We all have traditional Christmas recipes that we love. Recipes handed down the generations, that for us are the taste of Christmas. However, it is always lovely to come across a new recipe. One that offers to put a new twist on an old favourite. December is a particularly busy month, so recipes you can prepare ahead are invaluable at this time of year. We want to share some of our favourites with you. Using the best of seasonal ingredients, you can prepare these well in advance. Taking some of the pressure off on Christmas Day.
Parmesan Baked Parsnips
We came across this Delia Smith recipe in Delia’s Vegetarian Collection. It quickly became a firm family favourite, and is now an essential part of our Christmas dinner. The parsnips are baked in the oven and the parmesan coating gives them a wonderful crispy coat. You can prepare them up to 24 hours in advance. However we prefer to prepare, then freeze them. On Christmas Day they can simply be cooked from frozen.
INGREDIENTS
2oz (50g) freshly grated Parmesan Cheese
2 1/2 lb (1.25kg) parsnips
6oz (175g) plain flour
Groundnut or other flavourless oil for baking
a knob of butter
salt and freshly milled black pepper
METHOD
Begin by combining the flour, Parmesan, salt and pepper in a mixing bowl.
Peel the parsnips using a potato peeler. Then halve and quarter them lengthways and cut each length in half across, so that you end up with smallish chunks. Cut out any tough woody centres. Now pop the parsnips in a saucepan, pour in enough boiling water just to cover them and add salt. Put on a lid, bring them to the boil and boil for 3 minutes. Meanwhile have a large kitchen tray ready.
Then, as soon as they are ready, drain them in a colander and, whilst they are still steaming, drop a few at a time (with the aid of some kitchen tongs) into the flour and parmesan mixture, shaking the bowl and moving them around so that they get a good even coating. As they are coated transfer them to the tray. Make sure you do them all fairly swiftly as the flour mixture will only coat them whilst they are still steamy! When they’re all coated they are ready to cook or store in the fridge or freeze.
Any leftover flour and Parmesan can be kept (sifted) in the fridge or freezer for another time. What is important is to have plenty in order to coat the parsnips quickly.
To bake them, place a large solid roasting tin in the oven to pre-heat and in it put enough oil just to cover the base and a knob of butter for flavour. Then, when the oven is ready, remove the tin and place it over direct heat (turned fairly low) and, again using tongs, place the parsnips quickly side by side in the tin. Tilt it and baste all the parsnips with hot fat, place the tin in the oven and bake them for 20 minutes, then turn them over, drain off any surplus fat (a bulb baster is good for this) and continue to bake for a further 15-20 minutes or until they are crisp and golden.
Red Cabbage with Pears
INGREDIENTS
METHOD
Smoked Bacon and Pecan Brussels Sprouts
This Donal Skehan recipe is a new find. If you want to ensure your Brussels Sprouts retain a crunchy bite, then this is the recipe for you. Like the recipes above, you can prepare this recipe in advance.
INGREDIENTS
1kg Brussel sprouts
4 rindless Drumanilra streaky bacon rashers
25g pecan halves, roughly chopped
A good knob of butter
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
METHOD
Trim the Brussel Sprouts and blanch in a pan of boiling salted water for 6-8 minutes until just tender. Check by piercing with the tip of a sharp knife. Drain and cool quickly under cold running water, then cut each one in half.
If you are preparing ahead, and don’t plan to eat right away then the blanched sprouts can now be put into a large zip-lock bag and kept in the fridge until needed.
When almost ready to serve, heat the butter in a sauté pan and sauté the bacon until crisp and golden. Add the pecan halves to the same pan and sauté for a couple of minutes until lightly toasted and sizzling
Add the butter to the sauté pan and tip in the blanched Brussel sprouts, then sauté over a medium heat until warmed through. Season to taste and tip in the bacon and pecans and toss again briefly, then tip into a warmed serving bowl. Cover with foil and keep warm in a low oven until needed.
