Scott Conant's Global Christmas Dinner

MENU: Scott Conant's Global Christmas Dinner

When Manhattan chef Scott Conant makes Christmas dinner, the menu honors his mother's Italian background—but also his father's New England heritage and his wife's Turkish roots. Oh, and there's a Dominican-inspired cake, too.

Starters

Black-Pepper Breadsticks

Potato Soup with Spicy Shrimp (left)
Influenced by his Turkish-American wife, Meltem, Scott Conant spices up his silky potato soup with Turkish red-pepper paste (biber salcasi), made from sweet and hot peppers. Look for the paste at Middle Eastern groceries, or use harissa instead.

Main Course & Side Dishes

Slow-Roasted Pork Loin (left)
The marinade is a syrupy glaze that Scott Conant slathers over the pork so it can soak up the flavor before roasting.

Herbed New Potatoes

Caramelized Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta

Gingered Green Beans

Bibb Lettuce with Warm Vinaigrette

Eggplant Börek

Dessert

Dulce de Leche Layer Cake
Scott Conant (along with his pastry chef Gerry Minos) lightens up on the sugar in the meringue and adds a nutty liqueur to the filling and frosting, giving it an Italian flavor. The cake is a knockout, with or without the liqueur, and stellar with either homemade or store-bought dulce de leche.

More Great Recipes:

Holiday Centerpiece Roasts

10 Fast Holiday Sides

More Beautiful Desserts