festive recipes
Christmas comes but once a year, and while I don’t prescribe over-indulgence, it is a chance to truly celebrate the very best of food. My own indulgence is the chance to invest time cooking for family and friends; pottering, preparing, and cooking up a feast with music and chatter around me. Whether you are cooking for a small or large crowd, you’ll find lots of inspiration here – from this festive Smörgåsbord, to lazy brunches including this fiery Shakshuka, silky soups, plenty of vegan options (I need a drumroll for this moreish Nut Loaf), and delicious puds (rejoice in this heavenly Clementine Cake). I wish you all the happiest of healthy Christmases x
Slow-Roasted Turkey
It’s very handy to have a good roast turkey recipe for those special occasions that call for a celebratory meal. I have been…
Warm Festive Salad with an Orange Vinaigrette
The festive season can mean a lot of heavy meals. Delicious as they might be, I think we all have days or occasions when we…
Harissa Roasted Whole Side of Salmon with Olive Oil Aioli
If you’re after a bit of a show-stopper dish to serve as the centrepiece of your festive table, then this is the most…
Roasted Parsnips and Carrots with Cumin and Green Tahini Dressing
This is a simple dish to serve as the main event (perhaps adding a little feta, green salad and some good, crusty bread) or…
Cavolo Nero with Rosemary and Shallots
This dish is quick and easy but elevates the humble cavolo nero (or chard, spinach or kale if you’d prefer) into a bit of a…
Balsamic Braised Brussels Sprouts with Chestnuts & Pomegranate
I know that Brussels sprouts might not be everyone’s favourite vegetable, but they are such a traditional part of many…
Spiced Roasted Nuts
These are a lovely and quick snack to serve with a glass of ice-cold fizz. A roaring fire and great company go well with…
Quick Gluten-Free Christmas Cake
I love the traditions of Christmas and an indulgently fruit-laden Christmas cake is such an evocative smell and sight on a…
The Crispiest Turmeric & Paprika Roasted Potatoes
Everyone needs a recipe for a good roastie and this is my much-loved offering. I have to say that I think the secret to…
Chocolate Raspberry Pots
Usually pudding in my house is a simple portion of fresh, seasonal fruit. However, sometimes the occasion calls for an extra…
One-Tray Roasted Winter Salad
Roasted salads are a total game-changer for me. However sceptical you may be – just give it a go. The textures soften and…
Spicy Thai Chicken Broth
This broth provides an exquisite array of colour with a deliciously spicy kick, alongside a hefty dose of essential…
Braised Red Cabbage with Apple & Pecan
Here is a long-time wintery favourite of mine – but honestly, I could eat it any day of the year. It's so simple to cook and…
Individual Fish Pies
This recipe was created for those following a low FODMAP programme. There is nothing wrong with the real deal but sometimes…
Celeriac Rösti
During the winter months root vegetables are the stars of the show. Usually I mash celeriac or have it in soups but once I…
Carrot & Turmeric Soup
get quite passionate about this soup. I remember when I first made it, I felt excited by just how powerful the ingredients…
Chicken, Cauliflower & Pistachio Salad
I sometimes roast chicken specifically to make this salad. It is that good. Every mouthful is exciting.
Gluten-Free Mince Pies
Christmas, as we know, offers an abundance of sweet and sugary foods that can wreck havoc with our blood sugar and health.…
Clementine, Honey & Olive Oil Cake
This deliciously fragrant cake is perfect for the Christmas period with its festive and wintery citrus flavour. It is more…
Smörgåsbord Platter
This festive Smörgåsbord Platter has to be the most exquisite way to serve a crowd a feast of colour, flavour and goodness,…
Nut Roast Served with a Rich Tomato Sauce
This is a lovely wintery nut roast that is wonderful for a Sunday lunch alternative to the meat roast or just a delicious…
Beetroot & Squash Salad and Hazelnut Dressing
I love the vibrant colours in this hearty autumn salad, which packs a hefty nutritional punch too. The dressing tops it off…
Festive Quinoa Nut Roast with Cranberries
I had never made a nut roast before but, ‘oh my’, I am delighted with this one! I don’t often eat quinoa, but it works…
Homemade Chocolates
Making chocolate is easier than you might think and I find it incredibly satisfying to do. There are many sweet little…
Chocolate Truffle Log
This is a luxurious rich chocolatey treat with roasted nuts, dried fruits, and a deliciously complex milieu of flavours.…
Turkey, Carrot & Parsnip Quiche
The oat and potato crust that I’ve used for this festive quiche may be unusual, but its flavour and texture lend a brilliant…
Brussels Sprouts Cashew Cheese
I try to include recipes for everyone, whatever your dietary preferences, and this is a great take on a classic if you…
Smoked Salmon & Buckwheat Toast Canapé
These are very popular appetisers and look fabulous with their contrasting colours. This is a bit of a Christmas morning…
Zingy Turkey Pâté
Making pots of healthy pâté to dip crudités into, to spoon generously onto little gem lettuce boats, or to top hearty…
Fragrant Sprout Slaw
Sprouts are in season from September all the way through until February but so many of us only eat them at Christmas.
Homemade Root Vegetable Crisps, Herb Salt
These homemade root vegetable crisps are easy to make and cost the fraction of the price of commercial alternatives.…
Roasted Cauliflower with Tahini & Miso Dipping Sauce
Cauliflower contains a variety of nutrients including fibre, and vitamin C - which helps support our immune system. It is…
Crayfish Lettuce Cups with Asian Dressing
We are very lucky in the UK as an island to have easy access to fresh shell fish which is not only delicious but is also…
Crisp Apple & Fennel Winter Salad with Turmeric Dressing
Salads aren't just for summer! As the seasons change, I continue trying to find ways to include them in my diet. This salad…
Jerusalem Artichoke, Chestnut & Celeriac Puree
The rich, sweet and nutty joys of Jerusalem artichoke partner wonderfully with chestnut and celeriac for this puree – it’s…
Warm Jerusalem Artichoke Salad
This warm salad is both filling and delicious. Jerusalem artichoke is a little like a potato but more nutty, earthy and…
Wild Rice Purple Salad
This is a stunning winter grain salad with nutty wild rice. If the bitter radicchio or chicory are hard to find, red cabbage…
Squash, Mushroom & Swiss Chard ‘Lasagne’
I have always found both the preparation and eating of a bubbling tray of lasagne a comforting activity. There is something…
Prawn, Sesame & Ginger ‘Gyoza’ in Cabbage Wrapper
I love Japanese steamed gyoza, and discovered that cabbage leaves make the perfect easy wrappers.
Turkey & Pumpkin Chilli
This is an autumn favourite of mine and something I make year after year. Kids love it, too, and it’s full to the brim with…
Oysters 3-Ways
Oysters come into season from September onwards and are not only nutritious but are also good for the environment. Oyster…
Mushroom & Thyme Soup
Soups always provide comfort year round but particularly in Autumn and Winter when we feel the cold. Mushrooms fortunately…
Beef Curry
This is so easy to make and feels like a really delicious hearty meal – great for sharing with friends and family. You don’t…
Turkey Meatball Tacos
Turkey works wonderfully well in these meatballs, which lend themselves perfectly to sharing: lay all the parts out and…
Asian Salmon Burgers
These salmon burgers are zingy and tangy with Omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA, which help to maintain our health and…
Slow Cooked Leg of Lamb with Creamy Cannellini Beans
If you are looking for inspiration for a Sunday lunch fit for spring or Easter, look no further. This is a super way to cook…
Buckwheat Pancakes
Buckwheat contains both fibre and protein and is naturally gluten free. I love stewed blackberries in autumn but these…
Chocolate Mousse
Despite being gluten-free & dairy-free, no one needs to know. This is a slightly healthier take on a classic but tastes just…
Carrot & Caraway Gluten-Free Bread
This is a sumptuous and festive loaf, perfect for Christmas platters and sharing with family and friends. But I love it so…
Jerusalem Artichoke & Hazelnut Soup
The rich, sweet and nutty joys of Jerusalem artichoke partner wonderfully with chestnut and celeriac for this puree – it’s…
Green Turkey Curry Soup
This is the ideal post-Christmas dish, using up lots of leftovers, and a great warming soup for serving after long, bracing…
Shakshuka using leftover vegetables
The smoky heat of a shakshuka brings wonderful flavour to leftover vegetables. Here, I used chestnuts, crunchy red cabbage,…
Brunch Vegetable Fritters
I absolutely love fritters and think they can work for any time of day but they do make the ideal quick, lazy…
Beetroot & Parsnip Fritters
Beetroot and Parsnips are abundant during the winter months and are two of my favourite root vegetables. Naturally both are…
Beetroot, Rosemary and Walnut Soda Bread
This is a different way to use beetroot and I think it’s pretty lovely to see a pink loaf of bread. Beetroots offer vitamins…
Chewy Chocolate, Almond & Cranberry Brownies
I definitely advocate a little of something you love every so often and that doesn’t mean it has to be healthy. But these…
Chocolate & Orange Chia Pudding
A chocolate pudding that contains omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, minerals, is a complete source of protein with all the…
Chocolate Covered Fruit & Nuts
There is something quite childlike about dipping nuts and fruit segments into melted chocolate and I look forward to doing…
Spiced Apple Sauce
Having any stewed fruit to hand is a useful way to jazz up yoghurt, bircher muesli or granola at breakfast but it can also…
Hazelnut Chocolate Salted Caramels
This chocolate caramels are decadent and truly delectable and a couple of these will definitely delight your tastebuds.