Thanksgiving turkey a bore? Asian alternatives you can cook for the holiday

Savour the Asian flavours of stuffed boneless chicken or lamb with Sichuan spices and spring onion pancakes

For a more traditional dish, try a crowd-pleasing braised beef brisket with onions

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Nor mai gai is a tricky Thanksgiving alternative, but the effort is worth it. Photo: Koji Studio

Published: 2:00am, 19 Nov 2018Updated: 2:00am, 19 Nov 2018

I’m not the only one who finds turkey the most boring meat available – although I do have recipes for it, including a classic roast turkey and my favourite, one in which the bird is boned, then stuffed with minced pork, savoy cabbage, chestnuts, pistachios and dried cranberries before being roasted.

But, given the chance, I’d choose any meat over turkey, and many others feel the same way. If you’re in charge of the holiday meal, and you’re feeding others who are fine with breaking with tradition, try these alternatives to turkey.

1. Lamb with Sichuan spices and spring onion pancakes

This is another easy dish with lots of flavour. If you have the time, let the spice-coated lamb sit in the fridge for several hours before you roast it.

Leg of lamb with Sichuan peppercorn spice rub by Susan Jung. Photo: Jonathan Wong

In this recipe, I suggested serving pilaf if you do not want to make spring onion pancakes, but another alternative is buying frozen naan bread and heating it on a griddle just before the lamb is ready to be carved.

Thanksgiving turkey a bore? Asian alternatives you can cook for the holiday

Savour the Asian flavours of stuffed boneless chicken or lamb with Sichuan spices and spring onion pancakes For a more traditional dish, try a crowd-pleasing braised beef brisket with onions

Savour the Asian flavours of stuffed boneless chicken or lamb with Sichuan spices and spring onion pancakes

For a more traditional dish, try a crowd-pleasing braised beef brisket with onions