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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.

Robin202 Fri 26-Dec-25 15:06:03

Haven’t had mashed swede with Christmas lunch but do love cauliflower cheese. In fact we had cauliflower and broccoli cheese this year and it was delicious, alongside individual homemade yorkshire puddings, plus Roast potatoes, honey roasted carrots and parsnips, pancetta roasted Brussel sprouts alongside Turkey Crown, smoked gammon, pigs in blankets .and lets not forget the stuffing balls.
Yes it was a plateful - delicious and not all of it was eaten - but the dog got a christmas lunch and there are leftovers!

grandMattie Fri 26-Dec-25 15:03:27

Surely, it’s not important. Your tradition may not be mine…

pennyg Fri 26-Dec-25 14:16:31

I've always loved mashed swede, but no longer have the strength in my hands to either peel or chop it - and my husband (aka my carer) does enough for me without preparing a vegetable that he's not keen on eating.
But then I discovered 'the singing swede', something I can manage without help, and, because it's not watery (as when boiled), even my husband enjoys it now!

grannybuy Fri 26-Dec-25 14:12:58

Mashed swede would be quite popular here in NE Scotland. I don’t like it so don’t have it. My guests yesterday were treated to mashed sweet potato instead, as well as roast carrots and parsnips, red cabbage and Brussel sprouts. Plus skirlie, of course.

madeleine45 Fri 26-Dec-25 14:10:58

School dinners put me off mashed swede for life! I can cope with a small amount of swede in with carrots celery etc etc in a casserole but christmas dinner for me ? Ugh no! Each to their own of course

Hellsbelles Fri 26-Dec-25 14:10:42

I wouldn't have turkey ( or any meat ) on my Christmas dinner plate but for me it's all about having what you like / want . I don't judge .

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…

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

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

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 😄

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

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

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.

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

Christmas Lunch swede would be lovely. Preferences! tchsmile

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

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 08:01:41

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

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.

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.

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!

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.

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)

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.

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.

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 .

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

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

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