5 Meal Ideas to Make Your Thanksgiving Unforgettable

Thanksgiving is about gathering, gratitude, and great food. While turkey and mashed potatoes might be the traditional American fare, your Thanksgiving table can—and should—reflect your own flavors and traditions.

This year, why not create a Thanksgiving menu that brings together the best of both worlds? Here are five meal ideas that will make your Thanksgiving celebration memorable, flavorful, and uniquely yours.

1. JOLLOF RICE WITH ROASTED CHICKEN

Image from: Food Network

Why it works for Thanksgiving: Jollof rice is celebration food. It's what you serve when you want people to remember your meal. Paired with perfectly roasted chicken, it creates a main course that's both impressive and deeply satisfying.

The Chicken: Marinate your whole chicken (or chicken pieces) overnight with:

• Asiko Curry Powder for that golden color
• Asiko Chicken Seasoning for depth
• Fresh ginger and garlic
• Lemon juice
• Salt and pepper

Roast at 375°F for about 90 minutes until the skin is crispy and golden. The result? Chicken so flavorful that your guests will ask for seconds before they've finished their firsts.

The Jollof Rice: Make your jollof rice using:

Image from: All Recipes

• Asiko Jollof Rice Seasoning (takes the guesswork out)
• Asiko Curry Powder for authentic color
• Tomato paste and fresh tomatoes
• Mixed vegetables (carrots, peas, green beans)

The beauty of jollof at Thanksgiving? It feeds a crowd, looks stunning on the table, and introduces your non-African guests to something incredible.

2. PEPPER SOUP WITH ASSORTED SIDES

Image from: Sisi Jemimah

Why it works for Thanksgiving: November is cold in most places. Pepper soup brings warmth, comfort, and bold flavors that make people feel cared for.

The Soup: Use goat meat, chicken, or fish. The key ingredients:

• Traditional pepper soup spices
• Stockfish for authentic depth
• Ground crayfish for umami
• Fresh herbs and aromatics
• Scotch bonnet peppers for heat

Serve it as a starter to warm everyone up, or make it the main event with plenty of sides.

The Sides:

• Fried plantains (dodo): Ripe plantains, sliced and fried until caramelized
• White rice or boiled yams: To soak up the flavorful broth
• Coleslaw: For a cooling contrast to the heat

3. EGUSI SOUP WITH POUNDED YAM OR EBA

Image from: Kiki Foodies

Why it works for Thanksgiving: If you're celebrating with mostly African guests, why not serve the meal that actually feels like a celebration to you? Egusi soup is rich, nutritious, and deeply satisfying.

The Soup:

• Asiko Ground Egusi for the base
• Palm oil (123 Vegetable Oil) for authentic flavor
• Stockfish and dried fish
• Ground crayfish
• Assorted meat (beef, goat, chicken)
• Fresh vegetables (spinach or bitter leaf)
• Seasoning cubes and spices

The Swallow: Serve with pounded yam or eba made from garri. For guests who've never eaten with their hands, this becomes a fun cultural experience and a memorable part of your Thanksgiving.

4. FRIED RICE WITH GRILLED CHICKEN AND PLANTAINS

Image from: Kiki Foodies

Why it works for Thanksgiving: Nigerian fried rice is colorful, festive, and makes a beautiful party dish. It's easier than jollof (less chance of burning) but equally impressive.

The Fried Rice:

• Asiko Fried Rice Seasoning makes it foolproof
• Asiko Curry Powder for that signature color
• Mixed vegetables (carrots, peas, corn, green beans)
• 123 Vegetable Oil for frying
• Shrimp or diced chicken mixed in
• Seasoning cubes and thyme

The Chicken: Marinate chicken pieces with Asiko Chicken Seasoning, curry powder, and spices. Grill or bake until charred and juicy.

The Plantains: Fried sweet plantains on the side add that perfect touch of sweetness that balances the savory fried rice.

5. BANGA SOUP WITH STARCH

Image from: Cookpad.com

Why it works for Thanksgiving: For something uniquely Nigerian that will surprise and delight your guests, banga soup (palm nut soup) is unforgettable. The rich, earthy flavor is perfect for a special occasion.

The Soup:

• Banga soup mix (palm fruit extract)
• Banga spice blend (oburunbebe, ehuru, uda)
• Stockfish and smoked fish
• Fresh fish (catfish or tilapia)
• Ground crayfish
• Beef or goat meat
• Fresh scent leaves or bitter leaf
• Scotch bonnet peppers

The Starch: Make starch from garri. The stretchy, slightly sour starch is the perfect companion to banga soup's richness. First-timers are always amazed by the texture.

Serve with fried plantains and boiled eggs on the side.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THANKSGIVING: BRINGING FAMILY TOGETHER THROUGH FOOD

Thanksgiving, at its core, is about gratitude and togetherness. It's a day when people pause from their busy lives to gather around a table, share a meal, and appreciate what they have.

Why this matters: In our busy lives—especially for those living far from family—we rarely create space for unhurried gatherings. Thanksgiving permits us to stop, to cook with intention, to invite people over, and to simply be present with the people we care about.

Food as the bridge: There's something powerful about sharing a meal. Food isn't just sustenance; it's a connection. When you cook for people, you're showing love. When you gather around a table, conversations happen naturally. Stories are shared. Laughter flows. Bonds strengthen.

This is why the meal you choose matters. It should reflect who you are, where you come from, and what celebration means to you. If jollof rice is what makes you think of joy, serve jollof rice. If pepper soup is what brings your family together, make pepper soup your centerpiece.

Creating your own traditions: Thanksgiving doesn't have to look like anyone else's. You can create traditions that blend your heritage with your current life:

• Start the meal with a prayer or gratitude circle in your language
• Play music from home while cooking and eating
• Tell stories about family back home or share memories
• Make dishes that honor both cultures—jollof rice alongside mac and cheese, pepper soup before turkey
• Invite friends who've become family, creating community wherever you are

For families: If you have children, Thanksgiving becomes an opportunity to pass down culture through food. Let them help cook. Teach them why certain spices matter. Tell them about where these recipes come from. Years from now, when they make jollof rice or fry plantains, they'll remember Thanksgiving at your table.

The ingredients matter: Creating a memorable Thanksgiving meal starts with quality ingredients. The curry powder needs to actually smell aromatic. The palm oil should be deep red and flavorful. The stockfish should be properly preserved. The spice blends should be fresh enough to make a difference.

This is where L'Afrique Market becomes essential. They carry the authentic ingredients that turn your Thanksgiving from ordinary to memorable—the seasonings that make your chicken taste like celebration, the spices that make your rice golden and fragrant, the ingredients that make your soup taste like home.

Making it happen: Here's how to create a Thanksgiving that brings people together:

Plan ahead: Order your ingredients from L'Afrique Market early. Get your curry powder, jollof seasoning, palm oil, stockfish, and whatever else you need well before Thanksgiving week.

Prep early: Marinate your chicken the night before. Chop vegetables in advance. Make your pepper soup base ahead of time. Thanksgiving morning should be about bringing things together, not starting from scratch.

Invite intentionally: Think about who needs community. Who's far from family? Who might be alone? Who would appreciate being included? Thanksgiving is the perfect opportunity to gather your people.

Don't stress perfection: The goal isn't Instagram-worthy photos (though your jollof rice will definitely photograph well). The goal is gathering, eating, laughing, and being grateful together.

Let food do the talking: Your meal—whether it's jollof and chicken or banga soup and starch—tells a story about who you are and what you value. It introduces your guests to flavors they might never have experienced. It creates conversations and memories.

YOUR THANKSGIVING, YOUR WAY

This Thanksgiving, cook the food that makes you happy. Gather the people who matter. Use quality ingredients from L'Afrique Market that ensure your food tastes authentic and delicious.

Whether you choose jollof rice or pepper soup, fried rice or egusi, the most important ingredient is the intention behind it—the desire to bring people together, to share something meaningful, to create warmth and connection through food.

That's what Thanksgiving is really about. Not turkey and pilgrims, but gratitude, togetherness, and the simple act of sharing a good meal with people you care about.