Want to have a truly foodie feast this Christmas? PGI foods attain their status because they have a reputation, characteristics or qualities that result from the area they originate from, so nothing says quality quite like PGI status (the Love Food website has a great guide on the EU Protected Food Names (PFN) Scheme).
Here are eight protected geographical indication (PGI) foods that belong on your dinner table on Christmas Day:
1. Traditional farm-fresh turkey
It’s not Christmas without a turkey, unless you want to go really traditional and get a goose, that is! Choosing a turkey is quite the challenge; it’s the centre piece of a traditional Christmas dinner, so it’s important to get it right. Choosing a traditional turkey helps to ensure the superior quality of the meat, as it’s produced following very specific guidelines in order to achieve the perfect bird.
2. Gloucestershire Old Spots pork
These pigs are reared using traditional farming methods and their breeding has been the same for centuries, giving a very delectable pork. The PGI status was awarded for the how he pigs are raised and the meat is treated. It applies to all cuts of pork including bacon, gammon and sausages.
Whether you’re planning on having pork as a side dish or as a main, make sure it’s Gloucester Old Spots pork for the best meal of your life.
3. Welsh Lamb
It’s no secret that Wales is home to the best lamb. Welsh Lamb is reared on the lush green pastures of the country’s many hills and valleys, giving the meat a wonderful flavour.
With a natural, varied diet and plenty of exercise, this is undoubtedly the best lamb you’ll ever taste. Why not change it up this Christmas and have a slow-cooked leg of lamb with all the trimmings for dinner?
4. Welsh Beef
Lamb isn’t the only meat that Wales is known for. In Wales, cows are grazed on fertile farmlands and reared with the utmost care. Whether you’re after a fillet steak or a shoulder of beef, you can really notice the difference with Welsh Beef. You don’t have to worry about tough, gristly meat either, as all PGI Welsh Beef and Lamb has to meet several criteria in order to gain approval.
5. Melton Mowbray pork pie
It wouldn’t be Christmas without a pork pie, and the Melton Mowbray pork pie is widely regarded as a sign of quality. It’s made using a traditional recipe and a method of cooking that hasn’t changed since the late eighteenth century. If you want to impress your Christmas party guests with nibbles, then the Melton Mowbray pork pie is always a winner.
6. Stornoway black pudding
It isn’t Christmas in my house until the black pudding puts in an appearance.
Stornoway black pudding uses a traditional recipe with a very strict ratio of ingredients, combining to create a delicious, moist black pudding. In fact, it’s been named the best sausage made in the UK and was given PGI status for its moist, well-seasoned meaty flavour. If this isn’t on your Christmas food shopping list already, you’d better get it on there!
7. Scottish salmon
Salmon makes an absolutely fantastic snack, starter or entrée when it comes to Christmas day. There are two types of PGI-protected Scottish salmon – wild and farmed. If you really want a quality cut of salmon, then Scottish salmon is the way to go. For added convenience, opt for ready-to-cook salmon.
8. Scotch Whiskey
Finishing Christmas day with a traditional Scotch whiskey is a must! Carefully crafted for the best taste, all Scotch whiskey is aged for at least three years in oak barrels. Typically, the longer the whiskey is aged, the fuller the flavour. So, pour yourself a Scotch and enjoy a festive tipple with friends and family!
What are your Christmas dinner must-haves? Will you be buying PGI-protected food? Leave a comment below.
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Oh my I so want to eat that Christmas dinner! I do think PGI food is important, I’m trying to think of a food that there was a call to protect in the last few days but it escapes me at the moment!
It made me hungry just writing it!
As an American, something I always have at Christmas dinner is a nice baked ham…
Lovely post!
I love ham, it’s great for buffet food afterwards too to use up the leftovers.
I love salmon 🙂 This Christmas I’m having ham and beef, I’m already looking forward to it!
Sounds delicious! I love salmon on Christmas Day morning.
This has made so hungry just reading it.
I get so hungry whilst writing these blog posts… I should learn to always write after eating and never on an empty stomach!
Feeling so hungry now. What a cool idea for a round up, to focus on quality products protected in this way. I already love most of those, but so nice to see them showcased like this!
Thanks Kavey, glad you liked it 🙂
I have never thought of Wales and Beef I have to admit, it is always Wales and Lamb that comes to mind x
I definitely know what you mean, we’re definitely known more for our lamb. Welsh beef is quite popular within Wales, though.
I’m vegetarian so we don’t have the traditional turkey or goose either! My partner likes salmon so he will treat himself to some smoked salmon. I’ll let him know about the pgi status x
Oh lovely, so what will you be having for your dinner? I’ve seen some lovely recipes for veggie Wellingtons recently, which could be nice!
Quite possible a mushroom Wellington actually haha!x
Sounds great! I love Porcini mushrooms, I’d be tempted to put some of those in it.
Turkey is a must, and usually a chicken too. I haven’t heard of PGI foods before so will have a further look 🙂 Kaz x
I think there are a few different kinds of ‘protected foods’ and it can be quite confusing, but the link in the post is quite good at explaining how they differ 🙂
I would love to get a turkey but as it will be just us this year we will have a humble chicken which is just the right size
We’re on the look out for a nice big chicken and then we’ll be having some lamb as well. Can’t wait!
Barring the Turkey, I would take all of the rest, not much of a turkey person, the dish looks good nonetheless.Of course finishing with Scotch is the best, though personally I go fora minimum 10 year age! My favorites are from Islay. Would be perfect with the pork and the beef.
No, I much prefer chicken to turkey. However, I’m toying with trying out goose this Christmas, although my family don’t like it so it’s whether I’d be able to just get a small amount for myself… I’m not sure?!
Oh we will definitely have some Scottish salmon and Scotch over the festive period I think 😀
Oh yes, it’d be rude not to! 😉
Sprouts are always on my Christmas dinner without a doubt. I just love them!
Me too – I never used to like them, but now I love them!
I’m literally salivating at my screen. Can’t wait for christmas dinner but most importantly, whiskey 😉
I’m not a big fan of whiskey, but I like a glass of champers with my dinner!
Starving after reading this! We almost always have Turkey Crown for Christmas dinner as it isn’t as dry as breast. I don’t think it would feel like Christmas for me without the bird 🙂
I don’t mind turkey, but my family find it a little on the dry side and so we tend to stick with a chicken and some lamb or beef. Mmmm – roll on next Xmas, hehe!
Ahhh my God, that first picture has me drooling!!!! Can’t wait to go home for Christmas and see what my mum has cooked up this year, hopefully all these classics will be included!!!
I know the feeling Laura; there’s nothing like my mum’s cooking, especially at Christmas time 🙂
A great xmas meal for us is a combination of our cultures, my west african roots with my hubbys american ones…so the table is full of American and Tradional West African favorites like attieke and fried fish with all the toppings, etc.
That sounds lovely. I would love to experience an alternative Christmas dinner! Hope you have a very merry Christmas!
Being a vegetarian We always have nut roast or some sort of veggie pie. The choice is limited.
I saw a lovely recipe for a vegetarian Wellington – that might be a good idea for you to try?
This year is my first year since 2007 that I am not in London for the Christmas season and how much I will miss a good turkey. I am hungry now. I also love Salmon, but I don’t crave Black Pudding. I just don’t get it.
Oh I see, so where will you be spending Christmas this year? We will be having chicken and lamb for dinner, but we’ll have black pudding on our breakfast in the morning.