Thanksgiving has long been a celebration of gratitude, abundance, and shared meals. But as global palates evolve, the classic American Thanksgiving table now welcomes flavors from around the world — and few cuisines blend as effortlessly and vibrantly as Indian cuisine. This year, imagine a table where cranberry sauce meets Kashmiri spices, mashed potatoes flirt with garlic tadka, and pumpkin pie embraces cardamom warmth. Welcome to your Fusion Thanksgiving: India-Inspired Global Feast — a deliciously cross-cultural spread that celebrates tradition, innovation, and the joy of breaking culinary boundaries.

Below is a globally inspired Thanksgiving feast reimagined with Indian flair — 10 dishes, each layered with spices, textures, and storytelling.

1. Tandoori Turkey Roast

Tandoori Turkey Roast – Ingredients

• Whole turkey (4–5 kg)
• Yogurt – 2 cups
• Ginger-garlic paste – 4 tbsp
• Kashmiri red chilli powder – 3 tbsp
• Garam masala – 2 tbsp
• Lemon juice – 4 tbsp
• Oil – 3 tbsp
• Salt – 2 to 3 tsp
• Fresh coriander – ¼ cup chopped
• Onion rings – 1 cup (for serving)

Tandoori Turkey Roast – Method

1. Prepare the Tandoori Turkey Roast marinade by mixing yogurt, ginger-garlic paste, chilli powder, and garam masala.
2. Rub the Tandoori Turkey Roast marinade generously inside and outside the turkey.
3. Rest for 4–6 hours.
4. Roast at 180°C for 2.5–3 hours.
5. Serve your stunning Tandoori Turkey Roast with lemon and onions.

2. Masala Cranberry Chutney

Masala Cranberry Chutney – Ingredients

• Fresh cranberries – 2 cups
• Jaggery – ½ cup
• Grated ginger – 1 tbsp
• Black salt – ½ tsp
• Roasted cumin powder – 1 tsp
• Red chilli flakes – ½ tsp
• Water – ½ cup

Masala Cranberry Chutney – Method

1. Cook cranberries with jaggery until soft.
2. Add ginger, cumin, chilli flakes, and black salt.
3. Simmer until thick.
4. Cool and serve the Masala Cranberry Chutney chilled.

3. Curry Leaf Mashed Potatoes

Curry Leaf Mashed Potatoes – Ingredients

• Potatoes – 1 kg
• Milk – 1 cup
• Butter – 3 tbsp
• Curry leaves – 12–15 leaves
• Mustard seeds – 1 tsp
• Salt – 1 tsp
• Black pepper – ½ tsp

Curry Leaf Mashed Potatoes – Method

1. Boil potatoes and mash with milk and butter.
2. Temper curry leaves and mustard seeds, then mix into the Curry Leaf Mashed Potatoes.
3. Season and serve warm.

4. Ghee-Roasted Sweet Potato Casserole

Ghee-Roasted Sweet Potato Casserole – Ingredients

• Sweet potatoes – 800 g
• Ghee – 3 tbsp
• Cinnamon powder – 1 tsp
• Nutmeg – ½ tsp
• Brown sugar – ¼ cup
• Almond slivers – ⅓ cup

Ghee-Roasted Sweet Potato Casserole – Method

1. Toss sliced sweet potatoes in ghee and spices.
2. Layer and bake at 180°C for 30 minutes.
3. Top with almonds and serve the Ghee-Roasted Sweet Potato Casserole bubbly.

5. Paneer Stuffed Bread Rolls with Sage

Paneer Stuffed Bread Rolls – Ingredients

• Bread cubes – 4 cups
• Crumbled paneer – 250 g
• Fresh sage – 1 tbsp finely chopped
• Onion – 1 medium (finely chopped)
• Butter – 2 tbsp
• Green chillies – 2 (finely chopped)
• Salt – ¾ tsp
• Pepper – ½ tsp

Paneer Stuffed Bread Rolls – Method

1. Sauté onions, chillies, and sage.
2. Add paneer, season, and mix with bread cubes.
3. Bake at 170°C for 20 minutes.
4. Serve the Paneer Stuffed Bread Rolls warm.

6. Kashmiri Saffron Pumpkin Soup

Kashmiri Saffron Pumpkin Soup – Ingredients

• Pumpkin cubes – 700 g
• Saffron strands – 10–12 strands
• Warm milk or cream – ½ cup
• Onion – 1 medium (sliced)
• Ginger – 1 inch piece (sliced)
• Black pepper – ½ tsp
• Bay leaf – 1
• Salt – ¾ tsp
• Water – 2 cups

Kashmiri Saffron Pumpkin Soup – Method

1. Cook pumpkin with onion, ginger, and bay leaf.
2. Blend smooth and fold in saffron milk.
3. Simmer and serve hot as Kashmiri Saffron Pumpkin Soup.

7. Spiced Green Bean Poriyal

Spiced Green Bean Poriyal – Ingredients

• Green beans – 500 g (chopped)
• Grated coconut – ⅓ cup
• Curry leaves – 10 leaves
• Mustard seeds – 1 tsp
• Urad dal – 1 tbsp
• Red chillies – 2 (broken)
• Oil – 1 tbsp
• Salt – ¾ tsp

Spiced Green Bean Poriyal – Method

1. Temper mustard, urad dal, and chillies.
2. Add beans and sauté.
3. Finish the Spiced Green Bean Poriyal with grated coconut.

8. Naan & Cheddar Stuffing Bake

Naan & Cheddar Stuffing Bake – Ingredients

• Cubed naan – 4 cups
• Cheddar cheese – 1½ cups (grated)
• Caramelized onions – 1 cup
• Green onions – ½ cup (chopped)
• Milk – 1 cup
• Eggs – 2
• Black pepper – ½ tsp
• Salt – ½ tsp

Naan & Cheddar Stuffing Bake – Method

1. Combine naan, cheese, and onions.
2. Whisk eggs and milk; pour over.
3. Bake at 180°C for 25 minutes.
4. Serve the Naan & Cheddar Stuffing Bake hot and gooey.

9. Masala Cornbread Muffins

Masala Cornbread Muffins – Ingredients

• Cornmeal – 1 cup
• All-purpose flour – ½ cup
• Baking powder – 2 tsp
• Chopped coriander – 2 tbsp
• Green chilli – 1 (finely chopped)
• Cumin powder – 1 tsp
• Eggs – 2
• Milk – ¾ cup
• Oil – ¼ cup
• Salt – ½ tsp

Masala Cornbread Muffins – Method

1. Mix dry ingredients with spices and coriander.
2. Add wet ingredients and fold.
3. Bake at 180°C for 18 minutes.
4. Serve Masala Cornbread Muffins warm with butter.

10. Cardamom Pumpkin Pie

Cardamom Pumpkin Pie – Ingredients

• Pumpkin purée – 2 cups
• Condensed milk – 1 cup
• Eggs – 2
• Cardamom powder – 1 tsp
• Nutmeg – ½ tsp
• Pie crust – 1 (9-inch ready shell)

Cardamom Pumpkin Pie – Method

1. Whisk pumpkin purée with condensed milk, eggs, and spices.
2. Pour into the crust.
3. Bake at 175°C for 40–45 minutes.
4. Cool before slicing the Cardamom Pumpkin Pie.

11. Chai-Spiced Apple Crumble (Bonus Dessert!)

Chai-Spiced Apple Crumble – Ingredients

• Apples – 4 large (sliced)
• Brown sugar – ½ cup
• Chai masala – 1½ tsp
• Oats – ¾ cup
• Flour – ½ cup
• Butter – 4 tbsp (cold, cubed)

Chai-Spiced Apple Crumble – Method

1. Toss apples with chai masala and sugar.
2. Make crumble using butter, oats, and flour.
3. Bake until golden.
4. Serve Chai-Spiced Apple Crumble warm with ice cream.

Bringing It All Together

A fusion Thanksgiving isn’t just about food — it’s about storytelling, cultural connection, and celebrating the beauty of shared traditions. Each dish on this India-inspired global table brings depth, warmth, and nostalgia while adding surprising new flavours.

This year, let your Thanksgiving showcase the best of both worlds — the comfort of American holiday classics infused with the bold, aromatic magic of Indian cuisine. Here’s to a Thanksgiving table that feels familiar yet thrillingly new — one that celebrates gratitude with global flair and Indian soul.

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