Christmas feasting doesn’t have to finish as soon as the day itself is over. Right here, Elisa De Luca describes the thrill of utilizing up Christmas leftovers and explains what she’ll be ingesting with them.
Leftovers are among the finest components of Christmas, a lot in order that my household purposefully scales up our festive procuring checklist every year – usually to such an extent that you just’d suppose there have been fifteen of us, relatively than 5.
Turkeys so heavy you totter below the load of them; mountains upon mountains of potatoes; a great two hours devoted, each Christmas Eve, to wrapping tons of of pigs in blankets.
Half of this doesn’t get eaten on the day. By the point we’ve labored via breakfast platters of eggs and bacon, then an assortment of “choosy bits” collected from the cabinets of M&S, we’re not all that hungry on the subject of Christmas dinner itself.
And but, we proceed to prepare dinner – as a result of, as we settle ourselves into the Betwixtmas hunch, usually to be spent fully on the couch, we all know that we’ve arrange a collection of implausible leftovers feasts to sit up for.
A practice: the Christmas pie
It’s one thing of a ritual. The morning after Boxing Day, we clear the detritus of wrapping paper, stack up empty High quality Road tubs for recycling, and get to work on pastry for a Christmas leftovers pie.
Turkey, in fact, is the star of stated pie – accompanied by no matter could be left of the pigs in blankets. Within the all-too-common case that we’ve managed to work our method via these already, regardless of. Gammon will make up the shortfall, and bacon too.
The filling: the meats, parsnips, stuffing – however not a sprout, by no means a sprout – all in a easy, creamy roux. Then, an entire bulb of garlic, roasted for an hour; contemporary tarragon, finely chopped; an unholy quantity of Dijon and wholegrain mustard. One fast egg wash for the lid and 40 minutes later, we’re again to the couch, cradling plates of sizzling, contemporary pie.
It’s not gentle. Under no circumstances. A heavier wine alongside this can kick you firmly again into post-Christmas lethargy. As a substitute, we are likely to have a selected bottle set to 1 facet for this annual deal with: a bone-dry, mouth-tinglingly acidic Riesling.
The Riesling Trocken from Eva Fricke is a brand new favorite of mine this yr, and – with its extremely contemporary flavours of inexperienced fruit – is a robust contender for a pie pairing. Alternatively, the Riesling Réserve from Trimbach is at all times a success, with sufficient zip to chop via the cream and salt, whereas packing the ability to carry up in opposition to a mix of garlic, mustard and tarragon.
A croque-ing Christmas
It’s a superb downside to have: what to do if you’re left with an extra of cheese and chilly cuts, and haven’t fairly mustered the vitality to begin cooking once more?
I’ve solely just lately found the thrill of a do-it-yourself Croque Monsieur. Just a few further steps to a basic ham-and-cheese, and rapidly you’ve gotten a sandwich of the gods. Nicely-buttered bread, layers of no matter cheese you’ve gotten left – ideally one thing that may soften properly, for full gooey pleasure – topped with slices of chilly cuts and one other slice of bread. Pan fry either side in a wholesome (or not) quantity of butter, re-load with extra cheese, béchamel sauce and grated nutmeg, and bake till melted to perfection. I problem you to cease at one. Your leftovers will probably be gone very quickly.
For this – and, let’s be sincere, for something that’s seen a well-oiled frying pan – a glowing wine is what you need. The excessive acidity in these cuts via fats in your palate – as does the feel of the bubbles, which is able to cease your tastebuds feeling overwhelmed by the butter and cheese.
This yr, I’m choosing Pol Roger’s Réserve Brut – the load and complexity on this will imply you’ll be able to load up on all of the cheese combos you need, and nonetheless have a wine that’s highly effective sufficient to match. If you happen to’re planning on a Croque-Monsieur feast and wish to fill up, the Personal Choice Crémant de Limoux is a implausible different that gained’t break the financial institution: all tangy orchard fruit, with a splendidly cleaning end.
A farewell to Christmas flavours
Imagine it or not, it could possibly occur. After months of anticipation, an extra of Christmas meals can put you proper off the time-honoured flavours of sage, onion and spice. However what to do for those who’re nonetheless working your method via an extra of turkey and roasted greens? In my home, the reply is easy – it’s time for a curry night time.
A turkey curry can are available in many varieties. A biryani is a staple for me – the important thing to the flavour mendacity in 4 or 5 onions, thinly sliced and slowly caramelised to convey most flavour. Parboiled rice; diced turkey blended with garlic, yoghurt and spices; milk and butter and a contact of saffron – all slow-cooked in a single pot till prepared. If there are nonetheless leftover greens mendacity round, put these to make use of too – typically in a aromatic tomato-based curry to be served alongside.
Wines for spicy meals could be a little extra of a problem; the warmth of chilli can spotlight sure components of wine that do much better once they’re properly built-in and fewer noticeable. Some wines, although, stand out. I at all times take pleasure in a Gewurztraminer like this one from Domaine Rolly-Gassman. Gewurztraminer’s a singularly uncommon wine: highly effective and fragrant, with a mix of rose, lychee, white pepper and ginger flavours that work with spices in meals, relatively than in opposition to them.
In fact, by this level you may also be wanting ahead to the times of Dry January – and beginning that slightly early could also be welcome. Experimenting with one thing new might be simply the ticket; our Glowing Tea affords up all of the dried flowers, mushy fruit and spice that may intertwine with the spices of curry, with not one of the alcohol.
In search of inspiration for what to eat on the day itself? Discover our information to Christmas meals and wine right here.
