Turkey alternative

[FledglingFTB]

I'm guessing this may have been asked before. But, I fancy something different.

I don't want to annoy people who like a traditional turkey either. I've been searching online and found lots of recipes. But what I really want to know is what people have actually cooked as an alternative to turkey and would recommend, even if it's just a cooking method or seasoning.

Goose, big rib of beef, halibut, salmon.
Goose is the traditional one.
We had cauliflower curry one year, kids rate it as best christmas ever.

We do beef and goose usually instead

MiL does goose, but I'm afraid I don't know anything about how she cooks it.

The year I was hosting pescatarians, I did salmon en croute.

Four bird roast
Venison
Beef
Goose

These days we go out for a curry

I think my favourite Xmas meal was beef Wellington. We've also had roast pork with mushroom stuffing, roast goose and guineafowl. Wasn't keen on the goose.

Cauliflower curry Pestilence
Sounds delish but I think I'd be in the doghouse.

DH and I did goose one year, we were a bit meh, to be honest

OTOH a big juicy beef rib roast - much better

There's a beef fillet, horseradish and prosciutto recipe on the BBC website that is making me drool

We did do a full on Czech traditional christmas eve meal and hosted 16 family for another full on meal on boxing day. Hence deciding to have a very laid back chistmas day.
You could do carp, it is nice.

Goose: www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/76606/christmas-goose-with-root-veg-sticky-pears-and-bra
Minus the bramble pears
This is the version I serve up to my in-laws who were 100% traditional turkey people, and it's gone down well for several years

We always have roast beef, slightly rare... mmm. Except the year I was pregnant then we had a distinctly meh multi bird roast.

We quite often have a leg of lamb. It's my favourite and it's too expensive for everyday, so in my book it's perfect for christmas! Other years we have beef because it's DH's favourite.

Venison can be good for a special occasion if everyone likes it, but I'm not keen personally.

We are doing beef this year. Yum!

Ooh, leg of lamb limpin not heard of that. I think I'd be worried I'd overcook it . How do you do it, does it need closely watching?

It's just roasted! We just do the x mins per pound plus x mins as calculated on the packet. It was a bit raw one year (think our old oven was rubbish) but it's been fine since.

You can spike some rosemary into it, serve with mint sauce. My mum used to serve it with apricot stuffing, which works well, but tbh simple works for me.

fish, or pork.

The only traditional christmas turkeys I have ever had have been cooked for us by Muslim or Hindu hosts!

Leg of lamb in the slow cooker on low from Christmas Eve. No oil, just turned in its own juices and rosemary and garlic. Was amazing.

We had a capon last year it was gorgeous

Had to google that sapon

Had to google that sapon

I always do beef on Christmas day with port and red wine gravy (for the grown ups, the DC have Bisto). I did fillet of beef last year and it was lovely. I also usually cook one of those small turkey or chicken joints in the foil dish for anyone who insists on it. No one likes dried fruit either, so we have a baked cheesecake and ice cream.

Boxing Day is always caribbean pork that has been marinating in rum and spices since Christmas Eve.

We have a really big free-range chicken, between 5 and 7 pounds in weight. They have a bit more fat which naturally bastes them during roasting. The flavour is amazing and it is very moist meat, also very forgiving if the meal is delayed for some reason. Turkey is easy to overlook and gets dry.

We always have roast lamb. I get it from Morrisons, if I can, and get them to take the bone out and roll and tie the joint, so it cooks evenly and carves easily. It is cooked with rosemary and served with mint sauce, cranberry jelly and all the rest of a traditional Christmas meal. I say 'it is cooked' as the last few years dd has done it all.