Salt-baked mud crab
A whole mud crab served in its shell – big, bold and red – is an absolute showstopper, and the salt-baking technique enhances the drama even further. If you want to start your Christmas meal with a bang, this is how to do it.
Prep 10 mins
Cook 40 mins
Serves 2-4 as a shared dish
Tuna tartare with marigolds and ginger
If you don’t want the food to dominate the conversation, don’t serve this starter. Striking to look at, with its scattering of petals and daikon curls, it’s also a sensual pleasure to eat – slippery, crunchy, creamy.
Prep 15 mins
-
Serves 4 as a shared starter
Lobster with pink grapefruit and fennel fronds
Lobster is essentially culinary perfection in a very hard shell, so the secret to highlighting its excellence is to intervene as little as possible. Four other ingredients are all you need for this summer-by-the-ocean recipe.
Prep 10 mins
Cook 10 mins
Serves 2-4
Kabuli chickpeas, prawns and ‘nduja
Think of ’nduja as a kind of spicy pork condiment with a superpower: it can transform a few staple ingredients into something outrageously delicious. You’ll want to eat this chickpea dish by the bowlful.
Prep 15 mins (plus overnight soaking)
Cook 50 mins
Serves 4-6 as a shared dish
Cured ocean trout
The vibrant colour and prep-ahead features of home-cured ocean trout make for easy festive entertaining. Garnish it with something bright and beautiful to set the scene for Christmas lunch – redcurrants perhaps, or a jumble of edible flowers. This recipe is from Eatable's food and drinks director, Lisa Featherby.
Prep 10 mins
3 days curing
Serves 10