Christmas stuffing wreath

 

In the minced meat of the traditional filling , which we serve in bulk on the plate, we put something spicy (sausage or bacon or livers extinguished with brandy), something sweet (chestnuts, plums, raisins, apricots), something crunchy (pine nuts, almonds, almonds) or something fresh (quinces, apples).

The Christmas terrine stuffing with minced meat - which is for me the most delicious and impressive Christmas dish - has it all, plus a little more strong sun-dried wine (madeira). The mixture is baked in an elongated cake pan, wrapped in bacon slices and cut into neatly arranged slices on the plate. It is absolutely worth the cost of its materials. In addition, it stays in the freezer, ready to come out and cook when we need it.

In the Christmas stuffing wreath , I put less ingredients in the minced meat mixture but enough to give flavor and make food with a little minced meat. Red pepper cubes and parsley are necessary to get a Christmas color. I put the snacks outside: grilled sausage with red pepper, plums wrapped in bacon, fresh cherry tomatoes, boiled and sautéed Brussels sprouts, chestnuts, caramelized onions and sautéed mushrooms..

You can make a larger wreath or make another shape, eg heart or oval. Be sure to think first about where to serve it and then shape it according to the dimensions of the serving platter.

If you have leftover minced meat, shape it into balls, bake it in the pan or in the oven and serve it as  meatballs .

For the wreath

500 g. minced meat

1 egg

1 slice of bread, soaked and squeezed

1 tablespoon toast

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

1 grated onion

1 tablespoon parsley, finely chopped

2 tablespoons red pepper, cubes

1 tablespoon lemon or orange zest

5-6 sage leaves

2 tablespoons crushed  peanuts

2 tablespoons raisins

1 medium sausage

salt

black pepper

For snacks

sausage slices

Brussels sprouts

mushrooms

onions stew

cherry tomatoes

plums with bacon

Preparation

If you choose minced pork lean, ask for it once passed through a machine. If you get lean beef ask to pass it twice. The mixture wants to get a smooth texture.

Soak the raisins in a little brandy or liqueur or in boiling water. Saute the sage leaves, fresh or dried in 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Allow to cool. Instead of  peanuts you can put pine nuts or hazelnuts.

Choose a sausage, soft to the touch so you can mix it with the minced meat, in whatever flavor you like (leek sausage, etc.).

Remove the wrapper from the sausage and break it into small pieces by hand or with a knife. Put all the ingredients in a bowl and knead very well, at least 10 minutes. Let the mixture stand for half an hour, if you have time.

Spread film on the counter. Pour the mixture and shape it into a string, the thickness of the wreath. With the help of the membrane, press the mixture well together, without gaps. Thus, when cooked it will have a nice shape.

Transfer the minced meat roll to the pan, without the foil. Join in a circle.

Bake in a preheated oven at 190 degrees for 35-40 minutes, depending on the size. You will see that the protein has thickened outside the circle. The inner circle is filled with zucchini. Do not detach it from the pan.. This is the secret to making the minced meat juicy.

Dip a brush into the center and glaze the crown. You can do the same with the caramelized onion sauce . Thus it will acquire a glaze.

At the same time, prepare the snacks:

Sliced ​​sausage

Remove the casing from the sausage, cut into pieces and cook in the pan over low heat.

Plums with bacon

Without washing the pan, continue with the prunes that you have wrapped with bacon slices.

Mushrooms hats

Pour a little oil in the pan. Lay the mushroom caps with the window facing up and let them drain. Then turn to the other side. Add a little salt and quench with a little lemon juice.

Brussels sprouts

Pour a little oil in the pan and sauté the boiled brussels sprouts and chestnuts (boiled or roasted), adding a little salt and quenching with sweet wine.

Caramelized onions

You have the caramelized onions ready as normal .

The cherry tomatoes come in fresh.