This year, my kids want to do a traditional English dinner. I would like to do just that.
I have read prime rib roast is traditional and I have read turkey is also traditional. What would be some traditional side items I can make to go along with the prime rib and/or turkey?
Yorkshire pudding with the beef roast.
Gotta do some creamed spinach with the rib roast. Oh, and don’t forget the horseradish cream too.
Green bean casserole with the turkey. My father-in-law makes a green bean casserole where he makes his own cream of mushroom soup, fries his own onions, and uses fresh green beans. It is to die for.
According to Charles Dickens it would be a Roast Goose. Don’t forget the Yorkshire pudding, brussels sprouts, and of course Christmas Pud.
Yep. Turkey supplanted goose in Britain relatively recently, due to improved breeding and falling costs. In the early 19th century, turkey was a rich man’s treat, even though it was nothing like today’s plump domesticated bird; that’s why in A Christmas Carol, Scrooge orders a turkey to be sent to Bob Cratchit’s house.
We had turkey with cornbread stuffing and Cornish game hens stuffed with wild rice for Thanksgiving; for Christmas, I plan on making goose with oyster stuffing and duck stuffed with apples. Roast chestnuts or chestnut puree can take the place of potatoes. Spiced apples would be another good side dish.
I also like red cabbage with goose and duck, but I suspect that’s more German or Austro-Hungarian than English. (Victoria and Albert would probably have liked it.)
Thanks all!!! Looking up recipes on Yorkshire pudding.
Goose, I don’t think I can do. But turkey and prime rib, most definitely.
Goose! Oh, how I love roast goose! Unfortunately they’re too big for just the two of us, and the SO doesn’t care for aquatic birds much.
You find milk
And I’ll find flour
And we’ll have pudding
In half an hour
Sounds good to me!
Sprouts. If you’re having a traditional British meal, you have to have Brussels sprouts. I usually do ours with chestnuts and bacon when I’m in charge.
Wanted to add: green bean casserole?! We don’t do any such thing here, certainly not as part of a “traditional” Christmas meal and for most of us never. I didn’t know what it even was until I got some American relatives.
In New England, we make the same thing, but in smaller cups and call them Popovers. When eaten right out of the oven, they are a little bit of heaven.
yes. we did a goose last year. only thing is, make sure you have it in a deep pan, 'cos there is a lot of fat to render off.
I’m thinking of roasting the Brussel sprouts…how does that sound?
I’m an American who did an English Christmas dinner a few years ago, just for fun. I watched a lot of Jamie Oliver and Hairy Bikers in preparation. I strongly recommend giving the Yorkshire Puddings a trial run, and research it… technique is VERY important. Let the batter rest, get the pan and oil hot, all that. It’s a science not an art.
FWIW the menu as I remember was prime rib, Yorkshire puddings, gravy, horseradish sauce, twice-cooked potatoes (boil, shake to fluff, roast in fat), roasted brussels sprouts, and mashed squash. I was able to buy small Christmas puddings in tins at my local grocery store rather than learn how to do that from scratch. I did make hard sauce to have with them.
Bubble and squeak for late supper that evening, made with leftover potatoes and sprouts.
I don’t know if it’s traditional, but prime rib without au jus is just plain criminal. Thisis an outstanding recipe. Yorkshire puddings are dead simple. We use ramekins, preheated in the oven. A little fat/drippings, and some batter, and Robert is your mother’s brother.
Wouldn’t that be prime rib sans jus?
Well crafted, sir.
You have to have pigs in blankets too, surely?
If you’re having turkey you must have stuffing. Either sage and onion or pork.
Beef isn’t complete without horseradish sauce.
…and bread sauce with the turkey.
Roast beef is the traditional Sunday lunch but not traditional for Christmas Day. Christmas lunch is roast turkey and roast gammon served with roast potatoes, roast parsnips, brussel sprouts with chestnuts, bread sauce, sausages wrapped in bacon, and two types of stuffing (sage and onion and sausage meat). Desert should be Christmas pudding, mince pies and brandy butter, cream and maybe custard. At least it is in our house 