alternative christmas dinner

James Martin brings you the perfect roast beef recipe for an extra special Sunday lunch. Push the boat out and make your own Yorkshire puddings and gravy. To find exact <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/roast-calculator">roast beef cooking times</a> use our handy roast calculator.

Roast beef

flour

free-range eggs

600 milliliters/20fl oz milk

grams/1¾oz beef dripping

salt and black pepper

beef

200 milliliters/7fl oz white wine

300 milliliters/10fl oz beef stock

King Edward potatoes,

beef oil

salt

grams/2¾oz butter

carrots, finely sliced

greens,

peas

A tender cut of beef is a little bit of luxury and this is the perfect main course to cook for a gathering of friends.

Roast fillet of beef with roasted garlic and mustard cream

1kg/2.2lb middle-cut thick fillet of beef

salt and pepper

olive oil

garlic

150 milliliters/¼ pint mayonnaise

150 milliliters/¼ pint full fat crème fraîche

sugar

tbsp wholegrain mustard

A pork joint coated in crunchy crackling is always welcome at the table, but when it’s Delia Smith’s perfect roast pork, it’s the guest of honour. Use our <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/roast-calculator">roasting calculator</a> to work out the exact times and temperatures for your roast.

Each serving provides 355 kcal, 59g protein, 3g carbohydrates (of which 1.5g sugars), 11g fat (of which 4g saturates), 0.5g fibre and 0.9g salt.

Roast pork with crackling

2.25kg/5lb loin of pork, bottom bone removed, top bone left

onion,

plain flour

275 milliliters/10fl oz dry cider

275 milliliters/10fl oz vegetable stock (or potato water)

sea salt and black pepper

Tom Kerridge’s quintessential Sunday roast chicken is guaranteed to bring the family together around the table. 

Use up any leftover chicken in sandwiches or in a quick chicken curry, leftover chicken will keep in the fridge for 1 day. 


Slow-cooked roast chicken with gravy

carrots,

celery stalks, trimmed,

x 2kg/4½lb whole chicken

lemon,

herbs

vegetable oil

potatoes and roasted vegetables,

275 milliliters/½ pint chicken stock

grams/1¼oz butter

Tom Kerridge shows you how to make a simple roast chicken with delicious gravy.

Easy roast chicken with gravy

Of all our gammon recipes, this is a festive classic. The Hairy Bikers know a honey-roasted gammon joint is a must-have for a Christmas party!

Each serving provides 327 kcal, 36g protein, 10g carbohydrates (of which 10g sugars), 15.5g fat (of which 5g saturates), 1.5g fibre and 4.9g salt.

Honey-glazed gammon

unsmoked boneless gammon joint, tied

onions, halved

unpeeled,

celery stalks,

bay leaves

black peppercorns

cloves

tbsp runny honey

tbsp English mustard

The Hairy Bikers show you how to cook a festive glazed gammon.

How to cook glazed ham

A great example of 'cucina povera' (kitchen of the poor), simple, yet flavoursome peasant-style Italian cooking at its best.


Stuffed aubergines

aubergines

garlic cloves, finely chopped

thyme

oregano

red chilli flakes (optional)

tomatoes,

grams/1¾oz white breadcrumbs (ciabatta is good)

Parmesan

½ unwaxed lemon, finely grated zest only

basil leaves, shredded

The Hairy Bikers make the best roast goose.

Their easy and delicious recipe is perfect for Christmas or festive meals. Make their amazing stuffing and gravy recipes which are also included in this recipe for one epic dinner.

Roast goose

x 5kg/11lb oven-ready goose

bay leaves,

red apples (such as Cox

sea salt flakes

black pepper

goose giblets

onion, chopped

carrots, chopped into 2cm/¾in pieces

celery stick,

tbsp goose fat (reserved from cooking the goose)

onions, finely chopped

peeled,

tsp caster sugar

goose liver (optional)

grams/3½oz breadcrumbs

500 grams/1lb 2 ounces good-quality sausage meat

sage

300 milliliters/10fl oz giblet stock (from above)

250 milliliters/9fl oz dry cider

A roast chicken seems to me to be the ultimate comfort meal for all the family. And it’s so versatile: serve as a classic Sunday dinner with roast potatoes, or with a selection of salads or side dishes.

Roast chicken with tarragon butter and melting onions

grams/1¾oz butter, softened

garlic clove, crushed

fresh root ginger

tarragon

½ lemon, grated zest only

free-range oven-ready chicken,

onions,

45 grams/1½oz plain flour

100 milliliters/3½fl oz dry white wine

500 milliliters/18fl oz chicken stock

tbsp redcurrant jelly

Worcestershire sauce (optional)

dash gravy browning (optional)

A delicious vegan Wellington is a main course that makes a statement! A row of whole Portobello mushrooms sit alongside pecans, dried cranberries, sweet potatoes and chestnuts. 

Each serving provides 539 kcal, 9g protein, 48g carbohydrate (of which 10g sugars), 32g fat (of which 5g saturates), 9g fibre and 0.7g salt.


Vegan Wellington 

potatoes

onion, finely sliced

leek (around 200 grams/7 ounces), trimmed and thinly sliced

garlic cloves,

grams/3½oz spinach leaves

grams/4½oz cranberries

75 grams/2½oz pecan nuts,

orange, finely grated zest

puff pastry (vegan-friendly)

tbsp soya milk, or other plant-based ‘milk’

poppy seeds (optional)

Mary shows you how to make the perfect salmon en croûte. It's a great choice for a buffet table or party when you have lots of mouths to feed. This recipe uses roasted red peppers from a jar and a creamy spinach filling that will taste of summer all year round.

Salmon en croûte

225 grams/8 ounces baby leaf spinach

180 grams/6¼oz full-fat cream cheese

salmon

dill,

jar chargrilled mixed peppers

free-range egg

tbsp milk

pack ready-rolled puff pastry

flour,

spring onions, finely chopped

tbsp caster sugar

tbsp snipped fresh chives

parsley

dill

200 grams/7 ounces full-fat crème fraîche

½ lemon, juice only

Banish any thought of bland vegetarian food with this veggie Wellington packed with mushrooms, chestnuts, herbs and prunes. Use any pastry offcuts to decorate the Wellington and make it look extra special. 

Christmas veggie Wellington

butter

onion, finely chopped

celery,

200 grams/7 ounces root vegetables,

thyme, leaves

lemon, zest and juice

¼ tsp ground allspice

¼ tsp ground cloves

¼ tsp ground mace

100 grams/3½oz cooked chestnuts, roughly chopped

nuts,

75 grams/2½oz cooked wild or brown rice

75 grams/2½oz cooked brown lentils

breadcrumbs

tsp mushroom ketchup

soy sauce

shallots, very finely chopped

400 grams/14 ounces mushrooms, very finely chopped

spinach

prunes

tbsp Oloroso sherry

500 grams/1lb oz block puff pastry

egg, beaten,

shallot, finely chopped

200 grams/7 ounces mushrooms, very finely chopped

milliliters/3½fl oz white wine

tbsp mushroom ketchup

250 milliliters/9fl oz mushroom stock

cranberries

orange

grams/1¾oz caster sugar

The roast with the most! French trimmed roast pork with a sausagemeat, cranberry and chestnut stuffing, crisp crackling and a rich gravy. A great alternative to roast turkey at Christmas.

French trimmed roast pork

3kg/10½oz French trimmed rack of pork

olive oil,

cranberries prunes

calvados

thyme, leaves picked

½ tsp ground allspice

sausagemeat

100 grams/3½oz cooked chestnuts, crumbled

onion, sliced

tsp soft light brown sugar

tbsp flour

200 milliliters/7fl oz cider

400 milliliters/14fl oz chicken or pork stock

tsp apple jelly (optional)

½–1 tbsp calvados or brandy (optional)

Roast sirloin with homemade horseradish sauce is an impressive alternative to turkey for Christmas dinner. It also makes the most amazing Boxing Day sandwiches.

For this recipe you will need a roasting tray that can go on the hob.

Roast sirloin with creamed horseradish

tbsp English mustard powder

tbsp ground sea salt

tbsp black pepper

horseradish root, grated

tbsp white wine vinegar

mustard powder

150 milliliters/5fl oz double cream

This recipe is a great Italian alternative for a Christmas roast pork. Ask your butcher to butterfly the pork. This way the flavouring permeates the loin all the way through, especially if you leave it for two days to marinate in the fridge. 


Porchetta

Top 18 alternative christmas dinner recipes from across the web

The most viewed alternative christmas dinner recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine

Top Tags

Roast beef

Roast fillet of beef with roasted g...

Roast pork with crackling

Slow-cooked roast chicken with grav...

Honey-glazed gammon

Stuffed aubergines

Roast goose

Roast chicken with tarragon butter ...

Vegan Wellington

Salmon en croûte

Christmas veggie Wellington

French trimmed roast pork

Roast sirloin with creamed horserad...

Porchetta

Roast chicken with forty cloves of ...

Christmas nut roast with mushroom g...

Hasselback butternut squash with ch...

Roast leg of lamb with garlic and r...

Top 18 alternative christmas dinner recipes from across the web

The most viewed alternative christmas dinner recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engineic_arrow_forward_48px

Top Tags

Roast beef

Roast fillet of beef with roasted g...

Roast pork with crackling

Slow-cooked roast chicken with grav...

Honey-glazed gammon

Stuffed aubergines

Roast goose

Roast chicken with tarragon butter ...

Vegan Wellington

Salmon en croûte

Christmas veggie Wellington

French trimmed roast pork

Roast sirloin with creamed horserad...

Porchetta

Roast chicken with forty cloves of ...

Christmas nut roast with mushroom g...

Hasselback butternut squash with ch...

Roast leg of lamb with garlic and r...

The most viewed alternative christmas dinner recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine