Celebrate Thanksliving with a Vibrant Vegan, Plant-based Cranberry Sauce
Thanksgiving is more than a meal—it’s an opportunity to reflect on gratitude and align with the season’s natural rhythms. As part of my Thanksliving philosophy, I love reimagining classic holiday dishes with a plant-based, healthy twist. This Cranberry, Ginger, Cinnamon, Cardamom, and Orange Zest Sauce is a bright, flavorful addition to your table that’s as nourishing as it is delicious.
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When you buy the workshops and related ebooks, you get more than recipes and gain new skills, confidence, and perhaps a different perspective on cooking. These methods are simple to apply, turning your kitchen into a happy place for creative expression and culinary healing.
Are you prepared to go on this delectable adventure with me? Let’s grow, learn, and cook together!
Dr. Siri Chand Khalsa’s 5-week Plant-based Cooking Course for Stanford’s Division of Immunology & Rheumatology was a spectacular addition to our wellness program. Dr. Siri Chand created an inspired line up of unique yet easy recipes which she beautifully rendered into a recipe booklet, replete with her own eye-popping food photography. She masterfully taught us to cook delicious and visually appealing dishes including sheet-pan veggies with quinoa tabouli with cilantro chutney, and root vegetable purée soup with kale sauerkraut salad. Each lesson was made even more delightful with unapologetically delicious desserts like fruit crisp and chia pudding. Dr. Sir Chand’s profound knowledge of Ayurvedic cooking, combined with her allopathic training and additional expertise in Lifestyle Medicine, offers a unique perspective on eating for vitality. She radiates passion and compassions in every session, making the experience truly enriching. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn from this culinary medicine master!
Neha S. Shah, MD
Neha S. Shah, MD (she/her/hers) Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine Fellowship Program Director – Adult Rheumatology Division of Immunology & Rheumatology Department of Medicine Stanford University Hospital & Clinics
Seasonal Ingredients with Purpose
Seasonal eating is at the heart of integrative and culinary medicine. During the cooler months, cranberries, citrus, and warming spices like cinnamon and cardamom provide both nourishment and balance. This cranberry sauce is a treat for your taste buds and a way to connect with the bounty of the late-season harvest.
Crafted with care, this recipe highlights ingredients that are naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and soy-free, making it accessible to a variety of dietary needs. Whether served as a side dish, a topping for lentil loaves, or a spread for leftovers, this sauce is a versatile choice that helps reinvent its heavier sugar cousin.
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Cranberries are also very commonly connected to Thanksgiving celebrations due to their seasonal and unique nature. Pomegranate is in season now and can also be paired with cranberry sauce.
Why This Sauce Supports Your Health
This simple sauce packs a big nutritional punch thanks to its powerhouse ingredients:
Cranberries: Rich in anthocyanins, they support urinary tract health and are a great source of Vitamin C.
Ginger: A warming spice with anti-inflammatory and digestive benefits.
Cinnamon & Cardamom: These spices promote blood sugar regulation and circulation, perfect for the holiday season.
Orange Zest: Adds brightness and antioxidants while uplifting your mood with its aroma.
Together, these ingredients create a vibrant, fragrant, and health-promoting sauce. This image of citrus reminds me of Vic C and its carotenoids.
Recipe for Thanksliving
This cranberry sauce embodies the spirit of Thanksliving: seasonal, nourishing, and made with intention. It’s an example of how plant-based dishes can transform how we celebrate, bringing together health, flavor, and gratitude. The bright colors remind us of the intelligence that plants have for us.
Please help me get the word out about plant-based healthy living so that doctors know the value of lifestyle changes by sharing this post on your social media.
Cranberries are naturally astringent and are a staple in many Thanksgiving meals. For most everyone, they do require a sweetener to be palatable. I love to reduce the need for an added sweetener by adding fresh orange juice/zest, cinnamon, and ginger. You may like more or less sweetener on this one, so you can add it gradually and taste it as you go.
Ingredients
Scale
1/2 cup maple syrup
1 cup water
12 oz bag of fresh or frozen cranberries
1 tsp fresh grated ginger (can add more)
2 tbsp fresh orange juice
1 tsp orange zest or diced orange
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp cardamom (optional)
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg (optional)
Instructions
Grate the ginger or finely dice it.
Wash and clean the orange peel, grate, or finely dice it.
Combine the cranberries, water, and maple syrup in a medium pot and bring to a boil while stirring.
Once boiling, reduce the heat to a low setting. Add the fresh ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, and nutmeg, and cook for another 10 minutes.
In this time, the cranberries will start to break apart. It will get thick once this happens *and* cools off.
Remove from heat, add orange juice and zest, and place in the refrigerator.
It can be served warm or cool.
Notes
Pomegranates and apples could be added to this as well to give a range of sweetness, texture, and flavor.
Prep Time:20
Cook Time:20
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Click on the image to grab the ingredients from Instacart from a list I have personally selected. The app will let you pick the store and provide a basis for the shopping and ingredient list. Then you can choose what you need. It has worked great for us.
Learning about Plant-Based Eating
Having the right resources to learn about plant-based vegan principles is important for everyone.
These books are some of my tried-and-true resources that I have repeatedly referred to over the years. Let me know if you pick any of them up and what you learn.
Earn CME
This experience is powered by CMEfy – an AI-powered platform that directs learners along a pathway to capture reflections at the point of inspiration, point of care. Clinicians may earn CME/CE credit via ReflectCE, the accredited activity portal. Learn more at about.cmefy.com/cme-info
The CE experience for this Blog Post / Article is powered by CMEfy – click here to reflect and earn credits: https://earnc.me/7CbypP
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Looking to make a positive change in your life and community clincially? Dr. SiriChand is a board-certified physician in Internal Medicine, Integrative Medicine, Lifestyle Medicine, and Hospice/Palliative Medicine. She has dedicated her career to promoting long-term vitality through the choices we make every day and is an expert in Ayurveda and plant-based nutrition.
She particularly works with physicians to explore how to create time for self-care and how to learn to innovate in their integrative medicine careers. Take the first step towards an aligned, happier future, and contact Dr. Siri Chand Khalsa today.
Let’s create a better world for female physicians through intentional, mindful living.
Thanks for checking out this week’s post to the end!
If you make this, tag me on social media at @doctorsirichand. I would love to see your variations and flavor options. Save this Recipe for later at your favorite place. I like using PINTEREST, but you could also clip it elsewhere.
Dr. Siri Chand
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May your life be nourished and vital!
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