Alternative Christmas recipe ideas
Bored of turkey and all the trimmings? Here's what to cook for an alternative take on Christmas.
With Christmas fast approaching, it's high time to finalise your Christmas lunch or dinner menu. If you're still unsure what to serve on the big day or are not particularly keen on eating the same old Christmas roast, here are a couple of alternative ideas to liven up your Christmas feast.
Starters
Warm butternut squash salad with blue cheese and pan-fried mushrooms
For a lighter side, serve this colourful winter salad that combines a sweet butternut squash with a piquant blue cheese and nutty chestnut mushrooms. It's simple to put together and will pair well with any roast meat.
This easy vegetarian galette uses ready-made puff pastry for ease and combines the hearty flavours of potatoes, mushrooms and blue cheese. It's quick to put together and the intense aromas are perfect for a celebratory meal.
Seasonal Spuds/Lavender&Lovage/loveFOOD
Mushroom and spinach en croûte
What's not to love about earthy mushrooms and creamy ricotta with spinach all wrapped up in flaky puff pastry? This is also a great dish to serve when you have vegetarians coming round as it can be easily turned into a main when served with a side salad.
Mains
Porchetta with dried peaches and thyme
A brilliant alternative to any bird or beef roast, this porchetta recipe combines the salty stickiness of the crackling with the meaty flavours of the pork and sweet notes from the peach stuffing. It's wonderfully hearty and will pair well with any green vegetables or a warm winter salad. It also requires a lot less work than you might think, leaving you free to cook your starters and sides.
Orange-glazed ham with mango and orange salsa
Christmas ham has been declining in popularity recently but there's no reason to leave it in the past when it's served with a zesty mango and orange salsa. A beautiful glazed gammon is a simple but tasty way to serve a great centrepiece and this recipe not only tastes great but also looks fantastic.
Simple Comforts by Mary Berry/BBC Books
If you're looking for a real showstopper that's a touch more special than turkey, look no further than goose. his goose centrepiece is perfect for an extra special Christmas dinner. Served with scrumptious pecan, bacon and sage stuffing balls and delicious red wine and blackberry gravy, this is a real festive feast.
Another recipe perfect for a celebration, beef Wellington incorporates luxurious ingredients into one lip-smacking dish. It does take a bit of skill and quite a lot of patience to make this, but it'll be all worth it once it comes to serving it.
READ MORE: Super sauces, glazes and rubs for showstopping Christmas meats
Sides
Roasted purple sprouting broccoli
Swap out boring Brussels sprouts for broccoli, cooked in a deliciously creamy sauce spiked with the salty umami flavour of anchovies. A treat for the palate, this recipe is sure to impress even the fussiest of eaters.
Brussels sprouts with Parma Ham
There's no reason for sprouts to be bland and boring, and this recipe is perfect for injecting the dish with loads of flavour. Incorporating red onions, chestnuts and lip-smacking Prosciutto di Parma crumbs, the dish has got excellent textures and will have your guests asking for seconds.
Prosciutto di Parma/loveFOOD
Sesame miso roasted red cabbage
If traditional braised red cabbage doesn't appeal any more try taking it to the next level with miso, mirin and sake. With minimum prep time, all the cooking is done in the oven so you can focus on your centrepiece.
Brilliant alternative to both honey-roasted parsnips and old-school potato dauphinoise, this parsnip and hazelnut gratin offers a variety of textures. It will also work well with pretty much any roasted meat or as a side to a vegetarian nut roast.
Desserts
Clementine sponges with cranberry sauce
A classic Christmas citrus, clementines are also brilliant in a variety of baked desserts. These individual sponges are served with a sauce made from another Christmas staple – cranberries.
Are you not a fan of Christmas pudding or cake but still want a dessert that incorporates those classic Christmas flavours? This tart uses ready-made mincemeat and shortcrust pastry and tops it with a crunchy streusel top. It's bound to disappear in second, especially if served warm with some ice cream.
Waitrose & Partners/loveFOOD
Rich, indulgent and packed with chocolate, this tart is what Christmas is all about. With a Greek-style honey cookie dough base, the tart is filled with dark chocolate ganache and finished off with crushed walnuts and is served with ice cream.
Christmas and Baileys just go together so don't be surprised when guests ask for seconds after they've tried this grown-up version of a classic crème brûlée. You also don't need a cook's blowtorch to make it – you can just put it under the grill in the oven.
READ MORE: Best Christmas baking and dessert recipes
Lead image: Waitrose & Partners/loveFOOD
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