Tips for memorable Christmas meals with friends and family

Christmas is a time to cherish traditions and create new memories around the dining table.

As we celebrate today, the kitchen will become the heart of the home, filled with the joy of cooking and the magic of the season. But with so many dishes to prepare and guests to impress, planning the perfect Christmas meal can be daunting.

Ms Luciana Tumusiime, a chef at Protea Hotel Kampala Skyz, says planning the menu is critical. 

“For such a menu, consider your family member’s dietary restrictions and preferences,” she says.

Ms Tumusiime says the family can plan a four-course meal featuring soup or salad, a main course, which features meat of any type accompanied by vegetables and dessert.

She says a typical Christmas meal in Uganda includes traditional dishes such as Luwombo, kalo, and matooke and a barbecue, rice, and chapatti.

“You can opt for traditional dishes or try something new and innovative. I prefer a variety of foods on such a day and most Ugandans prefer soups, then matooke, some rice, then some potato wedges or potato salads, and then the dessert,” she says.

Grilled or roasted chicken always features on most menus on festivities and Ms Tumusiime says it can be prepared with peanut sauce, onions, tomatoes, lemon, garlic, and spices. Steamed matooke can also be served with meats or vegetables, such as beef, chicken, or peas.

A refreshing fruit salad made with a variety of fruits, such as mangoes and banana can be added to the menu.

She advises families to always shop for fresh foods from markets and opt for affordable ones.

Mr Johnson Arinaitwe, a chef at Fine Diners, emphasises organic foods that are prepared uniquely. To him, on Christmas, a family can prepare beef or chicken stew, steamed matooke, juice, and fresh vegetables such as cabbage and nakatti, which are readily available in markets.

Prepare early 

Ms Tumusiime also advises families to prepare dishes early enough to save time today, on Christmas Day.

“Because of the many dishes available, for instance, the family members can prepare desserts ahead of time so as not to congest the food preparation plan on the big day,” she says.

Ms Tumusiime also says the family should share cooking roles. Alternatively, hiring a chef, she says, will give the family time to go to church and also look forward to the opportunity to enjoy the food.

Mr Arinaitwe emphasises that food should be prepared patiently and with care.

“Most of the meals we eat here are prepared in a rush, hence affecting their taste. However, on Christmas Day, it is necessary to slow the preparation process of all foods. This helps them to retain their natural aroma,” he explains.

For instance, Mr Arinaitwe explains that beef can be grilled or first roasted before it is cooked with spices while matooke can be prepared by wrapping it in banana leaves.

“It is this unique way of preparation that will make a Christmas meal enjoyable; not only emphasising the expensive or unique foods,” he says.

Meat vs vegetarian diets

He adds that in modern times, the need for healthy diets is important and families should balance the meat and vegetarian diets.

In his earlier article, Mr Kadumukasa Kironde II, a chef, and columnist with Daily Monitor, emphasised that before preparing chicken, it should be defrosted overnight and taken out of the fridge an hour before cooking.

“Rub generously with vegetable oil combined with butter and fill the cavity with your favourite herbs, garlic cloves, and a good-sized lemon cut in quarters,” he says.

“When you are ready to cook the bird, roast it at 200°C/ gas mark 7 for around 30 minutes with the breast side down in a baking tray and then reduce to 140 °C/gas mark 3 for one hour or so,” he explains.

He also says nowadays, many family members are increasingly vegetarian, posing a great challenge for the Christmas table dynamics.

“One of the better options is to consider making something for vegetarians or vegans to build their meals around no matter how simple. Sides can be the true hero of the Christmas table in which case all your sides would be vegetarian/vegans,” he explains.

In these hard economic times, Mr Kironde II stresses that it is important to select menus that will feed small families without compromising quality.

For an average meal for a family of 10, Ms Tumusiime says about Shs300,000 can suffice, including the soft drinks.