How to "Koreanise" Christmas Dinner.

[RAFHercules]

We have Korean guests (son in laws family) for Christmas and whilst they will be unfailingly polite about whatever I serve up, I just know that they will find a traditional English roast dinner very bland.
How can I spice it up a little to make it a bit more palatable for them.
They live seafood, so I'm doing a seafood starter that I will spice up but what to do with the roast?

I love hosting and always want people to feel at home, but honestly - I think anyone coming to a person's home for their biggest culturally loaded meal of the year will probably want to just eat what their hosts eat. If I went to the equivalent of Christmas in Korea I would want everything to be totally typical and would prolly bore the pants off my hosts asking questions about every single dish on the table.

Yes. Your Korean guests will want to experience A Traditional British Christmas

Isn't KFC traditional for Korea on Christmas Day? I'd go with a totally standard roast dinner for the experience for them.

From the top of my head (so not much thought) but offer winter slippers upon arrival as it’s commonly shoes off upon entering a home throughout Asia.
Bottled water rather than tapped water. Warm bottled water in a flask for use throughout the day, if needed (buckwheat tea is indistinctive from water.)
Many South Koreans are super Christian (if that’s a thing for you) so maybe a visit to the local Christmas church service?
Then you could lean on the quirkier U.K. Christmas traditions: long walk involving a pub stop whilst dinners on, aperitifs before dinner, lucky silver charms in the Christmas pudding, games to play after dinner, brussel sprouts, stuffing, Christmas tree lights, Christmas crackers, Christmas jumpers (ask to be worn beforehand), play ‘Pakkeleg’ a pot luck small wrapped presents per guest (asked to be brought beforehand,) Christmas evening TV with topped with cheese, chutney & biscuits, fresh coffee & tea etc.
(((Your guest will love everything you offer so don’t worry)))

I think they will want the "British Traditional" experience, and will really enjoy it.
You could add some extra side dishes to go with, like spicey red cabbage?

Great ideas there Bobby!

I feel a bit sad that your normal Christmas dinner is bland... Where's all the Christmas spice and warmth? Get Delia Smith or Nigella Christmas recipes out and go indulgent.

Thanks all!
Griefmonster I wouldn't say my cooking is bland at all, just that I've tasted their cooking and it blew my socks off
Bobby your ideas are amazing.

You could make some kimchi ( or buy it) for them to eat with dinner - I think it would be lovely with sprouts - and great on sandwiches with leftovers!

Maybe try and check with them first, they might want a full British experience. When we have friends from abroad visit and used to be pre-Covid the same with work, they often wanted to experience British food rather than a vague approximation of home. Many of them did seem to love a roast dinner done well, shepherd's pie, beef Wellington and steak and kidney pie went down well as mains. For some reason Eton mess seemed to be the stand out favourite.

I'd check with them, they might be really looking forward to the traditional roast, my brothers south Korean girlfriend is very partial to apple crumble.

I have eaten out with them before and they have always gone for the spicier things on the menu. Son in law just doesn't understand things like plain boiled sprouts and he nearly threw up when he tried Yorkshire pudding. So I was thinking of just adding a few spicier dishes to our roast rather than trying to recreate the food his mum excels at.
They love alcohol though, maybe I will just make it extra boozy

I would just buy some good spicy kimchi which they can add to anything they want if it's too bland.

I spend a part of the year (sans Covid) in another country and I cannot tell you how awkward it is to be continually presented with badly made cups of tea and horrible scones. Let them have the authentic British experience on your part and ask them to bring some kimchi to share with you.

(Kimchi is AWESOME on cauliflower cheese.)

Can you discuss it with them to get an idea of what they're hoping for? I agree with pp, I think most people would prefer whatever is traditional in the country they are visiting especially for a special occasion where food is the big focus, but everyone has different preferences for Christmas dinner. They might prefer roast beef and horseradish or something like that that's still traditional in the uk but is a more popular special occasion meat in Korea. There's a lot of highly flavoured but still traditional Christmas recipes: pickles and chutneys with chilli in, sprouts are amazing in a spicy stir fry with chestnuts and sweet chilli sauce, spicy red cabbage, Christmas cake and pudding made well should have a spicy kick of brandy, ginger, cloves, cinnamon etc, spicy sausages, homemade stuffing should have a lot of flavour garlic, sage, pepper, rosemary, onion. Lots of different side dishes that are still traditional but varied flavours could be the way to go? We usually do that at Christmas anyway. I have just placed an order with Mr Kimchi to save for Christmas if that's any help, it goes with everything! mrkimchi.co.uk/

I couldn’t stomach plain boiled sprouts either! Try cooking them with some bacon and roast chestnuts and they are lovely.

Honey or maple syrup glazed carrots and parsnips. Spiced red cabbage. Cranberry sauce. A rich gravy. Christmas dinner doesn’t have to be bland. Just google some more interesting recipes.

I would stay with a traditional menu though. His family is likely to be excited to try it .

But they’ll be looking forward to pigs in blankets.

Ask them?
Curried sprouts are good.

I am not Korean but Singaporean and never had a roast dinner until I moved to the UK. I love Sunday roasts now! I still don't really understand a lot of the Christmas dishes hahaha. The traditional roast dinner with veg should be fine. I think pigs in blankets is an acquired taste as are mince pies.

Also no cheese. My British DH's first cooked meal to impress me was some sort of thing with 4 cheese sauce and I basically choked through it. Even today I cannot eat strong cheeses and I suspect I am slightly lactose intolerant. Most east Asians do not grow up with cheese and most cheeses are far too strong for the average palate! Stuff like cheese fries is probably fine but they probably wouldn't appreciate a cheese board.

Kimchi as a side would be nice and you can buy it from Asian supermarkets.

This is a great spicy cabbage dish with Korean flavours that I often serve with roasts

thehappyfoodie.co.uk/recipes/meera-sodhas-roasted-carrot-and-cabbage-with-gochujang/

Surely no-one can stomach boiled sprouts though? Roast them or stir-fry them with bacon/chestnuts.

I’d suggest your normal roast. Spice rub on top if you wanted.
Then look at making a more spIcy gravy. Make your usual too so there’s a choice. My family would always have a spiced gravy.

CuriousUnderTheStairs what a dick you are.

I agree they are probably looking forward to experiencing a proper British Christmas