Spice up Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Casseroles from Around the World

Spice Things Up for Thanksgiving

With Three Casseroles from Around the World

Thanksgiving is a time for family, laughs, and a scrumptious feast. Every year, we look forward to the classic turkey dinner, stuffing, and the usual sides. Why not spice things up a bit? 

Make your table a celebration of global flavors with exciting casseroles from around the world.

Share this post:
Pastel de Choclo

The South American dish Pastel de Choclo (corn pie) will be right at home on your Thanksgiving dinner table. Similar to shepherd’s pie, this casserole features a main layer of beef or chicken but seasoned with a blend that is based on Peruvian peppers. The combination of additional ingredients is quite surprising with olives and hard-boiled eggs, and optional raisins. However, the best is the topping of sweet corn blended with basil and milk.

Pastel de Choclo is typically baked in a shallow clay pot, but a regular casserole dish or even a cast-iron skillet works just as well.

The wonderful thing about this dish is that it’s incredibly versatile and easy to whip up. Add or skip a layer, or make it vegetarian – the choice is yours.

Tip: Substitute the meat with turkey leftovers.

Bobotie

Rich and flavorful, bobotie is a popular South African dish. It was most likely influenced by the Malaysian and Dutch cuisine. The creamy meatloaf balances a sweet-sour-spicy flavor.

Bobotie consists of a savory minced meat base (lamb or beef) thickened with almonds and a thin top layer of an egg-milk mixture. The spice blend with dried mango (amchoor) really brings the flavors of this dish to life.

Don’t miss the apricot-ginger chutney to accompany this unique casserole.

Cranberry sauce is a classic Thanksgiving side dish that’s easy to make from scratch. All you need are fresh cranberries, a sweetener of your choice, and some common spices.

See the easy steps here.

The classic Italian lasagna (ital: lasagne) makes a familiar yet flavorful addition to your holiday meal. Like many other casseroles from around the world, our lasagna is fast and easy to prepare (in a pan instead of an oven), and you can easily customize the ingredients to your liking.

Lasagna features alternating layers of lasagna pasta, ricotta cheese, tomato sauce, and mozzarella cheese. Spices like oregano, garlic, onion, marjoram, a pinch of chile and celery, and fresh basil round up this Mediterranean dish.

Serve alongside your other Thanksgiving dishes, or make it the main course for Black Friday lunch.

 

These three casseroles will bring global flavors to your table while complementing the usual Thanksgiving fare. Give one (or all) a try this year to make your holiday meal a memorable one.

Moroccan Poulet aux Meslalla

Moroccan Poulet aux Meslalla

Moroccan Poulet aux Meslalla

Moroccan Poulet aux Meslalla

SpiceBreeze
Poulet aux Meslalla is a stew of chicken and olives with a slightly lemony gravy, also called olive chicken tagine. Tagines are originally cooked in the earthenware tagine pot. This recipe is the simplest version with a pure flavor dominated by saffron, lemons, and olives (or meslalla). The smell of saffron feels like home in a Moroccan family kitchen.
hands-on time 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Moroccan
Servings 3

Ingredients
  

Protein

  • 1.5 lb chicken without bones, skin on (*)

Fresh Produce

  • 1 large onion finely chopped
  • 0.5 lb potatoes cut into wedges
  • 0.5 cup parsley chopped
  • 0.25 cup lemon juice

Packaged Goods/Staples

  • 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
  • 0.5 cup green olives
  • olive oil
  • salt & pepper

Poulet aux Meslalla Culinary Spice Kit

  • Paprika, cumin, garlic, ginger, saffron

Instructions
 

  • Cut chicken into pieces of about 2.5 x 2.5 inches.
  • In a large POT, add 2 tbsp olive oil, chicken, onions, Poulet aux Meslalla spices, and salt & pepper to taste. Mix well.
  • Add broth. Cover. Bring to a boil.
  • Reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 40 minutes. Stir occasionally. Add a bit of water if necessary.
  • Add potatoes and continue to cook for 10 minutes.
  • Add the olives and lemon juice. Mix well.
  • Continue to cook for 10 minutes.
  • Stir in the parsley.
  • Serve with your preferred salad and fresh bread to soak up the gravy.
  • Enjoy!

Notes

(*) If you prefer in-bone pieces, increase the amount to 2 lbs in total. 
Suggested Sides
  • baguette, white bread loaf, or flatbread
  • lettuce salad or cucumber-tomato-salad
Variations
  • Substitute the chicken with veal or lamb and adjust the cooking time.
  • Substitute half or all of the parsley with cilantro.
  • Use olives that are marinated in garlic.
  • Make Ras el Hanout or vegetarian Couscous aux Sept Légumes instead.
Marceline Reid-Jaques
Marceline Reid-Jaques
2022-12-14
Karen Jones
Karen Jones
2022-12-05
Wonderful, flavorful meals using readily available ingredients!
ann davis
ann davis
2022-11-29
My daughter gave me a subscription as a Christmas present while our families were quarantining together. It was so much fun! It introduced us to several cuisines that were totally new to us. The recipes were easy to follow and the spices were transformative - fresh and pungent and delicious.
Jessica Brown
Jessica Brown
2022-05-22
The best way to try new dishes!

Enter the Culinary World

Be Inspired | Explore your boundaries and creativity

Malaysian Laksa Lemak

Malaysian Laksa Lemak

Malaysian Laksa Lemak

Malaysian Laksa Lemak

SpiceBreeze
Coconut milk adds sweetness to the famous Malaysian Laksa soup and balances its sour-salty-hot flavor. In this adapted recipe shrimp paste and fish sauce are substituted with the more accessible anchovy paste and tamari or soy sauce. For a fish-free version of this delicious fragrant soup, skip the anchovy paste, substitute shrimp with chicken or tofu.
 
Hands-on Time 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Malaysian
Servings 3

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb fresh shrimp
  • 2 cups mung bean sprouts
  • 1/4 cup macadamia nuts
  • 1 cup coconut milk
  • 3 cups vegetable broth
  • 4 oz rice noodles
  • 1 cup shallots sliced
  • 1 inch ginger chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic chopped
  • 1-2 lime or lemon for juice
  • tamari or soy sauce
  • oil
  • salt & pepper

Laksa Culinary Spice Kit

  • Lemongrass, galangal, turmeric, makrut lime, lime peel, chili

Optional

  • anchovy paste or fish sauce
  • fresh cilantro or mint leaves
  • fresh chilies sliced

Instructions
 

Spice Paste

  • In a BLENDER or small FOOD PROCESSOR, add ginger, garlic, shallots, nuts, Laksa spices, 2 tbsp tamari, and 1 tsp oil.
  • Blend until it becomes a smooth paste.
  • Add a bit of coconut milk if necessary.

Cook

  • Prepare noodles according to package instructions.
  • In a POT, heat 2 tbsp oil. Fry the spice paste for 2 minutes over medium-low heat, stirring constantly.
  • Add broth, coconut milk, bean sprouts, and shrimp.
  • Bring to a boil. Cook 5 minutes.
  • Add chilies to taste (opt.) and 1/4 cup lime juice or more to taste.
  • Adjust saltiness to taste with tamari or soy sauce, and/or anchovy paste or fish sauce.

Serve

  • To serve, fill noodles in individual bowls and add the soup.
  • Optionally, garnish with chopped cilantro or mint leaves.
  • Enjoy!

Notes

  • Substitute shrimp with small cubes of chicken, white fish, or tofu, or mix them.
  • Substitute bean sprouts with bamboo shoots or finely sliced cabbage.
  • Substitute macadamia nuts with peanuts or almonds.
  • Substitute noodles with cooked rice.
 
Marceline Reid-Jaques
Marceline Reid-Jaques
2022-12-14
Karen Jones
Karen Jones
2022-12-05
Wonderful, flavorful meals using readily available ingredients!
ann davis
ann davis
2022-11-29
My daughter gave me a subscription as a Christmas present while our families were quarantining together. It was so much fun! It introduced us to several cuisines that were totally new to us. The recipes were easy to follow and the spices were transformative - fresh and pungent and delicious.
Jessica Brown
Jessica Brown
2022-05-22
The best way to try new dishes!

Enter the Culinary World

Be Inspired | Explore your boundaries and creativity

Cambodian Amok

Cambodian Amok

Amok

Cambodian Amok

Amok is a national dish of Cambodia. The most common version is Amok Trey with fish in a fresh coconut sauce seasoned with lemongrass, galangal, and makrut limes. 

Select Your Ingredients

Typical vegetables are local green Nhor leaves which are slightly bitter. You can make this dish with your favorite protein and vegetables. You can even add some fresh pineapples.

Variations
  • Substitute fish with sirloin beef, tofu, or more vegetables. 
  • For the beef: Cut the sirloin beef into 1/4-inch thin strips. Fry beef strips in oil over high heat to the desired doneness. Add the fried beef strips to the finished amok dish.
  • For the tofu:
    (1) Prepare: Drain the tofu for 30 minutes. Cut the tofu into half-inch cubes.
    (2) Optionally, bake tofu in the OVEN at 350°F for 2o minutes, turning tofu halfway. This gives the tofu an extra crunch.
    (3) Substitute tofu for fish. Add the tofu, leaves, and remaining coconut cream altogether. Bring to a boil. Cook over medium-low heat until the leaves are soft. 
  • Substitute green leaves with bok choy, mushrooms, green asparagus, bell pepper, and/or napa cabbage.
The Amok Culinary Spice Kit includes the following spices:

Lemongrass, galangal, lemon, turmeric, makrut lime, chili flakes, basil, bay leaves, lime peel

Cambodian Amok
Amok

Cambodian Amok

SpiceBreeze
Amok is a national dish of Cambodia. The most common version is Amok Trey with fish in a fresh coconut sauce seasoned with lemongrass, galangal, and makrut limes. Typical vegetables are local green Nhor leaves which are slightly bitter. You can make this dish with your favorite protein and vegetables. You can even add fresh pineapples.
Hands-on Time 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Cambodian
Servings 3

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb fish filet*) or chicken thighs cut into 1/2-inch strips
  • 1 can coconut cream 13.5 oz
  • 1 bunch green leaves mustard, collard, or dandelion, roughly sliced
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic sliced
  • cooked rice
  • vegetable or coconut oil salt

Optional (to taste)

  • lime or lemon juice
  • tamari or soy sauce or fish sauce
  • fresh red chilies chopped
  • fresh pineapple bite-size chunks

Amok Culinary Spice Kit

  • Lemongrass, galangal, lemon, turmeric, makrut lime, chili flakes, basil, bay leaves, lime peel 

Instructions
 

  • In a large PAN, heat 2 tbsp oil over medium-low heat.
  • Fry onions with a pinch of salt until they turn translucent.
  • Add garlic and fry for 1 minute.
  • Add 1/2 cup of the coconut cream and Amok spices. Mix well.
  • Add fish or chicken and salt to taste.
  • Mix well. Cook for 3 minutes.
  • Add leaves and remaining coconut cream. Cover. Bring to a boil.
  • Cook over medium-low heat until the leaves are soft and the fish or chicken is cooked.
  • Serve amok with rice.
  • Optionally, add pineapple and/ or season to taste with lime juice, tamari or fish sauce, and/ or fresh chilies.
  • Enjoy!

Notes

*) for instance: snapper, cod, or tilapia
▪ Substitute fish with sirloin beef, tofu, or more vegetables. 
▪ Substitute green leaves with bok choy, mushrooms, green asparagus, bell pepper, and/or napa cabbage.
Bahraini Machboos

Bahraini Machboos

Bahraini Machboos

Bahraini Machboos

SpiceBreeze
Machboos or Majboos is claimed to be the national dish of the Kingdom of Bahrain. It is full of Arabian flavors. Different from other baharat spice blends, Omani baharat includes dried limes and roses. Dried limes, also called Loomi, Omani limes, or black limes, are an important ingredient in the cuisine around the Persian Gulf. No other lemon has this heavenly sweet-tangy citrus flavor.  
Hands-on Time 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Bahraini
Servings 3

Ingredients
  

  • 2 lb chicken drumsticks
  • 2 large tomatoes chopped
  • 2 tbsp chopped cilantro or parsley
  • 8 oz carrots shredded
  • 2 cups hot chicken or vegetable broth
  • 1 cup Basmati rice
  • 1 large onion finely chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic grated
  • 1 inch ginger grated
  • 2-3 lemon for juice
  • butter & oil
  • salt & pepper

Machboos Culinary Spice Kit

  • Pouch [1] Omani limes, roses, turmeric, cinnamon, paprika, cardamom, cloves, coriander, nutmeg
  • Pouch [2] Cardamom

Optional

  • 1 green chile finely chopped
  • lemon wedges
  • dates
  • red onions sliced

Instructions
 

Prepare

  • Rinse rice and cover with cold water.
  • Add 1.5 tbsp lemon juice.
  • Let soak 1/2 - 24 hours in the fridge.
  • Drain. Set aside.
  • Season chicken with salt and pepper.

Cook

  • In a large POT, fry onions in 2 tbsp butter over medium heat until translucent.
  • Add garlic, ginger, chili (optional), and Machboos [1] spices.
  • Stir-fry for 2 minutes.
  • Add chicken, tomatoes, and broth.
  • Cover. Cook 20 minutes over medium-low heat.
  • Take chicken out and set aside.
  • Add rice and salt to taste. Mix well.
  • Cover. Bring to a boil.
  • Turn heat to low. Cook about 15 minutes until rice is cooked. Don’t stir!
  • Turn off. Mix in herbs.

Fry

  • In a PAN, heat 1 tbsp oil. Fry chicken over high heat until browned on all sides.

Salad

  • Mix carrots with Machboos [2] spices, lemon juice, salt & pepper, and 1 tbsp oil.

Serve

  • Serve chicken on top of rice and with the carrot salad. Add lemon juice to taste.
  • Optionally, serve with lemon wedges, dates, and sliced red onions.
  • Enjoy!

Notes

  • Substitute chicken with 1 lb fish filet or paneer.  Don’t cook it. Only fry it.
Marceline Reid-Jaques
Marceline Reid-Jaques
2022-12-14
Karen Jones
Karen Jones
2022-12-05
Wonderful, flavorful meals using readily available ingredients!
ann davis
ann davis
2022-11-29
My daughter gave me a subscription as a Christmas present while our families were quarantining together. It was so much fun! It introduced us to several cuisines that were totally new to us. The recipes were easy to follow and the spices were transformative - fresh and pungent and delicious.
Jessica Brown
Jessica Brown
2022-05-22
The best way to try new dishes!

Enter the Culinary World

Be Inspired | Explore your boundaries and creativity

Greek Avgolemono

Greek Avgolemono

Avgolemono

Greek Avgolemono

The basic recipe for Avgolemono is a healthy chicken soup thickened with eggs and seasoned with lemon juice to taste. Perfect for the cold season. We added a modern twist with our pink pepperberry-lemon thyme blend.

Soup, Pasta, or Else?

Optionally, make a delicious Avgolemono pasta sauce. You can add your favorite vegetables either in the soup or pasta sauce. Or pour the sauce over cooked or fried vegetables. A good fit is green asparagus, turnip, rutabaga, pumpkin, zucchini, and/or carrot.

Variations
  • Skip the chicken soup step and buy cooked shredded
    chicken and chicken broth instead.
  • Substitute orzo with small noodles or cooked rice.
  • Add your favorite vegetables to the Avgolemono Soup.
  • Omit the chicken in the Avgolemono Soup.
  • Add 1-2 tbsp white wine and/or olive oil to the Base.
  • For a thicker soup, dissolve 1-2 tsp cornstarch in
    2 tbsp cold water. Add it to the Avgolemono Base.
The Avgolemono Culinary Spice Kit includes the following spices:

Pink pepperberries, chives, lemon thyme, savory, green peppercorns, lemon crystals

Lemon Thyme
Lemon Thyme
Greek Avgolemono

Greek Avgolemono

SpiceBreeze
Greek Avgolemono is a healthy chicken soup thickened with eggs and seasoned with lemon juice to taste. Perfect for the cold season. We added a modern twist with our pink pepperberry-lemon thyme blend. Optionally, make a delicious Avgolemono pasta sauce. You can add your favorite vegetables to the soup or pasta sauce. Or pour the sauce over cooked or fried vegetables. A good fit is, for instance, asparagus, turnip, rutabaga, pumpkin, zucchini, and carrot.
 
Hands-on Time 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Greek
Servings 3

Ingredients
  

Protein

  • 1 lb chicken pieces with skin*)

Produce

  • 1 each celery, carrot, onion roughly cut
  • 2 - 4 lemons for juice

Dairy

  • 2 eggs

Option 1: Avgolemono Soup

  • 1/4 cup orzo or any small noodles

Option 2: Avgolemono Pasta

  • 12-16 oz fettuccini or other pasta cooked
  • 1 onion finely chopped
  • olive oil

Avgolemono Culinary Spice Kit

  • Pink pepperberries, chives, lemon thyme, savory, green peppercorns, lemon crystals 

Optional

  • Add 1-2 cups of your favorite vegetables cut into bite-size pieces (see suggestions above).
  • fresh parsley chopped

Instructions
 

Prepare Chicken

  • In a POT, bring 4 cups of water to a boil.
  • Add chicken, vegetables, and salt & pepper to taste.
  • Cook for 20 to 30 minutes until the chicken falls apart.
  • Take the chicken out and reserve the broth for later.
  • Remove the skin from the chicken and shred it with 2 forks.

Prepare Base

  • In a BOWL, add eggs and 2 tbsp lemon juice. Whisk.
  • Slowly stir in hot broth, 1 tbsp at a time, until the mixture reaches the temperature of the broth.

Option 1: Avgolemono Soup

  • To the POT, add orzo, 1 cup shredded chicken, additional vegetables (optional), hot Base, Avgolemono spices, and salt & lemon juice to taste.
  • Cook over medium heat for 6-10 minutes until the orzo is cooked ‘al dente’, stirring occasionally.
  • Serve with fresh parsley (optional). Enjoy!

Option 2: Avgolemono Pasta

  • In a PAN, fry onions in 2 tbsp of oil over medium heat until translucent.
  • Optionally, fry vegetables until cooked.
  • Add 2 cups of the chicken broth, 1 cup shredded chicken, hot Base, Avgolemono spices, and salt & lemon juice to taste.
  • Cook low for 5 minutes.
  • Serve sauce with cooked pasta. Enjoy!

Notes

*) Optional, buy broth and use cooked chicken or substitute the chicken with 1 lb vegetables, and skip step 'prepare chicken'.
  • Substitute orzo with 1 cup of cooked rice. 
  • Substitute chicken with veal or pork and cook longer.
  • Add 1-2 tbsp white wine and/or olive oil to the eggs.
  • For a thicker soup, dissolve 1-2 tsp cornstarch in 2 tbsp cold water. Add it to the eggs.