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Christmas

Swede for Christmas meal?

(132 Posts)
shysal Sat 20-Dec-25 08:48:48

I have seen several mentions on TV of mashed swede. It is not something I have ever considered for the main meal. Has this always been a 'thing'?
It seems we are expected to overfill our plates these days. Call me old fashioned but we never used to have cauliflower cheese or Yorkshire puddings. I love my food and have a healthy appetite, but it makes me feel sick to see the piled up tables and plates on the adverts.

Barbadosbelle Sat 20-Dec-25 15:30:37

Shysal

Carrot and Swede Mash is delicious with a roast (with salt and lots of freshly ground black pepper and butter).

But my favourite is Carrot and Parsnip Mash (with afores additions). Really lovely sweet taste.
.

hazel93 Sat 20-Dec-25 15:45:29

Love mashed swede but not part of our Christmas roast as we always have turkey and I don't think it complements it .
Roast beef another matter , gorgeous !

M0nica Sat 20-Dec-25 16:04:48

I haven't changed since childhood; turkey & gammon, stuffing and sausage meat stuffng the turkey itself, roast potatoes, sprout and gravy, followed by christmas pudding and brandy butter. Banana split for the people who do not like Christmas pudding is a recent introduction.

As for swede, best in a good old fashioned beef stew, simmered for hours, with carrots, turnips and parsnips.

Granmarderby10 Sat 20-Dec-25 17:39:33

Roasted parsnips ,carrots, roast potatoes, (no mash) that’s for the rest of the year as is cauliflower cheese imo and of course Brussel Sprouts (a sprinkle of malt vinegar enhances them)
I do like peas and red cabbage if it’s offered and there are two meats. Cranberry and apple sauce, posh stuffing/chestnuts. A couple of piggies in blankets
Lashings of gravy.

But Yorkshires are not necessary- much though I love them 😍
You have to leave space for the pudding!😋

Oh and it must be hot.

Allira Sat 20-Dec-25 18:08:59

Rosie51

Whitewavemark2

The next best is a Swede grown in the red soil around south Devon.

I was just about to say the best swedes I've had were grown in the lovely red soil of south Devon. I wouldn't know if I've had a Scottish swede as it doesn't usually state the country of origin when they're loose in the supermarket.

I've no idea where my swede came from (well, it was from Tesco!).

Oh, just checked - "Tesco's swedes (or neeps) are primarily grown in Scotland, with major suppliers like Stewarts of Tayside near Perth and ESG Drysdale providing the root vegetables for the supermarket."

So it is probably a real Scottish swede 😁

Rocketstop2 Sat 20-Dec-25 18:42:23

Being a Yorkshire lass, I've aways made Yorkshire puddings to go on a Christmas dinner, the only difference being I make mini ones and season them with mixed herbs.
As for mashed swede, I love that but no, wouldn't put it on Christmas dinner, also love Cauli cheese but wouldn't have that at Christmas either !

Iam64 Sat 20-Dec-25 18:47:16

Bashed needs became an essential addition as my bil loved and made them
The yiung wing tolerate the tradition alongside their favourite, roast carrots with honey

LOUISA1523 Sat 20-Dec-25 18:51:41

We always had Yorkies.....I'm from North Yorkshire

TwiceAsNice Sat 20-Dec-25 19:16:13

We always have mashed swede with our Christmas dinner but nowadays spot the easy way with microwaved portions from M&S .

TillyTrotter Sat 20-Dec-25 23:02:31

We prefer carrot+ swede mashed together on our Christmas plates instead of red cabbage which we’re not fond of.
I’ve prepared and frozen it in advance and have done the same with sprouts+pancetta.
No cauliflower cheese for us.
Pigs in blankets and roast potatoes are always a part of our Turkey dinner - the more the better.

Cold Sat 20-Dec-25 23:19:43

Farmor15

We'll be having 3 Swedes for Christmas dinner- son's partner and their 2 childrensmile

Yes - I wondered if OP had invited Swedish guests grin - although of course in Sweden they don't call it "Swede" - it's a cabbage root (kålrot)

A mustard breaded Swede is a thing in Sweden for vegetarians/ vegans - I know someone who does it for her SIL in place of ham

I know many people who love mashed Swede with Christmas dinner (my mother used to do it with roasts but not at Christmas). Some people I know roast carrots - I guess it's the nice thing about Christmas dinner that everyone can have the veg they want and the leftovers become Boxing Day bubble and squeak.

Cold Sat 20-Dec-25 23:24:52

Well we will be having
roast potatoes
mashed potatoes
roast carrots
roast parsnips
brussels sprouts - boiled
Danish red cabbage (comes in a jar)

Deedaa Sat 20-Dec-25 23:47:47

My mother used to make mashed swede all the time in the 50s. I loathed it, and still do. I see Aldi are selling swedes for 8p at the moment. I will probably buy one so my son can make some proper pasties.

NotSpaghetti Sun 21-Dec-25 01:01:45

When did people start having cauliflower cheese with Christmas dinner?
Is it new or maybe it's regional?
Also Yorkshire pudding?
Even my mums family (from Yorkshire) didn't have Yorkshire puddings with the Christmas roast.

Sweede though I'm very familiar with on the Christmas table!

CabbageWars13 Sun 21-Dec-25 02:05:56

Vote for Mashed Parsnips.

They got a buttery/semi-sweet flavour and mash easily.

Beats roast potatoes any day.

Greyduster Sun 21-Dec-25 07:28:59

I never remember my mother serving Yorkshire pudding with Christmas dinner, though it was served with every other Sunday roast, and whenever I have eaten a Christmas dinner in a pub or a restaurant, I ask for it to be left off the plate. I never included it in any Christmas dinner I cooked and no-one asked for it. Cauliflower cheese is another no-no for me. I like it but not with Christmas dinner, but DD serves it at Christmas so she will expect me to have some and because she goes to a great deal of effort and I love her, I will grin and bear it!

Rocketstop my mother used to serve seasoned Yorkshire pudding (finely chopped onion and fresh sage) with rabbit stew or slow roasted belly pork. Delicious!

As for all the tv adverts that show groaning tables and loaded plates, they only serve to increase the weight of expectation that this is what a Christmas table should look like when, in essence, it’s just Sunday lunch writ a bit larger.

NotSpaghetti Sun 21-Dec-25 08:01:41

sweede??? ...swede sorry
Where did that come from?

Casdon Sun 21-Dec-25 08:14:19

We’ve always had cauliflower cheese with Christmas dinner, my nana used to serve it. I think people should serve whatever they like though, I wouldn’t think it odd if others chose roasted beetroot, green beans, or whatever else they wanted. I’m a believer in you do you.

NotSpaghetti Sun 21-Dec-25 09:28:49

It's really interesting what foods people consider to be part of this festive meal...
It seems to be about family traditions rather than strictly regional or age-related.

Whatever you are having for your special meal, I hope it's a happy one.

Xx

Norah Tue 23-Dec-25 14:14:40

Christmas Lunch swede would be lovely. Preferences! tchsmile

Allsorts Wed 24-Dec-25 05:46:45

I do like mashed swede with butter and seasoning. . Wouldn't have it Christmas as there are so many other vegetables, my favourites, sprouts and red cabbage, just have what you enjoy.

Grandma600 Fri 26-Dec-25 13:38:37

Oh yes, please, mashed swede with black pepper is the best! Yummy 😋

AmberGran Fri 26-Dec-25 13:47:18

Well we had our mashed swede and thoroughly enjoyed it - but with beef, not turkey. No cauliflower cheese though. And no red cabbage - it's still in the fridge waiting to be cooked as it got forgotten yesterday 😄

NotSpaghetti Fri 26-Dec-25 13:48:56

We had that yesterday at my daughter's house, Grandma600

soos45 Fri 26-Dec-25 14:05:31

As kids, mashed carrots and turnips (Swede) were a regular part of our Sunday Roast Dinner… and always part of Christmas dinner.(Lancashire)
Still made and enjoyed many moons later…