When it comes to Christmas day – or even hosting a Christmas party – the thought of all the cooking is enough to make anyone groan. Even seasoned chefs, those who have cooked turkey year-after-year, can come undone over the pressure to get a perfectly moist, hot bird on the table at the exact same time that the potatoes have crisped but are still fluffy, the veg has some bite to it, the stuffing is cooked, bread sauce is piping hot but hasn't caught on the bottom and the pigs in blankets are cooked through and hot to trot. So why not wave the pressure goodbye and instead change things up with a menu of delicious cold plates that are just as festive but you can make ahead of time? After all, it'll free you up to quaff champagne with your guests rather than appearing from the depths of the kitchen, sweaty and streaked with bacon fat.
Smoked or cured salmon
Smoked salmon is a Christmas classic – but you can pep things up a bit by pairing it with a simple pickled cucumber salad, or make it yourself if you're up for some home-smoking or curing. Make enough that you can also give it to guests as a gift and you have a double whammy of hosting success.
Pâtés
Who can resist a pâté? Add hot buttered toast on the side (if you're opting for chicken liver pâté) and something pickled or citrus-based and away you go. If you use pretty dishes and terrines to make your pâté in, it'll look oh-so-lovely on the table too.
Burrata
The ultimate easy hosting hack that feels like you're truly spoiling your guests – and given the cost, you really are – is burrata. It's so simple, so decadent and so easy to assemble. All you need do is choose what to adorn it with and plate it in an attractive manner. Below are two fantastic options for how to serve it but you can choose all manner of accompaniments – fennel and orange is a lovely wintery way to serve burrata, or make a walnut-based pesto and drizzle it over a platter of the creamy balls for guests to dig into.
Slow-cooked meat
This might seem like a lot of effort for a so-called easy option but in reality, all you need to do is marinate and flavour your meat and then tend to it every so often as it melts into goodness in the oven. Then you can let it cool and serve it room temperature to your guests later on – simple. They'll all be thrilled with the delicious texture of the meat as it falls of the bone and you'll be thrilled that you did the work well before anyone rang the doorbell. While it cooks, you can even get on with the other dishes on this list and multitask your way to Christmas success.
Pies, galettes and quiches
Another suitably celebratory make-ahead category is the pastry category: pies, quiches and galettes. These would perhaps be better for a party than the actual Christmas Day itself as they make the ideal handheld slice to eat while you chat and drink. A galette, however, would be a great alternative Christmas main for vegetarians.
Winter salad
You will never go wrong with a salad on the table and when it comes to cold plates, they are the star of the show. We love our winter salads with cheese, or prettily arranged citrus slices with herbs and fennel can be a true showstopper. There are so many options and they're all winners.
Pavlova
There's only one pudding in consideration here: a pavlova. Yes they require effort to make but the various elements can all be prepped well in advance leaving just a little assembly on the evening. They're showstoppers in every sense of the word and if you need any more convincing, may we present Jeremy Lee and his famous meringue tumble.
