Gluten Free Christmas Foods
Christmas should be fun for everyone. The sun is shining, you might be near a beach or a pool, or outside in the garden. Wherever you are, it should be inclusive. So here’s GF Pantry’s gluten free Australian Christmas ideas, so everyone can eat, be festive and relax together.
Firstly, be creative! Almost all traditional Christmas recipes can be adapted, although if it’s the first time you cook something, you might want a little practise run before the big day.
Secondly, be considerate. All our suggestions are gluten free, but it’s always nice to adapt your recipes to ensure other allergies and preferences are considered. GF Pantry has many vegan and allergy substitutes for your Christmas needs.
And last but not least, if you need to travel with prepared food, make sure it’s properly protected from the Aussie elements. No one wants to eat prawns after they have been left sitting in the car!
So here goes….
Starters and Nibbles
Blinis are basically mini pancakes and are therefore very simple to make. Make your mini pancakes on Christmas Eve, then top on the day with your favourite festive toppings. Try smoked salmon, cucumber ribbons, cream cheese and dill; beetroot dip, feta and mint; prawn, mayonnaise and chives; turkey, brie and cranberry sauce; or hoisin duck and spring onions. They all look great and when served fresh are absolutely delish!
Savoury tarts are quick and easy if you grab the Lincoln Pasty Savoury Tarts and fill with any of the above toppings, or choose something else again. What about chutney, feta cheese and fresh mint; guacamole, black olives and sliced red peppers; goat’s cheese, red onion and thyme or rare roast beef, dijonnaise mustard and caramelised onions? Quick and easy but perfectly festive!
Grazing Platters. For the best grazing platters, always ensure there are plenty of different shapes, sizes and colours across your spread. GF Pantry has all the crackers, pretzels and grissini sticks that you could need, as well as plenty of other tasty morsels such as dried fruits and nuts. You can even make your own crackers with Melinda's Low Carb Seed Cracker Mix Add in sliced meats, cheeses and dips, and Viola! Something for everyone!
Seafood platters with prawns, crayfish and oysters are great for Aussie Christmases; just check with your local fishmongers if you are coeliac. Many of the supermarket products have “May Contain” statements.
Gluten free Christmas lunch
Roast turkey, pork or chicken are all perfect for your gluten free Christmas. Simply swap any gluten ingredients for a few gluten free ones. Coat your pork in a maple, mustard and honey glaze, marinate your poultry in tamari or gf oyster sauce, and make sure your gravy and stuffing are gluten free. The Orgran gravy mix is great, or just use your favourite gluten free flour with pan juices. For stuffing, you can use your traditional recipe and substitute cooked quinoa or rice, or gluten free breadcrumbs for the regular breaded product. Mushrooms, rice, fresh herbs and a little stock powder make a simple stuffing that tastes great!
Christmas hams in Australia are usually gluten free, but just check the ingredients list before purchasing.
For vegetarians, ensure there are plenty of fresh salads (hold the bacon), nibbles and hot vegies to fill them up. Perhaps add some small savoury tarts or a tomato terrine.
Gluten Free Sides
Roast Potatoes are a must to accompany your gluten free lunch. Coat the potatoes in parmesan cheese and a sprinkling of gluten free bread crumbs for something special and serve topped with warmed fresh rosemary sprigs for an amazing aroma.
Watermelon and fetta salad looks festive. Cube some watermelon, add chunks of fetta and sprinkle with pomegranate seeds. Top it all off with a splash of lime and scattered mint.
Heirloom tomato salads are the perfect Christmas colours. A mixture of summer tomatoes with olives, grilled haloumi, fresh mint and basil leaves. Drizzle lavishly with a balsamic dressing just before serving.
Crispy noodle salad is traditionally not a Christmas dish, but Australians embraced it every summer. Chang’s Gluten Free Fried Noodles has the salad recipe on pack. It combines Chinese cabbage, green onions, almonds, noodles and dressing, and is AMAZING!
Beetroot and quinoa salad is great for colour and variety on the table. You can roast your own beets or use whole canned ones, and combine with a few cups of cooked quinoa. Stir through well, then add crumbled feta, rocket leaves and balsamic dressing just before serving. Unless you want pink feta, don’t stir after adding the feta on top.
Roasted root vegetables can be served hot with your crunchy potatoes, or serve cold roasted parsnip, sweet potato and carrots as a salad, with fresh herbs and a cashew and parmesan mix.
Desserts and sweet nibbles
There are so many desserts and sweet treat options from Christmas puddings through to trifles and tiramisu, that a separate dedicated blog was required. Check out our gluten free Christmas desserts blog for ideas, or simply head online or instore for premade gluten free Christmas goodies including cakes, puddings and chocolates.
And lastly the most important food of the season - Did you know that Santa eats Gluten Free Cookies? Of course GF Pantry has all his favourites. HO HO HO and a Merry Christmas from the gluten free cookie eater!