When we think of a Christmas dinner, we can’t help but imagine lashings of gravy, perfectly roasted potatoes, beautifully cooked al-dente veg and the star of the show, a gorgeously golden turkey.
Our love of turkey at Christmas time dates back to the 16th Century, with King Henry VIII widely believed to have been the first monarch to have eaten one with his Christmas dinner. This craze took hold in the 1950s when it replaced goose as the most popular menu item. It has since become such an ingrained tradition for us that in 2018, nearly 80% of families in the UK served up a Turkey for Christmas.
It does seem, however, that there are plenty of turkey-cynics out there with 48% of Britons stating that they would prefer something different served up at dinner time. In this blog post, you will find some delicious meat alternatives to the traditional turkey, perfect as your new Christmas centrepiece.
Beef
All of our home produced Aberdeen Angus beef is grass-fed offering a superb, sumptuous flavour. Our beef fillet can be used to make a showstopping beef wellington and our beef sirloin joint will make for a tender and juicy roast beef.
Duck
Duck is a versatile bird which can be eaten plain, or if you’re feeling adventurous, spruced up with some festive spices and hints of orange. However you choose to eat it, our fresh and locally sourced selection of free-range duck should hit the spot.
Pork
We offer a wide variety of cuts in our fresh selection of homegrown Gloucester Old Spot pork. Want to crank Christmas dinner up a notch? Go for a slow-roasted pork shoulder joint. The meat will fall off the bone and melt in the mouth, which marries perfectly with the crunchy pork crackling.
Veal
If you’re looking for something rich and decadent, then why not go for some braised veal shanks or a veal pot-roast. Deliciously tender and full of flavour, our welfare-friendly rose veal is sure to impress your guests at dinner.
Goose
If you don’t want to shy too far away from tradition then the classic choice of goose should do the trick. Grazed on Somerset pastures, this free-range goose is succulent and flavourful. Typically smaller than the usual turkey, a goose can be served with a variety of other small game birds for some real variety including guinea fowl, pheasant, partridge and pigeon.
With all of these delicious meat alternatives, you definitely won’t be missing the turkey come Christmas Day. For more delicious Christmas meal inspiration, check out our other blog posts which can be found here.
