Christmas day dinner ideas - not turkey roast

[mumsntt]

Hi

Looking for christmas day dinner inspiration. We dont want the usual turkey roast. Last year we had Porchetta which was lovely and want something different this year

Anyone making something that is not the usual roast turkey?

We like pork, beef and chicken

Thanks

beef wellington?
or just roast beef!

We usually have beef fillet. One year I did a beef Wellington, last year I did individual ones which was good.

https://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/international/european/french/mini-boeufs-en-croute

We sometimes have roast duck.

Or steak 🥩 - which in our house is a huge treat!

No turkeys have ever appeared on out Christmas table.

We usually have turkey, beef and baked ham which we also have for Christmas Eve dinner, but this year I am planning on just cooking duck and ham. But I do like turkey, especially in the leftover Christmas dinner sandwiches, so might end up getting a small crown if I see one reduced

Our house doesn't eat turkey so I tend to just do beef or lamb last year I skipped out completely and we had a takeaway on Christmas day

I like the ham more than the turkey, and last year I had a vegetarian to cater for. I did a blue cheese, walnut, and pear tart for the vegetarian. I did a turkey crown for the people who have to have it. (DH) The meat eaters also had a slice of the tart, and it went very well with roast ham. This year I might do the ham, the tart and a chicken, which is mainly for leftovers.

DH and my eldest adult DD are on kitchen duty this year, I have already been told that it won’t be turkey, I’m fine with this, we will have veggie option made from scratch and then I’m expecting a beef wellington or possible just a good piece of roast beef as I know that’s my DH favourite.

He also has a really good curry that is his go to dish if we have more guests or are contributing to a pot luck Christmas gathering, it takes ages to make but is apparently the best curry some have ever had.

great suggestions so far, thanks!

A Christmas pie from turners!

For a real treat we’re having goose - ludicrously expensive for the amount of meat you get but delicious. Otherwise rolled rib of beef. And always a big ham for over the Christmas period.

when I am old and on my own I will just have a big plate of sausages in blankets.

We do roast sirloin beef. Much nicer than turkey.

ham (boiled then roasted to glaze) for another meal during the period.

I do this. It's delicious. It's an Anna del Conti recipe.
Ingredients
1.5 kg (approx. 3 lbs) beef roast (such as topside, chuck, or brisket)
50g butter and 2 tbsp olive oil
1 large onion, finely sliced
150ml white wine vinegar or red wine vinegar
150ml double cream (or full-fat milk)
Beef stock (if needed to adjust liquid level)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

Method
Brown the beef: Heat the butter and olive oil in a deep, heavy-based ovenproof casserole pot over a medium-high heat. Season the beef well with salt and pepper, then brown it thoroughly on all sides to seal in the juices. Remove the beef and set aside. 1, 2]
Sauté the onions: Lower the heat slightly, add the sliced onion to the pot, and cook gently until soft and transparent. 1]
Simmer with vinegar: Return the beef to the pot along with any resting juices. Pour the vinegar over the meat, bring to a simmer, and let it bubble for a few minutes until the sharp vinegar smell mellows slightly. 1]
Slow cook: Cover the pot tightly with a lid and cook on a very low simmer on the stovetop (or in a preheated oven at 150°C / 300°F) for 2.5 to 3 hours until the beef is incredibly tender. Turn the meat occasionally. If the liquid reduces too fast, add a splash of beef stock. 1, 2, 3, 4]
Finish the sauce: Once the meat is tender, remove it from the pot and wrap it in foil to rest. Skim excess fat off the remaining liquid, then stir in the double cream. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer for a few minutes until it thickens into a smooth, slightly tangy, velvety gravy. 1, 2, 3]
Serve: Slice the beef and spoon the luxurious cream and vinegar sauce generously over the top.

That sounds delicious, can you share the recipe or description of how you made it?

@danglythedingle I’m also interested the tart recipe too please.

I do a rump roast for Christmas, with all the trimmings of a turkey dinner.

We have a turkey at Thanksgiving and it's actually very hard to find turkeys at Christmas here (US, obv). I freeze lots of stuffing from the turkey so I don't feel deprived.

We live up in the mountains in Norway and it's not that easy to find a decent turkey as it's not part of the Christmas tradition here. After a few years living in Sweden, we do a mix of a Swedish and Norwegian julebord. But with a few English thjngs, I always make homemade stuffing (can't buy it here, just doesn't exist), sausages wrapped in bacon and I make brie and cranberry parcels and my own christmas pudding and mince pies.
We have different meats, smoked salmon, herring and different vegetables.

It works really nicely.

Coq-au-vin, either red wine or white wine version. 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗

Scroll down this recipe page and there are 4 other recipes. I'd do the French onion soup as the starter then coq-au-vin, braised short ribs or steak au poivre as the main.
(chicken cordon bleu is too wedding guest "chicken or fish?" Iykwim) 🙂

https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/coq-au-vin.html

these recipes ate consistently good, btw

We're having this https://www.wildmeat.co.uk/collections/two-three-bird-roast/products/game-roulade

We don’t really do a traditional main. One year we did braised pork cheeks which was lovey, but our favourite ever lunch was haggis with a whisky cream sauce. We’re considering doing it again this year.

We do beef fillet. It takes 30mins to cook so no pressure and it's delicious.

Ours costs around £100 from the butcher for 4 of us.

Reverse Sear Rib Roast – Andy Cooks

We had this last year and I'm doing it again. Very easy, and you can cook the roasties etc while it rests.

Roast duck with roast potatoes and a mix of spring veg is lovely. It has far more flavour than chicken or turkey.

How many will you need to cater for?

We just had a honey roasted gammon last year, we finally realised that actually none of us are keen on turkey!

@JingsMahBucket @Shineonyoucrazy It was a Hairy Bikers one, I followed it more or less as I remember, but I replaced about 50g of flour for ground walnuts in the pastry, and didn't bother with the sticky figs.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/dolcelatte_pear_and_73284

We never do turkey. Christmas dinner is what ever I find in the supermarket a few days before Christmas matching with sides to go with what ever I find. I always buy a gammon as it’s used at some point. We’ve had everything from quail, beef, pork. Last year I found a nice lamb that came with its own sauce.