Christmas is just around the corner and you still have no idea what to put on the festive table? No problem! These 5 delicious Christmas recipes for festive dishes are just the thing for you.
The festive season not only invites you to visit atmospheric Christmas markets and other magical activities outside your own four walls, but also to make yourself comfortable at home and prepare something delicious. But choosing the perfect menu can be stressful – especially if you want to try something new instead of serving the same dish every year.
But don’t worry, you’ll easily find the right inspiration here. These 5 simple recipes cover the whole range: from vegetarian and vegan options to meat and fish dishes. Surprise your loved ones with a special festive meal – or treat yourself if you’re spending the holidays alone. There’s something for every taste here!
1. pretzel dumplings with mushroom ragout
Our Christmas recipes don’t start with meat, but with a meat-free option: homemade pretzel d umplings made from stale pretzel bread – a great vegetarian choice that really packs a punch. They go well with a delicious mushroom ragout, in which you can use a variety of mushrooms such as porcini mushrooms or chanterelles – they make an excellent meat substitute and also satisfy meat eaters.
First cut the pretzel into small cubes and pour a mixture of warmed milk, eggs and spices over it so that it soaks well. Then fry the onion and parsley in butter and add to the pretzel mixture. This is formed into a roll, wrapped in cling film and aluminum foil and cooked in boiling water for 30 minutes.
For the mushroom ragout, sauté the mushrooms, deglaze with white wine and refine with cream and chives. Cut the dumpling rolls into slices, fry them in clarified butter until golden brown and serve with the mushroom ragout.
You can find the full recipe here.
2. fillet of beef with red wine and shallot sauce, celeriac puree and beans wrapped in bacon
Christmas recipes with beef in a red wine sauce are a popular classic – here we have a delicious and simple recipe for you: The beef fillet is first seared and then finished in the oven to the desired doneness. For the sauce, caramelize the shallots, deglaze with red wine and simmer until the sauce is nice and thick.
To make the celeriac puree, boil the celeriac until soft and then puree with cream and butter to a creamy consistency. Prepare the beans wrapped in bacon by blanching the green beans, wrapping them in bacon and frying until crispy. Serve the dish by placing the fillet of beef on the celeriac puree, coating with the sauce and arranging the bacon beans as a garnish. A real treat for special occasions!
You can find the full recipe here.
3. jackfruit goulash
Have you heard of jackfruit? The flesh of this exotic fruit is an excellent substitute for meat in savory dishes. A delicious jackfruit goulash is ideally complemented by potato dumplings and festive red cabbage, garnished with fresh parsley – a feast for the eyes and the palate.
To prepare the dish, first rinse the jackfruit, cut into pieces and fry in olive oil until it forms a crust. Onions, spices, tomato puree and maple syrup are then added, deglazed with wine and cooked with water. The whole thing is left to simmer for about an hour and a half to allow the flavors to develop. The sauce is thickened with a mixture of starch and water.
For the dumplings, toast the bread cubes in butter and set aside. The potatoes are then boiled, pressed and mixed with flour, potato starch and butter to form a dough. The dumplings are filled, shaped and cooked in salted water.
You can find the full recipe here.
4. salmon trout on orange and thyme risotto
Of course, we also have great Christmas recipes for fish lovers! Fresh salmon trout, fried in butter, is served on a creamy risotto. Juicy orange and aromatic thyme give the dish a special touch and make it perfect for Christmas Eve.
After you have sautéed the onions and garlic in olive oil, add the risotto rice and fry briefly. Then deglaze with white wine and gradually pour in the vegetable stock. After about 10 minutes, add the orange pieces and continue to simmer the risotto until the rice is soft but still firm to the bite. Finally, stir in the freshly squeezed orange juice, Parmesan and butter. For the salmon trout: Rinse the fish, season it and dust it lightly with flour. Then fry it in a pan with a mixture of oil and butter until golden brown.
You can find the full recipe here.
5. eggnog dessert with white chocolate
One of the Christmas recipes that will sweeten your evening: a delicious and uncomplicated eggnog dessert with white chocolate – without any raw eggs! You can prepare this sweet treat the day before so that all you need to do on the day of serving is decorate it. The mousse consists of white chocolate, cream, eggnog and vanilla– preferably with homemade vanilla extract. If you don’t have your own eggnog, you can also use a store-bought variety. There are many recipes for homemade eggnog, including whole egg or orange vanilla versions. This dessert is the perfect finishing touch to any festive meal!
You can find the full recipe here.