There are countless things to enjoy about Christmas, but one that is probably ahead always is the delicious Christmas spread. Considering that this is the time of the year that brings friends and family together, you must be getting ready to entertain guests. If you feel the pressure building, we have you sorted. Leave your loved ones with the memory of an unforgettable Christmas dinner, as city chefs share easy-to-follow recipes for popular festive dishes. So, put on your apron and flaunt your culinary skills. Let these delish dishes be your Christmas gift to your squad!
Christmas plum cake
Bake the perfect Christmas plum cake with chef Ghanashyam’s easy recipe
Does it even feel like Christmas if you do not get to indulge in a slice or two of decadent plum cake? This year, ditch the store-bought dessert and whip up your own Christmas-special plum cake with this simple recipe from Afraa Deli’s cluster executive chef, Ghanashyam.
Ingredients
- 200 gm butter
- 200 gm sugar
- 200 gm refined flour
- 25 ml milk
- 5 ml vanilla essence
- 5 gm baking powder
- 4 eggs
- 200 gm dry fruits soaked in rum or brandy
- 5 ml caramel food colour
Recipe
- Start by mixing sugar and butter together and slowly add the eggs to the mixture
- Once the sugar has melted, add refined flour and baking powder. Continue mixing
- Add milk, vanilla essence and the caramel colour. Add the alcohol-soaked dry fruits and mix slowly
- Pour the prepared mixture into greased baking moulds. Bake in a preheated oven for 30 – 35 minutes at 170-180° Celsius
- Once done, take out the baked cake from the oven and let it cool. Slice into pieces and serve
Tip: You can swap out caramel colour for cocoa powder
Mince Pie
Add a mince pie to your Christmas menu with Chef Chiranjib Chatterjee’s simple recipe
Did you know that in Ireland, children leave out mince pies for Santa on Christmas Eve? Mince pies are an important part of Christmas. Traditionally, this baked dessert is eaten every day for the 12 days of Christmas. Chiranjib Chatterjee, corporate chef, Ambuja Neotia, shares a simple recipe for the dish from the kitchens of Loafer’s Café.
Ingredients
For the sweet paste:
- 100 gm refined flour
- 65 gm butter
- 30 gm icing sugar
- 2 ml vanilla essence
For the pie filling
- 50 gm black currants
- 50 gm Sultanas
- 50 gm raisins
- 50 gm fruit peels
- 70 gm apples
- 2 gm lemon zest
- 10 gm ginger powder
- 10 gm cinnamon powder
- 10 gm clove powder
- 100 ml orange juice
- 200 gm brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 70 ml brandy
Recipe
- Mix all the ingredients of the sweet paste and prepare a soft dough without kneading
- Roll out the dough on a flour-dusted table and line the inside of the mould. Bake it at 160° Celsius for 30 minutes
- Start preparing the filling. Mix all the ingredients for the filling and keep aside
- Once the dough lining the mould is baked, add the mince pie mixture in it and cover it with the sweet dough
- Bake in a preheated oven for 20 minutes at 180° Celsius
- Serve hot
Focaccia Bread
Serve fresh-from-the-oven focaccia bread with Debanjana Batra’s recipe
Planning on enjoying a lip-smacking bowl of soup or savoury meat gravies this Christmas? Then a slice or two of focaccia bread is a must with it! Here’s an easy recipe by Café Yonder founder Debanjana Batra that you can follow to make this herby and flavourful bread.
Ingredients
- 400 gm flour
- 15 gm yeast
- 10 gm sugar
- 5 gm salt
- Olive slices
- Onion slices
- Mixed herbs
- Dry tomatoes (optional)
- Olive oil
Recipe
- Soak the yeast in lukewarm water with sugar till it rises
- Add the flour and salt. Knead into a smooth dough and add olive oil. Let the dough rest
- Saute the onion slices in olive oil and add the spices and olives. Let it cool and then add the sauteed ingredients to the dough
- Put the dough in a mould of your choice and let it rise for at least 40 minutes
- Once the dough rises and doubles up, punch down with your fingers. Place the olives, cherry tomatoes, red, yellow and green bell peppers to create a nice design
- Pour olive oil over the bread and let it sit for another 20 minutes
- Now bake in a preheated oven at 180° Celsius for around 20 to 30 minutes. Once done, take it out and serve hot with your entrées
