The festive season is just around the corner, starting with the much-loved Christmas celebration. The decorations, the gifts… and above all, the meal — which has become quite the puzzle for many. Even more so today, when budgets are tight. No need to worry! Here are 3 menu suggestions for Christmas, each designed around a different budget.
Sommaire
Menu at €15 per person
When funds are limited but you still want to make the occasion special and treat your loved ones to a festive meal, it’s best to steer clear of pricey ingredients. That doesn’t mean you can’t eat well! Healthy alternatives to the classic dishes do exist. The golden rule: embrace seasonal produce and a few regional staples. Here we focus on in-season ingredients and quintessentially French favourites.
Pumpkin velouté with grilled Montbéliard sausage
A recipe that is wonderfully comforting and perfectly in tune with the winter season. Pumpkin, a true seasonal vegetable, lends itself beautifully to a silky-smooth velouté. Its gentle sweetness is perfectly balanced by the smokiness of the meat. Here we use Montbéliard sausage, a proud nod to French regional cuisine. A few grilled slices added at the last moment on top of the soup make for a beautifully balanced dish, full of flavour.
Prawn and pea risotto
The beauty of risotto is that it’s both refined and satisfying. A modest portion is more than enough to keep hunger at bay! Here it’s prepared with prawns — another seasonal ingredient — which lend a festive touch to the dish. A handful of peas added at the end brings a gentle sweetness that rounds out the flavours beautifully.
Citrus fruit salad with gingerbread
What better way to round off such a feast than with a fruit salad? Not just any fruit salad, though: citrus fruits (orange, mandarin and grapefruit) are packed with vitamins, and their natural acidity helps support digestion. To add a touch of indulgence, gingerbread is the perfect partner: fragrant with spices and orange zest, it pairs divinely with seasonal citrus, crumbled over the top like a light crumble.
Menu at €25 per person
A slightly higher budget that allows for a few extra touches on the ingredient front.
Lamb’s lettuce salad with gizzards, walnuts and soft-boiled egg
A French classic that never fails to impress. Simple, seasonal ingredients (lamb’s lettuce, Grenoble walnuts) are elevated by the addition of grilled duck gizzards — a wonderful nod to the South-West of France, and a salad that plays beautifully on warm and cool contrasts!
Herb-crusted white fish with lemon fennel
For Christmas, instead of reaching for the ever-present salmon, why not try a different fish with equally delicate flavours? Hake and cod are both affordable options that bring welcome variety to the table. The herb crust is simple, budget-friendly and a great way to use up leftover bread as breadcrumbs. The accompaniment couldn’t be simpler: fennel pan-fried until golden, then finished with a squeeze of lemon for a subtle citrus note. A dish that’s all lightness and elegance. And feel free to add a few steamed new potatoes for your hungriest guests!
Chestnut tiramisu
Chestnuts, another seasonal gem, make a welcome appearance at the Christmas table. And they’re ideal for giving the classic tiramisu a festive twist. This indulgent dessert is not particularly expensive in itself (mascarpone, eggs, coffee, sugar and ladyfinger biscuits), so you can afford to add a few chestnuts — slightly pricier — to take it to the next level. Sweet tooths will be delighted!
Menu at €35 per person
A budget that opens the door to a few extra indulgences, particularly when it comes to meat and fish.
Duo of trout tartare with green lentil salad
Fish tartare remains a firm favourite at festive gatherings. It’s easy to prepare, light and wonderfully refined. This recipe combines fresh trout and smoked trout, lifted by lemon juice and a few classic condiments (shallot, capers, citrus zest, for example). As a side, why not go for Puy green lentils — a French staple, hearty and full of goodness? The pairing of lentils and smoked fish is simply outstanding!
Chicken blanquette with roasted root vegetables
A €35 budget comfortably allows for poultry, whether turkey or chicken. But rather than roasting it in the oven, why not try a blanquette? White meat is perfectly suited to this classic French preparation! On the side, root vegetables are a natural choice for the season: sweet potatoes, carrots, parsnips and Jerusalem artichokes, simply roasted in the oven with a drizzle of olive oil, salt and pepper. Sometimes the simplest things are the most satisfying!
Exotic fruit Yule log
A light and delicate dessert that’s surprisingly easy to make at home. Simply prepare a sponge or a dacquoise, flavour it with lime, vanilla and/or coconut, then create a mango insert (coulis) and a mousse using one or more exotic fruits — pineapple, kiwi or passion fruit all work beautifully. This dessert is far lighter than the traditional buttercream Yule log, yet every bit as delicious.