With Christmas time only a few weeks away, now is the perfect time to begin the preparations at home for the end-of-the-year holiday celebrations. While ornaments and Christmas lights do wonders in setting the Christmas mood, nothing screams Christmas as much as preparing festive meals.
If you’re hosting a Christmas lunch this year, don’t make the grave mistake of preparing underwhelming and forgettable meals! Christmas also coincides with the end of the year, so it’s best to culminate everything with a bang. Thankfully, there are plenty of delicious dishes you can put together that will leave your guests’ tummies satisfied and wanting more.
Without further ado, here are seven Christmas lunch ideas that we recommend for a wonderful holiday meal.
1) Honey-Glazed Roast Turkey
Turkey is often synonymous with Thanksgiving, but don’t be fooled: it can also be a great centrepiece for your Christmas lunch. The sweetness of the honey complements the savoury turkey flavour, and the herb-infused stuffing also helps enhance the flavours exponentially. On top of that, the turkey skin has a heavenly melt-in-your-mouth consistency that’s simply incomparable.
To make this Christmas dish, brush a whole turkey with glaze ingredients, stuff it with herbs and seasoning, and roast it until it’s golden brown. Top it with trimmings like cranberry sauce, roasted vegetables, and a special honey-glazed crust for added sweetness.
2) Beef Tenderloin with Roasted Vegetables
Beef tenderloin is the perfect dish for a special occasion like Christmas. This easy-to-cook cut of meat has a succulent flavour, and its juicy texture and meaty flavour are sure to keep your guests stuffed and happy.
To prepare this delicious dish, marinate the beef in wine, herbs, and spices. The spice list can include rosemary, soy sauce, garlic, and Worcestershire sauce— but you may choose to be versatile with this! For more inspiration, browse the Coles catalogue.
Once you’re done marinating the meat, bake the beef in a pan for about 50 minutes until it’s at your preferred doneness. Serve with a generous helping of roasted vegetables like potatoes, carrots, and mushrooms to complete the meal.
3) Lemon Herbed Salmon
Salmon is one of the most beloved fish dishes, and if you want a healthy and delicious Christmas lunch, salmon makes a great choice. The herbaceous and citrusy flavour of the lemon zest also gives the salmon a unique flavour profile that is fresh yet subtly sweet.
To prepare this delicious dish, start by seasoning both sides of the salmon with salt and pepper. Next, place butter in a pan and let it melt. Add the salmon fillet and cook until it’s lightly browned.
Finally, mix lemon juice, parsley, oregano, and thyme in a bowl before spooning the mixture over your fish fillets. Bake in the oven for about 20 minutes until you achieve desired doneness.
4) Christmas Casserole
Christmas casserole is a classic dish that’s relatively easy to put together. Casserole’s versatility allows you to mix and match ingredients like turkey, ham, potatoes, and cheese for a distinct flavour that your guests won’t forget.
To make this Christmas dinner staple, preheat your oven to 175°C. Grease a large baking dish with butter or cooking spray before laying down your list of ingredients. Sliced potatoes, mushrooms, and cooked meat are some must-haves in this casserole. You can use sausages, beef, or even both as the meat base.
Bake in the oven for 45 minutes until everything is hot and bubbly. Once done, serve the casserole with a generous pour of melted cheese sauce for added flavour and creaminess.
5) Mustard-Glazed Ham
No Christmas meal is complete without a classic glazed ham. The sweetness of the honey, combined with the pungent flavour of mustard and herbs, makes this dish a real crowd-pleaser.
To make it, start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees 175°C. Score the fat lines on your ham before mixing the mustard, honey, Worcestershire sauce, and herbs in a bowl. Brush the glaze all over your ham before baking for about 45 minutes until it’s cooked through.
Once the meat is done cooking, serve this delicious and flavorful dish with roasted vegetables and mashed potatoes. You can top it off with honey sauce for an extra burst of sweetness. If you like meat check out Mahogany Smoked Meats for other smoked meat products.
6) Vegetable Tian
Have a veggie-loving guest? Make them a French-inspired vegetable tian! This delicious and healthy recipe is packed with flavour, and its presentation is sure to impress your guests.
To prepare it, preheat your oven to 200°C before slicing carrots, potatoes, zucchini, tomatoes, onions, and garlic into thin slices. Grease a baking dish with butter and layer the veggies in the pan. Sprinkle over some salt, pepper, fresh herbs, and grated cheese before drizzling olive oil all over.
Bake for 35 minutes until the vegetables are cooked through and golden brown on top. Serve with a dollop of sour cream or plain yoghurt for a textural contrast. Bon appétit!
7) Spice-Rubbed Roasted Lamb Leg
For a decadent main course, give your guests some good old-fashioned lamb. The combination of various spices gives this dish a mouthwatering flavour that can bring a whole new dimension to your Christmas lunch.
To make it, mix cumin, coriander, chilli flakes, mustard powder, garlic powder, and salt in a bowl before rubbing the spice mixture on both sides of the lamb leg. Leave the spiced lamb leg in the fridge for at least four hours to marinate.
Preheat the oven to 200°C for an hour and put the lamb leg out to settle at room temperature. Roast the lamb after 30 minutes at 175°C for 30 minutes. Cover it on a baking sheet for 30 minutes to let it sit in the oil, and then serve.