15 Best Balsamic Side Dishes for Your Thanksgiving Table

Every home cook needs to have balsamic vinegar in their cabinet. It can improve the flavor of many dishes and add the tanginess and acidity that your food needs. It can be used for salad dressings, marinades, glazes, and more. These are 15 flavorful, balsamic side dishes that will translate beautifully to your Thanksgiving table. There are lots of Brussels sprouts and mushrooms on the list which makes these balsamic side dishes even more perfect for the holidays. Check out the Food Monster App for more recipes!

1. Balsamic Maple Glazed Cauliflower

Source: Balsamic Maple Glazed Cauliflower

This Balsamic Maple Glazed Cauliflower by Kaylee Pauley takes on a wonderful Asian stir-fry flavor without soy and additives! The batter is made with almond milk, almond meal, and flaxseed, before topping the whole thing with hemp seeds, making the cauliflower completely gluten-free!

2. Grilled Vegetables with Balsamic and Basil

Source: Grilled Vegetables with Balsamic and Basil

Indulge in these quick, easy, and healthy Grilled Vegetables with Balsamic and Basil by Daniela Modesto! You can never go wrong with vegetables as a side dish.

Gratitude: Plant-Based Thanksgiving Cookbook

No other holiday captures the spirit of home cooking the way Thanksgiving does. This is why you need the ultimate Thanksgiving cookbook, One Green Planet’s Gratitude: Plant-Based Recipes to Create your own Thanksgiving Tradition! In the cookbook, you’ll find our 100 most popular plant-based Thanksgiving recipes like Soft Baked Pumpkin Doughnuts, Spiced Apple Cake with Cashew Frosting, Sweet Potato Chocolate Pudding with Nut Crumble Topping, Cinnamon Apple Hand Pies, and hearty entrees like Roast Root Vegetable Stack With Dukkah, Vegducken: Butternut Squash Stuffed With Eggplant, Zucchini, and a Mushroom Lentil Stuffing, and Seitan Roast With Sausage and Pear Stuffing and Apple Cider Gravy and so much more!

3. Balsamic-Roasted Beets & Kale Salad with Maple Tahini Dressing

Source: Balsamic-Roasted Beets & Kale Salad with Maple Tahini Dressing

This Balsamic-Roasted Beets & Kale Salad with Maple Tahini Dressing by Christine DesRoches is the perfect fall salad – beets and kale and a rich maple tahini dressing. It also pairs well with other dinner dishes. The salad is quite filling and full of nutrients.

4. Roasted Stuffed Eggplant With Maple Balsamic Glaze

Source: Roasted Stuffed Eggplant With Maple Balsamic Glaze

This fancy Roasted Stuffed Eggplant With Maple Balsamic Glaze by Anja Cass has some serious “wow” factor! Topped with a full-bodied glaze, its Mediterranean-inspired flavors will leave your taste buds doing a happy dance. This is great for sharing at dinner, but it can also be rolled up as a wrap or eaten as a sandwich for a satisfying lunch.

5. Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Pumpkin, Tomatoes, Toasted Seeds, and Balsamic Vinegar

Source: Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Pumpkin, Tomatoes, Toasted Seeds, and Balsamic Vinegar

Not only are these Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Pumpkin, Tomatoes, Toasted Seeds, and Balsamic Vinegar by Judy Moosmueller amazing, but they are also paired with pumpkin, tomatoes, toasted seeds, and balsamic vinegar to make a vegan side that will be unforgettable. Plus, the tandoori spice mix is to die for. Your holiday guests will thank you!

6. Balsamic Tofu with Cherry Tomatoes

Source: Balsamic Tofu with Cherry Tomatoes

This Balsamic Tofu with Cherry Tomatoes by Dawn Kriss is a super quick and easy dish–you just need a little time to let your tofu marinate. Once you’ve done that, you just slice your tomatoes and basil, toss and go! It’s a great ‘lunch on the go’ or tasty side dish!

7. Balsamic Grilled Tofu Crostini

Source: Balsamic Grilled Tofu Crostini

Tofu is marinated in olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and plenty of fresh Italian herbs and garlic before being beautifully grilled. Keep things simple by putting the grilled tofu on a lightly toasted crostini with a splash more of the marinade and a dash of salt. This Balsamic Grilled Tofu Crostini by Marta Ansaldo and Mimma Sangiorgio is perfect for serving as an appetizer or side dish!

8. Balsamic Roasted Garlic Mushrooms

Source: Balsamic Roasted Garlic Mushrooms

These Balsamic Roasted Garlic Mushrooms by Laine Rudolfa are incredibly satisfying and rich in flavor. Although there are many flavor options for making roasted mushrooms, these are tangy, flavorful, and the perfect addition to a holiday meal!

9. Spelt Berry Salad With Cinnamon Balsamic Vinaigrette

Source: Spelt Berry Salad With Cinnamon Balsamic Vinaigrette

A warm salad that combines cooked spelt berries with sauteed kale, apple, and walnuts. Tossed with a cinnamon-spiced balsamic vinaigrette, this Spelt Berry Salad by Steph McKercher is the perfect addition to your dinner table!

10. Crispy Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Source: Crispy Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts

These Crispy Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts by Danielle Clark are the perfect side dish and add tons of flavor to a meal. They’re crispy, gluten-free, and ready in under an hour. Enjoy these as an easy side dish, in a buddha bowl, or as a snack.

11. Lemony Balsamic Split Pea and Mushroom Risotto

Source: Lemony Balsamic Split Pea and Mushroom Risotto

This Lemony Balsamic Split Pea and Mushroom Risotto by Laura Peill is risotto in the most untraditional sense. There’s no rice or wine, yet when you experience its rich taste and soft texture, there will be no doubt in your mind that it’s worthy of the name “risotto.” The delicious green split peas are cooked in flavorful vegetable broth, vinegar, and spices until they achieve a purée-like texture. Just before serving, a mixture of sautéed mushrooms and other vegetables is added. Top with a sprinkle of pumpkin seeds for texture and enjoy!

12. Balsamic Mushrooms and Green Beans With Coconut Bacon

Source: Balsamic Mushrooms and Green Beans With Coconut Bacon

Who says side dishes can’t steal the show? Serve these Balsamic Mushrooms and Green Beans With Coconut Bacon by Molly Patrick and chances are, you’ll want to devour an entire plate of them on a bed of rice. Mushrooms of any kind and fresh green beans are stir-fried with a generous amount of fresh garlic, a splash of soy sauce, and just a bit of balsamic vinegar — just a small amount is enough. Coconut bacon brings some crunch and a burst of smokiness to the tangy, vinegary flavor of this side.

13. Pan-Toasted Balsamic Mushroom Gnocchi

Source: Pan-Toasted Balsamic Mushroom Gnocchi

This Pan-Toasted Balsamic Mushroom Gnocchi by Julia Papanek has it all – delicious, indulgent flavor, a variety of textures, and plenty of nutrition! Pillowy gnocchi is pan-toasted until browned and buttery and then combined with caramelized Cremini mushrooms. Add some fresh arugula, rich balsamic, crunchy toasted walnuts, and a big squeeze of lemon and you have an incredible, sophisticated dish that will energize and impress.

14. Balsamic Brussels Sprouts With Shiitake Bacon

Source: Balsamic Brussels Sprouts With Shiitake Bacon

This classic side is bursting with flavors that will never disappoint. These Balsamic Brussels Sprouts With Shiitake Bacon by Gabrielle St. Claire are tossed with a tangy cherry balsamic reduction and smoky Shiitake bacon. It’s so good, everyone might just forget that it’s not the main course.

15. Creamy Polenta With Balsamic Brussels Sprouts

Source: Creamy Polenta With Balsamic Brussels Sprouts

This delicious Creamy Polenta With Balsamic Brussels Sprouts by Liz Martone is layered with a plethora of wonderful textures and flavors. Polenta is cooked in vegetable broth to infuse it with savory flavor and then it’s topped with balsamic oven-roasted vegetables like hearty Brussels sprouts and meaty mushrooms. The crispy chickpeas on top are roasted in olive oil and garlic powder, adding the perfect tang and crunch to the dish. Who knew such a simple meal could taste so good?

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