As soon as winter dons its frosty mantle, Ireland is transformed into a fairytale landscape, where traditions and festivities come together to celebrate Christmas. At the heart of these celebrations, the Irish Christmas Turkey plays a central role, embodying the generosity and conviviality of the festive season! Delicious, this is an emblematic dish of Irish holiday tradition, based on roast and stuffed turkey. The Irish cook it for December 24, in anticipation of a great moment of sharing and hospitality with family and friends. A tasty dish of great finesse, that will almost make you forget the traditional Irish smoked salmon, usually the star of Christmas tables!
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The love affair between turkey and the Irish has been going on for centuries! Introduced to Ireland in the 16th century, this beast quickly became a festive delicacy, favored on special occasions.
This easy-to-breed animal has quickly found its place on Irish farms. Inexpensive to maintain, it required only a relative investment and enabled us to offer tasty meat in large quantities.
Over the years, turkey has proven to be an ideal choice to take center stage in holiday dishes.
Economical, accessible and tasty, with meat that’s crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, turkey has since become an integral part of Irish Christmas traditions. A star of Irish plates for centuries!
Irish christmas turkey is a turkey baked in the oven for several hours. It has been pre-stuffed with a mixture of bread, onions, bacon, celery, black pudding, chestnuts, herbs (such as thyme and sage) and breadcrumbs.
The bacon fat melts deliciously inside the turkey as it cooks, giving it a crisp, unmistakable taste in the mouth!
The Irish usually eat it at Christmas, as part of a family meal. It is often served with baked potatoes as a side dish to turkey.
A real treat!
The turkey is carefully roasted to obtain tender, juicy meat. The outside is perfectly golden-brown, while the inside remains soft, impregnated with the aromas of the stuffing.
Traditionally, turkey is served with a variety of accompaniments such as roast potatoes (Ireland obliges), seasonal vegetables (carrots, parsnips, Brussels sprouts), as well as sauces such as cranberry sauce and rich gravy.
Turkey is often presented whole on a large platter, decorated with herbs and sometimes fruit for a festive touch. It is carved at the table, in an atmosphere of conviviality and festivity.
The whole is generous, rather imposing and perfect for feeding many guests.
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Make no mistake: Irish turkey is nothing like the famous American Thanksgiving turkey!
The difference between these two dishes lies mainly in the traditions, the accompaniments and sometimes in the preparation of the dish itself. Here are some key points of distinction:
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