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Original poster

Christmas Day roast beef menu

28 replies

Belmondo · 21/12/2023 09:46

If you were serving roast beef on Christmas Day (8 adults and a 12-yr old) what would your ideal accompaniments be? So far I fancy:

  • pigs in blankets
  • roast potatoes
  • potato and celeriac dauphinoise (or maybe with turnips?)
  • green beans with lemon and almonds
  • mashed carrot and swede
  • sprouts with bacon
  • maybe Yorkshire puds, if I have enough oven space!

I can make most of the above in advance and reheat on the day.

We'll probably have canapes as a starter - maybe smoked salmon blinis and something else as yet undetermined.

Christmas pudding for pud, plus another option that'll maybe be choc-based or possibly a panettone b&b pudding.

Am I missing anything that would be absolutely delicious with roast beef, and is ideally, easy to prepare in advance?! I did cauli cheese last year and it was good but I feel like with dauphinoise we don't really need it.

OP posts:
ErrolTheDragon · 21/12/2023 09:55

Pigs in blankets don't go with roast beef, but you must have the Yorkshire puds. Have the pigs for tea or on Boxing Day.

KnickerlessParsons · 21/12/2023 09:56

I wouldn't have pigs in blankets with roast beef personally. I'd consider them an accompaniment to poultry.

I'd always serve cabbage with beef and we like roast sweet potatoes and roast parsnips.

KnickerlessParsons · 21/12/2023 09:57

And Yorkshires are essential!

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Devilsmommy · 21/12/2023 09:57

You can't have beef without Yorkshire pudding! That's some kind of sacrilege 😆 ditch the pigs in blankets

poorbuthappy · 21/12/2023 09:57

Cauli cheese or cheesy leaks.

mumonthehill · 21/12/2023 09:58

Nigellas gingerbread stuffing, easy to make and you can freeze it. Goes so well with beef.

angelopal · 21/12/2023 09:58

I am doing beef and having pigs in blankets. Don't care if they don't go. Definitely doing Yorkshire puddings as DD loves them. Not sure what else yet.

TheSingingDefective · 21/12/2023 09:59

Cauliflower Cheese is essential

Original poster
Belmondo · 21/12/2023 09:59

The pigs in blankets are non-negotiable, I'm afraid - several diners would riot 😂

I'll commit to Yorkshires, though, and I did wonder about adding cabbage or cavolo nero, maybe even in with the sprouts?

Just realised I might need to get in some horseradish, too...

OP posts:
Original poster
Belmondo · 21/12/2023 10:00

mumonthehill · 21/12/2023 09:58

Nigellas gingerbread stuffing, easy to make and you can freeze it. Goes so well with beef.

Now this sounds interesting, thank you! Will Google...

OP posts:
Doggymummar · 21/12/2023 10:00

We had beef last week, definitely not pib. Cabbage, gravy, Yorkshire's PARSNIPS sprouts carrots cauliflower cheese roast potatoes are the best part of any roast. Really hot horseradish and bread sauce.

sickbucket67 · 21/12/2023 10:01

Pigs and blankets AND Yorkshire puddings

no to mashed carrot and swede- baby food. I like my roast beef dinner with separate peppery buttery swede, ‘smashed’ and delicious honeyed batons of carrots. Especially as you are having a dauphinoise, you don’t want more mush.

sickbucket67 · 21/12/2023 10:01

Parsnips with the carrots too!

Sunseed · 21/12/2023 10:04

Serve the pigs in blankets as a canapé?

KittytheHare · 21/12/2023 10:08

Also an amazing red wine gravy is essential. So is the horseradish - you could mix it with crème fraiche

Original poster
Belmondo · 21/12/2023 10:12

sickbucket67 · 21/12/2023 10:01

Pigs and blankets AND Yorkshire puddings

no to mashed carrot and swede- baby food. I like my roast beef dinner with separate peppery buttery swede, ‘smashed’ and delicious honeyed batons of carrots. Especially as you are having a dauphinoise, you don’t want more mush.

Ahem, my dauphinoise is not mushy, thank you! 😁 I do like honeyed carrots but I was just trying to cut down on pans/dishes etc!

@Sunseed I did consider that actually, haven't ruled it out!

@KittytheHare yes, saw a good recipe for one I can make in advance the other day, am planning to do that one!

@Doggymummar hadn't actually thought of bread sauce with beef, do you think it's an essential?

OP posts:
PossumintheHouse · 21/12/2023 10:20

Cauliflower cheese, honey roast parsnips and carrots, and red cabbage would go nicely. A decent home-made gravy and add roast chestnuts to the sprouts would be perfect.

sickbucket67 · 21/12/2023 10:24

Belmondo · 21/12/2023 10:12

Ahem, my dauphinoise is not mushy, thank you! 😁 I do like honeyed carrots but I was just trying to cut down on pans/dishes etc!

@Sunseed I did consider that actually, haven't ruled it out!

@KittytheHare yes, saw a good recipe for one I can make in advance the other day, am planning to do that one!

@Doggymummar hadn't actually thought of bread sauce with beef, do you think it's an essential?

Show quote history

sorry for my turn of phrase! I’m sure it’s delicious and I would like to eat it. I meant soft…is that a better word??

do your honeyed carrots! It’s worth the extra pan!

GrumpyPanda · 21/12/2023 10:25

We are doing beef on Christmas and usually do a celeriac mash with it. Good for making ahead and reheating and very very simple- just cube them, caramelize in some butter, then put a lid on and puree once their soft. I only use salt and some maple syrup for seasoning, usually no additional liquid either.

We've also had Georgian-style grated beetroot with a walnut and garlic dressing one year. Most recipes are for roasted or boiled beetroot but it works just as well raw nice contrast with all the rich Christmas dishes. Similar to this but using raw beets, coriander instead of dill, no onions and for the dressing adding walnut, onion and fenugreek seeds.
https://allchefrecipes.com/georgian-beet-salad-with-walnuts-and-herbs/

Georgian Beet Salad with Walnuts and Herbs

Colorful, fragrant and very tasty Georgian salad can be prepared at any time of the year. The basis of the salad - baked beets - is supplemented with walnuts, onions, garlic, aromatic spices and fresh herbs.

https://allchefrecipes.com/georgian-beet-salad-with-walnuts-and-herbs

GMsAWinner · 21/12/2023 10:31

My two essentials would be roast potatoes and yorkshire pudds. Would a splash of red wine go well with gravy (assuming you're having some)?

SavBlancTonight · 21/12/2023 10:33

We are having roast beef for Christmas. Agree re pigs and blankets as a no, but if younhave requests, you have requests...!

I would love to do the beans - but too many fussy eaters here. But I have to admit, maybe I will do just for a few of us now as you have inspired me.

I am doing baby carrots roasted in honey.

I would.usually do a cauliflower cheese but due to logistics, that's out. So I am doing a family favourite of an onion sauce. Our family do this with a creamy sauce - seems to be something that doesn't really exist much anymore but we all.love it. And the onions go well with beef.

Roast potatoes

Yorkshire puddings

Peas - simply.because easy and fussy eaters will eat.

Insane amounts of gravy. I have already made one batch and will make another large pot on the day!

MrsSkylerWhite · 21/12/2023 10:34

Yorkshires, definitely. Pigs in blankets, no.

JanglingJack · 21/12/2023 10:36

Too many carbs for me - I'm not low carb! But roast potato mashed swede/carrots plus daughinoise would be too much for. I'd swap the daughinoise for leeks in cheese sauce (or cauli) . Absolutely keep the Yorkshire's, and maybe 1 roast carrot instead of the mash.

Definitely sprouts. I'm thinking honey roast carrots, your green beans and a cauli or leak cheese sauce.

What time do you want me?

Ilovelurchers · 21/12/2023 10:40

Your ideas sound nice, and everyone's taste is different. If it were me:

Definitely Yorkshires
Dauphinoise is lovely, I make it quite often, but I wouldn't put celeriac in personally (and certainly not turnip!) To me the pleasure is in the mildness and richness.
I would mash the carrots myself - I would maybe do some kind of roasted or glazed carrots.
Spinach with lemon and garlic - I just love it and serve it as an accompaniment whenever I can.

That's just me though. Depends what you and your family enjoy. Good luck! X

Original poster
Belmondo · 21/12/2023 11:14

Ooh thanks for all these ideas/responses!

Someone mentioned red cabbage, which I'd actually forgotten I'd done already and put in the freezer, so thanks for that 😁

We're big carb fans so I'm not too worried about that element, but I like the sound of the Georgian beetroot and walnut dish upthread - I like walnuts at Christmas (something like a pear, walnut and blue cheese salad is my go-to Christmas starter).

So my slightly revised plan is:

  • roast beef
  • pigs in blankets
  • roast potatoes
  • potato and celeriac dauphinoise
  • green beans with lemon and almonds
  • plain steamed carrots
  • honey-roasted parsnips
  • spiced red cabbage
  • sprouts and cavolo nero with bacon
  • Yorkshire puds
  • stuffing - possibly a mash-up of the Nigella - gingerbread one with some normal bread too ( not sure how sweet I want it)
  • red wine gravy

I haven't ruled out leeks in cream sauce...

I'm now off on a charity shop run for a few more serving dishes!

Feel free to keep ideas/critiques coming...

OP posts: