Pioneering… Alternative Christmas recipes

Turkey Hangover…?!

Alternative Christmas Recipes and How To Use Christmas Leftovers

Christmas has come and gone, and all that remains is a fridge full of leftovers. If you’re on your third day of eating leftover turkey sandwiches and are close to throwing everything out, stop right there – it doesn’t have to all go to waste. We’ve put together some different ways to use Christmas leftovers, from starters to soups to mains. These dishes also double as alternative Christmas recipes, if you fancy a change from the usual roast turkey or gammon.

Looking to make a quick snack, a light lunch or some appetisers? These are some tasty dishes that are perfect for Christmas meats. Simply substitute the meat in the recipe for turkey, ham, or whatever your Christmas meat of choice is.

• Turkey Mole: turkey is cooked in a thick, spicy sauce made with dark chocolate and a variety of spices. Serve with warm tortillas or as a topping for nachos.
• Thai Pork Patties With Mango Chilli Salsa: chop your cooked turkey up and mix together with our Thai Seasoning spice blend, grated onion, beaten egg and coriander. Grill the patties and serve with the salsa on the side. This one is a real crowd-pleaser.
• Gambas Al Pil Pil: enjoy a taste of the Mediterranean with these Spanish garlic prawns. A popular tapas dish, these will keep your guests satisfied as they wait for the main course. Pro tip: using leftover meat in place of prawns also works well as it’ll soak up the garlicky sauce – add as a topping on slices of baguette for a tasty canape.

Soups and stews are also a versatile way to use up leftover meat and will effectively nurse those hangovers. Try these healthy, nutrient-packed soups:

• Thai Coconut and Rainbow-Pepper Chicken Soup: the fresh and zingy flavours of kaffir lime leaves, galangal and mint will bring a taste of summer to a dark winter’s day.
• Yemenite Soup: this comforting soup uses Hawaj Spice Blend, an Middle Eastern spice mix with earthy, tart and peppery notes.
• Chicken and Sweetcorn Soup: there’s nothing quite like a steaming hot bowl of chicken soup when you’re feeling under the weather. Beat the post-Christmas blues with this healthy and nourishing dish – you can skip the first two steps as you’ll already have your cooked turkey ready.

With the right ingredients, leftovers can be easily transformed into main meals too. If you’re looking to spice things up, these dishes are a delicious alternative to your regular Christmas menu. For something a little more substantial, try these recipes below:

• Moroccan Chicken & Apricot Bake: Ras-el-Hanout Spice Blend takes centre stage here. Chicken breasts are rubbed with the spice blend and baked together with garlic, chickpeas, apricots and tomatoes. This is a no-fuss, one-dish recipe so you’ll have more time to make your desserts.
• Caribbean Beef and Pineapple Adobo: bring a taste of the tropics to your table with this tender and juicy beef dish. The Caribbean Adobo Spice Blend adds a warming flavour while tangy pineapple pairs well with the beef.
• Chicken & Smoked Sausage File Gumbo: add a Creole-Cajun twist to your Christmas with this mouthwatering stew. It’s warming, hearty and you can use any meat you wish.

Vegetarian Christmas Recipes

If you’re having vegetarian guests over, there are plenty of recipes to feed your meat-free guests. The meat dishes mentioned above can easily be modified to use vegetarian alternatives such as Quorn, extra vegetables and pulses like chickpeas. If your new year’s resolution is to reduce your meat intake, these recipes are a great starting point. Here are some of our favourites:

• Pilaf Stuffed Onions: this is a showstopping, vegan-friendly centrepiece for your dinner table. Stuffed with fragrant and spiced rice, these are bound to impress your guests.
• Sweet Potato Falafels: these soft and crunchy balls of goodness are a fantastic meat alternative. Our version uses chickpeas, sweet potato, and a blend of spices. They go well with a traditional Christmas dinner (think of them as a replacement for balls of stuffing).
• Blue Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms With Five Seed Mix: it wouldn’t be Christmas without cheese, and these baked stuffed mushrooms are a fantastic way to make the most of seasonal produce.

However, if cooking Christmas dinner has completely taken it out of you and you don’t want to cook another complicated meal for a while, a great alternative is to try one of our worldwide gourmet cooking sauces. Simply make sure the meat is properly heated through, then add the sauce, heat and serve! Choose from:

• Moroccan Fennel and Apricot Tagine Sauce
• Cajun Jambalaya
• Sri Lankan Curry Sauce
• Thai Penang Sauce
• Indonesian Rendang Sauce
• Spanish Pimenton Bravas Sauce
• Chinese Sichuan Plum & Mandarin
• Indian Jeera & Tamarind Daal
• Mexican Manchamantel

We hope we’ve given you some inspiration, but if you need any more recipe ideas, have a read of our blog post on the 10 Best Ways To Use Up Christmas Leftovers.