Even when Christmas is a smaller affair for you this yr, it doesn’t suggest it is best to miss out on a top quality festive lunch. We have rounded up 20 recipes that may be loved between two, whether or not you need to share a complete roast chook, a simple salmon dish or a plant-based possibility.
Searching for extra inspiration? See our Christmas menu for 2, which covers all the things from brunch by means of to festive desserts and snacks. Additionally, take a look at our in depth assortment of dinners for 2 or browse our simple Christmas recipes for a variety of concepts to swimsuit completely different numbers of individuals and diets.
1. Roast guinea fowl with chestnut, sage & lemon stuffing
If you would like a smaller celebratory centrepiece to rival conventional Christmas turkey, this recreation chook makes the best dinner for 2. Moist, buttery guinea fowl is roasted with streaky bacon and herby onion and chestnut stuffing, leading to a mouthwatering mixture of flavours. The parts are beneficiant, so you might have some leftovers to benefit from the subsequent day.
2. Golden-glazed carrot, mushroom & hazelnut tart
These gorgeously sticky particular person vegetable tarts make a sublime veggie dinner for 2. With flaky puff pastry, shallot-fried mushrooms, maple-glazed carrots and a crunchy hazelnut topping, they’re actually a deal with for all of the senses. Components will be made a number of days prematurely, then assembled on the day, providing you with extra time to chill out at Christmas.
3. Orange-stuffed Christmas duck
Roast duck is a Christmas dinner basic, and this recipe takes issues one step additional with the addition of lovely citrussy flavours. In addition to stuffing the chook with orange halves, a boozy orange glaze and zingy gravy make it much more irresistible. We suggest serving it with watercress, buttery wilted spinach and potato rösti.
4. Hen and mushroom wellington
This wellington gives the look that you simply’ve gone to a variety of effort, however it’s quite simple to place collectively and will be embellished with extras like selfmade pastry leaves, if you want. Chopping into the golden flaky puffy pastry will reveal a gorgeously creamy mushroom and garlic sauce which helps to maintain the rooster moist. You too can simply adapt the recipe to make it extra seasonal through the use of pheasant breasts or incorporating a truffle-based condiment within the stuffing. For those who actually need to impress, we suggest serving with our truffle oil pomme purée, inexperienced beans with wholegrain mustard and simple crimson wine gravy.
5. Gochujang-glazed celeriac with black beans & inexperienced salsa
Profit from seasonal celeriac in a powerful veggie principal. This earthy root vegetable is dropped at life with a spicy gochujang chilli and soy bean glaze, then served with cumin-fried black beans and a punchy inexperienced salsa.
6. One-pot partridge with drunken potatoes
These plump, juicy roast partridges make a perfect serving for 2 and do not take lengthy to cook dinner. We have packed loads of flavour into them with an fragrant stuffing of juniper, bay, thyme and garlic. Serve with crisp potatoes, fried in bacon and generously basted in a wealthy crimson wine sauce.
7. Beef fillet, Marmite mash and roasted cabbage
Cooking for 2 at Christmas offers you an opportunity to make a bit extra of an effort, and search out some particular substances with out breaking the financial institution. Deal with yourselves to Tom Kerridge’s elegant principal of succulent sliced beef fillet with punchy Marmite butter mash and crispy charred hispi cabbage. It takes below an hour to arrange and cook dinner, and the Marmite butter can be made as much as a day forward.
8. Brown butter-poached halibut with celeriac purée & caper crumbs
This subtle seafood dish actually has the wow issue with its delicate flavour and texture. Browning the butter offers an additional depth to the fish, and will be added to the celeriac purée, too. For those who can’t discover halibut, use one other agency white fish like pollack or plaice and adapt the cooking time relying on the thickness of the fillets.
9. Beetroot risotto with feta
Showcase the candy, earthy flavours of beetroot in a silky risotto. This vibrant veggie dish makes a comforting but spectacular festive principal for 2, topped with a garnish of crumbled feta, lemon zest and dill.
10. Turkey & mushroom pot pies
Give the normal British pie a particular festive twist with turkey, streaky bacon and thyme. These individually portioned dishes are topped with a satisfyingly crisp puff pastry crust. Save time through the use of ready-made pastry and make the pies forward, in the event you want a bit extra time on the day. They’re scrumptious with garlicky fondant potatoes and crunchy broccoli.
11. Open ravioli with squash & porcini mushrooms
Eager to showcase your culinary abilities? This delicate ravioli dish has an expert look and is filled with wealthy flavours akin to saffron and nutmeg. Much like lasagne, layers of pasta are alternated with butternut squash and spinach, then served with mushrooms in a garlicky porcini dressing.
12. Hen full of herby mascarpone
For those who’re on the lookout for a speedy but subtle Christmas dinner, these stuffed rooster breasts match the invoice. They’re additionally prepared in lower than half-hour. The creamy rosemary and garlic mascarpone filling balances completely with the moist rooster and a crispy prosciutto wrapping.
13. Salmon & spinach with tartare cream
Certainly one of our hottest salmon dishes, this easy pan-fried fillet is elevated with a recent parsley and lemon cream sauce. Serve on a mattress of spinach with a particular aspect, akin to these lemon-roasted new potatoes.
14. Miso aubergines
These miso-roasted aubergines make a scrumptious and wholesome vegan Christmas dinner for 2. The dish is so wealthy and meaty, it is arduous to consider it is vegan. Serve with big couscous, sliced chilli and a scattering of coriander leaves.
15. Smoky steak with Cajun potatoes & spicy slaw
Strive our posh model of steak and chips for Christmas. Make it particular through the use of bavette, the ‘butchers’ minimize’ of meat that makes a melt-in-the-mouth principal. Cajun-spiced potatoes and spicy selfmade slaw make a refreshing accompaniment for the griddled steak items.
16. One-pan roast salmon with leeks, onions & parsley dressing
One other showstopping salmon recipe, Tom Kerridge’s easy one-pan roast delivers layer upon on layer of flavour with a punchy anchovy, caper, mustard and parsley dressing. This gluten-free principal would work effectively with a aspect of crispy domino potatoes.
17. Roasted cauliflower steaks
For those who want a break from all of the season’s heavy consuming, this mild and trendy plant-based principal is right. Cauliflower is the star of the dish right here and we have accentuated its refined flavours with a vibrant crimson pepper, parsley and caper salsa. An effortlessly elegant principal, all it’s worthwhile to do is frivolously roast the cauliflower steaks in paprika till crisp, then serve topped with the salsa plus a sprinkling of flaked almonds.
18. Seared duck with ginger mash
Strive our lighter twist on conventional roast duck, with a easy however particular dish which simply occurs to ship 4 of your 5-a-day. This pan-seared duck recipe is bursting with zingy ginger, which is mixed with orange zest within the duck marinade in addition to as flavouring the candy potato mash and onion garnish. Serve with steamed broccoli and sprouts for a wholesome and satisfying dinner.
19. Beetroot and shallot tatins
With crisp, buttery puff pastry and a sticky maple-roasted beetroot and shallot filling, these tatins make an indulgent Christmas principal, but could not be simpler to arrange. Serve with a sprinkling of peppery rocket and a aspect of roasted spiced carrots & labneh, if you want.
20. Spiced pork fillet with shallots & apple
Push the boat out by serving succulent pork tenderloin fillets, subtly spiced with hints of garam masala and cooked in foil with a banana shallot. Go for the best-quality pork and do not be afraid to serve it ever so barely pink to maintain it juicy. We have accompanied it with crisp sliced apple cheeks and domino potatoes.
Get extra Christmas meal concepts…
Christmas menu for 2
Vegetarian Christmas menu
Vegan Christmas menu
Gluten-free Christmas menu
Fast Christmas recipes
Traditional Christmas menu
Various Christmas dinner recipes
All our Christmas menus
Sharing Christmas dinner with one different individual this yr? Tell us what you make…
