There are some people in this world that don’t like Christmas. I can safely say I’m not one of them, but they do exist. Perhaps it isn’t even Christmas that they don’t like, people often find the meal overrated, I suppose it is a glorified roast dinner. Again I’m not one of those people. But if this is you, there are other ways to keep a little festive spirit without the overly dry roast turkey.
Untraditional Christmas Dinners
Christmas is often seen as a time for traditions, but maybe it’s time we start making our own. I’m pretty sure Mary and Joseph didn’t whip up a full roast turkey and ham on the day of Jesus’ birth, so there’s no reason why you can’t do your own thing too. With that in mind, I’ve been thinking of a few dishes you could swap your Christmas dinner for and still feel festive. But you won’t have to pour gravy over everything to add a bit of flavour.
Turkey Tacos
Christmas isn’t Christmas without turkey, but who said it had to be a whole turkey? I believe turkey mince is one of the most underrated foods out there. It’s such a versatile meat and if you choose turkey, it’s much lower in fat and higher in protein than beef or pork mince.
If you want to bring a Mexican theme to the table this year then turkey tacos are the way to go. You can make a homemade salsa, or even add some cranberry sauce to the taco if you want to go for a more traditional twist.
Finger food
Yes I’m talking about sausage rolls and chicken wings. I know it doesn’t sound very classy, but think of it this way, cooking a Christmas dinner is a lot of hassle for the assigned cook. Every year we put a lot of pressure on one person to deliver a delicious but very large meal, usually for 4+ people and although we have a great time, have you ever considered how exhausting it is for them?
Maybe it would be more fun for everyone if we eased off and went for something simple like finger food. This could also be beneficial in terms of costs. One person usually pays for the whole dinner, with finger food everyone could bring a dish or two to share. It also makes things a lot more relaxed and informal. Plus there should be plenty to pick at later on when you get the drunken nibbles.
Veggie pie
This is one for the vegetarians and vegans out there, or just people that want to reduce their meat intake and eat a few more vegetables this Christmas.
Nothing says comfort like pie. Watching the sauce pour out of a crisp shortcrust pastry is possibly one of the most fulfilling things you can watch happen on a dinner plate. It’s a great alternative to a piece of meat because all of the Christmas dinner trimmings still go with pie, so if you want to keep a touch of Christmas tradition without the meat then a pie is the way to go. If in doubt, choose pie. Need some pie inspiration? Why not try these combinations:
- Cheese & Onion
- Root vegetable
- Squash & stilton
- Spiced lentil & spinach
- Leek, cheese & potato
Sometimes, it’s all about making your own traditions. Christmas is a time for spreading joy and being around loved ones, and there’s no better place to do that than at the dinner table.
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