King Henry VIII ate turkey for Christmas – the first English monarch to ever eat turkey at Christmas.
But the ‘sides’ are what make it a gorgeous Christmas lunch. If you are participating in a ‘bring something’ dinner with family and friends, here are a couple of side dishes you can take as your offering.
It’s perfect for autumn – a butternut squash risotto with sage pesto. It’s a family-owned pub that serves meals fit for a king!
Braised red cabbage
Serves
10-12
PeopleIngredients
1 tbsp olive oil
1 red onion, finely sliced
2 star anise
1 cinnamon stick
½ tsp juniper berries
¼ tsp cloves
2 bay leaves
1 cooking apple, peeled, cored and finely sliced
1 red cabbage (650-700g), finely sliced
250ml port
250ml chicken stock or vegetable stock
50g red wine vinegar
150g black cherry jam
Method
- Heat the oil in a large heavy-based pan (one with a lid) over a medium heat. Add the onion, a pinch of salt and the whole spices. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or so until softened. Add the remaining ingredients.
- Cover and simmer gently for 1 hour, stirring now and again, then remove the lid and simmer for another hour, stirring occasionally. Most of the liquid should have reduced, leaving you with a glossy tangle of cabbage.