12 ways to do Christmas like Nigella

Nigella Lawson reclined in a leather chair

I’ve got a new recipe for mine that’s fudgy with dates, treacly with marmalade, sumptuously dark, and happens to be gluten- and dairy-free, which means that it has almost universal appeal. For me though, the gorgeousness of the taste is the lure. It is also very easy, because everything is melted together in a saucepan before being transferred to a tin and baked, and you can do it at the last minute. Delicious and easy are the bywords!

Choose from 43 Christmas cake recipes and learn how to marzipan a cake in our easy-to-follow video.

2. Pickles

I’m the condiment queen at Christmas and I make quick pickles that don’t involve hours of faffing. I give them as presents, but keep plenty to eat with roast meats, cold cuts and cheese, or to spruce up many meals. My quick-pickled beetroot with ginger is fabulously festive, but I have others up my seasonal sleeve too!

Make a jar of homemade pickled beetroot or whip up a festive Christmas chutney.

3. Baked ham

I have a new recipe that is now firmly part of my Christmas Eve repertoire. My slow-cooked black treacle ham pretty much cooks itself, and is as glorious to eat as it is undemanding to make.

Learn how to glaze and cook a ham then choose a recipe from our Christmas ham collection.

4. Sprouts

There are more ways to eat sprouts than as chestnut-studded accompaniments to Christmas lunch. My stir-fried rice with double sprouts, chilli & pineapple is welcome as a hangover salve or a veggie respite from this great meat feast – although it’s wonderful with leftover ham. It works well hot or cold.

Try our most indulgent sprout recipes.

5. Pavlova

I’ve never failed to get a Pavlova on the table at this time of year, and I never want to. My lemon Pavlova is a thing of beauty. I scatter toasted flaked almonds on top, but at Christmas, these can be substituted with ruby-red pomegranate seeds.

Watch our video guide on how to make a Pavlova.

6. Marron glacé

Nothing says 'Christmas treat' to me more than candied chestnuts. They are an extravagance, but I wouldn’t feel it was Christmas without a small jar in the house. I also buy the cheaper broken ones, and sprinkle them over ice cream for an instant dessert.

Serve marron glacé in our festive Mont Blanc-tini cocktail.

7. Poinsettia

Not the plant but my Christmas Day cocktail: for each bottle of prosecco or dry sparkling white wine, add 125ml orange liqueur and 500ml cranberry juice. It's stronger than it tastes.

Make a speedy prosecco cocktail in a few minutes.

8. Chocolate

Christmas in my house means Quality Street and peppermint bark. The latter is an American tradition, which I’ve adopted more recently. I always have a few tins for me, and plenty to give friends as Christmas presents.

Make our reindeer & snowman bark or try other Christmas chocolate recipes.

9. Turkey

I never want to branch out for Christmas lunch and start serving up goose. For me, it has to be turkey, and my special pre-roasting brine makes it extra juicy. The leftovers are just as important: I make sandwiches with good white bread, leftover cranberry and bread sauces and English mustard.

Master the art of cooking Christmas turkey or learn how to cook a turkey crown.

10. Pomegranate

Ever since I was a small child and got a pomegranate in my stocking, I’ve always associated Christmas with these beautiful fruits with jewel seeds. I keep bowls heaped with them, like edible decorations, and I also scatter the seeds in salads and over puddings to give as much food as I can a gleaming festive flourish.