3 Pro Cooks Make Thanksgiving for Under $100 | NYT Cooking

The video starts with the host accepting a $100 Thanksgiving cooking challenge. They are given 6 hours to prepare a meal for four people, including a main dish and a dessert, using only the money provided. The host expresses their excitement and love for Thanksgiving, despite acknowledging its colonialist roots. They plan to infuse the holiday with their own family's traditions, which include a mix of Indian cuisine and classic Thanksgiving elements like pies and cranberry sauce.

The host heads to the grocery store, Wegman's, with a goal to lean on fresh produce and buy affordable items like beans. They discuss their budget, the importance of butter for Thanksgiving, and the challenge of sticking to the $100 limit. The shopping experience includes spontaneous decisions, like choosing ingredients based on appearance and availability, and the host's realization of the high cost of certain items like nuts and cheese. They also mention the importance of sales tax exemptions on food and the pressure of managing the budget.

Back in the apartment, the host begins preparing various dishes, including a French-inspired Thanksgiving meal. They make the dough for pies, strain yogurt for a dessert, and start cooking the turkey legs and beans. The host also discusses their family's unique Thanksgiving traditions and the influence of their grandmother's cooking style. They share their excitement about trying new recipes and the importance of homecooked meals during the holiday.

The host continues to cook, sharing their techniques for making a shortcut version of a traditional dish due to time constraints. They discuss their family's Thanksgiving menu, their assigned role in making cranberry sauce, and the decision to make a butternut squash dish. The video captures the host's humorous and candid commentary on cooking, their family dynamics, and the challenges of left-handed cooking. The host also shares their excitement about the prospect of inviting celebrities to their Thanksgiving dinner.

The host moves on to making savory dishes, including a unique take on squash and a rice dish with peanuts. They discuss the importance of salt in enhancing the flavor of vegetables and the use of various spices to give each dish a distinct taste. The host also shares their dislike for peeling carrots and their strategy for toasting nuts without burning them. The video captures the host's attention to detail and their efforts to create a cost-effective yet flavorful Thanksgiving meal.

The host focuses on dessert preparations, making an apple fraen tart and a chocolate chest pie. They discuss the challenge of baking two pies at different temperatures and their strategy to prevent the chocolate from seizing up. The host also prepares a rice dish with curry leaves and peanuts, and a cheese puff that combines elements of mac and cheese with stuffing. The video ends with the host putting the final touches on the dishes and expressing their satisfaction with the results.

The host presents the completed Thanksgiving meal to their guests, which includes a variety of dishes made under $100. They describe each dish, including the croissant stuffing, chili peanut rice, and a cranberry relish made with grapefruit. The host also shares their unique dessert, Shri hunt, a strained yogurt with cardamom and saffron, served with a crumb made from paratha biscuits, pistachios, and salt. The video concludes with the host and their guests expressing their gratitude and enjoying the meal together.