Some tasty festive feast ideas to try at home

The festive season is my personal favorite simply because I have enough time to spend in the kitchen making food for my loved ones. Over the years I’ve had some tried and tested recipes. I’m not the type of person who sticks to a recipe.

I prefer to make my own twist on things and if it works out I make it my signature dish. Everyone has their own Christmas traditions when it comes to food. Christmas for me is not Christmas without a braai. It’s always been a South African tradition and I know that if I have to live in any other country in the future, I would still choose to have a braai on Christmas.

I have made some interesting marinades in the past that have always been delicious and unique. I also make a tasty mash and beetroot relish accompanying the meat for the braai. We all face a dilemma when we have a vegetarian guest or family that come over for a braai and trust me when I Say that it is so easy to cater for them.

My mum is a vegetarian and over the years I have managed to make some delicious meals for her just so that she can also enjoy her meal like the rest of us. I hope you find my recipes as tasty and satisfying as my family did.

Marinade for chops

• 1 kg of lamb chops
• 3 tbs of apricot jam
• 1 tbs of masala (any type)
• 1/2 a tsp of pepper
• 1tbs of garlic
• 1/2 a lemon
• Salt to taste

Method

In a bowl mix all the ingredients together till they form a paste. Please note: you can add any sauce from your refrigerator to the paste above and it will taste amazing, just ensure it coats the meat perfectly.

Beetroot relish

2 beetroots

1 Green chilli

1/2 an onion

1/2 a lemon 

Salt and pepper to taste

Method

In a bowl, grate two peeled beets. Cut the chilli finely. Dice the onion into equal small blocks. Squeeze lemon ensuring no seeds fall in. Mix together and season with pepper and salt.

Creamy Indian mash

6 potatoes

2 green chillies

1/2 tsp of turmeric powder

1/2 an onion

A sprig of mint

1/2 a bunch of coriander

3 tbs of butter

2 tbs of full fat milk

Salt to taste

Method

Peel and cut potatoes into equal pieces and put in a pot to boil with salt and turmeric . Ensure that the potatoes are completely immersed in boiling water. Cut the onions, chillies, mint and coriander finely. Once potatoes are boilt, strain and add the butter immediately so that it melts on the potato. Mash your potatoes so that there aren’t any lumps. No one likes a lumpy mash. Add the 2tbs of full fat milk till it’s creamy. Fold in the onions, chillies, mint and coriander and voila yummy mash with no lumps.

Vegetarian option

6 soya sausages

2 peppers (red and green)

1 onion

6 mushrooms

1 block of pepper feta

Sosatie sticks

Foil 

Marinade

1 lemon

1 tbs of dried chilli flakes

Salt and pepper to taste

6tbs of Melted butter

1/2 tsp of garlic

Method
Cut onions, peppers and mushrooms into equal sized squares. Cut the soya sausage diagonally. Lastly cut the feta into blocks. Skew them onto the Sosatie stick and put them to marinate in the marinade. Please note : put the sosatie sticks into foil and ensure they cook on the braai stand before the meat.

Those were a few of my favorite recipes to make on Christmas. Always remember to have fun in the kitchen and don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone by trying something new.  Have a Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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