It may be called the great American bird, but turkey was first domesticated in Mexico, where, as James Beard once wrote, "it was to that country what beef is to the United States." One of our favorite preparations is a celebratory dish from the Mexican state of Puebla: a slow braise of breast meat in a deep, dark mole that's shot through with three kinds of dried chiles, peanuts, and pumpkin seeds and enriched with chocolate and spices. The spicy, sweet, savory sauce can be sopped up with hot tortillas and rice, or even crusty bread.
Get the recipe for Turkey in Mole Poblano ».
Todd Coleman
We tend to think of Thanksgiving as a distinctly American holiday, but if America means anything, it’s drawing influences from around the world and making them feel at home. So if classic roast turkey and sage-themed stuffing are feeling a little tired this year, we have a few ideas to adding color, spice, and flavor to your table. See them all in the gallery above, from chile-rubbed turkey to a cornbread spiced with cumin.
Braised Turkey in Green Mole
Deconstructed turkey braised in a refreshing green mole provides a light and quick alternative to the standard Thanksgiving bird.
Turkey in Mole Poblano
It may be called the great American bird, but turkey was first domesticated in Mexico, where, as James Beard once wrote, “it was to that country what beef is to the United States.” One of our favorite preparations is a celebratory dish from the Mexican state of Puebla: a slow braise of breast meat in a deep, dark mole that’s shot through with three kinds of dried chiles, peanuts, and pumpkin seeds and enriched with chocolate and spices. The spicy, sweet, savory sauce can be sopped up with hot tortillas and rice, or even crusty bread. Get the recipe for Turkey in Mole Poblano »
Chile-Rubbed Roast Turkey
We’ve tried many roasting methods over the years, but the one Susana Trilling uses to make the chile-rubbed turkey she serves at her Thanksgiving feast in Oaxaca, Mexico, really stands out. An hour into roasting, Trilling flips the turkey so that the breast is on the bottom. The result is juicy white meat and meltingly tender legs and thighs.
Aunt Renee’s Gelatin Mold
A flip through any cookbook from the early or mid-20th century will reveal a bevy of shimmering, molded gelatin treats like this one, made with peaches and cream cheese.
