To ask alternatives to Christmas roast dinner

[elephantmarchingin]

I'm not a huge fan of roasts they also tend to make me feel bloated and sick (no idea why!)

Can anyone give me alternatives for Christmas that are still special but not a full roast - or is this just totally weird and unheard of!

Aibu to ask what you have for Christmas dinner that aren't your normal roast!

I'm a full on roast person but it isn't necessary at all!
It's a special day so have something special for you!
We have friends who take the whole family out for an Indian meal.
My DF and his wife have a really nice steak (him) and a marinated poussin for her.

One year when I was a single parent with DC under 10 I asked what they wanted: we had sushi to start and then roast pork with crackling and salad in taco shells (soft and crisp) and then ice cream. They still remember it years later.
What do you fancy OP?

Nice steak, sauce, potatoes of some sort, salad.

I used to have a colleague who had herring for Christmas Dinner. A roast isn't traditional in many countries.

Is it the meat that is the problem?
salmon en croute/wellington?
Honestly, have whatever you like :) Pizza

What's your favourite meal?
Have that. Simple.

Lasagne followed by apple crumble and custard.

We have a selection of pies (something like a variety of pieminister mini ones), fancy veg, roast and mash potatoes, gravy and a gammon joint

Home made Thai green curry with crackers followed by a nice cake. I think that remains my favourite Christmas dinner of all time.

Whatever you like eating!

We are a multicultural extended family. Last year we had slow roasted lamb shanks, ceviche, jollof rice, an array of veggie side dishes (from roasted broccoli with Parmesan to homemade kimchi) and it was glorious. Also baked a few cakes.

We always get an Indian Takeaway 😊 completely no stress

We used to do a buffet style thing when the kids were young, until the kids wanted to do a proper turkey etc. like on TV.

Our Christmas dinner is always confit duck legs with mash and braised red cabbage. Lush!

Have what you like, it's Christmas!

My gran always had a big ham she would cut with an electric carver, mashed potatoes, peas, cherry tomatos and pickled onions.
That always feels very christmassy to me now.
The mash changed to chips when fussier siblings came along, sometimes there would be a sliced bloomer and salad.

We always have lamb shanks

We go to the local Indian restaurant for a meal. Prices stay the same, we know everyone that goes now and it's like a giant extended family Christmas

I have done various Christmas dinners from steak & chips to a full blown roast.

One of my favourite is Lamb Daube made in the slow cooker served with green beans and mash with a lovely homemade lemon & lime cheesecake for afters!

Honestly, do what you like- im my house, the cook chooses the menu.

When I was growing up and living in a country without ovens in homes, we had steak and chips for Christmas. It was special because we had dessert afterwards and the table was laid for a special occasion with my mum's beat China.

I love reading threads like this. I really enjoy both cooking and eating the traditional Christmas roast turkey with lots of veg, glorious gravy, bread sauce etc etc and Christmas pudding to follow (after an interval) but I like thinking about the alternate reality world where I might consider having something different on Christmas Day.

(Although one big drawback for me is there might not be the lovely leftovers to keep us going for the long, lazy days after Christmas, which I also enjoy a lot.)

Love scampi & chips so often have that for my Christmas meal or a carpet picnic of Chinese food - prawn toast, spring rolls or dim sum with dipping sauces.

Australians do like a bbq with salad. Or there is a big seafood thing with pavlova to finish.

Me too @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g
I love the idea of cooking something different but the reality of not having the leftovers is disappointing.
On the years when we've not been at home on Christmas Day I've ended up cooking one at home because it's not Christmas without a turkey, ham, stuffing, bread sauce and cranberry sandwich or a cold roast potato dipped in leftover gravy.

Who are you catering for?

As I’d warn against this if you cook for others, fucking with Christmas dinner is a sure fire way to get added to a shit list.

if you’re cooking for yourself a steak might be nice?

Love this thread. I'm thinking of an alternative Christmas dinner too. I hate turkey and pork. We already have chicken most Sundays. Was thinking of steak or lamb.

Last year we had mushroom wellington, red cabbage and apple, mash and green beans all with a red wine sauce. For dessert it was lemoncello cheesecake. It was so lovely we're having it again this year, can't wait.

We always have sausage and mash i always do veg, gravy and Yorkshires for whoever wants them but when the children were little they opted for baked beans on the side. Preparing and cooking the massive roast takes the fun out of the day and adds so much unnecessary stress and cost i wanted to be with my family not stuck in the kitchen and as the children got older we stuck with the tradition