Every Thanksgiving, it is seen everywhere—commercials, movies, TV shows—a giant turkey on the dinner table, accompanied by side dishes and beverages. Turkey has been an important symbol of Thanksgiving since colonial America, when people would slaughter them for dinner. As large animals, they are the optimal choice for a filling dish, ensuring a meal for anyone who could possibly be invited to Thanksgiving dinner.
Even though turkey is an important part of Thanksgiving culture in America, many now consider it to be an overrated dish. I agree with this sentiment.
To start, turkey doesn’t retain much flavor, and often must be accompanied with side dishes, like mashed potatoes or cranberry sauce. Turkey is a lean meat; in other words, it doesn’t have much fat, unlike pork or beef. So, when cooked, it loses most of its moisture. Given the tedious nature of preparing and cooking a turkey, its subpar results show that it is not worth the effort.
Secondly, 46 million turkeys die every year for this holiday. They are brutally slaughtered and hung up, ready to be cooked and called dinner for the next few nights. Though true that an animal will die for this holiday, the sheer amount of turkeys that are harmed doesn’t pair well with the lackluster tasting result. Having turkey every year can be repetitive, and some variety has never hurt anyone. It allows families to explore different types of dishes to try, while also creating new learning opportunities through cooking.
On that note, there are many better alternatives out there to turkey that not only have a great flavor profile, but also offer a nice cooking experience. Meats such as ham are able to retain more flavor and moisture, making it a more enjoyable experience for those who eat it. After all, you won’t need to wrestle with your food to savor its deliciousness. Additionally, the smaller size means it can be prepared more conveniently, in contrast to a turkey’s large size.
Another alternative, simple yet delicious, is lasagna: a classic Italian dish consisting of layers of sauce and pasta sheets. Though it can be challenging to craft, the tasty end result makes up for the difficulties. As a highly customizable dish with a variety of different meats and sauces, everyone is guaranteed a bite to love. Lastly, it can also be easier to portion out, as it can be divided in squares, offering one less thing to worry about on this hectic holiday.
Of course, not all the possible alternatives are listed here; anyone can use their creativity to make their own recipes and foster new traditions. I believe that turkey is not as enjoyable as it is seen in media, and the holiday can be celebrated in unique, yet delectable ways.
