Does coleslaw belong on the Thanksgiving table?

[Anonymous]

I've never seen or heard of it for Thanksgiving but I would welcome it. We have entirely too many sides as it is, so probably wouldn't add it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In Indiana my great aunt always had vinegar slaw at holidays.

This is exactly what traditional thanksgiving meals are missing and what cranberry sauce doesn’t provide - an acidic punch that is not overly sweet. In my family, we always have kimchi (and chapjae) at thanksgiving. The kimchi cuts through all the fat and richness.

I would love both of those as well

Kimchi and chapjae are really good ideas for a Thanksgiving side.

Back in the 19th into early 20th century it was very standard to serve pickled dishes and vinegary relishes as sides to dinner. Because they aided with the digestion and added spice and variety. All the old cookbooks are crowded with recipes for pickles and relishes for a reason. And I guarantee you the Victorian Thanksgiving would have had a selection of these relishes and pickles alongside with the potatoes and turkey.

A nice vinegary coleslaw would fall into this category and if there is a big meal that desperately needs something to help with digestion, it's Thanksgiving!

I think that also had to do with limited access to produce in the winter. Once they started making ice in industrial quantities, a lot changed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. My initial reaction was, "no way!" unless it's like, a thanksgiving BBQ in Texas. But you guys have given me a lot to consider, I had no idea that sauerkraut was such a popular side dish at thanksgiving in the midwest and baltimore!

I am not sure I am ready to bring coleslaw to my T-giving table, but a relish and pickle tray might be a nice touch.

Relish tray is standard. I was responsible for the dish my entire childhood.

What goes on a good relish tray?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gross. How Americans love foods like potato salad, macaroni salad, coleslaw etc. (I.e foods drenched in mayo) is beyond comprehension.

It's pretty uncultured to think that these require mayonnaise. Broaden your culinary scope.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gross. How Americans love foods like potato salad, macaroni salad, coleslaw etc. (I.e foods drenched in mayo) is beyond comprehension.

It's pretty uncultured to think that these require mayonnaise. Broaden your culinary scope.

My mother always served german potato salad to cut the heaviness and fat of the turkey and gravy. It has a vinegar base. No mayo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gross. How Americans love foods like potato salad, macaroni salad, coleslaw etc. (I.e foods drenched in mayo) is beyond comprehension.

It's pretty uncultured to think that these require mayonnaise. Broaden your culinary scope.

My mother always served german potato salad to cut the heaviness and fat of the turkey and gravy. It has a vinegar base. No mayo.

A lot of German potato salad has bacon and/or bacon fat. Not exactly a low fat side dish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gross. How Americans love foods like potato salad, macaroni salad, coleslaw etc. (I.e foods drenched in mayo) is beyond comprehension.

It's pretty uncultured to think that these require mayonnaise. Broaden your culinary scope.

My mother always served german potato salad to cut the heaviness and fat of the turkey and gravy. It has a vinegar base. No mayo.

A lot of German potato salad has bacon and/or bacon fat. Not exactly a low fat side dish.

Also, not mayonnaise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gross. How Americans love foods like potato salad, macaroni salad, coleslaw etc. (I.e foods drenched in mayo) is beyond comprehension.

It's pretty uncultured to think that these require mayonnaise. Broaden your culinary scope.

My mother always served german potato salad to cut the heaviness and fat of the turkey and gravy. It has a vinegar base. No mayo.

A lot of German potato salad has bacon and/or bacon fat. Not exactly a low fat side dish.

Also, not mayonnaise.

Bacon grease vs mayonnaise? It's a toss up as to which is worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My mom insists on it. So she makes it, nobody else really eats it or cares if it's there. I don't know why it's a Thanksgiving food for her, but it's not the same type of Cole slaw you find at a summer bbq.

My mom likes it too! And she brings it so whatever. Frankly, anyone can bring whatever they want so long as I don't have to make it

I kind of like the cool crunchy texture to go with all the savory mush, but a salad can fill that niche just fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gross. How Americans love foods like potato salad, macaroni salad, coleslaw etc. (I.e foods drenched in mayo) is beyond comprehension.

It's pretty uncultured to think that these require mayonnaise. Broaden your culinary scope.

My mother always served german potato salad to cut the heaviness and fat of the turkey and gravy. It has a vinegar base. No mayo.

A lot of German potato salad has bacon and/or bacon fat. Not exactly a low fat side dish.

Also, not mayonnaise.

Bacon grease vs mayonnaise? It's a toss up as to which is worse.

Expand those culinary horizons. I can't think of any German potato salad that has a comparable amount of bacon grease as typical to the amount of mayonnaise in American potato salad, but please feel free to post if you have it.

In fact, a lot of German potato salad recipes just add crumbled bacon as a garnish. But if there is some kind of prejudice or bigotry that underlies this peeve, facts aren't going to matter anyway. So, what's the culinary heritage you come from? Would you like to talk about fried, sugary sweets, or how white rice is one of the worst foods for spiking blood glucose levels, or what?

[Anonymous]

If not coleslaw, something else fresh and bright. All those rich dishes need some acid to counteract them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gross. How Americans love foods like potato salad, macaroni salad, coleslaw etc. (I.e foods drenched in mayo) is beyond comprehension.

It's pretty uncultured to think that these require mayonnaise. Broaden your culinary scope.

My mother always served german potato salad to cut the heaviness and fat of the turkey and gravy. It has a vinegar base. No mayo.

A lot of German potato salad has bacon and/or bacon fat. Not exactly a low fat side dish.

Also, not mayonnaise.

Bacon grease vs mayonnaise? It's a toss up as to which is worse.

Expand those culinary horizons. I can't think of any German potato salad that has a comparable amount of bacon grease as typical to the amount of mayonnaise in American potato salad, but please feel free to post if you have it.

In fact, a lot of German potato salad recipes just add crumbled bacon as a garnish. But if there is some kind of prejudice or bigotry that underlies this peeve, facts aren't going to matter anyway. So, what's the culinary heritage you come from? Would you like to talk about fried, sugary sweets, or how white rice is one of the worst foods for spiking blood glucose levels, or what?

Honestly I'm just going to pass on all the potato salad. No thank you. Don't care if its loaded with mayo or bacon or hard boiled eggs. Hard pass on all of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up with sauerkraut on the Thanksgiving table, both my Maryland and Pennsylvania families always had it and still do. And I love it as it's perfect with turkey.

Don't see a problem with slaw. It's just another salad. I can see it going well with the dryness of a typical turkey.

I grew up in Baltimore City. There was always sauerkraut on the table at thanksgiving although we are AA and not really German. I’m a teeny bit German on my dad’s side.

[Anonymous]

F no it's Thanksgiving not a BBQ op.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gross. How Americans love foods like potato salad, macaroni salad, coleslaw etc. (I.e foods drenched in mayo) is beyond comprehension.

It's pretty uncultured to think that these require mayonnaise. Broaden your culinary scope.

My mother always served german potato salad to cut the heaviness and fat of the turkey and gravy. It has a vinegar base. No mayo.

A lot of German potato salad has bacon and/or bacon fat. Not exactly a low fat side dish.

Also, not mayonnaise.

Bacon grease vs mayonnaise? It's a toss up as to which is worse.

Expand those culinary horizons. I can't think of any German potato salad that has a comparable amount of bacon grease as typical to the amount of mayonnaise in American potato salad, but please feel free to post if you have it.

In fact, a lot of German potato salad recipes just add crumbled bacon as a garnish. But if there is some kind of prejudice or bigotry that underlies this peeve, facts aren't going to matter anyway. So, what's the culinary heritage you come from? Would you like to talk about fried, sugary sweets, or how white rice is one of the worst foods for spiking blood glucose levels, or what?

Honestly I'm just going to pass on all the potato salad. No thank you. Don't care if its loaded with mayo or bacon or hard boiled eggs. Hard pass on all of it.

Way to dodge the question, but sure.

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For anyone interested in German potato salad (not PP, obviously!), there are some classic styles:

Bavarian kartoffelsalat (bacon vinaigrette, about 3/4 of a piece of bacon per serving): https://thegoodheartedwoman.com/oktoberfest-hot-german-potato-salad-recipe/

Specifically Swabian kartoffelsalat (no bacon, but has German mustard): https://www.daringgourmet.com/restaurant-style-schwabischer-kartoffelsalat-swabian-potato-salad/