Essential Christmas menu

STARTERS

MAINS

SIDES

DESSERTS

CHEESEBOARD

LEFTOVERS

STARTERS

MAINS

SIDES

DESSERTS

CHEESEBOARD

LEFTOVERS RECIPES

Essential Christmas starters

Kick off your festive meal with a classic prawn cocktail or veggie soup starter, made with a medley of budget-friendly ingredients. Serve with crusty Essential Bake at Home Baguettes.

Prawn cocktail & avocado salad

This retro dish features creamy avocado, with roasted cherry tomatoes to add extra pops of sweetness.

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Spiced sweet potato & leek soup with Stilton

Deliciously festive with leeks, Stilton and cinnamon.

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Essential Christmas mains

Essential Christmas main dishes

Our Essential turkeys are now sold as Higher Welfare turkeys, reared to the same high animal welfare standards, with the same great value. So whether you want a succulent turkey, flavoursome festive ham or the most wonderful meat-free Wellington, we've got everything you need for an fabulous festive feast.

Roast turkey with thyme & lemon

All our turkeys are reared to high animal welfare standards by a group of carefully selected farmers.

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Essential honey-glazed gammon

All our fresh pork comes from free-range pigs, born and raised outside.

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Essential mushroom & chestnut Wellington

This moreish meat-free marvel will end up on everyone's plate.

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Essential Christmas sides & sauces

Essential Christmas side dishes & sauces

From sticky parsnips and perfect roast potatoes to braised red cabbage and cranberry sauce, treat everyone to all the trimmings this Christmas. Don't forget your Essential Cranberry Sauce and Essential Gravy – and Essential Cheese Sauce for making cauliflower cheese.

Perfect roast potatoes

Crunchy on the outside, fluffy on the inside – just the way they should be.

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Roast carrots & parsnips with honey & mustard

With crisp, caramelised edges and a temptingly sticky glaze.

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Parsnip & chestnut gratin

Slightly sweet and very satisfying – a spoonful goes a long way.

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Sage, bacon & chestnut stuffing

Bursting with festive flavour – with just 20 minutes of prep!

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All the greens

A gloriously verdant display with cabbage, sprouts and peas.

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Classic bread sauce

Delicious with a traditional turkey, or roast chicken.

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Make your own pigs in blankets

Wrap Essential British Pork Cocktail Sausages or Essential British Pork Chipolatas in Essential Smoked or Unsmoked British Bacon Streaky Rashers (sliced in half if you're using cocktail sausages).

Toss in a mixture of Essential Pure Clear Honey and Essential Wholegrain or English Mustard to make a glaze, if you like.

Cook in a preheated hot oven, turning and basting once or twice until brown all over, piping hot throughout, the juices run clear and there is no pink meat.

How to make Essential pigs in blankets

Wrap Essential British Pork Cocktail Sausages or Essential British Pork Chipolatas in Essential Smoked or Unsmoked British Bacon Streaky Rashers (sliced in half if you're using cocktail sausages).

Toss in a mixture of Essential Pure Clear Honey and Essential Wholegrain or English Mustard to make a glaze, if you like.

Cook in a preheated oven following the sausage pack instructions, turning and basting once or twice until brown all over, piping hot throughout, the juices run clear and there is no pink meat.

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Essential Christmas desserts

There’s always room for dessert! Choose from three divine recipes below. No time to cook? Pick up some Essential ready-made desserts including Frozen Cheesecake and Soft Scoop Ice Cream. Pair with Essential Cream and Custard.

Pressure cooker Christmas pudding

A classic, rich pud that saves on both cooking time and energy usage.

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Gluten-free chestnut, chocolate & hazelnut cake

This tempting treat made with rich dark chocolate is gloriously gluten-free.

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Baileys New York cheesecake

With a splash of Baileys and crushed ginger cookies, this pud is full of festive flavour.

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Make your own Essential trifle

Cut trifle sponges in half and spread with Essential Raspberry Jam.

Sandwich the two halves back together and arrange in the dish until the base is covered.

Drizzle over a few tablespoons of sweet sherry or Essential Apple Juice, then arrange Essential Peach Slices on top and cover with Essential Custard.

Add Essential Double Cream to a bowl or free-standing mixer and whip until it forms soft peaks.

Add on top of the custard layer, then decorate however you like – how about a selection of Essential fruit, Essential Whipping Cream, Essential Glacé Cherries, crumbled Essential Ginger Nuts or sprinkles.

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How to make Essential trifle

Cut trifle sponges in half and spread with Essential Raspberry Jam.

Sandwich the two halves back together and arrange in the dish until the base is covered.

Drizzle over a few tablespoons of sweet sherry or Essential Apple Juice, then arrange Essential Peach Slices on top and cover with Essential Custard.

Add Essential Double Cream to a bowl or free-standing mixer and whip until it forms soft peaks.

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Essential Christmas cheeseboard

Serve a suitably stunning finale to your Christmas meal with an irresistible cheeseboard, complete with crackers and fruit.

Essential Dutch Gouda S2

A mild, award winning cheese made with pasteurised cow’s milk.

Essential French Brie S2

A soft-ripened cheese made in France with an edible white rind and creamy centre.

Essential Mature Cheddar S4

A strong British Cheddar perfect for Christmas and all year round.

Essential Edam Cheese S2

A semi-hard cheese made with pasteurised cow's milk and suitable for vegetarians.

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Essential Christmas bakes

Fill your home with the aroma of festive bakes. Don’t forget the Essential Tea Bags or Essential Coffee so you can enjoy them with your favourite hot drink.

Reindeer biscuits

Ideal for occupying excitable children over the Christmas holidays!

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Mince pies

Make a dozen mince pies with just six ingredients and enjoy warm, fresh from the oven.

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Ginger crunch creams

Perfect for sharing, gifting or simply enjoying with a cuppa.

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How to use up Christmas leftovers

Christmas leftover recipes

Spend less over Twixtmas by transforming Christmas Day leftovers into something special. From turkey ramen to Christmas pudding doughnuts, discover delicious dishes to see you from Boxing Day through to New Year's Day.