Why a Beef Joint Could Be the Perfect Alternative to Turkey This Christmas

When it comes to Christmas dinner, tradition often dictates that a golden roast turkey takes centre stage. 

But for those looking to step away from the ordinary or who simply prefer something heartier, a beautifully roasted beef joint is an excellent alternative. 

Packed with rich flavour, easy to cook, and undeniably versatile, beef is a crowd-pleasing choice that can elevate your festive feast to a whole new level.

1. Why Choose Beef for Christmas?

Flavour: Beef offers a depth of flavour that turkey often lacks. Whether you go for a rib roast, fillet, or a silverside joint, the natural richness of beef creates a truly indulgent main course.

Moisture and Tenderness: With the right cut and cooking technique, a beef joint can be juicy and tender, ensuring every bite is as enjoyable as the last.

Versatility: Beef pairs beautifully with a variety of festive sides and sauces, from creamy horseradish to rich red wine gravy.

2. Choosing the Right Cut

The key to a successful Christmas beef roast lies in selecting the right cut for your gathering. Here are a few options to consider:

Rib of Beef: A bone-in rib roast is a showstopping choice with a balance of fat and tender meat. The marbling ensures the meat stays succulent, and the bones add extra flavour.

Beef Fillet: If you're hosting a smaller group or want something ultra-luxurious, a fillet joint is perfect. It’s lean, tender, and cooks relatively quickly.

Topside or Silverside: These are more affordable options that still deliver great results. Best cooked slowly, they’re ideal for a classic roast with Yorkshire puddings.

3. Cooking Tips for the Perfect Roast Beef

Bring It to Room Temperature: Allow your beef joint to sit at room temperature for at least an hour before roasting. This helps it cook evenly.

Season Generously: Beef can handle bold flavours. Rub your joint with a mix of olive oil, sea salt, cracked black pepper, and perhaps some garlic and rosemary.

Use a Meat Thermometer: For perfectly cooked beef, a meat thermometer is your best friend. Aim for 50–55°C for rare, 60–65°C for medium, and 70°C for well-done.

Rest Before Carving: Resting the beef for 20–30 minutes after cooking allows the juices to redistribute, ensuring every slice is moist and flavourful.

4. Sides to Pair with Roast Beef

One of the joys of serving beef at Christmas is the variety of sides that complement it beautifully. Here are a few ideas:

Yorkshire Puddings: A must-have with roast beef, these fluffy, golden delights are perfect for soaking up gravy.

Roast Potatoes: Crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, roasties cooked in beef dripping are heavenly.

Seasonal Vegetables: Brussel sprouts with chestnuts and bacon, honey-glazed carrots, and buttered parsnips are all excellent choices.

Sauces: Elevate your beef with homemade horseradish cream, red wine jus, or a classic béarnaise sauce.

5. Benefits of Choosing Beef

Opting for beef instead of turkey can simplify your Christmas preparations. Beef generally cooks faster than turkey, requires less attention to avoid drying out, and is more forgiving if you slightly overcook it. Plus, leftovers from a beef roast are incredibly versatile, making fantastic sandwiches, salads, or even a hearty stew for Boxing Day. Ideal after a long, exhilarating Boxing Day walk! 

Final Thoughts

A beef joint is a brilliant way to bring a touch of sophistication and bold flavour to your Christmas dinner. Whether you choose a decadent rib roast or a tender fillet, it’s sure to impress your guests and create a memorable meal. Paired with festive trimmings, a good bottle of red wine, and a decadent pudding to finish, roast beef can make your Christmas truly special.

So, why not break with tradition this year and give beef a starring role? After all, Christmas is the perfect time to indulge!

Alternative Meats for Your Christmas Feast

Christmas dinner is a cherished tradition, and for many, turkey takes centre stage. 

But if you're looking to shake things up this year or cater to a diverse group of guests, there are plenty of delicious alternatives to the classic bird.

Whether you're feeding a smaller crowd, aiming for something less traditional, or accommodating dietary preferences, there’s an option for everyone. Here are some ideas to inspire your festive feast.

1. Goose: The Traditional Rival

Before turkey became the go-to Christmas roast, goose reigned supreme in Britain. Its rich, gamey flavour and tender meat make it an excellent alternative. Goose is also self-basting, thanks to its higher fat content, ensuring a succulent result. The rendered fat can be used for making incredible roast potatoes—an added bonus! Pair it with spiced red cabbage and apple sauce for a truly nostalgic Christmas meal.

2. Duck: A Smaller Yet Luxurious Choice

Duck offers a similarly rich flavour but is more manageable for smaller gatherings. A whole roast duck with crispy skin and a sticky orange glaze makes a stunning centrepiece. Alternatively, serve confit duck legs for an elegant twist. Duck pairs wonderfully with cranberry, cherry, or plum sauces to bring festive sweetness to your table.

3. Beef Wellington: A Showstopper

If you're seeking drama and decadence, look no further than a classic Beef Wellington. This dish combines tender beef fillet, mushroom duxelles, and savoury prosciutto, all wrapped in flaky puff pastry. It's an impressive main course that will leave your guests in awe. Serve with creamy mashed potatoes, roasted root vegetables, and a rich red wine jus for a meal to remember.

4. Venison: A Taste of the Wild

Venison adds a touch of rustic charm to Christmas dinner. Its lean, earthy flavour is ideal for a hearty roast or as steaks paired with juniper and redcurrant sauces. Venison works beautifully with seasonal accompaniments like parsnip purée, roasted chestnuts, and Brussel sprouts cooked with pancetta. It’s perfect for those who enjoy game meats.

5. Gammon: Sweet and Savoury Delight

A glazed gammon joint is a versatile and budget-friendly alternative. Whether slow-roasted with honey and mustard or baked with a sticky marmalade glaze, gammon brings a balance of saltiness and sweetness to the table. It’s also ideal for leftovers, making sensational sandwiches and salads in the days following Christmas.

6. Lamb: Rich and Tender

Roast lamb can bring a Mediterranean flair to your Christmas feast. Season a leg of lamb with garlic, rosemary, and lemon for a fragrant, tender roast. For something unique, try a Moroccan-inspired lamb tagine spiced with cinnamon, cloves, and apricots. Lamb pairs beautifully with mint sauce, roasted potatoes, and winter greens.

7. Vegetarian and Vegan Alternatives

If you're catering for vegetarians or vegans, there are plenty of festive options to rival a traditional roast. A mushroom and chestnut Wellington or a spiced nut roast can be as hearty and satisfying as any meat dish. For a more modern touch, consider a roasted cauliflower crown with tahini dressing or a stuffed butternut squash filled with quinoa, cranberries, and pecans. These dishes are packed with seasonal flavours and ensure everyone at the table feels included.

8. Seafood Celebration

For a lighter, coastal-inspired Christmas, why not try a seafood main course? Whole baked salmon with a dill and lemon crust is elegant and simple to prepare. Lobster tails or a luxurious seafood platter with prawns, scallops, and oysters can make for an unforgettable festive feast.

Final Thoughts

Breaking away from the traditional turkey can add excitement and variety to your Christmas celebration. From rich, gamey meats to plant-based creations, there’s no shortage of ways to make your festive meal memorable. Pair your chosen main with your favourite seasonal sides, and don’t forget to indulge in a decadent dessert to finish.

This Christmas, why not make your dinner table the place for culinary creativity? Whatever you choose, it’s the company and the joy of the season that truly matter. Cheers to a delicious and merry Christmas! 

Impress Your Christmas Guests: Dinner Designed for you by Masterchef Winner Steven Wallis

With the Christmas countdown well underway, why not impress your friends and family with a Christmas dinner designed by Masterchef winner Steven Wallis in partnership with recipe box company Chefs For Foodies. 

With all the ingredients you will need to create a standout centrepiece with all the trimmings, the Ultimate Turkey Christmas Dinner recipe kit is £139 for six people, which works out at only £23.16 per head.

With zero waste and an easy-to-follow and fun cook-a-long video presented by Steven, the kit includes quality ingredients sourced from British suppliers and family-run butchers including a turkey breast joint with rosemary and Parma ham and pigs in blankets. 

The delicious side dishes feature roast potatoes, sage and onion stuffing, maple roasted carrots with smoked salt, Brussel sprouts with lemon pangritata and, of course, delicious turkey gravy.

Masterchef winner and judge Steven Wallis commented: “There can be a lot of pressure on preparing the perfect Christmas dinner, but just imagine how easy and impressive it would be to have everything measured out and pre-prepared?

"With the recipe box I've created with Chefs For Foodies you're guaranteed to have a less stressful experience cooking the meal of the year, so you can spend more time entertaining your guests whilst wowing them with your skills at the same time.”

To ensure quality, fresh ingredients, the food boxes are delivered a few days before Christmas. Chefs For Foodies ensures minimum waste by supplying pre-portioned ingredients and recyclable packaging.

If turkey isn't your thing, don't despair, because Chefs For Foodies has some great alternative recipe boxes available, all of which are also designed by Steven. 

The Ultimate Festive Beef Wellington recipe kit is priced at £130 for four people. It includes a delectable chateaubriand fillet, roast potatoes, pigs in blankets, braised red cabbage with cranberries, maple roasted carrots with smoked salt and rich beef gravy.

If you have any vegan guests, they're in for a treat too. The Portobello Mushroom Wellington recipe kit is £55 for two people and features a vegan alternative to the traditional Wellington, roast potatoes, butternut squash with vegan blue cheese and cranberries, Brussel sprouts with roasted grapes and pine nuts, plus, of course, lashings of delectable vegan gravy.

If you're looking for a delicious way to end your festive meal, or some great snacks and starters, Chefs Foodies also has you covered.

Priced at £35 and serving four to six people, the Festive Cheeseboard includes British Farmhouse Cheddar, Burts Blue Cheese, Brie de Meaux with salt and virgin olive oil crackers, as well as Tracklements caramelised onion chutney. You can also upgrade this box to include a beautiful bottle of 2019 Montepulciano D'Abruzzo.

Perfect for a pre or post Christmas soiree, the Indian Feast platter created by celebrity chef and James Martin show regular, Dipna Anand, is £68 and serves six. It features turkey malai tikka with cranberry sauce, lamb tikki pittas, onion, spinach and potato bhajis and prawn pakoras, all served with mint and mango chutney.

All of these recipe boxes are available to pre-order now and if ordering for Christmas Day, they will be delivered on December 22. You can also use the discount code Autumn10 to get 10% off for a limited time.

To place your order and to obtain your 10% discount please visit Chefs for Foodies at https://chefsforfoodies.com/pages/christmas