Starter: Salad with goat cheese (for 4 people)
Ingredients:
- 200 g goat cheese (sliced)
- 200 g mixed salad (e.g. rocket, lamb's lettuce, radicchio)
- 1 apple (thinly sliced)
- 50 g walnuts (roughly chopped)
- 1 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- Salt and pepper to taste
Preparation:
- Wash the mixed salad and spin dry.
- Add the apple slices and walnuts to the salad.
- Briefly fry the goat cheese in a hot pan without oil until it is lightly browned.
- In a small bowl, combine honey, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper to make a dressing.
- Arrange the salad on four plates, spread the warm goat cheese on top and drizzle with the dressing.
- Serve immediately.
Main course: Christmas duck breast with cranberry sauce (for 4 people)
Ingredients:
- 4 duck breast fillets
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 200 g fresh or frozen cranberries
- 100 g sugar
- 100 ml orange juice
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 star anise
- Fresh thyme sprigs for garnishing
Preparation:
- Preheat the oven to 200°C.
- Cut diamond-shaped cuts into the duck breast fillets on the skin side using a sharp knife, taking care not to cut into the meat.
- Rub the duck breast fillets with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Place the fillets skin-side down in a cold, ovenproof pan and sear over medium heat for about 5-7 minutes, until the skin is crispy. Turn the fillets over and sear the other side for 1-2 minutes.
- Place the pan in the preheated oven and let the duck breast fillets cook for about 10-12 minutes.
- Meanwhile, bring the cranberries, sugar, orange juice, cinnamon stick, and star anise to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat and simmer for about 10 minutes, until the cranberries are soft and the sauce has thickened. Discard the cinnamon stick and star anise.
- Remove the duck breast fillets from the oven and let them rest briefly. Then slice the fillets, arrange them on plates, and pour the cranberry sauce over them.
- Garnish with fresh thyme sprigs.
- Serve immediately. Accompany with potato dumplings, beans, croquettes, and tagliatelle.
Dessert: Speculoos Tiramisu (for 4 people)
Ingredients:
- 250 g mascarpone
- 200 ml whipped cream
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 100 ml espresso (cooled)
- 2 tbsp Amaretto (optional)
- 200 g speculatius biscuits Cocoa powder for dusting
Preparation:
- Whip the cream with the sugar and vanilla extract until stiff.
- Stir the mascarpone in a bowl until smooth and carefully fold in the whipped cream.
- Mix the cooled espresso and the Amaretto in a shallow bowl.
- Briefly dip half of the speculatius biscuits into the espresso-amaretto mixture and line the bottom of a baking dish or four dessert glasses with them.
- Spread half of the mascarpone cream on top.
- Repeat the process with the remaining biscuits and the mascarpone cream.
- Let the tiramisu sit in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
- Dust with cocoa powder before serving.
Enjoy this festive Christmas menu with your loved ones. We wish you a Merry Christmas.
