Alternative Christmas menus

Christmas is at once both immensely fun and immensely terrifying – especially for the person tasked with creating a menu. Rather than churn out the same old fare year after year, the festive chefs-elect are embracing the idea of change and adapting the menu to include dishes not traditionally associated with Christmas.

The important thing to remember when trying a new Christmas menu is to prepare everything well in advance, says London-based chef Sally Clarke. ‘Getting ahead is so important,’ she says. ‘Entertaining at Christmas isn't just about food – it's about looking after guests. Don't have a drink until you are satisfied that everything is well on the way to being done.’

Venue

South Africans and Australians famously boast of spending Christmas Day at the beach, charring sausages and burgers over a barbecue. While the idea of a BBQ doesn’t quite work in the UK, there are other options open to the adventurous. One option is to take one or two Forman & Field Christmas hampers to the countryside for an impromptu picnic. Wrap up warm and it’ll provide an unforgettable experience, with none of the forced claustrophobia. Alternatively, hire a venue and descend en masse with an assortment of family and friends for a large-scale banquet-style Christmas.

Starters

Starters are mostly about the presentation, so they provide the perfect opportunity to indulge those creative urges. Try creating pastry ‘spoons’ filled with hummus, taramasalata or prawns in mayonnaise. Mini sausage rolls are always popular – try making them a little different by filling them with caramelised onions. If creating starters is one job too many, just buy some in advance. Dip into some cheese hampers or put in an order with a local deli – the joy of starters is that almost anything goes.

Mains

While turkey may have been the staple Christmas main for over 100 years, the old bird is getting a little tired. If choosing a main that everyone is happy with proves difficult, consider making a couple of relatively simple options. Roasted carp with peppers and pancetta is a traditional Balkan Christmas dish, while spiced beef with roast vegetables or dumplings will leave plenty of time for other Christmas activities. Those averse to meat will be more than happy with vegetarian options that include a carrot and cashew fan or a smoked bean curd bake.

Desserts

For many people, Christmas pudding has all the appeal of an unexploded mortar shell. After a large meal, the thought of shovelling in an overly large slice of super-dense cake can be deeply troubling. Why not spare the communal pain and try one of the many alternatives out there? Lemon tart, jelly, or Seville oranges steeped in Cointreau are all far lighter options, and ones that can be made suitably Christmassy with just a few minor additions. Other valid choices include a mulled mixed berry terrine, tiramisu, and Clementine meringue or spiced winter fruit compote.