Alternative Christmas Dinner Recipes

Tired of serving Turkey at Christmas? While it seems like turkey is the main dish that most American serve on Christmas day, there are some other alternative recipes that are perfect for Christmas dinner. There are no hard and fast rules for what you should serve, unlike Thanksgiving. So, just make sure you prepare something special that will be a family favorite.

Here are some recipes and meals that I have served on Christmas day in place of the traditional turkey.

Shrimp and Grits Recipe as Christmas Dinner

2 servings cooked grits
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup diced tasso ham*
2 tablespoons diced leeks
2 tablespoons diced onion
2 tablespoons diced green peppers
20 medium to large shrimp, peeled and de-veined, with tails on
1 to 2 tablespoons white wine
1 cup heavy cream
Salt and pepper
Green onion tops, chopped

Cook grits according to package directions; set aside and keep warm.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add tasso and saute until crisp. Add diced vegetables and saute until onions are translucent. Add shrimp and saute for 30 to 45 seconds, or until pink. Remove from the pan and set aside. Deglaze the pan with a little white wine. Slowly add the cream and let reduce until thickened. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Divide grits among 2 serving plates. Pour sauce over grits. Garnish with green onion tops.

Ribs Recipe for Christmas Dinner

4 slabs baby back ribs
Seasonings:
3 tablespoons kosher salt
2 tablespoons fresh ground black pepper
3 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons garlic powder
2 tablespoons onion powder
2 tablespoons seasoning salt
Marinade:
4 garlic bulbs
2 large sweet onions
1 bunch fresh thyme
1 bunch fresh oregano
1 bunch fresh parsley
1 bottle red wine
2 cups extra-virgin olive oil

Wash and dry the ribs. Combine all seasonings in a bowl. Liberally season the ribs with the seasonings. Make sure to rub the seasonings into the meat.

Cut the garlic bulbs in half and slice the onions thinly. Wash your fresh herbs. In a large roasting pan, line the bottom with some of your onions. Place 2 slabs of the ribs over the onions, bone side down. Rub the ribs with 1 of the cut garlic bulbs, set the garlic cut side down on top of the slab. Place some thyme, oregano, and parsley over each slab. Place the remaining onions on top of herbs. Drizzle with wine and extra-virgin olive oil. Create a second layer of ribs, herbs, wine, extra-virgin olive oil. Allow the ribs to marinate, in the refrigerator, for 24 hours.

After 24 hours, the ribs are ready for the grill. Preheat a grill so 1 side of the grill is heated and 1 side is not.
Take the ribs out of the marinade. Place them bone side down over some hot coals. It takes about 30 to 40 minutes to cook the ribs. Alternate your ribs from the hot side of the grill to the cold side. This will allow you to have more control over your cooking. Enjoy!

Christmas Dinner Pot Roast

1 (4-pound) boneless Chuck pot roast, neatly tied
Salt and ground pepper
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup finely chopped onions
1 cup finely chopped carrots
1 cup finely chopped celery
2 bay leaves
2 teaspoons thyme
4 cups beef stock
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
4 tablespoon butter, softened

Pat roast dry and season with salt and pepper. In a Dutch oven, heat the vegetable oil over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking. Add the roast and brown on all sides, about 15 minutes total. Transfer the roast to a plate and pour out all but 1 tablespoon of fat from the pan. Add the onions, carrots, and celery to the pan and cook over moderate heat, stirring until golden. Place the roast back in the pan along with the bay leaves, thyme, and enough of the beef stock to come up 2/3 of the way up the beef. Bring the pot roast to a simmer on top of the stove, skim, cover tightly, and set in the lower third of a 350 degree preheated oven. Regulate heat so that the liquid remains at a gentle simmer for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, until the beef is tender. Turn the roast over several times during its braising.

Transfer roast to a cutting board and let stand 10 minutes, covered with aluminum foil to keep warm. Skim off any fat from the surface of the liquid. Strain the liquid. To thicken the sauce slightly, bring the liquid to a boil. For each cup of liquid, stir together 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon flour. Whisk the butter mixture into the liquid. Simmer, stirring constantly, until thickened. Slice the pot roast and serve with the sauce and boiled new potatoes.