Ask The Allergy Chef: Is a Truly Corn Free Thanksgiving Possible?

Hi! I’ve been following for a while and have a corn allergy. I’m wondering, is it really possible to have a corn free Thanksgiving? In my case, also top 8 allergy free, coconut free, and rice free.

Hello Hello! It’s always “nice” meeting someone else with a corn allergy. I’ve got great news! Yes, a truly corn free Thanksgiving is possible. When I say that, I’m referring to both “top level” corn and all corn derivatives. In your case, the recipes and thoughts I have in mind are all also US top 8/9 allergy free, coconut free, and rice free.

Having a corn free Thanksgiving, is going to come down to two questions: do you have the raw materials, and, can this actually be done? In both cases, the answer is yes.

I should also add elbow grease and creativity. Let’s be honest, it won’t be an easy meal to pull off. This article for RAISE Members goes in-depth on 16 Thanksgiving dishes and how to make them truly corn free. I go over how to source the raw materials, how to substitute, and in a lot of cases, link to recipes that are already on RAISE, waiting for you to enjoy.

The hardest (read: time consuming) dish based on your needs will be the stuffing. I only say that because it requires a lot of steps and prep work.

I’ll add this tip: don’t try to do it all. A corn free Thanksgiving requires a lot of time and energy. Select 5 dishes and focus on those. Even better if you can have kitchen help.

Corn Free Thanksgiving Tips

I’m sure there are a few types of foods (especially the classics) where you wonder, how would I make this truly corn free. Here are some tips to get you started.

Mashed Potatoes

Start with safe, truly corn free potatoes. Yes, corn can be used in the curing process. New Potatoes are always going to be the safest, followed by dirty potatoes from a trusted farmer.

Follow a recipe like this one for corn free mashed potatoes since there’s no butter or dairy free butter in the recipe. It taps into oil and makes some of the best damn mashed potatoes you’ll ever eat.

Turkey

Having a corn free turkey starts with safe raw materials. I’ve not personally trialed turkey since I’m allergic to it, but if you have a safe meat supplier, start there.

You’ll use a safe oil instead of dairy free butter. If you have a safe cow’s milk or sheep’s milk, or goat’s milk butter that’s truly corn free, use that. But, those are so hard to come by.

Then, use spices that are truly corn free (no caking agent, etc.). If you need leads on brands, my Truly Corn Free Cookbook has a whole section on the topic.

Cranberry Sauce

Generally, you can follow any recipe for cranberry sauce, then make it truly corn free. I suggest looking up a vegan cranberry sauce recipe because gelatin will be harder to purchase truly corn free (unlike agar or arrowroot).

If you don’t like canned cranberry sauce, but want something a little different, follow a recipe like this one, that’s a little more like a chunky loose sauce and starts with frozen cranberries. Still tasty, but not gelled.

Dairy Free + Gluten Free + Corn Free Pie Crust

For this one, I’m going to tell you to join RAISE and follow the pie crust recipe in this Truly Corn Free Rabbit/Chicken Pot Pie Recipe. You have to get the ratios just right to have a good experience.

If you can have milk and wheat, follow a regular pie crust recipe and just use your safe ingredients.

Corn Free Cornbread

Yes, that’s a thing. This is another instance where you’ll need to join RAISE. I have two corn free cornbread recipes you can add to your corn-free feast:

Corn Free Millet Muffins (faux corn bread, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Egg Free, Top 9 Free)
Honey Thyme Corn Free Cornbread Recipe (Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Egg Free, Top 9 Free)

Ultimately, It’s All About Raw Materials

Sourcing raw materials for your corn-free Thanksgiving is the real takeaway here. When I look at a Thanksgiving table, pretty much everything can be made truly corn free, so long as you have materials. My Truly Corn Free Cookbook can help with that. It’s not just recipes, but a whole guide to corn free living.

So long as you have safe onions, garlic, green beans, parsley, butternut squash, sweet potatoes (or yams), some kind of protein, salt, and spices, you can do just about anything. I mean, that’s a short list, but you get the idea.

Corn Free Thanksgiving Recipes

Before we jump into corn-free Thanksgiving recipes, let me stress this loud and clear: serve anything that’s safe and delicious. If you have limited safe corn free ingredients, use what you have and call it a day.

The whole point of the holidays is to enjoy time (and meals) with friends and family. It’s about creating traditions with your children, and just, having a good time.

If you’re stressing over not having a corn free turkey, or corn free stuffing, you’re letting the diagnosis get the best of you. Instead, push all of that aside and just LOVE what you have.

Also, this is just a sampling of recipes here from my free website. For hundreds of truly corn free recipes, be sure to visit RAISE (membership website). There’s also the Advanced Recipe Search where you can mix and match over a hundred filters, and also narrow the results to holiday recipes only.

Truly Corn Free Thanksgiving Appetizers

Sweet Potato Crumble – Not traditional by any means, but sweet potatoes tie this dish to the holidays. Honestly, put small servings in cute little bowls or on cute little plates, and no one will complain.

Gluten Free, Egg Free, Top 9 Free Carrot Cake Waffles – Another non-traditional approach, however, cute waffle quarters or little waffle slices topped with some kind of homemade cream sauce could be an epic way to start your corn free meal.

Gluten Free Vegan Top 9 Free Sweet Potato Crumble by The Allergy Chef (Low Histamine)

Gluten Free Waffle Recipe: No Eggs, No Milk (Vegan Carrot Cake Waffles) by The Allergy Chef

Main Dish Ideas for Your Corn Free Thanksgiving

Lamb Ragu – Whilst ragu doesn’t scream festive, lamb is a popular protein during the holidays, so this may be a great option for your meal.

Lasagna Soup – This is good because you do some hands on cooking, then it goes into the oven to finish. That allows you to get other stuff done. You can use safe truly corn free bison when making this soup and it will land you nothing but rave reviews.

Meatballs – You can season sage, truly corn free ground meat with just about anything. Use raw materials that are safe for you and select a flavour profile that compliments the rest of your Thanksgiving table spread.

Paleo Ground Pork – You can use a different ground meat if needed. This can be served with rice, quinoa, or pasta, to create a nice filling main dish. Sure, it doesn’t scream traditional celebration, but it screams safe and delicious. That’s the number one goal. After that, it’s all about enjoying time with your friends and family.