Christmas: Main Courses

Although roast turkey may be on the menu for Christmas Day for those who prefer something different we have a whole range of alternatives to choose from.

Braised and roast pheasants, duck, venison and goose, are all fantastic options and anyone who doesn't eat meat can enjoy salmon, scallops or a fabulous Vegetable Pie. Just the two of you? Don't be left out or thinking you have to buy a huge joint or turkey - Delia's Venison Steaks with Cranberry Cumberland Sauce is a quick and easy meal for 2.

The Delia Online Cookery School: Gravy will be on the menu if you are serving a traditional Christmas lunch, and you can watch how to make it in our video. Just click the image to play.

A Luxuriant Vegetable Pie

The challenge here was to find a celebration recipe for vegetarians without any cheese. After several at...

The challenge here was to find a celebration recipe for vegetarians without any cheese. After several attempts, this one emerged as the clear winner. The Delia O...

40 minutes

Vegetarian

Alex Mackay's Roast Turkey with Double Gravy

My turkey is gently sweet, smoky and spicy this year. I take care to use my beloved smoked paprika sparingl...

My turkey is gently sweet, smoky and spicy this year. I take care to use my beloved smoked paprika sparingly to excite rather than overpower the turkey. Even if you...

2 hours 15 minutes

Braised Pheasants

Because older birds are not tender enough to be roasted, they are excellent slowly braised and tenderised i...

Because older birds are not tender enough to be roasted, they are excellent slowly braised and tenderised in a beautiful sauce. The advantage of a little age is, of...

Braised Turkey Drumsticks with Port and Chestnuts

Turkey drumsticks are huge and two of them are enough for six people. What makes this recipe so good is ...

Turkey drumsticks are huge and two of them are enough for six people. What makes this recipe so good is that the slow braising of the meat closest to the bone gives...

A white plate of cooked slices of venison, mushrooms and bacon in a sauce with some garnish on the side and a spoon resting on the rim

Braised Venison with Bacon

This casserole freezes extremely well and fits the bill perfectly at Christmas when you have had enough tur...

This casserole freezes extremely well and fits the bill perfectly at Christmas when you have had enough turkey. Because it’s braised slowly, there are lots of lovel...

2 hours 30 minutes

a picture of a cooked roulade on an oblong plate with a dish of sauce next to it

Cheese and Parsnip Roulade

This recipe is in specific response to the letter I received from a vegetarian who asked if I could devise ...

This recipe is in specific response to the letter I received from a vegetarian who asked if I could devise something that had stuffing, sauce and all the trimmings – s...

20 minutes - 25 minutes

Vegetarian

an oblong pie dish full of smoked salmon filling and a potato topping with a piece taken out of the corner

Christmas Smoked Salmon Pie

This would be a good choice for Christmas Eve supper – done and dusted in the morning, or even the day befo...

This would be a good choice for Christmas Eve supper – done and dusted in the morning, or even the day before, then just whisked out of the fridge and into the oven. ...

30 minutes - 40 minutes

Crisp Roast Duck

This is it – the best method of roasting duck I've found to date, and of all the lovely sauces, this one – ...

This is it – the best method of roasting duck I've found to date, and of all the lovely sauces, this one – made with dried sour cherries – is the loveliest. It's im...

1 hour 50 minutes

Crisp Roast Duck with a Confit of Rhubarb and Ginger

I’m not very horticulturally minded but rhubarb is, I think, technically, a vegetable. But since the ric...

I’m not very horticulturally minded but rhubarb is, I think, technically, a vegetable. But since the richness of duck is always complemented by something sweet and ...

1 hour 50 minutes

Crisp Roast Duck with Stuffing

Since starting the How to Cook series I have at last hit on the very best way to get really crisp roast duc...

Since starting the How to Cook series I have at last hit on the very best way to get really crisp roast duck. If you've got a Gressingham duck then you'll have lots...

3 hours

Fillet of Beef in Pastry

This is an update of an old personal favourite of mine. It's easy to prepare and equally good served col...

This is an update of an old personal favourite of mine. It's easy to prepare and equally good served cold on a buffet table - I've even taken it on a picnic! ...

30 minutes - 40 minutes

Glazed Smoked Loin of Pork with Cumberland Sauce

Smoked Pork Loin is a very uncomplicated joint – no bones, no skin etc. And when it’s glazed with sugar,...

Smoked Pork Loin is a very uncomplicated joint – no bones, no skin etc. And when it’s glazed with sugar, studded with cloves and served with this authentic-tasting ...

1 hour 50 minutes

Goose (Pheasant or Duck) Giblet Stock

It is perfectly all right to use duck or pheasant giblets instead of goose giblets in this recipe, although...

It is perfectly all right to use duck or pheasant giblets instead of goose giblets in this recipe, although you will only need 1 pint (570 ml) water if you do. The ...

1 hour 30 minutes - 2 hours

Baked Guinea Fowl

Before you cry off this one, remember that garlic, simmered gently for 1¼ hours, mellows deliciously, losin...

Before you cry off this one, remember that garlic, simmered gently for 1¼ hours, mellows deliciously, losing much of its pungency. I have to admit it's probably not...

1 hour 10 minutes

Guinea Fowl au Vin

This is more or less my long-loved recipe for Coq au Vin, but made with guinea fowl. As guinea fowl...

This is more or less my long-loved recipe for Coq au Vin, but made with guinea fowl. As guinea fowl is smaller than chicken, one bird will feed only two people...

Luxury Seafood Pie

The absence of high street fishmongers nowadays always poses problems, so it's important to point out that ...

The absence of high street fishmongers nowadays always poses problems, so it's important to point out that this recipe can be made using all frozen shellfish and any v...

45 minutes

Mini Boeufs en Croute

If you want luxury, think fillet steak, and if you want to turn a 6 oz (175 g) fillet into a man-sized port...

If you want luxury, think fillet steak, and if you want to turn a 6 oz (175 g) fillet into a man-sized portion, encase it with a wild-mushroom stuffing in the very thi...

20 minutes - 30 minutes

Pepper-Crusted Fillet of Beef

This is one of the easiest ways I know to serve four people something special very quickly and very easily....

This is one of the easiest ways I know to serve four people something special very quickly and very easily. If you have a first course and a pud, there is enough fo...

30 minutes - 50 minutes

Pheasant Roasted in Butter Muslin

If you want to roast pheasants that are guaranteed to be moist and tender, then this is the best way I've c...

If you want to roast pheasants that are guaranteed to be moist and tender, then this is the best way I've come across. Do remember, though, to check with your suppl...

1 hour - 1 hour 30 minutes

Poached Pheasant with Celery

Celery has a wonderful affinity with poultry and game and the two have often appeared together in English r...

Celery has a wonderful affinity with poultry and game and the two have often appeared together in English recipes over the centuries. This recipe is what I would ca...

Pot-Roast of Pheasant with Shallots and Apples

This is a superb way to cook pheasants and would make an excellent alternative Christmas lunch for four peo...

This is a superb way to cook pheasants and would make an excellent alternative Christmas lunch for four people. The pheasants are first browned and flamed in Calvad...

1 hour - 1 hour 15 minutes

Pot-roasted Guinea Fowl

There are some lovely plump, free-range guinea fowl around at Christmas and this would be a splendid celebr...

There are some lovely plump, free-range guinea fowl around at Christmas and this would be a splendid celebration lunch or supper for two or three. If you don’t have...

1 hour

Pot-roasted Pheasant with Port and Chestnuts

This recipe makes an excellent change from turkey (if there are not too many of you for Christmas lunch). ...

This recipe makes an excellent change from turkey (if there are not too many of you for Christmas lunch). It is certainly easier and quicker to prepare, and it has ...

1 hour

Pot-roasted Pheasants in Madeira

In the original recipe a brace of pheasants were cut up into portions, but that is quite a bit of work. ...

In the original recipe a brace of pheasants were cut up into portions, but that is quite a bit of work. So we've found it easier this time to cook the pheasants who...