Thanksgiving Korean-Style

Where has the year gone? We’re quickly closing in on Thanksgiving again.

So you’re looking for ideas on what to make for Thanksgiving dinner and what something a little different.

Well, you’ve come to the right place! Below you’ll find a menu for Thanksgiving Korean-Style. You can make everything on the menu or at least to get you started in making your own.

Please pass the kimchi

This time of year was always a big deal when I was growing up, as it is for most.

In addition to Chuseok (aka Korean Thanksgiving), my family celebrated Thanksgiving as most people know it in the States.

We roasted a turkey with all the usual suspects – gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and even cranberry sauce.

But there was always a Korean twist to the meal, as there was with every meal.

Kimchi and japchae (stir-fried glass noodles) were passed around the table right along with the usual staples of the holiday.

So Thanksgiving just isn’t Thanksgiving to me unless the smell of a turkey roasting in the oven is wafting in the air and japchae is around for me to nibble on.

New Traditions

Although my childhood memories of Thanksgiving were wonderful, the meals themselves were kind-of segregated. There was a clear delineation of which dishes were Korean and which were not.

And I think cuisine is a direct reflection of a culture, isn’t it? It was great to have both cuisines on the table and I think that reflected my upbringing as a child of Korean immigrants living in the States. But now that I have a kid of my own, and he’s half Korean, I want to go a step further.

So this year I’ve decided to venture out beyond tacking on some Korean dishes in addition to the traditional Thanksgiving fare. I’ve chosen some dishes that really fuse the cultures together.

If you like Korean food, you’re going to love this!

Thanksgiving Korean-Style Dinner Menu

The following you have to make the day of;

• Easy herb roasted turkey – I like to cook my turkeys in an oven bag because it 1) makes cleaning up easier, 2) I don’t have to keep basting it, and 3) keeps the turkey juicy. You can find instructions here on how to use a bag.
• Gravy from drippings – This is called “Foolproof Turkey Gravy” and it really is. It’s especially easy if you used the bag I just mentioned because then you just pour out the fat and juices from the turkey right into a sauce pan.
• Kimchi stuffing – This recipe is from the good people at Food52, where I’ve found so many great recipes. I’ll have this stuffing ready to go in the oven as soon as I pull the turkey out to rest.
• Sesame green beans – Because my hubby isn’t a fan of green bean casserole, a classic holiday dish, I opted for this instead. It’s simple to make, yet delicious. Plus it has a bit of ginger which is a staple in Korean cuisine.

All of the following you can make ahead of time, even days before;

• Japchae – To me, no holiday or important event is complete without this dish being present. There are so very many things that I am not a traditional Korean about, but this is not one of those times. I 💓 japchae! What’s even better is that these stay good in an airtight container in the fridge for about a day or two. So I’d make these the day before.
• Spicy cucumber salad – I’m not one to have a bunch of banchan (Korean side dishes) around. Not only is it more work than I care to do but also a lot of it goes to waste in my household. And I hate waste, especially food! So I only chose one typical banchan dish that I particularly love. Spicy cucumber salad is downright refreshing when consumed during a heavy meal like this one.
• Korean potato salad – I opted for a potato salad instead of mashed potatoes to switch things up a bit. Korean potato salad is sweeter than your traditional potato salad. It’s also more festive due to the red peppers. It also can be tangier if you use Kewpie mayonnaise. If you haven’t tried it yet, do. You’ll never go back to your regular old mayo again.
• Cranberry, pear, and ginger chutney – There’s that ginger again! This can be made three days ahead. Just be sure to not eat all of it before the big meal!
• Korean cinnamon ginger punch (Sujeongwa 수정과)- I’d call this more of a tea instead of a punch, except that it is definitely like getting punched in the mouth with a cinnamon stick. I love this punch because it’s tasty and is known to help with digestion. And I think we could all use a little help with digestion on this rather gluttonous holiday. Not only that, but it’ll make your whole house smell wonderfully cinnamon. And it can be made and stored for up to two weeks.

Please pass the kimchi…kimchi stuffing I mean

So go ahead and serve that kimchi right along side the turkey. But you may not feel like you have to with these dishes. I mean, kimchi stuffing?? Where were you when I was a kid?

Now that my menu is all set with less than a week before Thanksgiving, it’s time to go shopping! And by that, I mean make some punch and get comfortable on the couch for some online deal surfing. 😉

Have you started shopping for gifts yet? Check out my gift guides for ideas!

Were any of these ideas new to you? What’s going to be your Korean spin on Thanksgiving dinner? Share in the comments!