Monday, June 23, 2025
HomeCooking8 Showstopping Christmas Entrées – Leite's Culinaria

8 Showstopping Christmas Entrées – Leite’s Culinaria


Once I was a child, Christmas dinner was by no means an enormous deal. Not that Mama Leite did make one hell of a meal–her Portuguese chuck roast is famous–it simply wasn’t that necessary to me. (I do know, proper? Meals not necessary to me?)

Christmas morning with all its presents was all I may take into consideration from the minute I cleaned my Thanksgiving plate. And the joy solely constructed with every day.

I keep in mind one Christmas morning after I lastly received the Bell & Howell 35mm digicam I had been begging my dad and mom for for nearly a 12 months. I used to be so giddy, I jumped up and ran round the home and proper right into a door jamb virtually knocking myself out.

How may meals compete with that?

Quick ahead to 1993. From the second The One and I met, buying and giving presents have by no means been an enormous a part of our vacation custom. That’s at all times left extra time to plan and cook dinner our meals. (And between us, it in all probability saved the lives of some significantly ill-mannered customers worthy of TikTok Corridor of Disgrace).

Through the years, our favourite menus have included beef Wellington, an actual Christmas Carol roast goose, and prime rib roast.

A ceramic bowl filled with oyster stew with several oysters in the center and a spoon resting beside the bowl.A ceramic bowl filled with oyster stew with several oysters in the center and a spoon resting beside the bowl.
: Leigh Beisch

One dish we’ve had each Christmas for the previous 30 years–huge bowls of oyster stew for lunch. (Ask him…it’s a Baltimore factor.)

No matter you serve this 12 months, right here’s wishing you and yours a joyous, merry, and injury-free Christmas day!

The word The word
A glazed spiral cut ham on a white platter with a carving knife and fork nearby.A glazed spiral cut ham on a white platter with a carving knife and fork nearby.

This Dr Pepper glazed ham requires a spiraled ham to be brushed with Dr Pepper, brown sugar, orange juice, and Dijon mustard. The ham absorbs the spice traits of the soda to turn out to be completely scrumptious. Don’t knock it until you strive it.

My household, together with my in-laws, love after I make this ham. My mom in regulation particularly requested me to make this for at the moment, Thanksgiving, which is a “excessive honor” coming from her.

It’s not sticky candy however there’s simply sufficient sweetness. Individuals are suprised after I inform them the substances, that are minimal. Love this ham!

amy s.

A whole grilled beef tenderloin, partially sliced on a wooden cutting board with a knife, meat fork, and twine beside it.A whole grilled beef tenderloin, partially sliced on a wooden cutting board with a knife, meat fork, and twine beside it.

You will wish to double the compound butter recipe for this grilled beef tenderloin due to its recent and savory notes.

An oval baking dish filled with a slow roasted lamb shoulder, surrounded by orange wedges and cinnamon sticks.An oval baking dish filled with a slow roasted lamb shoulder, surrounded by orange wedges and cinnamon sticks.

This sluggish roasted lamb shoulder coaxes the meat to fall-apart tenderness within the oven whereas infusing it with the pervasive aroma and taste of chile, orange, and honey.

Four individual mushroom wellingtons with spinach and walnuts on a squares of parchment paper.Four individual mushroom wellingtons with spinach and walnuts on a squares of parchment paper.

This mushroom wellington with spinach is basically a meaty portobello mushroom and spinach-walnut filling in flaky puff pastry. A spectacular vegan and vegetarian possibility, whether or not for Thanksgiving or any time of 12 months. And you may simply assemble it forward of time and bake it on the final second.

A roasted fresh ham on a platter with roasted carrots and a bottle of red wine in the background.A roasted fresh ham on a platter with roasted carrots and a bottle of red wine in the background.

This roasted recent ham with maple-spice glaze is slowly cooked and infused with flavors of cinnamon, allspice, cloves, nutmeg, and maple syrup. It’s a centerpiece-worthy entree, good for any vacation gathering.

This roasted recent ham is nice! An actual winner!

rita f.

A smoked prime rib sliced in half on a wooden board with a green-handled knife beside it.A smoked prime rib sliced in half on a wooden board with a green-handled knife beside it.

This smoked prime rib, coated with a sugar spice rub and smothered with a horseradish mustard combination, turns into slowly infused with smoky taste and is just the most effective prime rib we’ve ever tried.

A garlic-herb pork crown roast on a square serving pedestal.A garlic-herb pork crown roast on a square serving pedestal.

Garlic and herb-rubbed pork crown roast is an old-school dinner made with brined pork that will get flavored with garlic, juniper berries, thyme, sage, bay, and a great deal of different traditional herbs. The brine makes it so juicy and richly flavored, you may by no means cook dinner pork with out it once more.

Three slice of medium rare standing rib roast au jus on a cutting board.Three slice of medium rare standing rib roast au jus on a cutting board.

A standing rib roast with jus is an absolute show-stopping dinner. And to not point out the parsley and dill-infused herbaceous jus that’ll make you the toast of your social circle. Significantly, get able to be a hero.

FAQs

How a lot meat ought to I cook dinner per individual?

The overall rule of thumb is to plan for about 8 ounces of meat per grownup and about 4 ounces per youngster. Understand that if the meat you’re cooking accommodates bones, the load of the bones must be excluded.

How can I make a vacation meal on a price range?

A Frenched rib roast is a sight to behold (and devour), however it would additionally price you a hefty sum, and never everybody can or needs to splurge on a pricey piece of meat. Worry not. You may nonetheless prove a spectacular vacation meal at a fraction of the associated fee.

A easy glazed ham, served with straightforward scalloped potatoes, pan-fried inexperienced beans, and candied carrots will earn you ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ with out breaking the financial institution. Or make an enormous batch of pork tamales, served alongside your favourite Mexican sides. For those who’ve received your coronary heart set on beef, a pot roast with potatoes and greens is a straightforward, hands-off meal that may price you far lower than a chunk of prime beef.

What number of facet dishes do I must serve?

For an enormous vacation meal, plan for 3 to 4 facet dishes. A starchy facet, like mashed potatoes, together with bread or dinner rolls, and one to 2 vegetable sides works effectively.

Now that you simply’ve settled on a stunner of a vacation important course, don’t neglect to incorporate just a few swanky vacation sides and a few Christmas desserts that everybody shall be requesting once more subsequent 12 months.

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