Christmas Eve meal suggestions please

[EmmaGrundyForPM]

We've got 8 people for Christmas. They all arrive between 21st and 23rd Dec. I've got food sorted for the 23rd (lasagne) but am struggling for ideas for Christmas Eve.

My Mum won't eat anything spicy, which rules out curry. One person doesn't eat nuts (not allergic, just doesn't like them). I'm doing salmon on the 22nd for 6 of us so don't want to repeat that although am happy to do a different fish.

I was wondering about doing a buffet style meal but that is lot of work unless I buy it all which will be too expensive.

I was wondering about jacket potatoes with a variety of toppings but is that too boring for Christmas Eve? One of the guests will be my 20 year old niece who I haven't seen for 5 years so I want to make it special.

Any ideas?

salad nicoise followed by a hot pudding (maybe poached plums with crème fraiche)

Jacket pots and toppings sounds fine, maybe some nice cake ?
Your niece is 20 and may well have her mind on anything but the meal - I wouldn't worry about that!!

Jacket potatoes with lots of topping choices sounds fun

We are doing warm beef rolls with french dip

We're doing a vegetable biryani, which has gentle Persian spices rather than heat. It's a fairly long cooking process but not too hands on.

https://thehappyfoodie.co.uk/recipes/vegetable-biryani-subzi-biryani/

Fish pie with leafy greens?

Yes another vote for fish pie - the Jamie Oliver one with prawns is great.

I've decided to do sausage and mash with onion gravy and green beans. Get some really nice sausages (could get a variety) and if you want to cut down on prep buy frozen mash (Iceland's is actually very good!)

Nigellas slow cooked ham. I do it on Christmas eve and left overs will last for boxing day. Serve with jacket pots, salads, bread.

we have french dips on christams eve

Make your own pizza get everyone involved then

Quiche, JPs and salad. Yum.

Fish pie

Sausage casserole, posh sausages and can be left in slow cooker once browned. Could have JPs with that too.

Or a charcuterie board, nice bread, salad, pickles & chutney...

Making me way too hungry! 😋

We're having bagels with hot smoked salmon and spiced beef. Maybe some nice cheeses.

I was going to suggest fish - how about fish pie with tender stem broccoli or fine beans? Or seafood lasagne with salad?

I'd do a big beef bourguignon or something with steamed veg and loads of bread. Or a really nice pasta dish with salad and garlic bread.

A jacket potato 'bar' is a thing these days. Spuds with dishes of different toppings for people to help themselves. You could do chilli for those who like something spicy.

I'd be more than happy with jacket potatoes.

I cook a gammon joint on Christmas Eve and we have it with jacket potatoes and salads. I don't eat the gammon, so it's a relatively light meal for me which gives me permission to dig in to treats after 😊

I did macaroni cheese with the gammon last year instead and it didn't hit the spot as well jackets, we were all a bit podged.

A slow cooked beef stew, Jaime Oliver's "Jool's favourite beef stew" on his website is delicious and very easy to make (I'd leave out the Jerusalem artichokes). Just bung it in the oven for a couple of hours and serve with potatoes or crusty bread.

Or

Boiled or baked large gammon joint, then serve with mash and a few veg, or with baked spuds and salad, or as ham egg and chips.

In previous years we've sometimes just had a Chinese takeaway delivery on Christmas Eve. which left more time for vegetable prep for the big day.
This year I'm making a couple of big steak pies, mashed potatoes, peas and gravy. Nice and simple.

I'd go for cheese board, crackers, bread, olives etc and a nice pudding
If you prefer a more standard meal, how about a slow cooked beef stew? Stewing beef isn't expensive and slow cooking will make it lovely. We do one with red wine and chestnuts and it's lovely. I'd serve it with jacket potaoes and peas

I would hate to do this for a big group! Everyone ends up eating at different times and it all takes ages.

OP specifically said 'Nothing Spicy...so that rules out a curry', so you suggest a biryani with Persian spices...! 😂

I'm doing sausage.casserole. So brown the sausages,soften the onions add Marsala or wine and stock bring to thr boil and bung in a very low oven for 2 hours. I'm making it even easier by adding a jar of butter beans for the last 30 minutes. I'm going to do individual Yorkshire puddings and roast pointed cabbage with it.

It will be followed by chocolate bread and butter pudding. I will make it the day before and then just cook it as we sit down to eat the sausages.

What about something fun like make yourself soft shell tacos?

You could boil or roast a large gammon joint with mashed potatoes and vegetables. Then you'd have cold ham you could cut for sandwiches too.

We have egg and chips every Christmas Eve to counteract all the rich food that follows! Anyone who visits has the same and has always appreciated our tradition. It saves having to think about the menu each year. Additions might be available depending on the guests - ham, pickled onions, various condiments, bread and butter (you get the idea). Baked potatoes with a variety of toppings is a great idea, though. If everyone likes the same level of heat, a big pot of chilli would be simple, too.