8 raw food Thanksgiving recipes

Raw food Thanksgiving

Here’s a Thanksgiving menu you might not expect: A feast totally comprised of raw foods. According to raw-food devotees, ingredients that haven’t been heated above 115 degrees retain all of their natural enzymes and nutrients, offering a superhealthy take on a traditionally groan-inducing meal.

“Thanksgiving is a terrific raw holiday!” says raw-food expert Ani Phyo, author of several raw cookbooks. “For many years, we used to gather friends for Thanksgiving; we'd all meet in the morning, and everyone would bring over dishes to share, and a change of clothes. We'd stuff the dehydrators full of everything … then, we'd all go on a 10-12 mile hike. We'd return hungry, hours later to the delicious smell of dinner filling our home.”

Papaya Avocado Salad

Bright tropical flavors start your raw-food meal on a festive note. The dressing includes ground papaya seeds, which have a slightly peppery taste. View recipe.

Raw Zucchini Rolls with Lime-Cashew Dipping Sauce

These make a wonderful snack or appetizer. The sauce is a peanut-free version of Thai peanut sauce that uses raw cashew or almond butter. View recipe.

Sweet Corn Chowder

An added bonus of many raw-food recipes: No slaving over a stove. Recipes generally take mere minutes to prepare, including this satisfying soup. View recipe.

Chickenless Burgers

Made with sunflower seeds and seasoned with sage, this entree works well for a turkey substitute when topped with your favorite cranberry relish. View recipe.

Walnut Cranberry Squash "Rice"

No, it's not rice; this seasonal side dish uses fresh squash that's processed into rice-like pieces and then zipped up with walnuts and dried cranberries. View recipe.

Sun Burger "Stuffing"

You can eat these dehydrated burgers as is on raw sprouted buns or bread -- or crumble into stuffing-size pieces. Without dehydrating, the mixture makes a delicious pâté. View recipe.

Strawberry Kream Cheezecake

Yummy, creamy, and full of good fats, this raw dessert won't make you feel stuffed or heavy after your meal. View recipe.

Raw Cardamom Fruit Tartlets

Fill the delicious, heart-healthy crusts with raw mango sorbet, as shown; or the cashew filling described in the Strawberry Kream Cheezecake, spiced with a bit of ground ginger and cinnamon; or with chopped fresh apples and bananas tossed with agave, as noted in this recipe.