Christmas Dinner Ideas

Christmas dinner is that meal of the year when we want something special, but at the same time homely.

The choice depends on whether you swear by tradition or want to try something more modern.

Here are three concepts for Christmas dinner, from classic to one that will take you less time.

Traditional classic (festive and rich)

This is a dinner that smells of home and childhood.

• Starter: Beef soup with homemade noodles or mushroom soup in a bread cup.

• Main course: Pork roast with crispy skin or veal roast.

• Side dishes: Roast potatoes, homemade cottage cheese dumplings and stewed red cabbage.

• Dessert: Walnut or poppy seed potica and hot compote.

Elegant “Gourmet” dinner (for lovers of top flavors)

If you really want to impress your guests with your culinary skills.

• Starter: Beef or salmon tartare on toasted bread with butter.

• Main course: Beef Wellington (a roast lung in puff pastry) or duck breast in a red wine and fig sauce.

• Side dishes: Potato gratin (Dauphinoise), roasted asparagus with parmesan or celery puree with truffles.

• Dessert: Chocolate soufflé with a liquid center or vanilla cream with roasted apples.

A Christmas fairy tale from the sea (lighter and fresher)

Many, especially in Primorska, prefer to choose fish for Christmas Eve.

• Starter: Octopus in salad or black risotto with squid.

• Main course: Oven-baked gilthead sea bream or sea bass with potatoes and olives or cod on white with fried polenta.

• Side dishes: Swiss chard with potatoes, roasted cherry tomatoes and marinated artichokes.

• Dessert: Panna cotta with raspberry sauce or lemon cake.

Idea for a “stress-free” Christmas (all from one dish)

If you want to spend more time with your family and less time in the kitchen.

• Main course: Whole chicken or small turkey, baked in a baking dish with potatoes, carrots, onions and zucchini.

• Secret: Season everything with rosemary, sage and lemon. The juices of the meat will soak up the vegetables, and you will only dirty one baking dish.

• Dessert: Homemade cookies and hot tea with cinnamon.

Tip for the perfect atmosphere:

• Drink: Don’t forget a good wine (teran with beef, gray pine with fish) or homemade elderberry syrup with mineral water for the children.

• Decoration: A few spruce branches on the table, candles and festive napkins do more than the most expensive food.