Als Oma nach dem Rezept meines Weihnachtsbratens gefragt hat

When Grandma asked for the recipe for my Christmas roast

Christmas begins long before everyone sits down at the table. It starts with planning the Christmas menu. With the anticipation of what’s to come. And later, in the kitchen. With the aroma slowly drifting from the oven and the feeling that a special evening is just around the corner. As the turkey turns golden brown, preparation becomes a moment to treasure.

And sometimes, something unexpected happens right then: The person you’ve learned so much from suddenly asks for your recipe. That’s exactly what happened to me. My grandma asked for my Christmas roast.

Discover the tips and techniques that made my Christmas roast a truly special moment.

A man in an apron places a Fissler roasting pan, reflecting the brand’s heritage of precision engineering and timeless design, with a cooked turkey onto a dining table for a festive meal. A man wearing a Fissler kitchen apron smelling a truffle.
A person sautés colorful carrots in a high-quality, German-engineered stainless steel Fissler frying pan over a gas stovetop.

The court

Juicy turkey with red wine jus and root vegetables

When I planned my Christmas menu, one thing was clear from the start: the main course had to be something special. 

Something familiar. But still a chance to show what I'd learned. So I chose a turkey with herb and honey butter. Served with a rich red wine jus and caramelized root vegetables. A classic. My way.

Discover the recipe

My timing for the Christmas roast

The biggest mistake with a Christmas roast? Thinking it only starts on Christmas Day. In fact, I started preparing two days earlier.

Two days earlier

Two days before, I laid the groundwork with the following steps:

  • Finish shopping and check all ingredients
  • Make sure the turkey is fully thawed
  • Start dry brining and store the turkey uncovered in the fridge

Two days before, I laid the groundwork with the following steps:

  • Finish shopping and check all ingredients
  • Make sure the turkey is fully thawed
  • Start dry brining and store the turkey uncovered in the fridge
A man wearing an apron uses oven mitts to place a Fissler stainless steel pot, showcasing precision engineering and timeless design, containing a roasted chicken into an oven.

Preparing the turkey

The turkey is the centerpiece of my Christmas dinner and probably the part I least want to leave to chance. It needs to be juicy, golden brown, and crisp. So the work starts well before it goes into the oven—with the right preparation.

The perfect turkey: 5 tips that make all the difference

1. Choose the right size

For my Christmas menu, I chose a 1,5–2 kg turkey for 4 people. With a starter before and dessert after, the main course doesn't need to be oversized.

For a larger gathering, plan on two smaller turkeys rather than one huge bird. They're easier to handle and cook more evenly.

4 people

1,5-2 kg

5-6 people

2,5-3 kg

7-10 people

4-5 kg

2. Dry Brine instead of Wet Brine

Brining involves salting meat before cooking. With a traditional wet brine, the turkey is submerged in a saltwater solution. I prefer the drier method: with dry brining, salt is applied directly to the surface and the turkey is left uncovered in the fridge for one to two days.

The salt initially draws some moisture out of the meat, dissolves in it and is then reabsorbed. This seasons the meat beneath the surface and helps it retain moisture during cooking. At the same time, the skin dries out in the fridge. This creates the ideal conditions for it to turn golden brown and crispy in the oven.

 3. The Secret to Crispy Skin 

1. Drying

Pat the skin thoroughly dry before cooking. Dry brining also helps reduce surface moisture.

2. Flavoring

Gently loosen the skin over the breast meat with your fingers and spread the honey and herb butter underneath. This flavors the meat directly and keeps the butter beneath the skin during cooking.

3. Tanning

Remove the cover to finish. The skin will now turn golden brown and crisp up.

4. Have the right cookware ready

When cooking a Christmas roast, I want cookware I can rely on – from the roasting pan in the oven to the carving knife. That's why I get everything ready in advance. Once the turkey is perfectly cooked, a missing tool shouldn't throw off the timing.

Fissler Original-Profi Collection® 28cm roaster with high dome lid, side handles, and logo, shown on a plain white background.Experience German engineering: the Fissler Original-Profi Collection® Round Roaster 28cm, two handles, high-domed lid, top view.
Original-Profi Collection® Roaster with High Dome Lid, 28 cm
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The Fissler Essential® Carving Fork - precision-forged stainless steel, two sharp tines, long handle. Modern German design.Cooked chicken on a board with Fissler Essential® meat fork, tenderizer; Fissler Cooking Pot and ladle on the stove; modern kitchen scene.
Fissler Essential® meat fork
Sale price€22,99incl. VAT,
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Three Fissler ProCut knives with ergonomic black handles and silver blades, showcasing German precision and design.Experience the heritage of Fissler, founded in 1845 and renowned for precision-engineered, durable products “Made in Germany.” The Fissler ProCut 3-piece set—comprising the Gemüsemesser, Fleischmesser, and Kochmesser—is beautifully presented on a sleek black cutting board alongside a black towel. Accentuating the timeless design are fresh carrots, fragrant basil leaves, a bowl of salt, vibrant red peppercorns, and a candle—all arranged on an elegant marble surface.
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Fissler ProCut chef’s knife, crafted with a precision-engineered pointed stainless steel blade and an ergonomic textured black handle, exemplifies German quality and timeless design. As part of the Fissler ProCut 3-piece set, this versatile kitchen essential is displayed on a white background.The Fissler ProCut Fleischmesser 18 cm, crafted with German precision and timeless design, lies on a sleek black cutting board alongside fresh carrots, metal bowls containing basil leaves and salt, a kitchen towel, and scattered peppercorns—all arranged on a polished stainless steel countertop that highlights Fissler’s commitment to quality and innovation in the kitchen.
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Premium stainless steel Fissler Original-Profi Collection® Sauteuse 20cm with interior measurement markings, reflecting our heritage of German precision engineering and timeless design.A chef in a grey uniform uses precision to whisk a sauce in a Fissler Original-Profi Collection® Sauteuse 20cm, reflecting our heritage of German-engineered quality, on a stovetop next to a pan containing seared steaks.
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A man wearing an apron uses oven mitts to place a durable, precision-engineered Fissler stainless steel roasting pan containing a cooked chicken into an oven.

5. The 20 minutes that make all the difference

The turkey comes out of the oven perfectly golden brown. I’d love to start carving straight away. But now it’s time to wait. Another twenty minutes. Because this is what turns a good roast into an exceptional one.

As the meat rests, the juices redistribute evenly throughout. Only then does the carving begin.
A man in an apron carves a roasted turkey inside a precision-engineered Fissler stainless steel pot at a holiday dinner table.

Turkey guide

Even more expertise

Thawing, dry brining, timing and doneness: if you want to leave nothing to chance with your Christmas roast, the  turkey guide has all the know-how you need for perfect preparation.

To the guide
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The red wine jus

The turkey is the centerpiece of my Christmas menu. But the jus is what brings it all together. It captures those rich, roasted flavors. Adds depth to the meat. While the turkey rests, it's time for the jus to shine. And it follows a simple principle: Roast. Reduce. Finish with butter.

A person whisks ingredients in a premium Fissler stainless steel saucepan on a gas stovetop, reflecting the brand’s heritage of precision engineering.

3 Steps to More Depth

1. Brown
Brown the shallots and tomato paste. This creates a rich, savory base for the jus.

2. Reduce
Deglaze with red wine and reduce to about one third. Only then add the poultry stock.

3. Finish with butter
Stir in cold butter at the very end. It gives the jus a silky sheen and a fuller mouthfeel.

SOS tip: Is your jus lacking shine? Stir in the cold butter only at the very end.

A man wearing a Fissler apron writes in a notebook on a kitchen counter, embodying the brand’s heritage of precision and quality.

Create the perfect Christmas roast with the Fissler Christmas menu

Get the Christmas dinner recipes and follow the step-by-step instructions to recreate the turkey dinner. 

To menu

The right cookware for your Christmas menu

Fissler Vitavit® Premium Pressure Cooker made of 18/10 Stainless Steel, black handle, precision valve - timeless German design.A person wearing glasses, a beanie, and a dark apron smiles while opening a steaming Fissler Vitavit® Premium 2-tlg. Set mit SKT Buch pressure cooker on a kitchen stove—showcasing the precision engineering and timeless design that define Fissler’s “Made in Germany” cookware. In the background, wooden shelves and a fruit bowl speak to an inviting, well-equipped kitchen, highlighting Fissler’s commitment to quality for passionate home cooks and professionals alike.
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The Fissler ProCut Kochmesser from our distinguished 3-piece set, showcasing a precision-engineered stainless steel silver blade and an ergonomically designed black textured handle, artfully presented on a white background. Crafted in Germany since 1845, this chef’s knife reflects Fissler’s legacy of durability, innovation, and timeless quality.A refined kitchen scene showcases timeless Fissler quality: a black cutting board holds sliced tomatoes beside the Fissler ProCut Kochmesser 20 cm, crafted from extraharter Stahl for exceptional precision. Whole and green tomatoes, a towel, salt, and a glass complete the elegant arrangement on a sleek stainless steel countertop—reflecting Fissler’s heritage in German engineering and innovative cookware design since 1845.
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