Italian Thanksgiving menu ideas
that will amaze your guests!

Thanksgiving is the Holiday that brings together families no matter their religion. It is a day for Americans to gather for a day of feasting, football and family, a real celebration of American traditions and traditions are made not to be changed, of course. However, sometimes you can simply add some original details and make traditional customs a little bit more exciting. So, what about an Italian Thanksgiving menu this year? Here are some ideas to accompany your turkey!

When you invite lot of friends and relatives at home, we all know, there’s somebody who’s always late. It’s a good idea, therefore, to serve some light drinks such as Italian Prosecco or Aperol Spritz and some snack to kill the time and prepare everybody to a good lunch.

We suggest serving the Italian Aperitivo in the living room so that your guests are free to move and chat in small groups as everybody arrive – this also gives you a bit more time to prepare the table and ultimate your dishes.

Since everybody will be standing up, think about some finger food to accompany the drinks: you could start with a giant Pizza to be cut into small bite-size chunks. It will take you less time than most of fancy-looking appetizers and will be incredibly tastier. What a better way to start the Italian thanksgiving menu?

When everybody is finally there, you can sit down to the table and start the lunch! Here’s are three delicious sit-down starters that look impressive but are actually incredibly easy.

Fried Sage Leaves
This very simple but original appetizer is the perfect way to start the meal. All you need is some sage leaves that you will fry in a pan with hot olive oil, and to which you will add a little bit of salt. First small course is done!

Baked Seasoned Olives
Very easy to prepare and quite tasty kind of appetizer. You will have to put in the same recipient black pitted olives, rosemary, peeled garlic, and then add olive oil and vinegar. Then put the recipient in the oven for about an hour, and finally serve it warm.

Italian Bruschetta with Ricotta and Lemon Jam or Truffle
Italians love to pair jams and cheese: so why don’t create a special bruschetta with Ricotta cheese and Lemon Jam? You just need to toast some white bread, spread it with room temperature ricotta and then with the Lemon Jam. Otherwise, you can opt for a Bruschetta with Truffle’s sauce: just toast the bread and spread the sauce!

If you want to create an Italian Thanksgiving menu, you have to do at least one of the Best Italian Pasta dishes! There are typically several main courses served up for festive lunch in Italy and most families use to have two different kind of Pasta. Of course, you have to do smaller portions if you want to serve more Pasta dishes.

Trofie with home-made pesto sauce
<Trofie Pasta are the most famous and diffused Ligurian pasta shape. Basically, they are twists of Pasta and, because of their shape and consistency, they perfectly pair with the Ligurian sauce par excellence: Basil Pesto. The dense green pesto wraps itself around each turn of the trofie, and in each strip of pasta there is a taste of Liguria. You can opt for a jar of high-quality Pesto or you can go for homemade pesto sauce: you can prepare the latter with a food processor in only a few minutes!

Pici all’aglione
For an Italian, nothing says feast like a wooden board full of Fresh Pastajust made. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced kneader, you have to try to make your own Pasta. If you don’t feel confident, consider using a food processor: it will smooth the preparation without damaging the taste. For your Italian thanksgiving menu, we suggest Pici all’aglione, a typical Tuscan recipe. Pici are thick homemade spaghetti dressed with a garlic and tomato sauce (the aglione).

Pasta with Norma Sauce
Made with tomato sauce, fried eggplant and ricotta salata, Pasta with Norma Sauce is a real triumph of Mediterranean flavors and definitely one of the best Italian Pasta dishes. This tasty recipe from the Sicilian gastronomic tradition, will bring a touch of Southern Italy to your Italian thanksgiving menu and thanks to its colors it will be surely appreciated by younger guests!

Stroscia Cake
Congrats, you made it to the dessert! Stroscia is a flavorful and crisp cake that looks like a big biscuit: its name derives from the word “strosciare” that in Ligurian dialect means to break, to snap. Stroscia cake, indeed, must be broken with the hands. Made with only a few ingredients among which a fantastic olive oil, it’s the perfect solution to give a crunchy touch to your custards, creams or ice-cream or eaten as it is to accompany a good Italian Espresso.

Cantucci and Vin Santo Biscotti or Cantucci are crunchy almond biscuits that are cooked twice in the oven in order to prevent them from spoilage and ensure a longer conservation. This double cooking makes them perfect for dipping: that’s why they are typically served with Vin Santo, a Tuscan liqueurs wine with note of hazelnuts and caramel, but you can serve it with other liqueurs or Italian Espresso as well. Because of its modest alcholic content, a glass of Vin Santo will help the digestion while a couple of Cantucci will definitely satisfy your sweet tooth without make you feel fuller.

Italian Espresso
Now that the Italian Thanksgiving menu is really over, there’s one last thing you have to serve: a good Italian espresso! Prepare the moka according to the tradition and then enjoy coffee the Italian way: spending quality time with the people you love!
Merry Thanksgiving to everyone!