Everything you need to know about a traditional Christmas dinner
It turns out that when you eat, sleep, and breathe roast dinners for a living, you end up with a gravy boat load of knowledge about them. So until ‘Sunday roast’ comes up on a pub quiz and we get time to shine, we thought we’d put our expertise to use and write a post about the holiest of roasts: the traditional Christmas dinner.
By the end of it, you’ll have the tree out of the attic, a presents list on your phone, and you’ll be searching for the best Christmas dinner near you to get a table booked. Save yourself the hassle and find your nearest Farmhouse Inn now!
Who started the Christmas tradition in the UK?
The tradition of midwinter feasting can be traced back to pagan times, but it's during the Victorian period that our beloved Christmas dinner began to take form. Where families previously saw the festivities as a time for excess and gluttonous feasts, it was now an intimate, family-orientated occasion.
Vegetables replaced excessive offerings of meat. Improvements in farming lowered the cost of turkey, solidifying its place at the heart of the meal. And the general economic and cultural shifts of the period gave way to the trimmings that continue to fill up our plates today.
What's in a traditional Christmas dinner?
This calls for a list. We can’t be doing anything but bullet points with something as important as this. A traditional Christmas dinner consists of:
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Meat (usually turkey)
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Roast potatoes
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Yorkshire puddings
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Brussel sprouts
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Carrots and parsnips
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Stuffing
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Pigs in blankets
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Gravy
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Bread sauce
Alternatively, take a look at our carvery menu. It’s as traditional as they come. No ill-advised departures from trusted ingredients. No changes to our perfectly crisp roasties. And never any switch-up of our classic Yorkshire puddings. All the essentials, done properly.
What's the most popular Christmas dinner meat?
The most popular Christmas dinner meat is turkey, and you’ll be pleased to know that multiple studies have been conducted into it.
So why is it the most popular meat? Partly tradition passed down from Henry VIII, the first known English king to eat turkey. Partly size – it can feed a huge family, with leftovers for Boxing Day.
And partly Charles Dickens. At the end of the classic A Christmas Carol, Scrooge sends a boy to buy the biggest turkey in the shop and gifts it to the Cratchits as the new centrepiece of their family meal. Who are we to argue with Charles?
What else can I serve for Christmas dinner that isn't turkey?
Turkey isn’t the only meat you can serve for Christmas. In our experience, beef is always a crowd-pleaser. So is glazed ham or ham crackling? Of course, chicken and duck or goose are lovely and much easier to cook than you’d imagine.Even a roasted salmon can make a pleasant change from a hearty cut of meat. For vegetarians, you can’t go wrong with a nut roast, veggie wellington, or pot-roast cauliflower. Nutritious and delicious.
What vegetables do you have with Christmas dinner?
For most, the three key elements of Christmas dinner veg are Brussels sprouts, parsnips and carrots. But the vegetables are probably the one aspect of a traditional Christmas dinner where a little adventure is rewarded.Peas, red cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, celery and red pepper have all found their way onto the dinner table. As long as you roast it well, even the fussiest of eaters will welcome its place on the spread.
What are the best Christmas dinner trimmings?
What are the best Christmas dinner trimmings, you ask? Well, we love a fluffy Yorkie, so they’re always on our deck. Pigs in blankets, too. There must be pigs in blankets. And roasties – cooked to the perfect crisp to complement all the other lovely textures and flavours on your plate.
Then there’s the bread sauce, cranberry sauce, and the gravy. Stuffing also deserves a seat at the table, but how you make it is entirely up to you – pork, sage and onion, or chestnut are a few of the firm family favourites.
Has all this talk of delicious Christmas meats, veggies and trimmings got your mouth watering and tummy rumbling? If so, you’re going to love our Christmas dinner. And did you know that you can even choose to click and collect your meal if you’d rather enjoy it at home? Just think of all the work and washing up you’ll save on.
What else is it tradition to eat and drink at Christmas?
There are certain food and drink items that have worked their ingredients off to be part of Christmas dinner and we burst with pride to know they’re now considered tradition. Here’s another list:
- Mince pies
- Mulled wine
- Christmas pudding
- Yule log
- Eggnog
- Sticky toffee pudding
- Cheese boards
- Gingerbread
- Baileys
- Chocolate orange
It’s a list that could go on and on – and you’ll notice most of it is dessert. So in keeping with traditions of old and new, we’ve made sure our dessert menu is as comprehensive as our carvery.
From our show-stopping, giant, baked-in-house cakes to our classic hearty puddings and ice-cream parlour, we have something for everyone.
Join us for a delicious Christmas dinner near you
One of the easiest ways to get the perfect, traditional Christmas dinner is simply to come to your local Farmhouse Inn! Our expert team have spent years crafting the ultimate roast and love nothing more than to share it with good company – including the perfect Christmas dinner on Christmas Day.So why not come join us and enjoy a stress-free day, with zero washing up! Your ideal Christmas day dinner near you is one click away. Book online for Christmas now.