Alternative Christmas Dinner Ideas

Why does everybody have a turkey Christmas diner?

Image: Stuffed and roasted turkey, via Dockter Turkey Farms

The example on the photo looks nice and juicy, but often turkey turns out very dry and tough. The handling of this huge bird, and how to get it in the oven in one piece, also poses a challenge form some households. And let’s not forget: what you often have loses its attraction after a while. So, why don’t you ask your family members and visitors, whether they might try something different for a change?

What are the options? The options are as rich as the number of recipes available in cooking books and on websites. Since we celebrate Christmas only once every year, and it is such a lovely time of the year, the food should be something special, of course. Here are five different suggestions, but you can always let your own imagination take over, and give you some novel ideas as well. If you click on the links, you’ll be directed to the respective recipe.

Have a different bird for Christmas dinner. Try a game bird like pheasant, quail or partridge. Dishes from these birds, you wouldn’t prepare everyday, and you can make them very special. An exemplary dish would be pan seared quail with Port wine balsamic reduction.

Image: Pan seared quail with Port wine balsamic reduction, via Recipe Share Canada.

If you are attracted by the idea of having a game dinner for Christmas, you might want to try some venison, bore or hare. Why don’t you try, for example, the haunch of venison with red wine, black pepper and thyme.

Image via UKTV Recipes.

Even pork doesn’t have to be boring, and you can turn it into a real treat for Christmas. Honey glazed ham, deliciously succulent and done in your oven, will smell fantastic and attract everybody to the kitchen area.

Image via Bordbia.ie.

And if you are fed up with meat all together, then you can always try a true vegetarian treat. What about wild mushrooms and Port brioche for your Christmas dinner.

Image via BBCGoodFood.com.

Doesn’t that just sound delicious? What ever you are trying this year – make it a truly special event, with some remarkable dishes. Sometimes it is tradition what we long for, but sometimes it’s something new we’d like to try.