As the United States grows more diverse, traditions are evolving, blending cultural influences in fresh and creative ways. With Latinos making up nearly 20% of the population, many families are reimagining Thanksgiving by infusing their meals with flavors, ingredients, and rituals from their heritage. From vibrant marinades to unique side dishes and desserts, these gatherings showcase the rich culinary traditions of Latino cultures while keeping the holiday's centerpiece — the turkey — at the heart of the feast.
Pietra Cassolato, a Brazilian who has lived in the U.S. for over five years, shared with NBC News her turkey preparation method. She marinates the bird with garlic, olive oil, mustard, onion, and beer, blending the mixture before letting the turkey brine for five hours. It is then slow-cooked for three to five hours. Cassolato's family serves the turkey with rice, mashed potatoes, and potato salad, and for dessert, they enjoy passionfruit mousse or cake.
The Peruvian twist comes from Luis Toledo, who adds a bold mix of traditional Latin American spices to his Thanksgiving table. He marinates his turkey with aji amarillo, aji panca, aji girasol, and traditional seasonings like garlic, pepper, and oregano. After marinating the turkey for 12 hours, Toledo roasts it with butter. His sides include a classic Peruvian potato salad with egg, carrot, and mayonnaise, along with a dish called Coca-Cola rice — prepared with rice, Coke, onion, and raisins. For dessert, the family often enjoys cheesecake or ice cream.
For Venezuelan families, the turkey preparation starts with choosing a clean, lean bird. Samuel Nacisso explains to the outlet that his family marinates the turkey with pepper, sea salt, and a large blended onion, letting it soak overnight. The final dish is a sweet and savory take on the traditional bird, reflecting the flavors of their homeland.
A Colombian family's Thanksgiving turkey gets a fruity twist. Valentina Angel stuffs the bird with a variety of fruits, including apples, peaches, and berries. After letting the turkey sit for six hours, she roasts it in the oven, and as it nears completion, she adds dried nuts for a crunchy texture.
In addition to Latin touches for more traditional preparations, we've compiled some creative dishes that will help you express your roots at the table and discover new reasons to be thankful on Thanksgiving.
Cranberry Jalapeño Dip With Cream Cheese
Get things started with this fresh appetizer with a kick. The dish perfectly combines the traditional tarty taste of cranberry with spicy jalapeños to take your mouth for a ride. The appetizer also includes fresh cilantro and green onions, resulting in a colorful platter for your table. To top it all off, the recipe takes a total of five minutes to prepare.
Pumpkin Soup
Thanksgiving is all about celebrating the harvest and there's one crop in particular that gets most of the attention all-season long. Pumpkins are a Thanksgiving staple but you can definitely spice them up without going the Pumpkin-spice route. This soup recipe makes use of ingredients like cumin and queso fresco to add some much appreciated sabor to the pumkpin-verse. Plus, who doesn't appreciate a hot bowl of soup during a cold November day?
Adobo Turkey
Everyone has their own unique turkey recipe and, in many cases, it's been passed on from prios generations. But if you're looking to truly wow your guests, can we interest you in some toasted guajillo and ancho chiles to give your Thanksgiving recipes some Latin flair? This turkey dish combines the aforementioned chiles with a wide range of aromatic spices like cumin, cinnamon and oregano to create a red adobo sauce that glazes the bird and leaves you hoping for leftovers.
Chipotle Sweet Potato Pommes Anna
With just five ingredients you can take sweet potatoes up several notches and create a true latino-inspired Thanksgiving side dish. The flavorful creation gets extra points for finding inspiration in the classical French dish called Pommes Anna, which is a fancy way of referring to sliced and stacked roasted potatoes. The latin flavor comes courtesy of melted butter mixed with chipotles in adobo and fresh rosemary. All in all, an incredible-looking dish with an incredibly simple preparation.
Pumpkin Arroz con Leche
Pumpkin arroz con leche is a seasonal take on the classic latin dessert your abuela used to make. The name itself conjures up all sorts of childhood memories. Made with long grain rice, cinnamon sticks and condensed milk, the recipe infuses the classic with pumpkin and autumn spices to make it the perfect example of the melting pot that make up a latino Thanksgiving dinner.
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