For her Thanksgiving celebration in Canada in October, food blogger Allison Day hosts an entire family of gluten-free eaters. Complicating her menu is the fact that she is the only true vegetarian at the table.
“The celebration is a very different affair in my house, but delicious, nonetheless,” writes Ms. Day. “Healthy food is a priority in my kitchen, but so is delicious food.”
Ms. Day notes that navigating the world of vegetarian cooking and gluten-free cooking at the same time can be an adventure, particularly around the holidays. Her advice: keep it simple. She chooses naturally gluten-free and vegetarian foods like vegetables, beans and some whole grains.
This delicious salad, made with rice, beets and kale and topped with a cider dressing, resulted from an effort to create a hearty-vegetarian dish for herself, while at the same time offering a delicious gluten-free option that the whole family would enjoy. She added the cider and flaxseed oil dressing because she liked the nutty taste with the black rice and adding a healthful oil to the dish.
“Its jewel-tones practically sparkle on a plate, and the flavours are punchy, yet muted enough to not overwhelm the other dishes,” she writes. “Being made-ahead, it’s ideal for the holidays. I love to make it one or two days in advance, really allowing the sharp dressing to permeate the inky black rice, soften the kale and give a glorious gloss to the beets. Serving this with goat cheese or feta would make it even more substantial.”
Ms. Day writes that this elegant salad is now a staple on her family Thanksgiving table. “It’s beautiful, bold and makes those with food intolerances and preferences feel taken care of, special and appreciated,” she writes. “Who wouldn’t want that?”
Black Rice, Beet and Kale Salad With Cider Flax Dressing : This delicious salad resulted from an effort to create a hearty vegetarian dish while at the same time offering a delicious gluten-free option.
Panzanella of Plenty : A reworking of a traditional Italian summer bread salad, adding fall produce so that it resembles a traditional American Thanksgiving stuffing.
Brussels Sprouts Sliders : A creative and fun way to enjoy a great fall and winter vegetable: crunchy “buns” of roasted brussels sprouts with a tasty middle of caramelized onions and tempeh that makes for “dreamy bites of pure umami goodness."