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    November 2, 2021

    Roast Pig is the NEW Roast Turkey for Thanksgiving

    It's time to make the leap in 2021 for a Thanksgiving and holiday menu change: choose Roast Pig as the NEW Roast Turkey this year, and give your menu an Italian flare.

    Roast Pig is the NEW Roast Turkey this Thanksgiving holiday
    Photo credit: https://magazine.misya.info/alimentazione/porceddu-uno-dei-piatti-sardi-piu-famosi/

    There are lots of reasons for this menu change not the least of which is that this year turkeys are in short supply and cost much more than previous years.
    In their cookbook the Palizzi Social Club says If You Can Roast a Turkey for Thanksgiving, You Can Roast a Pig. The cooking section of the New York Times says that a whole roast suckling pig is quite special. No other feast food of the holiday season cooks so easily, and presents so majestically. And still another article says: Done with turkey at Thanksgiving? Try roasted pig.
    You're probably wondering how large a roast suckling pig is (often smaller than a turkey), or how complicated it might be to roast a whole suckling pig this Thanksgiving holiday. The answer is it’s much simpler than you think. Here's a super simple step by step guide.
    In her cookbook Bitter Honey Letitia Ann Clark shares her recipe for whole roast pig Sardinian style, porceddu.
    Make sure you listen to my podcast episode with travel writer James Martin: Farm to table homestyle pig butchering in northern Tuscany.

    Delicious pork dish alternatives to a whole roast pig this Thanksgiving holiday

    Almost everyone loves pork - often ham is served over the holidays on its own or along with turkey. There are other delicious pork options you should try if you're not quite ready to roast a whole pig.
    Pork belly with a sticky pomegranate glaze is a flavorful and festive dish. The deep red glaze, pomegranate arils and minced parsley echo the quintessential holiday red and green colors. Not to mention that this dish packs in the flavor and is simple to make and delicious.

    Pork belly with a sticky pomegranate glaze: You can make it in advance and warm it up in the oven - another benefit when you're cooking for a crowd over the holidays.

    Porchetta, a savory boneless pork roast, is another alternative. Porchetta is an Italian classic, especially in the Ariccia area just outside of Rome. The next time you visit Rome be sure to make this day trip to Ariccia to explore the area and sample some of the local porchetta.

    Delicious porchetta rolled roast filled with fresh herbs

    New York Times recipe writer Melissa Clark has this recipe for porchetta, as well as a delicious recipe for a crown roast of pork with fennel and lemon. You can order a gorgeous porchetta roast online right here.

    What should you serve with roast pig this Thanksgiving holiday?

    Cookbook author and blogger Michele Di Pietro and I chatted about great dishes to serve this Thanksgiving holiday with roast pig. The bottom line is that almost every dish you enjoy with turkey is even better served with roast pig.

    Start with a soup

    Corn is always a Thanksgiving holiday favorite so try this Mexican Street Corn soup featured in Michele's Soupified cookbook.

     Mexican corn soup is a great way to start your Roast pig Thanksgiving holiday


    Squash soups are always a favorite at Thanksgiving. You can porkify (a phrase Michele and I coined during our chat today!) any squash soup by adding delicious pork sausage or pancetta to the soup. Top your soup with some pomegranate arils:

    Pomegranate arils (seeds) I keep pomegranates in my kitchen year round as they're purported to bring good luck. So beautiful, they're a lovely addition to any table centerpiece. And best of all their clusters of juicy seeds are delicious tossed into salads, or made into juice.


    Two other delicious soups to serve are Pioppino mushroom soup with pancetta, spring peas, and green onions

    Pioppino mushroom soup with spring peas, pancetta and green onions; make in just 20 minutes!

    or White beans, tomato and rosemary soup.

    Luscious white bean soup with tomatoes and rosemary makes a delicious and comforting winter soup

    First course dishes with an Italian flare

    Roast pig this Thanksgiving holiday is most definitely Italian so stay in theme with your first course dishes and choose a pasta, gnocchi or risotto dish. You can buy stuffed pasta and gnocchi ready-made or you can make in advance and freeze.
    A few of my favorites are Radicchio Ravioli with Chestnut Cream, Sizzled Pork Jowl or Fried Sage,

    When fall rolls around it's time to make dishes that bring together some of the season's best ingredients like these Radicchio Ravioli with Chestnut Cream, Sizzled Pork Jowl and Fried Sage. Perfect for a Roast pig Thanksgiving holiday 

    Pumpkin & Pecan Ravioli in a Brown Butter Sauce or Broccoli Rabe Gnocchi with a Gorgonzola Sage Sauce, or one of these risotto dishes: Wild Rice Risotto with Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Gorgonzola

    Brussels Sprouts Risotto with Gorgonzola is a great pairing for a Roast pig Thanksgiving holiday

    or Pumpkin Gorgonzola Risotto.

    Pumpkin Gorgonzola Risotto is the perfect blend of flavors for a creamy and delicious risotto

    Side dishes and salads for your roast pig Thanksgiving holiday feast

    Michele and I are both partial to brussels sprouts. Try these Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts.
    Another idea is Shaved Brussels Sprouts and Walnut Salad - add dried cranberries for a bit of sweetness and a Thanksgiving touch.
    Mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes are a must, made almost any way you enjoy.
    Another colorful and tasty vegetable dish is Sautéed Purple Cabbage with Fresh Cilantro (coriander).

    Delicious sautéed purple cabbage and fresh cilantro pair perfectly with a Roast pig Thanksgiving holiday meal


    Cranberries and apples are two natural pairings with roast pork this Thanksgiving holiday. I love Fresh Cranberry Relish (recipe soon to be on my website),

    Cranberry Relish is a super easy and delicious dish to serve at your holiday meal; it adds a bit of sweetness and color to your Roast pig Thanksgiving holiday menu

    and almost anything apple like applesauce with marsala, or roast apples with cinnamon.

    Breads and stuffing are a must for your roast pig Thanksgiving holiday menu

    Try these great corn bread and pumpkin bread (or muffins) recipes. Cranberry fig bread is delicious and festive.

    Cranberry fig bread for the holidays

    Or try making cinnamon rolls without the cinnamon for a delicious savory roll! Simply swap out the cinnamon filling for butter and minced sage & rosemary.
    Give these scrumptious corn fritters a try. They’re a perfect pairing for your roast pig this Thanksgiving.

    Corn Fritters  go beautifully with a Roast pig Thanksgiving holiday

    Michele always makes a strata - a savory bread pudding - for Thanksgiving. She puts sausage, mushroom, eggs, a bit of garlic, parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme in her strata, and uses challah and bagels for the bread. You'll find her recipe soon on her website.

    Roast pig aside, no Thanksgiving holiday menu is complete without delicious desserts

    Stick to crowd pleasing classics like apple pie, pumpkin pie, and pecan pie.
    Another of my favorites is this Caramel Walnut Torte.

    Filling the Caramel Walnut Torte

    And for something extra special try Spiced Pumpkin Soufflés with a Brown Sugar & Scotch Whisky Drizzle: you'll find the recipe soon on my website!

    Pumpkin ravioli  is a perfect starter for your pig roast Thanksgiving holiday celebration

    I earn a modest commission from purchases made via links on my website. Rest assured, prices remain the same for you. Choosing to buy through my links directly contributes to sustaining my efforts in providing you with exceptional recipes, podcast episodes, and valuable culinary and travel insights.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Phyllis Knudsen says

      January 29, 2022 at 1:07 am

      Late to the party me! But let me just say this was a mouthwatering post with such great recommendations! How I miss good porchetta...hmmm...maybe when we see you we should share some!

      Reply
      • Wendy says

        February 07, 2022 at 6:14 pm

        What a great idea Phyllis! On your next trip let's focus on pork!

        Reply
      • Wendy says

        February 07, 2022 at 6:16 pm

        We did the roast pig for Thanksgiving – a suckling pig. While it was positively delicious I still have a little bit of a rough time getting over the sight of the pigs tail, head and teeth...

        Reply

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    I’m American and I’ve lived in Italy for nearly four decades with my Italian family. My passion and strength lies in sharing Italian stories, recipes and unique travel insights on my blog, my Flavor of Italy trips and tours, newsletter and podcast. Continue Reading...

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