TERRIFIC TURKEY ALTERNATIVES

If you don’t have a large crowd coming for Christmas or are simply not a fan of the traditional turkey, embrace alternatives which will normally be far less trouble to prepare than a giant bird.

Roasted whole duck is such a treat and needs very little work to create a stunning centrepiece. A whole duck will feed up to four people, but if you prefer your duck rare you could always pan-fry duck breasts and serve with all the trimmings. Silverhill Farm duck is available in SuperValu, Dunnes and Tesco stores nationwide.

Goose is the most underrated bird at this time of the year, so deliciously rich and gamey, and far quicker to roast than a turkey. Many supermarkets are now offering goose and it is truly indulgent, but especially so if you order from your butcher with the giblets in, to make a rich gravy. You can roast your goose on top of potatoes to make instant goose fat roasties too – bonus!

The whole point of Christmas dinner is to spoil yourself with special dishes, so if you adore red meat, why not try lamb or beef as your centrepiece? A delicious leg of lamb (Achill Island Lamb, available at Avoca stores is particularly special) can be given a festive makeover with a clementine sauce.

If you’re taking the beef route, go all out with a roast rib of beef with the bone in, which looks as impressive as it tastes. Add port butter for an instant Christmas classic.