For Thanksgiving, we're grateful for our communities in sharing healthy and flavorful food, And, we’re thankful for the delicious flavors that extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar can bring.
Perhaps you’re someone who tenses up and panics when thinking about planning and creating a Thanksgiving meal. Or perhaps you’re someone who’s always up for the challenge of Thanksgiving dinner. You’ve tried new recipes when guests joined you - some with great success and maybe others as learning experiences.
Why Use Olive Oil & Balsamic Vinegar in Your Thanksgiving Dinner
Whether you celebrate the opportunity to cook your family and friends a Thanksgiving meal or you shudder at the responsibility, incorporating ingredients like extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar is a simple and easy way to amp up your flavors.
Olive oil and balsamic vinegar add in an exciting level of flavor that you just can't get in store-bought condiments. Especially with our flavor-infused varieties, adding an extra pop of flavor is simple and easy. Swapping out butter or vegetable oil and using olive oil also enhances the health benefits of the dish, providing healthy fats and other great benefits!
Best Fall-Inspired Flavors for Thanksgiving
If you're looking to add a little bit of "Thanksgiving flavor" to your dishes, add in some of Fustini's fall-inspired flavors. While any of our balsamic vinegars and extra virgin olive oils can be delicious in Thanksgiving bites, here are some that might bring along that extra feeling of fall.
- Cranberry Pear balsamic vinegar - great addition to sauces, stuffing, and desserts.
- Walnut oil - a nutty addition to a fall salad dressing
- Michigan Apple balsamic vinegar - add to desserts and salad dressings
- Pomegranate balsamic vinegar - great for a darker, richer salad dressing
- Sage & Wild Mushroom olive oil - add to stuffing, turkey, and much more as a great fall flavor
Ways to Use Olive Oil and Vinegar in your Thanksgiving Feast
So how do you incorporate these great flavors into your Thanksgiving spread? Next we share easy ways to boost your flavors in your Thanksgiving dishes with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic.
Thanksgiving Turkey
One of the easiest and most convenient ways to integrate extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar is in basting your turkey or ham before cooking it. Enhance the cooking by basting with just some extra virgin olive oil, such as Herbs de Provence, or with a fruity balsamic vinegar like Pomegranate. Or, create your own brine with just a few steps.
Why brine a turkey? That extra liquid adds moisture to the meat, pulls out the natural juices and elevates the taste and texture of the Thanksgiving staple. And, it’s easy to make the brine yourself.
When you choose to make your own brine for your meat, you can create a flavor combination that will make your mouth water and leave your guests in awe. With just a few simple ingredients, you can take your turkey flavor to the next level. By combining flavors like garlic, onion, molasses, cloves, bay leaves, cinnamon, and of course a flavored balsamic vinegar, you can create a harmony of flavors quickly and easily. Check out this easy recipe for turkey brine.
You can even serve turkey in a different way like in this Herbed Turkey Roulade, using breadcrumbs and delicious seasonings.
Brussels Sprouts
We get that initially, the Brussels sprouts may not seem like the most popular item on the Thanksgiving table. But it could be. Turn those once-ignored fall vegetables into a family favorite by preparing them with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. After washing, sauté the sprouts in a flavored extra virgin olive oil, like Blood Orange. Once they’re bright green, drizzle a balsamic glaze or 18 Year Traditional balsamic for a sweet balance. The tartness from the vinegar balances well with the bitterness of the Brussels Sprouts. Give this autumn produce a try by incorporating some new flavors.
Not a fan of Brussels sprouts? Opt for other rich, fall vegetables like these Balsamic Glazed Roasted Cauliflower bites.
Green Bean Casserole
One of the most significant ways to amp up the flavor of this dish is by preparing your own cream of mushroom soup. Making it from scratch may take a bit more time, but it sure is worth it. Fresh mushrooms bring out a natural and wholesome flavor—something that’s more difficult to get in a can. Check out this Green Bean Casserole recipe that shares how to make your own cream of mushroom soup.
Using fresh green beans instead of canned can also bring out that natural green bean flavor a bit more. These blanched beans also may help prevent the casserole from becoming too soggy.
In this casserole, you can also amp up the onion flavor by making your own sautéed onion topping. And by bringing in Fustini’s Sage & Wild Mushroom olive oil in both the onion topping and casserole itself, you can further elevate that natural mushroom flavor.
Thanksgiving Stuffing
Dressing, stuffing, the bread and sausage thing - whatever you call it, this Thanksgiving favorite can also be amped up by incorporating flavors of extra virgin olive oil and balsamic.
In addition to the usual sausage, onions, celery, raisins, and chicken broth, drizzle in some olive oil over your bread cubes before roasting them in the oven. A herby oil, such as Herbs de Provence allows you to enhance the flavor of the bread without having to add in numerous spices.
Check out these recipes for a bold new take on your Thanksgiving stuffing.
- Apple Cranberry Stuffing - Bring in some sweetness to this recipe with natural fruit flavors. The fresh herbs and crunchy apple and celery make this dish something to remember.
- Apple Pecan Stuffing - So delicious, it sounds like a dessert. This recipe brings in classic fall flavors and double the apple with both fresh diced apples and Michigan Apple balsamic vinegar.
- Butternut Squash and Sausage Stuffing - Bring in some different fall flavors with this hearty and savory stuffing. The Sage & Wild Mushroom olive oil also help to bring all these fall flavors together harmoniously.
Whether you turn it more savory or more sweet, there is a lot of space for creativity and fun when it comes to baking up a pan of stuffing.
Mashed Potatoes
Rather than plopping in a few tablespoons of butter on your mashed potatoes, unnecessarily increasing the calorie count, drizzle in some extra virgin olive oil instead. Choose a flavored oil such as Sage & Wild Mushroom or Garlic or go bold with some White Truffle oil.
Classic baking potatoes can easily become your canvas in which to paint in a variety of different flavors, ingredients and herbs. This recipe for Herb Mashed Potatoes integrates a savory garlic flavor with Gremolata olive oil and is also topped with a crispy, crunchy topping. This recipe for Garlic Mashed Potatoes with Spinach and Basil brings in fresh spinach and basil leaves to add some color to this favorite.
Adding this in last minute is so easy but can make a big improvement in your average mashed potatoes.
Yams
If you prefer the sweeter side of potatoes - or yams - you can also elevate the profile of your dish. For mashed sweet potatoes, drizzle in a little flavored olive oil, such as Persian Lime, as you mash up the spuds.
Another easy way to bring in a new flavor is by using a splash of Iron Fish Honey Vinegar. Additionally, you can also throw in a serrano chili to spice things up, too. Check out this recipe for a spicy take on candied yams.
Cranberry Sauce
Whether you drizzle it on just food on your plate or on everything, or just eat it with a spoon, cranberry sauce is often a staple on the Thanksgiving table. And yes, you can amp up the flavor of the sauce, too.
For your next cranberry sauce, consider adding in a sweet balsamic vinegar, such as Cinnamon Pear. In this Spiced Cranberry sauce recipe, we combine the sweet flavors like apple, mandarin, orange juice - and of course cranberries - to create a sauce that you’ll want to put on everything.
Or, for an even quicker addition, add a splash of a fruity balsamic like Traverse City Cherry for a new flavor.
Pies
Last comes the course that is perhaps your favorite, the pies. Whether you prefer apple, pecan, pumpkin or any other flavor, you can incorporate EVOO and balsamic into your baking. Add a drizzle of flavored oil, such as Walnut or Butter oil into your crust. In the pie filling, whether fruity or nutty, add in a splash or two of balsamic vinegar, such as Sicilian Lemon or Ginger & Honey for a sweet pop of flavor. Check out this tasty Pumpkin Pie with Cinnamon Pear Cream recipe.
While many pecan pie eaters may be traditionalists when it comes to their dessert, there’s still plenty of opportunity for innovation. This recipe brings in a fruity component with Blood Orange olive oil in the crust and filling. It also brings a surprising bite with some Iron Fish Honey Vinegar in the fill and the bourbon whipped cream topping. Check out this recipe for a new take on pecan pie.
In a pinch with your pie? You can quickly add in an extra level of flavor by simply drizzling on a balsamic vinegar on your pie before serving. Easy as that.
More into cobblers than pie? Check out this Apple Cranberry Cobbler recipe that celebrates fall flavors with the help of Blood Orange olive oil and Cara Cara Vanilla balsamic vinegar.
Taste Something New This Thanksgiving
With just the two ingredients of extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar, you can instantly amp up the flavors in your Thanksgiving meal in just seconds. Which new recipe will you try this year?
Check out our website for more Thanksgiving finds, as well as a large collection of recipes you can try today.