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When Thanksgiving comes around, I don’t just think about turkey and stuffing. I think about arroz con gandules simmering with homemade sofrito, black beans bubbling on the stove, and sweet plantains frying until their edges turn deep golden and caramelized. I’m also thinking about the cousins running around, the aunts and uncles catching up in the kitchen, and the whole family squeezed around the table. Those are the smells and sounds that remind me of every holiday that felt full and warm.
That’s what my Thanksgiving dinner plan looks like. I set out rice, beans, plantains, and a chicken marinated with citrus and garlic. It feels like a party, it feeds a hungry family, and most of all it tastes like home.
The Dishes I Love Adding to Our Table for Thanksgiving
Some years it’s turkey, some years it’s chicken or pernil. The dishes I always look forward to are the ones that carry those classic Latin flavors and my family’s recipes.
A pot of arroz con gandules, sweet plantains fried until golden, beans simmered with homemade sofrito. I love combining these dishes with the classics like turkey, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce, and together they make what feels like the best kind of American Thanksgiving dinner.
1
Roasted Cuban Mojo Pork
Roasted pork shoulder marinated in a delicious garlicky, citrusy Cuban mojo marinade and roasted until it falls apart.
Chimichurri chicken thighs are marinated in a fresh herb and garlic sauce, then cooked and topped with more chimichurri. Serve with cilantro lime rice, crispy yuca fries, or a balsamic arugula salad.
The best chicken chimichangas are crispy on the outside and stuffed with deliciously seasoned chicken on the inside, which melds together with melted, gooey Oaxacan and Monterey Jack cheese.
Arroz con gandules – Puerto Rican rice with pigeon peas, cooked with sofrito, sazon, and adobo. This vegetarian version comes together in one pot and is perfect with tostones.
Cheesy taco rice skillet is made in one pan with seasoned rice, melted cheese, and taco toppings. Top it with avocado and fresh tomatoes for an easy meal.
This creamy butternut squash with garlic chicken pasta is exactly that for me. The silky butternut squash sauce coats the chicken and rigatoni perfectly.
Arroz con Leche Colombiano (Colombian Rice Pudding)
This creamy Colombian arroz con leche (rice pudding) is one of my favorite desserts to make. I love the way the rice, milk, and sugar come together—it’s so simple but so good. It’s perfect warm or chilled, and I always make it when I want to share something special with my family.
Hi, I’m Olga! I love cooking from scratch with simple, fresh ingredients. The recipes here are inspired by the flavors I grew up with and the places I’ve traveled to. My hope is to share some of my favorite dishes and inspire you to try something new in the kitchen.
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