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20+ Asian-Inspired Thanksgiving Recipes

Published: by · 8 Comments

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Thanksgiving is a time for gathering with family, friends and loved ones to celebrate with delicious and bountiful food.

In North America, Thanksgiving has become a part of the holiday celebrations for many Asian families.

Instead of a traditional roasted turkey with mashed potatoes, stuffing, and gravy, the table may display familiar Asian favorites like roast duck, accompanied by steamed rice and other flavorful fusion side dishes.

I've rounded up 20+ Asian-Inspired Thanksgiving recipes that add a fresh, re-imagined, flavorful modern twist on the traditional holiday dishes. Gather your family, friends and feast on some fantastic food! Happy Thanksgiving!

Appetizers

Perfect for entertaining, these Asian-inspired appetizers are sure to impress guests with their vibrant flavors and textures.

1
Banh Mi Charcuterie Board
This Vietnamese Banh Mi Charcuterie Board is an easy deconstructed variation on banh mi cold cut sandwiches, featuring an assortment of meat, veggies and sliced baguette.
Check out this recipe
2
Crispy Net Spring Rolls
This recipe for Crispy Net Spring Rolls features a mixture of ground pork, wood ear mushrooms, taro, and mung bean vermicelli wrapped in lacy, delicate rice flour wrapper, resulting in a shatteringly crunchy bite.
Check out this recipe
3
Pâté Chaud (Bánh Patê Sô)
Pâté Chaud (Bánh Patê Sô) is a Vietnamese meat pastry consisting of minced ground pork, liver pâté and aromatics encased in a light and flaky puff pastry.
Check out this recipe

Sides

Add a touch of Asian-inspired flair to your Thanksgiving spread with sides that blend familiar flavors with unique ingredients.

Perfect for pairing with roasted meats or as standalone stars, these sides are sure to bring a delicious fusion twist to your Thanksgiving table.

4
Kimchi Mac & Cheese
This easy recipe for Kimchi Mac & Cheese is an Asian spin on a childhood classic. Cooked macaroni pasta gets smothered in a spicy Korean gochujang and cheese sauce with chopped kimchi.
Check out this recipe
5
Mala Tater Tots
These Mala Tater Tots are a quick and easy way to kick up crispy potatoes with a flavourful, numbing spice mix. Enjoy this Asian fusion spin on tater tots as a snack or appetizer!
Check out this recipe
6
Miso Tahini Green Beans
This recipe for Miso Tahini Green Beans features crisp, green beans flavored with creamy, nutty sesame, garlic and miso.
Check out this recipe
7
Maple Five-Spice Mashed Kabocha Squash
This recipe for Mashed Kabocha Squash features creamy roasted Japanese squash infused with the warm flavors of Chinese five-spice and maple syrup.
Check out this recipe
8
Korean Braised Potatoes (Gamja Jorim)
A quick and easy Korean-style braised potato side dish flavoured with maple syrup and soy sauce, perfect for pairing with steamed rice.
Check out this recipe
9
Kabocha Coconut Soup (3 Ingredients)
This vibrant Kabocha Coconut Soup is rich, naturally sweet, fragrant and creamy. It's simple to make and only contains 3 ingredients! 
Check out this recipe
10
Purple Sweet Potato Buns
All-natural soft and fluffy violet-hued buns made with purple sweet potato.
Check out this recipe
11
Cranberry Yuzu Sauce
This Cranberry Yuzu Sauce features fresh cranberries paired with yuzu citrus juice and marmalade for a contemporary twist on the holiday table staple.
Check out this recipe

Mains

Elevate your Thanksgiving feast with bold and flavorful Asian-inspired main dishes.

From tender roasted duck to ginger-soy pompano fish and gochujang meatballs, these recipes offer a flavorful alternative to traditional Thanksgiving mains.

12
Cantonese Roast Duck
Cantonese Roast Duck is a Chinese-style whole duck marinaded in a mixture of spices, air-dried over a period of time and roasted until golden in color.
Check out this recipe
13
Chinese Five-Spice Roasted Lamb
This recipe for Chinese Five-Spice Roasted Lambs features tender, juicy lamb in a flavorful mixture of spices, perfect for your holiday table.
Check out this recipe
14
Korean Gochujang Meatballs
These Korean Gochujang Meatballs feature ground beef flavored with the sweet and spicy notes of traditional Korean chili paste, and are sure to awaken your tastebuds.
Check out this recipe
15
Steamed Pompano
This easy recipe for Steamed Pompano fish with soy sauce, ginger and scallions is a tried and true family favourite. Delicately flaky yet firm succulent fish served with a hot sizzling oil drizzled on top brings out aroma and flavour.
Check out this recipe
16
Hainanese Chicken Rice
This recipe for Hainanese Chicken Rice features aromatic, toasted coconut rice with silky, tender poached chicken served alongside chili garlic sauce and a warm, clear chicken broth.
Check out this recipe

Dessert

End your Thanksgiving meal on a sweet note with Asian-inspired desserts that blend together holiday warmth with bold flavors.

From creamy coconut sticky rice to kabocha squash pie, these desserts use unique ingredients that bring a delicious finish to any holiday table.

17
Mini Pumpkin Hojicha Cheesecake
This recipe for Mini Pumpkin Hojicha Cheesecake features a smooth creamy cheesecake infused with warm spices on a gingerbread graham cracker crust flavoured with roasted green tea.
Check out this recipe
18
Kabocha Pie
This Kabocha Pie recipe is a fun twist on the classic pumpkin pie and features the rich, naturally sweet, and creamy Japanese kabocha squash, which is paired with a blend of warming spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger.
Check out this recipe
19
Ube Tart
This recipe for Ube Tart combines the creamy flavors of mashed purple yam with a flaky, all-butter tart crust -- a dessert that's both visually stunning and richly flavorful. With a smooth filling made from ube and hints of coconut, this tart is a delicious and vibrantly colorful treat to serve at any gathering.
Check out this recipe
20
Pulut Hitam (Black Sticky Rice in Coconut Milk)
This recipe for Black Sticky Rice in Coconut Milk (Pulut Hitam) consists of black glutinous rice cooked in sweetened coconut milk, fragranced with pandan.
Check out this recipe
21
Black Sesame Roll Cake
This Black Sesame Roll Cake is a light and delicious sponge cake infused with the flavor of finely ground black sesame powder.
Check out this recipe

Got leftovers?

Have some leftover turkey from your Thanksgiving celebration? With a few ingredients and seasonings, transform that turkey into an exciting new dish!

Whether you’re craving a comforting turkey congee, dumplings, or a banh mi sandwich, a little creativity can help turn those turkey leftovers into delicious Asian-inspired dishes.

Note: for the following recipes that use ground turkey, easily swap with cooked turkey. For the dumplings, chop the turkey into smaller pieces, and for banh mi, used the sliced cooked turkey.

22
Instant Pot Turkey Congee
This recipe for Instant Pot Turkey Congee is easy to prepare and full of flavor. It's a comforting dish to whip up using leftover turkey or turkey bones. 
Check out this recipe
23
Five-Spice Turkey Green Onion Pancake Rolls
Made with seasoned turkey meat, tucked into a crisp green onion pancake, rolled up with cucumber and cilantro.
Check out this recipe
24
Vegetable and Turkey Dumplings with Black Vinegar Dipping Sauce
These Vegetable and Turkey Dumplings feature tender, juicy ground turkey, chopped shiitake mushrooms and cabbage encased in a dumpling skin, served with a black vinegar soy dipping sauce.
Check out this recipe
25
Grilled Lemongrass Turkey Banh Mi
An easy recipe for flavourful Grilled Lemongrass Turkey Banh Mi using ground turkey.
Check out this recipe

Did you make any of these recipes?

Let me know if you try out my recipes -- I love seeing your creations! Tag me on Instagram @siftandsimmer and be sure to leave me a comment/rating below!

More Thanksgiving

About Michelle

I'm Michelle, an avid home cook and self-taught baker with over 18 years of experience in the kitchen. On my website, you'll find creative, modern Asian baking recipes, matcha green tea recipes and traditional recipes inspired by my Chinese and Southeast Asian heritage. With easy-to-follow instructions alongside tried-and-tested recipes, I'll assist you in creating delicious dishes in the comfort of your own kitchen.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. David @ Spiced

    Happy Thanksgiving, Michelle! I know you've already celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving, but this entire time of the year is perfect for visiting with friends and family. Speaking of, that Banh Mi charcuterie board needs to make an appearance here!!

    Reply

    • Michelle

      Thanks David, we do celebrate Canadian thanksgiving earlier than Americans, but that just means more time to celebrate with family and friends! 😉

  2. Neil

    Happy Thanksgiving. I love all these recipes, Michelle. But if I had to choose I'd go for the Mala Tater Tots and the Mini Pumpkin Hojicha Cheesecake, cause you know I'm a huge fan of cheesecakes! Hope you are doing well!

    Reply

    • Michelle

      Thank you Neil, Happy Thanksgiving! The mala tater tots are such a fun side dish which both adults and kids enjoy! And you can't go wrong with the warm cozy flavors of roasted hojicha tea and pumpkin -- encapsulates fall in the perfect dessert. 🙂

  3. Raymund | angsarap.net

    What a fantastic collection of Asian-inspired Thanksgiving recipes! It’s great to see how traditional holiday dishes can be given a fresh twist by combining the rich flavors of Asian cuisine. I love how the recipes balance both creativity and familiarity, making them perfect for anyone looking to spice up their Thanksgiving meal. Now wheres my invite to that dinner 🤣

    Reply

    • Michelle

      Thank you Raymund! Hope you give some of these twists a try for the holidays 🙂

  4. Healthy World Cuisine

    Loved this Asian inspired Turkey day round up of recipes. I have book marked those ideas for left overs. So much to choose from - its a bit overwhelming. A good problem to have!

    Reply

    • Michelle

      Thanks Bobbi! Glad you enjoyed the round up 🙂

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