the better part of a decade or more we have taken to doing hotpot spreads rather than full poultry and sides dinners. I’m sharing a fantastic recipe and wonderful Taiwanese American story from Spicebox Travels that is reminiscent of the fragrant sticky rice stuffing I am nostalgic about.
- Hanna Huang, Executive Director