Dairy-free

The perfect antidote to the rich, festive fare we all find ourselves indulging in at this time of year. It really brings the best out of simple seasonal ingredients.

Duck is a great alternative to turkey if you’re feeding a smaller family. Roasted and served with a rich savoury gravy, it will make a meal to remember

A glazed ham is a must for the main event and also for the inevitable Boxing Day buffet. The ‘mince pie’ chutney makes enough so you can gift a couple of jars, and it’s also great with cheese

Recipes with minimal ingredients get a great boost from miso, which lends lots of flavour with minimum effort here

A quick cucumber and spring onion pickle adds crunch and an acidity that complements the oil-rich mackerel fillets

Baharat spice mix, an aromatic blend of ground black pepper, cumin, cinnamon, cloves and more, originated in Turkey and the Middle East. Combined with sweet pops of apricot and juicy lamb it gives a fragrant, exotic deliciousness to this easy-to-serve pie

Feel free to swap or add in any veg you have to hand – courgettes are great, as are cherry tomatoes and green beans

Peas not only lend colour and sweetness to this soup – when roasted with spices, they add texture as a crunchy garnish too

A suitably monstrous-looking treat for Halloween – and far healthier than the usual bucketloads of sweets and chocolate