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 picture of cooked collar of bacon on a white plate with a carving knife and fork next to it

Roast Collar of Bacon

This is what I always traditionally cook on Christmas Eve. Not only is it exquisite served hot or cold w...

This is what I always traditionally cook on Christmas Eve. Not only is it exquisite served hot or cold with all its crunchy crackling and my favourite English sauce...

2 hours 10 minutes - 2 hours 25 minutes

a picture of a white plate with a whole roast duck with a bowl of cherry sauce and a silver carving knife and fork

Roast Duck with Cherry Sauce

After 40 years of recipe writing about other more elegant ways of serving duck I have now returned to this,...

After 40 years of recipe writing about other more elegant ways of serving duck I have now returned to this, the original recipe. If you think halfway to Chinese thi...

2 hours 50 minutes - 3 hours 20 minutes

Roast Goose with Forcemeat Stuffing

The sharpness and freshness of both the cranberries and apple make an excellent accompaniment to roast goos...

The sharpness and freshness of both the cranberries and apple make an excellent accompaniment to roast goose as they balance the richness of the meat. Also, giving ...

3 hours - 3 hours 30 minutes

Roast Goose with a Confit of Pears

If your family doesn't want a turkey that goes on and on after Christmas, then I suggest you serve a goose ...

If your family doesn't want a turkey that goes on and on after Christmas, then I suggest you serve a goose for Christmas lunch It has all the evocative aroma and fl...

3 hours 10 minutes - 3 hours 40 minutes

Roast Goose with Stuffing

Here's another superb way to serve goose. If you haven't made the Spiced Pickled Pears well in adva...

Here's another superb way to serve goose. If you haven't made the Spiced Pickled Pears well in advance fear not - they are almost as good served straightaway a...

Roast Loin of Pork

This Christmas recipe for pork uses the loin, which yields lots of crunchy crackling, roasted with aromatic...

This Christmas recipe for pork uses the loin, which yields lots of crunchy crackling, roasted with aromatic herbs. It is served with a sweet and sour sauce made wit...

2 hours 5 minutes - 2 hours 20 minutes

Roast Loin of Pork with Ginger

In order to ensure you get really crisp crackling, dry the pork rind thoroughly when you get it home and pl...

In order to ensure you get really crisp crackling, dry the pork rind thoroughly when you get it home and place it uncovered in the fridge to allow the rind to dry out....

2 hours 20 minutes

Roast Pheasant with Chestnut Stuffing

Those of us who lament the loss of real free-range flavour need look no further than pheasant, one of the f...

Those of us who lament the loss of real free-range flavour need look no further than pheasant, one of the finest flavoured game birds. Chestnuts, which have a great...

1 hour 15 minutes

Roast Ribs of Aberdeen Angus Beef

For those underwhelmed by turkey, Christmas is a time to splash out on a really good, well-hung joint of th...

For those underwhelmed by turkey, Christmas is a time to splash out on a really good, well-hung joint of the best Aberdeen Angus. The confit (see related recipe bel...

35 minutes - 50 minutes

Roast Beef with Yorkshire Pudding

I still think the roast beef of old England, served with meaty gravy, crisp Yorkshire pudding and crunchy r...

I still think the roast beef of old England, served with meaty gravy, crisp Yorkshire pudding and crunchy roast potatoes is not only one of the world's greatest meals,...

Roast Stuffed Goose with Prunes in Armagnac

There was a time when goose, rather than turkey, was the traditional family treat at Christmas. In the p...

There was a time when goose, rather than turkey, was the traditional family treat at Christmas. In the past few years it has come back into its own and supplies are...

3 hours 15 minutes - 3 hours 45 minutes

Roast Turkey with Apricot Stuffing

Turkey is often cooked in the same way, so it's wonderful to break with tradition and go for something comp...

Turkey is often cooked in the same way, so it's wonderful to break with tradition and go for something completely different. If you've never cooked a turkey before,...

4 hours 40 minutes - 5 hours 20 minutes

Salmon Coulibiac

This is one of the best fish pies ever invented. It's perfect for entertaining as it can all be made wel...

This is one of the best fish pies ever invented. It's perfect for entertaining as it can all be made well in advance. Provided everything is cooled thoroughly first...

20 minutes - 25 minutes

Salmon in Champagne Sauce

I was served this memorable dish at the house of a Champagne producer in Rheims, and this is my version. ...

I was served this memorable dish at the house of a Champagne producer in Rheims, and this is my version. The Delia Online Cookery School: Watch our video of De...

8 minutes - 10 minutes

A picture of braised belly pork with bacon apples and cider on a white plate

Slow Braised Belly Pork

This is a very special recipe which could make a great meal for the family on Christmas Eve. Once assemb...

This is a very special recipe which could make a great meal for the family on Christmas Eve. Once assembled, it sits happily in a slow oven for three hours, leaving...

3 hours

Roast Chicken with Stuffing and Gravy

This is a family roast chicken, moist and succulent for Sunday lunch, with lots of crispy bacon, real chick...

This is a family roast chicken, moist and succulent for Sunday lunch, with lots of crispy bacon, real chicken-flavoured gravy, some very savoury stuffing and a sauce. ...

1 hour 50 minutes - 2 hours 20 minutes

Roast Sirloin of Beef

The only way to enjoy this most splendid of feasts is to make absolutely sure the beef is good because, in ...

The only way to enjoy this most splendid of feasts is to make absolutely sure the beef is good because, in this case more than in any other, the cook is at the mercy o...

1 hour 35 minutes - 2 hours 5 minutes

a picture of a table set with white plates, cutlery wine glasses and a cooked turkey with all the trimmings

Traditional Roast Turkey

Cooking a turkey for the first time at Christmas, when in-laws and other guests are probably milling around...

Cooking a turkey for the first time at Christmas, when in-laws and other guests are probably milling around, can be quite a traumatic experience. I think the secret...

3 hours 40 minutes - 4 hours 10 minutes

Venison Braised in Guinness

This is dark, rich and luscious and needs lots of fluffy mashed potato to absorb all the exquisite sauce. ...

This is dark, rich and luscious and needs lots of fluffy mashed potato to absorb all the exquisite sauce. It's perfect, too, for entertaining as it braises slowly i...

3 hours

Venison Sausages Braised in Red Wine

Bangers are bangers, but there are some bangers that are extremely special – and venison sausages are posit...

Bangers are bangers, but there are some bangers that are extremely special – and venison sausages are positively five-star, especially when you serve them braised slow...

a picture of venison sausages braised in white wine in a white pan

Braised Venison Sausages

You could make this with any kind of good quality sausages, but venison seems more festive. Needless to ...

You could make this with any kind of good quality sausages, but venison seems more festive. Needless to say, a pile of fluffy mashed potato or Puree of Potato and C...

Venison Steaks

This is the perfect meal for two for a special occasion and has the added bonus of being super-fast. Cum...

This is the perfect meal for two for a special occasion and has the added bonus of being super-fast. Cumberland sauce is traditionally made with redcurrant jelly bu...

8 minutes - 12 minutes