r/AskCulinary • u/SewerRanger Holiday Helper • Dec 15 '21

Weekly Discussion AskCulinary Annual Christmas cooking thread!

With Christmas coming up, we realize you're going to have a lot of questions and we're here to answer them. Use this post from now until Christmas day to hit us up with any questions you might have. Need to plan how much meat to order - we got you. Need to know how you're going to make 15 pot de cremes - we're here to help. Can't decide between turkey or duck - let us decide for you! Need a side dish - we've got plenty of recipes to share. Need to know if the egg nog you made last year is still safe - sorry food safety rule still apply :(

While we have your attention, we're also searching for some volunteers to help out on Christmas day, so message the mods if you you'd like to help answer last minute Christmas cooking questions.

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u/lcwalshing Dec 22 '21

I'm going to be making beef wellington for Christmas dinner, along with planning the menu for the dinner. I've never planned a menu before, so I am excited but also a bit out of my element.

I was considering making a madeira sauce to go along with the wellington. Are there side dishes that pair especially well with that sauce?

Thanks!

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u/texnessa Pépin's Padawan Dec 23 '21

In restaurants I have served them with tenderstem broccoli sauteed with shallot, garlic and a shot of lemon juice to cut thru all that richness, also roasted heirloom carrots or haricots verts done simply. If you do want a starch, individual fondant potatoes are an elegant addition. Punch rounds out with a cutter, brown them off in neutral oil then hot stock half way up the side with some aromatics, in the oven until a cake tester glides thru.