Untraditional meals you can serve on Christmas

Few things are as luxurious as a perfectly prepared beef Wellington, and Christmastime is the time to indulge in this feast. Beef tenderloin wrapped in in buttery prosciutto, mustard, mushrooms and then baked in a puff pastry.  

It's not often we think of San Francisco when we think of Christmas, but Northern Californians can't imagine Christmas without this seafood stew of clams, crab, shrimp, squid, scallops and fish cooked in wine and tomatoes.  

A great choice if you need to feed a hungry crowd, lasagna is cheesy, warm comfort on a cold Christmas evening. The best part? It tastes even better if you make it ahead of time. 

Turkey with dressing at Christmas sometimes feels too close to Thanksgiving. Dress up turkey with rich, smoky Oaxacan mole sauce to sneak in some extra chocolate this holiday season. 

The earthiness of mushrooms with creamy risotto makes this dish a holiday natural. Make it really shine with wild mushrooms like chanterelle, hen-of-the-woods or shiitake. 

There are as many variations of paella as there are cooks. Most often served with seafood or chicken, this is another filling dish that is just as satisfying when prepared in a vegetarian style.

This easy-to-make stew of chicken or pork, chiles and hominy is common throughout Mexico and the Southwest for good reason. Filling and warm, it's a great pairing for another great borrowed tradition, tamales.  

Instead of a Christmas ham, consider making pulled pork. Smoked or even in a slow-cooker, the meat stays juicy and rich unlike many hams, which can dry out roasting in the oven. 

Lemony herbed salmon is a showstopper at the holidays. For an extra treat, wrap in puffed pastry with a caper sauce. 

Shepherd's pie might be one of the most adaptable meat and potatoes dishes out there, including skipping the meat. While ground beef or lamb are traditional, you can use ground turkey or even lentils in this crowd favorite. 

This comforting home-style dish can be dressed up many ways for the holidays. Tasso ham, bacon, andouille sausage and gruyere cheese are easy additions to this welcome favorite, especially if served at a Christmas brunch.

If you have a large crowd to feed, consider firing up the smoker in the snow and smoke brisket for the Christmas feast. A large packer will ensure you have enough for leftover sandwiches the next day.

For those extra cold Christmases, borrow a warming meal from our friends in England, steak and ale pie. Beef, carrots, onions and potatoes in a hearty gravy made even richer with beer will tempt Santa into stopping at your house twice. 

A drop-biscuit turkey pot pie combines all the best flavors of Christmas with much less work.