How to make your Thanksgiving table more Jewy

The Nosher via JTA — Thanksgiving is about smells. Of course, it has a lot to do with taste as well, but for the most part I find that the most striking elements of Turkey Day arrive through the nose.

In terms of these smells, there are the classics: spicy pumpkin pie aroma mixes with the scent of garlicky mashed potatoes interspersed with whiffs of toasted bread for stuffing. Then there are the dishes special to one’s own Thanksgiving table: my Aunt Sharyn’s corn casserole, buttery and studded with corn kernels; the black pepper-scented roasted Brussels sprouts my mom so painstakingly slices that my sister and I always rebuff in favor of sweeter veggies. This year, a vibrant tzimmes will also grace my Thanksgiving table.

Traditionally served on Rosh Hashanah and Passover, tzimmes makes a bright addition to any Thanksgiving spread. I tend to find colorful root vegetables in a shimmering glaze much more appealing than simpler vegetable dishes (read: aforementioned Brussels sprouts). I’ve made stovetop tzimmes a few times, but I think the texture of roasted vegetables makes for a more complex vegetable experience, as they hold onto their individual flavors more intently after a journey in the oven than the stockpot.

It’s more common to find tzimmes made with orange juice, but I find that cider helps this dish to be extra autumnal – not to mention how fantastic it makes the kitchen smell. Cranberries add a tart bite to break up the sweetness coming from the potatoes, carrots, prunes and additional liquid. If you’re not a fan of parsnips, you can easily swap them out for more carrots.

The best part of tzimmes is that it can easily be prepped in advance. Chop all the veggies and whisk up the liquid component the night before, then simply combine and toss in the oven on the big day.

Ingredients:
The vegetables:
4 parsnips
3 sweet potatoes (you can use firm pale-flesh or soft orange-flesh potatoes)
2 large carrots
1 large white onion
1/2 cup prunes, diced
1 cup cranberries (fresh or frozen)

For the glaze:
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup apple cider
1/4 cup honey
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon coriander
a few good pinches kosher salt
Sprigs of fresh thyme and sage (you can also use dried)
2 tablespoons butter or coconut oil

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Cut sweet potatoes, carrots, and parsnips into 1-inch chunks, making sure to discard the woody inner stem of the parsnips. Place in a 2-quart baking dish with prunes and cranberries.

Whisk remaining ingredients except (thyme sprigs and butter) together and pour over the vegetables. Place fresh thyme and sage on top.

Cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes, then baste the juices over the vegetables. Re-cover with foil and bake for another 30 minutes, basting again after 15.

Baste again, uncover, and dot the top of the veggies with butter or coconut oil. Continue roasting until vegetables are tender and the sauce has thickened, about 35-45 minutes, tossing mixture occasionally.

Note: If doubling or tripling the recipe, the final roasting time may take up to an hour.

Rebecca Firkser is a New Jersey-based food writer and blogger. She blogs regularly at Spices and Spatulas. The Nosher food blog offers a dazzling array of new and classic Jewish recipes and food news, from Europe to Yemen, from challah to shakshuka and beyond. Check it out at www.TheNosher.com.