Sweet, rich red wine & cranberry beef, what to serve aside (besides mash)

[stickysausages]

For Xmas day :)

Honey roast parsnips, creamy mash... maybe dumplings!?

Help

Something quite light like the best brussels (on the stalk they taste sooo much better because they're fresh as long as you don't over cook them) or organic petit pois. I love parsnips too you can puree them and or maybe have slices of squash.

I do love a good dumpling but maybe too much with everything else you'll have on the day.

I'd say brussels with bacon, parsnips, carrots, fresh garden peas any combo of any of these.

I think you probably need something definitely not sweet, with some crunch...maybe some french beans? Some kale?

I would do boiled new potatoes and peas. or pommes boulangere (like dauphinoise but made with stock/water. A really tasty savoury dish).

Offsetting the richness is key, so hold back on cream and stuff in the mash.

Green beans would also be great.

I think you need something green...choose your favourite, I'd go for Savoy cabbage.

Tender stem broccoli, peas, chantanney carrots?

You can roast some carrots along with the parsnips, chantennay(sp?) are the best for roasting - extra food but with no extra washing up! Definitely not dumplings though, that would be far too heavy. But I'd definitely do something green, either french beans, kale, chard or even good old peas? (Or peas and lettuce, because no one ever makes that, and it's my favourite) With a rich meet and creamy mash I'd offer as many vegetables as you can make. Plus that means plenty left over for bubble & squeak the next day too.