Mains

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.

Easy-to-make blue cheese straws create a unique crust, adding both flavour and crunch to this beef pie enriched with Pedro Ximénez sherry

Enriched with familiar Christmas flavours, these tender lamb shanks in their rich, boozy sauce are a nice change if you fancy something different this year

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

Lean turkey steaks cook quickly, are a good source of protein and absorb the flavours of this smoky, rich sauce, which is packed with four of your 5-a-day

A lighter twist on a traditional hotpot, using chicken sausages which are far lower in fat than the pork equivalent. Topping the hotpot with ready-made gnocchi instead of potatoes is a super time-saver, and you get some lovely crispy bits on them too