FOOD & DRINKS
Unlike many other Christmas foods, turkey has a mild flavour. The meat is lean, but the dish is often enriched with fat and flavour through accompaniments such as stuffing, sauces and Waldorf salad. The stuffing can also have a sweetness from dried fruits and apples, and the Waldorf salad is slightly sweet.
In general, the flavour of the drink is not as important as it is for many other Norwegian Christmas dishes. However, a certain fullness and acidity in the wine, and freshness and bitterness in the beer, are still important in order to match the fullness and fat content of sauces and stuffing. There is also sweetness in the drinks, which must balance the sweetness of the Waldorf salad and possibly stuffing with sweet components such as prunes and apples. The dish as a whole is quite light, which can be reflected in the choice of drinks.
Beer
Beer for turkey can be mild in flavour, but should have some body, freshness and bitterness, as well as a little sweetness. A light colour and fruity aromas also complement the dish well.
Some options:
- Weissbier – Weissbier is a light wheat beer with a sweetness and fruitiness from top fermentation, as well as freshness from strong bubbles and a hint of acidity from the wheat. Its light, fruity and slightly sweet character goes well with Waldorf salad and any fruit in the stuffing. The freshness and acidity counterbalance the fat.
- Blonde – Although Belgian beer styles are generally known for being both full-bodied and characterful, Blonde is a beer that is slightly lighter and milder in taste. Nevertheless, it is characterful enough in relation to the turkey and, like many other Belgian beers, it tends to have good carbonation that cuts through the fat. The beer is light in colour, which suits the dish well.
- Pale Ale – Despite its name, Pale Ale is closer to amber in colour. This beer tends to have sweetness from both caramel malt and over-fermentation. The over-fermentation also contributes fruity aromas. The beer also has a little more freshness and bitterness than, for example, Brown Ale, especially if it is made in the American style, where the carbonation and hop character are often stronger. The sweetness and fruitiness of Pale Ale can be particularly useful if you use a lot of fruit in the stuffing. The freshness and bitterness are generally sufficient to cut through the fat.
Aquavit
The combination of Christmas aquavit and turkey is an elegant and tasty way to celebrate Christmas. Turkey, with its juicy and tender meat, is a popular dish at Christmas dinner and is often served with stuffing, sauce and various vegetables. When turkey is combined with Christmas aquavit, it creates an exciting contrast of flavours. The spicy aroma of the aquavit helps to enhance the flavours of the turkey and adds an extra dimension to the meal. This combination is a celebration of both Norwegian food culture and good flavours.
Wine
The potential sweetness of the fruit in the stuffing and Waldorf salad make white wine and sparkling wine the first choice for turkey. Finding a red wine with sufficient sweetness can be a challenge. However, if you avoid the sweet accompaniments, you have more freedom.
White wine
There are many white wines that go well with turkey. If you are serving the dish with Waldorf salad or fruit stuffing, the wine should have a certain sweetness so that it does not taste sour in relation to the food. German Riesling often comes in different degrees of dryness, and a semi-dry version such as "halbtrocken" or "feinherb" will go well if there is sweetness in the accompaniments. Riesling also has enough aroma intensity to harmonise with the food and enough acidity to balance the fat in the stuffing and sauce.
See our selection of German Riesling
Sparkling wine
Sparkling wine comes in different degrees of dryness. Slightly sweeter versions such as extra dry (extra seco) or dry (seco) have the sweetness they need to balance the sweetness in Waldorf salad and fruit stuffing. Turkey is relatively mild and light, but some flavour and body in the wine is still welcome. Sparkling wines with secondary fermentation in the bottle and some ageing on lees, such as Cava and Crémant, are a good choice, but styles such as Prosecco are too light. The acidity in sparkling wine is sufficient to balance the fat in the sauce and stuffing.
See our selection of sparkling wines
Red wine
Light, medium-bodied and fruity red wines with some acidity and low tannins are a good accompaniment to turkey, but it is difficult to find a red wine that also has enough sweetness to match the sweetness of fruit stuffing or Waldorf salad. Pinot Noir or Beaujolais red wines are a good choice if you avoid the sweet accompaniments.