Bring a plate, leave a lasting impression.
Chances are, over the next wee while, you will partake in some form of communal meal. To ensure you stand proudly behind your contribution to the bring a plate, we’ve rounded up a menu of festive foods perfect for holiday sharing.
Below, easy
Go all out or choose something simple yet sublime – both approaches are delicious.
Nibbles
Leftovers are a fixture of festive eating. For some, they’re the main attraction. Good news for those types – these decadent croquette-style appetisers are reported to taste just as good the next day, smashed on to toast.
Well suited to being prepped ahead and simply served, these light party bites are an impressive and fresh bite. Guests can help themselves as they settle in with their first drink, and you’re busy welcoming people.
In a celebratory mood? These old-school choux puffs laden with luxurious lumpfish roe will ensure you start as you mean to go on, decadently.
Capitalise on new-potato season and incorporate the sweet little gems into these tapas-style skewers that deliver layers of sunny flavour.
No heavy lifting is needed to prepare these breezy lettuce cups. Marinate the salmon in a bright citrus and fish sauce mixture for 30 minutes, spoon on to refreshingly crunch cos leaves and pat yourself on the back.
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Stonefruit season is so fleeting that you’ll want to make the utmost while it’s here. This sweet and salty nectarine snack offers a chance to get your fill outside of dessert time.
Mains and sides
Verdurous vine tomatoes add a fresh zesty pop to this herb-filled Levantine salad.
A whole side of salmon is an impressive main, but no harder to cook than an individual fillet. On the off chance this doesn’t get gobbled up, it tastes great cold too, just like a curry.
Bowling into a barbecue with a marinated leg of boneless lamb that only needs 35 minutes on the burner? Legendary move.
While our Northern Hemisphere counterparts are tucking into roast dinners and creating piles of dishes in the process, we get to enjoy more summery fare. Consider perhaps this smoky paprika seafood roast, it uses only one dish.
Don’t make vegetarian guests an afterthought. An agrodolce glaze makes this sticky vegetable tart suitably piquant.
The most delicious way to exceed expectations? Say “I’ll bring some hummus” and then arrive with this laden legume platter.
This supremely delicious potato salad by Canadian chef Matty Matheson bursts with flavour thanks to the fact it is twice dressed. Lightly crushed warm spuds first soak up a punchy mix of vinegar, mustard, bacon and three types of herbs before being finished with cream cheese loosened with robust wholegrain mustard and a dose of red onion AND spring onion. If it sounds like a lot that’s on purpose. Known for his decadent recipes, Matty says this hero dish will “blow the socks off anyone who eats it”.
Dessert
This cool wreath is resplendently retro.
This swoon-worthy dessert is a Christmas crowd-pleaser not just because of its impressive appearance. The filling combines two festive favourites too: summer berries and chocolate.
These individual desserts are certainly impressive – but surprisingly easy to pull off. A clever case of assembly means can be made in advance, so all you need to do is brown the meringue before impressing your special person with a pop of colourful ice cream.
Perfect for a warm summer’s evening, this frozen semifreddo comes together without requiring an ice-cream maker. Wow-factor without the fuss.
This chocolate roulade deserves pride prize of place on your Christmas Day menu. It’s known also as a yule log or bûche de Noël but is so fantastic that we’re pitching an April rebrand to an Easter log so we don’t have to wait a year to eat it again.
A creamy, vanilla-laced pudding topped with boozy strawberry sauce. This deceptively easy dessert is a good use for slightly mushy berries.
Craving cookies? You don’t even have to wait for this shortbread recipe to bake before you tuck in. But if you’d like to, consider some fun festive shapes.
A colourful bowl of fruit macerated in sugar and liqueur isn’t just a very easy dessert to prepare, it’s one of the most versatile too – they go with everything.
The traditional Christmas chocolate-orange treat gets a summer holiday makeover in this no-churn recipe.
This elegant plate is a refined dessert in itself, but makes a fantastic accompaniment to a platter of cheese and crackers as well.
