Christmas Eve dinner - the right sides that's not traditional roast dinner

[SpaceOP]

I have in laws coming on Christmas eve. I don't want to do a full traditional christmas dinner because a) we'll be having a big one the next day with my family and b) in laws are notoriously unreliable and all over the place so it will just make me angry when they're late/ only eating yellow food/ bring extra guests/ cancel at the last minute etc etc etc.

Last year, I did a slow cooked leg of lamb and did lots of mediterranean cold sides - baba ganoush, tzatiki, tabbouleh etc - and then served with flatbreads. It worked very well and I was much less stressed.

But I just don't want to do that this year. I think the slow cooked lamb is still a good idea. And I like the mediterranean vibe, but I think I want to do hot food.

Ideas?

Must be stuff I can largely make in advance and won't be ruined by sitting for a while (for all the above reasons).

I was thinking greek lemon potatoes? Maybe something with beans? other ideas?

Big old hot pot?

Chickpea and chorizo stew. I like the Ramsey recipe with prawns but there a million variations.

it’s bomb proof in terms of cooking times: works to cook and eat from scratch in thirty mins or can be cooked day before and heated up it just allowed to simmer for hours although I prefer it if the spinach and prawns are last minute additions.

can be made fancier by using langoustines or lobster tail.

just serve with crusty bread

I love this jewelled couscous https://rubyking.co.za/recipe/slow-roasted-lamb-shoulder-with-jewelled-couscous/

Personally, I wouldn’t do anything ‘roasty’. I think even a lamb is too close to a Christmas dinner to have the night before.

We do Chinese traditionally on Christmas Eve. You could get a takeaway or cook it (I cook with some store bought bits like spring rolls, prawn toasts, bao buns). Or party food buffet. The advantage with a lot of the above is that you can get it frozen or freeze it for NYE if they flake, so nothing goes to waste.

Fish, poached salmon and sides with new potatoes and a dill sauce

I’m doing cottage pie. Make two days before, cool, leave covered in the fridge, warm up on the day.

I would do a stew. Easy to reheat if they are late, and freezes if they don’t turn up. Buy a few baguettes and serve with those and some green veg.

gratin dauphinoise or bolangere - will sit for ages.

A medley of green veg that you can prepare in advance and cook and then just blast in microwave when they arrive (like your own version of a M&s steam pot veg).

I’m making sausage rolls this Christmas Eve. Probably with salad ‘cos it’s warm here, finally, thankfully.

It’s a bit of a faff because I have to make the gf pastry and all but it’s not difficult.

Roasted Mediterranean vegetables? Can be diced and seasoned in advance and frozen before cooking. So just pour into roasting tray on the day (maybe early enough to thaw a bit at least if slow cook lamb means lower temps).

Any leftovers can be used stirred into couscous, or pasta sauce, or reheated as a side. I often freeze the leftovers to use as above later. And if they are thawed, they can cook in about 20 mins in a hot oven (or cook for 15 and then throw back in when people arrive to finish, by the time drinks are poured etc, they’re done). I often serve with Greek lemon/garlic chicken.

ham in the slow cooker, jacket potatoes, cauliflower cheese (make in advance and bung in the oven when they arrive) and something green so it doesn't look too beige.

Some good suggestions. I like the chorizo and chickpea stew as a possible side although if I also do a bean thing, that might be a bit m uch.

Gratin dauphinoise is a great shout too. and yes, a bunch of green veg that I can cook quickly at the end might work.

I do want it to be roast-adjacent as this is our christmas meal with the in laws. Also, there are some fussy eaters among the kids so we'v egot a better chance of getting everyone fed this way. We have other family the rest of the week and I'm planning a bunch of meals that are NOT roasts, but for this one it needs to be I think.

I'm now leaning towards:
Slow cooked lamb
Potato dauphinoise
Mixed greens
Some sort of vaguelly med-style beans dish. I do quite a nice one that is flavoured with sherry vinegar and a few fresh tomatoes. Just have ot consider if that's too many creamy/sloppy things.

Nigella has a good lamb dish, not quite a roast and not quite a braise where you add onion, garlic, carrot, celery and tinned cannellini or borlotti beans.

Brown the lamb, veges in and toss, beans in with some stock, white wine, salt pepper, thyme. Joint on top and cover with foil. Cook for at least 4 hours at 140C. Shred the meat, serve with the veges and beans or broccoli.

It’s really good. Goes well with good wine or champagne.

Salmon fillets with salad and focaccia. Just bung the salmon in the oven once they arrive.

Sounds amazing. Unfortunately, I do a similar dish (but with chickpeas) that I did last time they came over! Admittedly, it went down astonishingly well so I did toy with doing it again (and SIL cooks the exact same meal eevry single time we go there so I don't imagine there'd be any judgement), but I just can't quite bring myself to do it!

Since you are thinking Greek you could try the following:

• Pastitsio/makaronia tou fournou. Can be made in advance and can be eaten hot or cold
• Keftedes. Dito. Bonus is that they have a stuffing balls vibe.
• Skordalia. Awesome garlicy dip that looks a bit like bread sauce and works well with just about anything.
• Fasolakia Yiahni. Green beans stewed in a tomato sauce. You can add the potatoes here too if you wish.
• Koupepia. Rice and meat stuffed vine leaves. You can easily make this vegy if desired and can be eaten hot or cold.

For sweets you can try:

• Melomakarona. Honey cookies.
• Kourabiedes. A type of shortbread.

Relatively cheap ingredients is a bonus.

we have Christmas Eve Cheese as we're too full for it the next day

Roast ham, macaroni cheese and salad.

All good ideas. I have made melamakarona for DH beore and they went down well.

We always have Swiss cheese fondue with delicious fresh baguette from the bakery, saucisson, cornichons and various vegetables. It’s simple, festive and yummy.

We either have duckand pancakes from the Chinese (hold off on ordering anything else so we are hungry for Christmas lunch) or French dip sandwiches.

I love the idea of Chinese takeaway. But DD and DN wouldn't eat it. And BIL would eat about 5 people's worth, SIL would pick at it and not eat. And DH adn I would have to pay.

But I do like the idea.

I absolutely love Greek lemon potatoes! I’m going to make them now that you’ve said that.!

I love green beans with lamb.
Nigella’s sticky garlic potaotes are delicious. You do need to use as much oil as the recipe says but it is worth it!

I agree, make day before, it includes spuds so just steam some green veg on the day. No one needs to be doing anything elaborate the night before cooking an Xmas dinner.