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When planning the ideal menu for a Christmas feast, factoring in the number of people being catered to is just as important as the cooking itself. Serving food that is well-cooked and hot is often the biggest concern when cooking for big groups. For smaller families, however, these issues are less of a concern, opening up far more possibilities where festive food is concerned.
Choosing an easy yet delicious Christmas menu will enable you to more time focusing on finding the perfect Christmas gifts and decorations to give to your loved ones over dinner.
Traditional
Experimenting with new dishes and flavours is one of the many joys of cooking. Sometimes, however, only the classics will do, and cooking a traditional feast for Christmas is bound to go down well with everyone.
Parfaits and pâtés are excellent make-ahead starters that can be taken out of the fridge just before serving, and paired with crackers. Popular flavours include Port and chicken liver, duck and orange, and pork with cranberries.
Nothing is more traditional than a turkey centrepiece, with rich gravy, sage and onion stuffing, and crispy golden skin. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Christmas feast without the trimmings; think Brussels spouts with chestnuts, crispy roast potatoes, honey-glazed carrots, and roast parsnips.
Round off your meal with a rich and decadent classic Christmas pudding, a classic boozy sherry trifle, or a luxurious sticky toffee pudding with a dollop of thick cream.
Perfect for two
When cooking for two, you can be more flexible with which festive dishes you cook. You’ll probably be less restricted with time and quantities, so there’ll be less chance of food getting cold while you dish up. Start your Christmas meal for two with a rich and hearty soup to set the mood for your meal, without filling yourselves up too much. A creamy cauliflower soup flecked with crispy chorizo and garlic croutons is easy and affordable enough to make, without compromising on flavour.
A traditional turkey may be too large for just two people, so you might prefer to choose a smaller bird like chicken, pheasant, duck, or guinea fowl. Orange-stuffed duck; roast pheasant with wild mushrooms, potato, and bacon ragout; or a roast guinea fowl with chestnut, sage, and lemon stuffing work well.
Roasted vegetables, sweet potato mash, and creamed spinach will pair wonderfully with your bird of choice. End your feast with a simple dessert that can be made into individual portions to avoid too many leftovers. Warm honey cup puddings or a sticky pear tart and cream are the perfect sweet treat.
Gluten-free
Special dietary needs shouldn’t restrict you to bland or boring meal options, especially around Christmas. There are plenty of tasty gluten-free meal ideas for the festive season that are easy to make and impossible not to enjoy. Smoked salmon rillettes, served on top of chicory leaves; or a comforting butternut soup with crispy sage and apple croutons, will have you starting your feast on the right foot.
Follow with traditional roast turkey or baked glazed ham for an impressive main meal centrepiece. Sweet roasted root vegetables, black pepper Hasselback potatoes, and cranberry sauce will perfectly complement festive flavours.
Finally, end your meal with an ice cream sandwich twist, using ginger cookies and lemon mascarpone for a light yet indulgent dessert. Alternatively, individual mince pies will make for a warm and tasty treat to end the night.
Budget friendly
It’s no secret that the festive season is a notoriously expensive time of year, but that doesn’t mean you need to splurge on an extravagant menu to match. With proper planning and a few clever shortcuts, you can pull off a show-stopping meal, without breaking the bank.
If cost is a concern, keep things simple with your starter by choosing something cheap to make like spicy roasted parsnip soup or cheesy confit garlic bread, both of which can be prepared in advance and made to fit any party size.
Skip the extravagant turkey or lamb and instead opt for a whole roasted lemon and garlic chicken with sticky roasted veggies, smokey and salty Christmas ham, or mushroom bourguignon pie for a vegetarian option. Sage and onion stuffing, roast potatoes, Brussels sprouts and Yorkshire pudding all make for appealing yet affordable sides.
End your meal with a comforting fruit crumble, cornflake chocolate nests, or chocolate Yule log.
Health conscious
For many of us, Christmas is the one time of year when we fully indulge in food and drink. However, if you want to include healthier options in your Christmas spread, there are plenty of seasonal dishes packed with flavour that’ll meet the brief.
Whip up a chilli crab, shaved fennel, and parsley salad; or pan-fried asparagus, bacon, and hazelnut salad for a light, refreshing starter. The traditionalists among us will always go for turkey as a main, so elevate this classic bird with orange slices, honey, and thyme. For smaller groups, lemon and garlic roast chicken is a fantastic option.
Red cabbage, roast potatoes, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower cheese, carrots, fresh greens and homemade gravy all make for tasty yet reasonably healthy sides. End your meal with a festive cheese board, ideal for sharing and for preparing in advance. Or, get creative with frozen fruit, and yogurt bark; or individual fruit tartlets, and mascarpone.
While it can be rewarding to cook Christmas dinner for a large family or group, cooking for a smaller family certainly enables you to bring more creativity and flexibility to the table. However, it’s still important to consider individual dietary needs and personal preferences, to ensure everyone has a festive meal to remember.
How many people do you cook Christmas dinner for, and what do you usually prepare?
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