It is not a secret that people place a high value on the gratification of their gustatory senses. This is never truer than during November and December, as it might feel like Christmas get-togethers, cookie swaps, and family meals will go on and on forever. During these blissful months, giving in to your cravings is perfectly fine, and in fact, we hope you do. On the other hand, it’s not hard to go too far with certain forms of indulgence, especially when it comes to the use of salt, sweet, sugar, and alcoholic beverages. Despite the fact that we encourage you to give in to all of your hankerings, we recognize that it is tempting to go a little bit overboard with some. We want you to enjoy the lovely savory main dishes, buttery-cooked meals, and soup recipes without overeating. Hence, we have compiled a list of our favorite healthy Christmas recipes that stimulate both – flavors and nutrition.
Now let’s look at a specific example of a delicious, flavorful, and, most importantly, healthy and balanced festive season recipe ideas – a stewed shank of tender veal with potatoes
Ingredients:
● Veal knuckle – 1.5 kg
● Potato – 500 g
● Demi-glace sauce – 150 g
● Butter – 500 g
● Butter – 200 g
● Olive oil – 50 g
● Provence herbs – 50 g
● Garlic – 100 g
● Thyme – 50 g
● Rosemary – 50 g
● Sea salt – 10 g
● Salt, pepper – to taste
Cooking method:
Clean the knuckle from excess fat and films. Add salt and pepper according to your taste. Finely chop 50g of garlic. Put the knuckle, thyme, rosemary, and garlic into the gastronomy container. Add butter and vegetable oil to the knuckle. Cover the workpiece tightly with foil and put it in the oven at a temperature of 120 degrees Celcius for 4 hours. Remove the finished shank from the oil. Wash the potatoes well (do not peel). Cut into four pieces. Bake in the oven (180 degrees Celcius- 25 minutes) in foil with olive oil, sea salt, Provencal herbs, and garlic.
Here are a few other ideas that would be a perfect fit for a healthy Christmas dinner:
● Winter Squash and Spinach Lasagna
● Orange-Ginger cooked Chicken along with Fennel and Radicchio Salad
● Brussels Sprouts with Pepitas and Figs
● Lentil Bolognese Spaghetti
These Christmas meal recipes were chosen because not only do they include robust flavors, but they also place emphasis on providing a nutritious meal. If meat is not your thing, adopt a vegetarian Christmas dinner recipe, such as the Brussels Sprouts with Pepitas and Figs. Thanks to this, you will be able to indulge in the foods you love most throughout the holidays without pushing your body into a coma from eating too much. Nor will you have to follow a post-Christmas diet.
Turkey, steak, other healthy and tasty proteins, savory root vegetables, and even a few varieties of pasta are just some of the items on this list, in addition to a variety of side dishes and salads that have a high proportion of vegetables (fiber) in their composition. The dishes are loaded with a wide variety of seasonal and festive ingredients, such as pomegranate seeds and winter squash, to name just two of the many included. Two more peculiar components: smoked almonds and shredded ricotta Salata could add even more richness to your dinner.
In none of the dishes that we have featured on this page do we suggest using white flour, sugar, or sources of saturated fat like butter and cream. The focus here is on whole foods, such as fruits and vegetables, grains, and legumes, rather than on processed or refined meals. Regardless of which holiday meals you end up preparing for your family, you should prioritize keeping the spirit of mirth and good cheer alive. After all, this is the reason why we celebrate this holy day.