By Jordan Kwong
With Thanksgiving just a week away, everyone’s eyes look forward to the iconic dinner. At the center of the table lies perhaps the most idolized yet overrated dish: the turkey.
Let’s be honest—turkey is, more often than not, dry and bland. This is due to the turkey’s natural leanness, especially in the breast. Even when drowned in gravy and paired with stuffing, the meat is still mediocre at best. If a dish needs countless toppings and sides to become remotely enjoyable, why even bother?
Additionally, turkey is time-consuming and complex to prepare. Roasting one is a major undertaking. First, the cook must thaw the turkey (which can take days). Then it must be seasoned, slow-cooked for up to 5 hours, basted every 30 minutes, and expertly carved. The entire process easily takes up a majority of Thanksgiving day. If not done perfectly, the turkey easily comes out dry, bland, or even overcooked, leaving everyone politely reaching for gravy and cranberry sauce just to give it some life. For the home cook juggling multiple side dishes, the complicated task of preparing a turkey feels like a chore. It takes from the joy of the holiday, adding unnecessary stress and pressure to an already busy day. Instead of savoring time with loved ones, the cook is often tethered to the kitchen, anxiously monitoring the oven and basting schedule.
This daunting task often encourages some families to opt for a precooked option. When looking at the options, however, the prices are by no means affordable. Most grocery stores sell cooked turkeys for about 70 dollars; restaurants, upwards of 100 dollars. Even an uncooked turkey costs around 50 dollars. Year after year, turkey dampens the lighthearted holiday with its anxiety-inducing prices.
In the end, it is the side dishes that truly bring out the warmth and flavor at the Thanksgiving table. Buttery mashed potatoes, rich macaroni and cheese, or flavorful stuffing are the people’s true champions. When looking for a turkey alternative, glazed ham or prime rib are much more consistent in flavor and enjoyment, and are bound to satisfy any group of hungry feasters. So this Thanksgiving, let’s give the turkey a rest and focus on the dishes that truly bring us together.