Although turkey is the traditional Christmas meat of choice, sometimes it’s nice to do an alternative.

This festive season you could try something a bit different; here are a few delicious meal centrepiece suggestions so you can too.

(image: © Eating Out at Home)

Salmon En-Croute: A Recipe

Fresh salmon can make an ideal roast alternative, and we promise this recipe for salmon en-croute will not disappoint.

It is very easy to make, you will need:

• 1 John Ross Jr. fresh Scottish salmon fillet
• 750g puff pastry
• 125g mascarpone cheese
• 100g watercress
• 1 egg
• The zest of two lemons

Start by preheating the oven to 400°F/200°C or gas mark 6. Using a food processor, blend the watercress until smooth and paste-like. Once the desired consistency is achieved, add the mascarpone, lemon zest and a little seasoning to taste.

Gently dry the salmon and cover one side with the watercress mixture. Then lay the fish in the centre of a sheet of pastry (make your own or use store bought – it’s up to you).

Beat the egg in a small bowl and brush it around the salmon using a pastry brush. Lay the second sheet of pastry on top of the salmon, and smooth down onto the egg wash so it sticks and forms a seal. When doing this, make sure there are no air pockets.

Trim off any excess pastry so there is only about an inch border around the salmon and seal by pressing with a fork all the way around. If you like, you can now decorate the top with the left-over pastry – some simple leaf designs work a treat!

Place on a baking paper lined tray and leave in the refrigerator to cool for around half an hour. This will allow for your creation to firm up a bit.

Once this time has passed, remove it from the fridge and brush with any leftover egg. Bake in the oven for 40 minutes or until golden brown and slightly crispy. Slice into portions when you are ready to serve, and plate with festive greens and a glass of great dry white wine.

This is a delicious and impressive pescetarian alternative recipe to the classic Christmas roast.

(image:© The Kitchn)

Chestnut Loaf

A chestnut loaf is a popular vegetarian and vegan alternative to the classic Christmas roast, and it smells delightful – just like horse chestnuts roasting on an open fire!

You may not be serving turkey, but you can keep the cranberry sauce. It goes just as well with chestnut loaf, and adds an extra dimension of fruity flavour. Check out our post on noel nibbles, for a tantalising twist on the classic cranberry sauce recipe.

(image: © Archie MacDonald52 under CC BY-SA 3.0)

Beef Fillet with Prosciutto

Beef is a family favourite on Sundays, so why not serve it for Christmas too?

Our fresh Scottish beef fillets are tender, with a melt in the mouth quality thanks to the fact that they are aged to perfection. Beef fillets are considered one of the best cuts of meat, and therefore are ideal for an indulgent Christmas.

You can make the beef extra special by wrapping it with wafer thin prosciutto ham for an added subtle flavour, or maybe some mushrooms for an earthy element. Either way, remember we eat with our eyes, so dress the plate to look fabulous.

If you are looking for more festive food, check out our John Ross Jr Christmas product section. We’re sure you’ll find a great starter to accompany one of these mains.