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Christmas

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Original poster

Interesting side dishes?

31 replies

IndecisiveRabbit · 18/12/2025 16:36

We go to my mum and dad every year for christmas dinner, as they are central to us all and have the biggest house. They find it a lot of work to cook it as there are 14 of us and they are getting on, but they are still not ready to let go control! So dad is doing the turkey and ham, my sister the veggie option, and I am allowed to do the veg/side dishes this year. Any ideas please for interesting sides that you love?

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Original poster
IndecisiveRabbit · 18/12/2025 19:58

Defiantly41 · 18/12/2025 19:05

Maple & miso parsnips (despite the description as “buttery”, it’s actually vegan! https://kitchenandotherstories.com/roast-parsnip-recipe/

Haven't tried these but they sound delicious (could be made vegan by substituting vegan alternative for the butter)
https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vegetables/christmas-carrots-in-a-bag/

if you are sautéing sprouts with bacon and chestnuts, you could do the bacon separately and stir it in to the dish having removed the vegan’s portions. And frozen chestnuts are far superior to the vac packed ones

These parsnips look interesting, thank you, think i'll try them out this week

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Original poster
IndecisiveRabbit · 18/12/2025 20:02

ThatsVertigo · 18/12/2025 19:17

the sticky pomegranate and pistachio pigs in blankets in this link are utterly delightful, and enjoyed by those who are more traditional in their tastes in my experience. They work well with veggie sausages too.

I love pomegranate molasses, used to make a lovely chicken and cous cous dish with it. These could be a good sort of canape thank you, in a big dish with cocktail sticks

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Original poster
IndecisiveRabbit · 18/12/2025 20:05

CoastalCalm · 18/12/2025 19:32

Another vote for keeping it simple as older folks prefer it that way - you can be experimental on your own roast dinners but I don’t think this is the time.

I remember spending ages one year making a beautiful turkey gravy and being asked if I had any bisto gravy granules instead

Ah no, im not allowed to make the gravy! Its a work of art. Well we do have different meals for christmas, sometimes a joint of beef sometimes goose sometimes a wellington, so they are not completely stuck on a traditional meal so I have a bit of leeway.

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Defiantly41 · 18/12/2025 20:07

Also, (ok for vegetarians but not vegans), cooking roast potatoes in ghee is amazing, especially Netherend Farm ghee - see the last Hairy Bikers series for their visit to this lovely family business, and their recipe for roasties, I can confirm they are the best ever!

Original poster
IndecisiveRabbit · 18/12/2025 20:10

ThatsVertigo · 18/12/2025 19:56

A TikTok trend is to cook your roast potatoes in clotted cream!!! Not tried it myself, but I can understand why it would work well. I'm sure it would have great flavour (though not too much for those with traditional tastes) and feel fancy but stays away from animal fat.

Ooh I just looked up a Good Housekeeping recipe for this, with rosemary salt, looks interesting thanks, my family LOVE clotted cream

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GinToBegin · 18/12/2025 20:21

i love sprouts any which way, but they’re particularly lovely with lardons and/or chestnut pieces.

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