I’m now in Starbucks writing this post and have been listening to Christmas songs in the background. And then I realise Christmas is just less than a month away. OMG, where did the rest of the time go all this while? 2018 felt so short! 😮
Have you guys make your Christmas plans? Going out for a meal with the family or perhaps hosting a dinner party at home? Well, if you’re planning to do the latter, this will be a useful post to give you some ideas on what to cook for your guests. Who says you can only serve turkeys and hams during Christmas? 😉
Below is a collection of my recipes which I think are perfect to make this Christmas. Whether it’s an intimate dinner for two, homely family meal or small-scale dinner party, the following almost-foolproof recipes will have you winning everyone’s affection. 😉 Calories don’t count at Christmas so let’s eat, drink and be merry! 😀
1. Swedish Meatballs with Gravy and Lingonberry Jam
When laziness kicks in, all you have to do is buy frozen meatballs from IKEA and heat them up for dinner. But it’ll not be something I expect if I’m invited to someone’s home for a Christmas meal. Seriously, try this recipe if you like meaty (not floury) meatballs. Even the brown gravy is made from scratch so you won’t be accused of taking too many shortcuts. Super comforting meal. And I bet the kiddos will love it a lot too. 🙂
Find out more: Swedish Meatballs with Gravy and Lingonberry Jam Recipe
2. Oriental Sausage Rolls
The good thing about this finger food is that you can make the rolls in advance and pop them into the oven just before your guests arrive. I like to use Oriental sausages (a.k.a. Taiwan sausages) because they are tasty but if you can’t get them from where you live, you can substitute with any other sausage that you like. It’s a 3-ingredient recipe and you can easily make it in half an hour – how easy can it be? 😉
Find out more: Oriental Sausage Rolls Recipe
3. Curried Chicken Waldorf Salad
Spice up the regular Waldorf Salad with some aromatic curry powder. Yum. Make it healthier by substituting most or some of the mayonnaise with non-fat Greek yogurt that gives a nice, refreshing tang. Bulk it up with some brown & red rice that are low in GI to enhance satiety. Everything just comes together perfectly. This makes an ideal side dish to go with your main meat dish. You get the crunch and the bite. Totally wholesome. 😉
Find out more: Curried Chicken Waldorf Salad Recipe
4. Garlic Butter Clams Spaghetti
Buttery, garlicky and utterly delicious. This Garlic Butter Clams Spaghetti is somewhat like an aglio olio but it has that extra sweetness and freshness from the clams. Give it a more sumptuous feel by adding in an assortment of different seafood like mussels, crab meat, scallops, prawns and/or squids. If you are having a seafood feast for Christmas, this is definitely a recommended carb dish to bulk up your meal. 🙂
Find out more: Garlic Butter Clams Spaghetti Recipe
5. Green Papaya Salad
Som Tam or green papaya salad is a very popular Thai dish that is very readily available at almost every local eatery or street food stall in Thailand. It’s crunchy, piquant and super appetising. Makes a great starter for your Christmas meal as it really whets the appetite. Spruce up the salad with extra toppings like grilled tiger prawns and/or pan-seared scallops and garnish the dish with sliced red and green chillies for a more festive mood.
Find out more: Green Papaya Salad Recipe
6. Fried Chicken Cutlet
Boneless chicken leg coated with crushed soda crackers (not breadcrumbs!) and then deep-fried to a lovely crisp and crunch. Yet another ultimate comfort meal. You can serve the chicken cutlet with classic ‘Western food’ sides like baked beans, coleslaw and french fries or do it the Hainanese way with gravy, roasted potato wedges, tomatoes and peas. Simply awesome. 😀
Find out more: Fried Chicken Cutlet Recipe
7. Tteokbokki
You can definitely find tteokbokki or spicy rice cakes at almost all food streets or markets in South Korea. It’s a very popular street food snack that both the young and old enjoy. If you’re cooking a Korean feast for this coming Christmas meal, you can easily make tteokbokki to feed a bigger group of people. One good thing about home-made tteokbokki? You can be very generous with the ingredients. 
Find out more: Tteokbokki Recipe
8. Chicken and Sausage Gumbo
Gumbo is a stew or thick soup that’s made of either meat or seafood and various vegetables including okra that’s used as a thickener. If you love having sausages for Christmas, turn some of them into a brand new one-pot dish of Chicken and Sausage Gumbo. It is a myriad of ingredients & colours and is also a pretty amazing combo of flavours. You can serve the gumbo over pasta or with crusty bread too. 😉
Find out more: Chicken and Sausage Gumbo Recipe
9. Baked Salmon Parcel
This Baked Salmon Parcel is really convenient to prepare, whether it’s for two persons or for the whole family. And the best thing about this recipe is, clean-up is absolutely minimal. May not be the prettiest looking dish but it’s totally homely, healthy and wholesome. This dish is not heavy-handed with seasonings so as to keep everything clean and fresh-tasting. Perfect for those who don’t eat meat and prefer fish instead.
Find out more: Baked Salmon Parcel Recipe
10. Mee Goreng Style Spicy Fried Spaghetti
Similar to our local Mee Goreng except that spaghetti noodles are used instead of the regular thick yellow noodles. Perfect if you don’t like thick yellow noodles that may have a strong alkaline taste or you get bloated easily after eating it. If you cook the spaghetti al dente, it will also have a firmer bite. Spicy, sweet and savoury. These noodles are easy to make and are really delicious too. 🙂
Find out more: Mee Goreng Style Spicy Fried Spaghetti Recipe
11. Bun Cha
Bun Cha only came out in the limelight when former US President Barack Obama made it famous some years back. My homemade version of bun cha is presented in the most authentic Hanoian way – with assorted vegetables, herbs, rice vermicelli, garlic and chillies on the side. The grilled meats (sliced pork & minced meat patties) are dunked in nuoc cham (made with fish sauce) and served with crunchy pickled green papaya. Moreish. 😀
Find out more: Bun Cha Recipe
12. Chicken Schnitzel
Chicken breast will never be boring again when you turn it into a huge and deliciously crispy piece of meat with this recipe that is sure to impress your guests. Quantity and quality guaranteed. This recipe works with pork, beef or veal as well if you want something different. Serve your schnitzel with oven-roasted Hasselback sweet potatoes (or regular potatoes) and a simple rocket & cherry tomato salad. Super satisfying.
Find out more: Chicken Schnitzel Recipe
13. Baked Mussels
Have some family bonding time in the kitchen as you get the kids to help with the Christmas meal preparation. This recipe is an easy one to start with. These baked mussels are creamy with a cheesy crust on top. And if you can’t quite stand the somewhat fishy flavour of shellfish, a touch of lime juice will give it a lovely citrusy scent. It’s an especially lovely treat for all cheese lovers.
Find out more: Baked Mussels Recipe
14. Salmon Chowder
Fancy a hearty soup? You cannot miss this healthier version of chowder that’s made with omega-3 fats rich salmon, Greek yogurt and skimmed milk. As your Christmas feast is likely going to be heavy with a variety of different dishes, it’s best to keep the starter soup light. Though healthy ingredients are used in this, the taste is not compromised at all. This salmon chowder is creamy but it isn’t overly rich or cloying. Absolutely legit. Absolutely what you need.
Find out more: Salmon Chowder Recipe
15. Teriyaki Chicken
Teriyaki chicken is like the most classic Japanese dish that almost never goes wrong. It tastes delicious on its own as skewers for example or even when paired with pasta, scattered on top of pizzas or wrapped in tortillas. There are countless possibilities and fancy ways to present teriyaki chicken to your guests. Consider a Japanese-themed Christmas meal with sushi, sashimi and of course, anything teriyaki. 😉
Find out more: Teriyaki Chicken Recipe
16. Pumpkin Mac & Cheese
Mac and Cheese is probably one of the ultimate comfort foods for many. That cheese flavour, creamy texture and oh-so-cheesy goodness simply tick all the right boxes. This creamy Pumpkin Mac and Cheese is like a combination of pumpkin soup and mac & cheese. It leans towards more on the pumpkin flavour with a slight sharpness of cheese. Taste wise, it’s not overly rich or cloying at all. Makes the perfect side dish for your Christmas party. 😉
Find out more: Pumpkin Mac & Cheese Recipe
17. Gochujang Chicken Wings
Who can resist chicken wings? These oven-roasted wings are marinated with gochujang or Korean chilli paste and are just packed with so much flavour. The inside is moist and juicy and the meat just falls off the bones so easily. Finger licking good! You really have to make more ‘cos you don’t want to be sharing with anyone else. 
Find out more: Gochujang Chicken Wings Recipe
18. Moo Ping
Moo ping or grilled pork skewers is another popular Thai street food. Perfect recipe to make if you have a grill at home as it’s all about the smoky flavour though it works just as well over a griddle pan on the stove top too. Serve the moo ping with som tam (green papaya salad) and sticky rice to complete the Thai street food experience. You can instantly transport all your guests to Bangkok. 😉
Find out more: Moo Ping Recipe
19. Chicken Enchiladas
A casserole is one of the easiest dishes to make for any dinner party as it’s easy to prepare and you can make it in advance. These chicken enchiladas are baked with cheddar cheese on top so as to give them a nice golden brown, cheesy crust. If you love cheese as much as I do, you will sure to enjoy this meal. One advantage of making this is that you can basically use any ingredients you like. Endless possibilities, really.
Find out more: Chicken Enchiladas Recipe
20. Fried Okra
If you have kids who aren’t fond of okra or vegetables in general, this will be a pretty good recipe to make. It’s all about that crunch minus the slime, which is what many of us hate okra for. The little ones probably won’t even know they’re actually eating okra. Yucks may just become yum. With the same recipe, you can also create a bunch of assorted tasty fried nibbles with other ingredients like mushrooms, green beans, eggplant, zucchini, etc. 🙂
Find out more: Fried Okra Recipe
21. Chicken and Leek Pie
This Chicken and Leek Pie is like a dressed up version of your typical mashed potatoes. Be careful if you’re digging in straightaway while it’s fresh from the oven as the inside is very, very hot. At the same time, so moist and soft. I really like the mashed potatoes on top that gives a nice, creamy texture to the pie. And the use of evaporated milk and Greek yogurt also gives a lovely fragrance and body that seem to combine everything else together. 😀
Find out more: Chicken and Leek Pie Recipe
22. Deep Fried Prawns
If you find peeling prawns is a lot of hassle, deep fry them. They turn out so crispy and crunchy, you can basically devour the whole thing – legs and all. What an excellent way to earn extra brownie points this Christmas by reducing food waste. 😛
Find out more: Deep Fried Prawns Recipe
23. Chicken Skewers
These Asian-Chinese chicken skewers can be prepared the night before and can be made ready within half an hour so it’s definitely a hassle-free dish to make. Plus it’s fun to eat on sticks – something that the whole family especially kids would enjoy. If you’re planning for a BBQ, these skewers would cook perfectly over a grill with that added smokiness though they can be easily prepared over the stovetop and/or in the oven too.
Find out more: Chicken Skewers Recipe
24. Bacon Cheese Rolls
Bacon and cheese never go wrong. These pinwheels look like mini pizzas and in fact taste like pizzas too except that they are made with puff pastry. So crispy, airy, buttery and cheesy. This delectable treat is great for sharing at your Christmas party. Yummy! 😀
Find out more: Bacon Cheese Rolls Recipe
25. Mango Sticky Rice
Mango sticky rice is a dessert that I wouldn’t mind eating every day (or every meal, lol) whenever I’m in Bangkok. It makes the perfect dessert to end your Christmas feast too as it comes with sweet and juicy mangoes. I suggest having more mangoes and split mung beans and serve with less sticky rice because the latter is going to be so filling and heavy. Yum. 😛
Find out more: Mango Sticky Rice Recipe
26. Tropical Muffins
These muffins come with lovely tropical fruits like banana, pineapple, passion fruit and mango. They are wholly made from homemade oat flour (or pulverised rolled oats) and healthier alternatives like sunflower oil and skimmed milk. As there are so much fresh fruits used in this recipe, there is no need for too much sugar. One other way to make the muffin even more tasty (and pretty) is to put some mashed mango on top to give it an added layer of texture as well as sweetness. 😛
Find out more: Tropical Muffins Recipe
27. Oreo Brownies
We love to stock up on tidbits during Christmas so when we are home watching movies, we can just reach out for something to nibble. Would always get Oreo because they are so good on their own and they are perfect to add into brownies too. This Oreo Brownies recipe is a special one as it uses pulverised rolled oats instead of normal flour. So chocolatey yet full of fibre. 😀
Find out more: Oreo Brownies Recipe
28. Matcha Mochi Cupcakes with Red Beans
I included these mochi cupcakes because they are red and green! These lovely cupcakes are soft, moist and chewy on the inside. Make great snacks for those of you who like the mochi ‘QQ’ (springy) texture. Also added walnuts and red beans for that extra bite. 
Give it a try!
Find out more: Matcha Mochi Cupcakes with Red Beans Recipe
29. Nutella Banana Muffins
Nutella is probably everyone’s all-time favourite brand for chocolate-hazelnut spread. You can pair it with sandwich bread, croissants, biscuits, pretzels, etc or simply dig your fingers in and lick that delicious chocolate up. You can also make use of it as a baking ingredient to jazz up your bakes like this Nutella Banana Muffins recipe. Best thing to have on a Christmas Day morning. 🙂
Find out more: Nutella Banana Muffins Recipe
Image source: Eatzi Gourmet Catering (via FoodLine.sg)
30. Christmas Catering To The Rescue
If cooking up a storm during Christmas isn’t something you fancy doing, there’s always buffet catering. Besides the traditional festive fare of turkeys, hams and log cakes, you’ll be surprised to know that there are a variety of different cuisines (Thai, Vegan, Fusion, Oriental, etc) to go for. From full buffet set up, mini buffet sets to combo packages and a la carte festive items, you’ll definitely find something that fits your party.
Find out more: Top 10 Christmas Catering Singapore 2018