Holiday Menu Inspiration

The best part of the holiday season is the time spent in the kitchen cooking special meals for family and friends. Here, I’ve gathered a few of my favorite recipes for main courses that are sure to impress, from a centerpiece roast to indulgent beef stroganoff. Feeding a crowd? Try the ham with maple-bourbon glaze or roasted rack of pork loin with apricots and mustard. If you’re planning an intimate evening for two, you can’t go wrong with red wine-braised duck legs or a classic veal marsala with mushrooms.

 

Red Wine-Braised Duck Legs

Reminiscent of a coq au vin, this rich, deeply flavorful red wine-braised duck is my kind of comfort food. Even better, it’s elegant enough for a holiday main course. Get the recipe >>>

 

 

Broiled Salmon with Blue Cheese, Lemon & Dill

With this super-flavorful dish, I debunk the myth that cheese and fish don’t go together. Get the recipe >>>

 

 

Roasted Rack of Pork Loin with Apricots & Mustard

Pork with fruit and mustard is one of the greatest culinary combinations. This stunning centerpiece roast is fit for a holiday feast. Get the recipe >>>

 

 

Fresh Ham with Maple Bourbon Glaze

This ham has an irresistible crackly skin, coated in a beautiful maple bourbon glaze, that tastes and smells a lot like Christmas. Get the recipe >>>

 

Veal Marsala with Rosemary & Mushrooms

For this traditional veal marsala recipe, I prefer to use bone in veal chops instead of boneless cuts from the leg because they tend to overcook and dry out quickly. Get the recipe >>>

 

 

Pasta with Braised Pork, Red Wine & Pancetta

The pork lends this sauce its fattiness, the wine gives a balanced acidity and the pancetta delivers all the wholesome saltiness you could ever want from an ingredient. Get the recipe >>>

 

 

Wine-Braised Turkey with Creamy Gravy

Braising the turkey pieces in wine and aromatics results in a flavorful bird, but the real bonus of this recipe is the creamy vegetable gravy made from the reduced turkey-infused cooking liquid. Get the recipe >>>

 

 

Perfect Pot Roast

Nothing says comfort food like a perfectly tender pot roast with a pile of mashed potatoes. Get the recipe >>>

 

Traditional Beef Stroganoff with Fingerlings

Many people associate beef stroganoff with cafeteria lunch or a Betty Crocker slow cooker meal. But this recipe, made with beef tenderloin and flavorful mushrooms, will blow you away. Get the recipe >>>

 

 

Bohemian Roasted Duck with Caraway

Serve this roasted duck with braised red cabbage and sliced potatoes sautéed crisp in some reserved duck fat for the authentic Czech experience. Get the recipe >>>

 

 

Andrew Zimmern Cooks: Bohemian Roasted Duck with Caraway