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?

A ham, cauliflower cheese and jacket potatoes would be delish! Maybe add something green too or it could look a bit insipid.

I always get the M&S pork crackling joint and serve it up with lovely fresh rolls, stuffing and apple sauce and a big bowl of chips. So quick and easy and no 'proper' cooking ahead of the big day!

Big pot of chilli, for non spicy guests take the mixture out before you add spice. Pile of wraps, tubs of soured cream, guacamole, salad leaves, bag of grated cheese, tortilla chips & dips. Or put a tray of tortilla chips, jar of salsa, grated cheese on top in oven for 20 mins. Really easy.

Sounds amazing, I'd love the recipe if that's possible. 🙂

Another vote for Gammon, then cold gammon and turkey on boxing day, with bubble and squeak made with left over veg.

Freeze the rest for turkey and ham pie later.

I do ham, a potato gratin (Nigella’s make ahead mash, or dauphinoise), red cabbage and (fresh) cranberry sauce. Easy, festive and provides ham for Boxing Day and stock for a leftovers soup or risotto. A few canapés beforehand, and a festive pudding, all makes for a fun dinner that feels special but isn’t too onerous.

Also here to support the biriyani suggestion. Cardamom, star anise, fennel, cloves and cinnamon are not “spicy” spices.

Jacket pots sounds fine to me or soup/ stew

We used to always have gammon but many of us are now vegan and veggie

Home made fish cakes with left over salmon mash and loads of parsley. Serve with parsley sauce and boiled pots.

Biryani sounds good.

We always have slowcooked beef, mash and green beans- easy to prep and make and doesn't take up too much fridge space

Yes cauliflower cheese and JP's would be fine with slow cooked gammon.

This is the option I'd go for or the sausage and mash option suggested by another poster, although with the gammon you would (possibly!) have some left over which is always nice with leftover turkey either cold or in a pie.

We have takeaway lol I usually opt fir a Chinese 🙂

We’re having lamb tagine and couscous and roasted veg. I’ll cook the tagine a week before and freeze it. Simple, not loads of clearing up, and very different from Xmas dinner. Did the same last year and it worked well!

Yes biriyani is a good idea think I have an oven recipe somewhere so quite easy. Though you do have to cook it on the day.,
Burritos and sides would be quite nice.

We usually do a basic buffet. Pizza, sausage rolls, cheese board, salad, dips with veg sticks, crackers, baguette, crisps etc. Most people are happy to stand around and pick at things. Dessert usually mince pies, nice biscuits, mulled wine. Easy prep, not much mess.
Some nice ideas here though. Might borrow for Boxing day

Meat and potatoe pie and mushy peas

Op for the gammon. Instead of jacket potatoes I would do small potatoes washed and baked with some oil salt and pepper. (Garlic if you like)
They become sweet and delicious and are really good with the saltiness of the gammon. Then cauliflower cheese and if you want something a bit fresh watercress. Works exceptionally well with this.

24th is our main event so we are having duck caramelised potatoes boiled potatoes and red cabbage.

@EmmaGrundyForPM surely they won't expect you to pay the entire bill if you segues to go out?! That would be pretty rude

We change between a ham and jackets or a takeaway

Your guests will want your company, more than they will want an elaborate meal. You have delicious sounding and time consuming meals planned for several days. And you don’t want to be sick of cooking by the time Christmas Day and the big meal comes around!

I think your original plan of jacket potatoes with a few different (easy!) toppings sounds great. I wouldn’t even make a chilli - at best I’d buy one that could go in the oven at the same time as the potatoes! But I’d probably just make bowls of cheese, fried bacon strips, beans, sweetcorn, have some soured cream and salsa etc and everyone can help themselves. It sounds fab!

Well, we'd have to pay for at least 6 of the 8 (me and dh, our two sons, my niece and nieces boyfriend) as they are all either students or very low salaries. So it will be an extra expense I can't really afford.

I am doing chilli dogs. Basically a black bean chilli, make mild for your mum and then those that like spice can add chilli sauce to theirs, on top of a sausage in a hot dog bun. Bit of grated cheese on top. Yum!