Halal Festive Dinner Ideas for Christmas

Friday, December 22, 2023

Discover how to make a halal festive dinner for your non-Muslim friends on Christmas with these inclusive, festive, and delicious recipes from Bozu.

Christmas is a season of warmth, sharing, and delightful dining experiences. A time when friends and family come together to embrace the holiday spirit with good food and great company.

But for those celebrating with a mix of Muslim and non-Muslim friends, planning a halal menu, while appealing to all, can seem challenging.

Well, we got you! The beauty of halal cuisine lies in its versatility and rich flavours, which are perfect for festive occasions like Christmas.

So, in this blog, we'll talk about three wonderfully festive and enjoyable halal Christmas dinner ideas. These recipes make the perfect meal with something for everyone, celebrating the joy of the season with dishes that are as delicious as they are inclusive.

Let’s get into it.

Roast Turkey with Cranberry Sauce

Roast turkey is a festive recipe you can enjoy with your non-Muslim friends on Christmas. To make it halal, use a halal-certified turkey and avoid alcohol or pork in the stuffing or gravy. Serve it with roasted vegetables for a delicious and balanced meal.

Ingredients:

1 halal-certified turkey (about 5 kg)
100 g of butter, softened
Salt and black pepper, to taste
2 onions, peeled and quartered
4 sprigs of fresh thyme
4 sprigs of fresh rosemary
2 bay leaves
500 ml of chicken stock
2 tbsp of cornflour
300 g of fresh or frozen cranberries
150 g of caster sugar
2 tbsp of orange juice
2 tsp of orange zest

Method:

Heat oven to 180°C/160°C fan/gas 4. Rinse turkey and pat dry.
Put half the butter under the skin. Season and stuff with onions, herbs, and bay leaves. Tie legs and tuck wings.
Put on a tray, cover with foil, and roast for 3 hours — basting every 30 minutes.
Remove foil and roast for 30 more minutes. Transfer to a platter, cover, and rest for 20 minutes.
Pour tray juices into a jug, skim fat, and boil with stock for gravy. Transfer to pan, rage, and whisk in cornflour mix. Simmer and season.
For sauce, cook cranberries, sugar, juice, and zest until thick. Add in some cinnamon for an additional kick of flavour.
Serve with gravy, sauce, and vegetables.

Moroccan Lamb Tagine

This hearty and aromatic dish is popular in North Africa and the Middle East. It is made with lamb, dried fruits, nuts, and spices. Serve with couscous, bread, or rice for a festive and delicious meal.

Ingredients:

1 kg lamb shoulder, cut into chunks
2 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, crushed
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp saffron
Salt and pepper
400 ml chicken stock
400 g canned chopped tomatoes
100 g dried apricots
50 g raisins
2 tbsp honey
Fresh parsley and coriander, chopped
Toasted almonds to serve

Method:

Heat the oil in a large pot over high heat. Brown the lamb in batches and set aside.
Reduce the heat to medium and add the onion and garlic. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until soft.
Add the spices, salt, and pepper and cook for 2 minutes, stirring well.
Return the lamb to the pot and add the stock, tomatoes, apricots, raisins, and honey. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer, covered, for 1.5 hours or until the lamb is tender.
Sprinkle with parsley, coriander, and almonds, and serve with couscous or bread.

Salmon en Croute

An elegant and easy dish that consists of a salmon fillet wrapped in puff pastry and baked until golden. Serve with a creamy dill sauce and green beans.

Ingredients:

2 x 250 g salmon fillets, skinless and boneless
1 x 320 g sheet of ready-rolled puff pastry
4 tbsp cream cheese
2 tbsp chopped fresh dill
1 lemon, zested and juiced
Salt and pepper
1 egg, beaten

Method:

Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/gas 6 and line a baking tray with baking paper.
Cut the pastry sheet in half and place one half on the tray. Prick with a fork.
Mix the cream cheese, dill, lemon zest, juice, and season. Spread half over the pastry, leaving a 2 cm border.
Place one salmon fillet on the cream cheese and press. Brush the wall with the egg.
Cover with the remaining cream cheese and salmon. Place the other pastry half over and seal the edges. Trim and crimp with a fork.
Cut slits on the top and brush with egg.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden and crisp.
Serve with a green salad or steamed vegetables.

Consider Bozu for Halal Meal Prep Services This Christmas

If you want to enjoy halal meals at home without spending too much time cooking, Bozu can help you. Our halal meal prep service delivers halal meals to your door, whenever and wherever in the UK.

You can select from various dishes, such as chicken, fish, and more. All our ingredients are halal-certified, so you can eat with assurance and peace of mind.