Every year since Jeff & I moved into our home we’ve hosted Christmas day dinner. Here are all the Christmas menus I’ve prepared over the years with links, either to my exact recipe, or to similar ones. These menus will serve 10-15 people (with a few leftovers to spare!).
2016 Christmas Dinner
Theme: Lebanese
I was talking to my friend Jami, owner of mmm…coffee: A Paleo Bistro, about my themed Christmas dinners in early 2016 and she jokingly said that I should make some paleo Lebanese food. Little did she know, months later, I would take her up on that little comment.
First up: researching what is, in fact, Lebanese food!
I had a lot of fun with this one! Especially because majority of Lebanese food is already pretty paleo friendly. Bulgur wheat is a primary ingredient used in Lebanese food but while reading some recipes, I was thinking I could simply replace that with cauliflower rice or plain ole’ white rice and many of the traditional Lebanese recipes would be good to go as a paleo version.
Kibbeh is a traditional dish of Lebanon typically made with ground lamb however there are an unlimited amount of ways that this dish can be prepared. I’m going to be making it using cod for a fish based kibbeh.
I’ll be cooking dinner on Christmas Eve this year for my sister Amanda, her boyfriend Jake and Jake’s parents and sister Katie so I’ll have a smaller headcount this year and I won’t be in my kitchen. Luckily my sister has all the same kitchen equipment that I do so the only difference is that I’ll have to limit the number of things to make! Here is what I plan on preparing this year.
- Baba Ganoush with Crudites
- Samak Kibbeh
- Falafel
- Tabbouleh
- Battata Hara (Potato side dish)
- Basal bi tamer hindi (Shallot side dish)
- Fatayer bi zahtar (Za’atar Paleo Flatbread)
- Lamb Shank, Black Garlic & Tomato Tagine
- Blood Orange & Raddicchio Salad
- Toum (Garlic Sauce)
- Almond Cake with Missoula Pears
- Baklava
- Raw Walnut Dreams
Recipes will be posted once I make them. ;)
2015 Christmas Dinner
Theme: Polish
I was talking to my friend Jess when she was in town back in November of 2015 and she mentioned that she would love if her family had a paleo version of her families traditional Polish pierogi recipe. Her family recipe has been passed down from generation to generation but since she’s gone gluten-free/paleo she hasn’t been able to enjoy them anymore.
So I offered to help! And that’s how this theme was decided! My goal was to make several different pierogi trial runs prior to Christmas day but that just never happened. Here is all that I prepared.
- Canapés with sardines, smoked salmon & olives on cucumber & Jilz Crackerz
- Red Cabbage with Apples Salad
- Cucumber salad
- Marinated Beet Salad
- Christmas dried mushroom soup
- Paleo bialy
- Kiełbasa and cabbage
- Potato pancakes
- Paleo pierogi
- Plum Paleo Cake
- Honey and ginger-spiced vodka
2014 Christmas Dinner
Theme: Cuban
Just like in 2013, choosing a theme came down to the wire. On Christmas Eve Eve I made the call. Then it was only a matter of making the recipes and seeing how they turned out!
- Fried Plantains with Cilantro Vinaigrette
- Crema de Boniato
- Calabaza Con Mojo
- Avocado Salad
- Arroz Blanco
- Grilled Asparagus
- Smashed Potatoes
- Lime Marinated Crispy Beef
- Baked Chocolate Ice Cream Cake
2013 Christmas Dinner
Theme: Brunch for Dinner
In 2013 we took a road trip south over the winter and while we were in Georgia and Florida I got the urge to make a Southern menu in 2014. However, as of the night before Christmas Eve, I still didn’t have the menu down.
I don’t know anyone who’s not a fan of eating breakfast, for dinner. So why don’t we do it more often? I typically will throw an egg on anything but I decided to try some new breakfast recipes in 2013 and kill two birds with one stone. So, for our Paleo Christmas day theme, I decided on Paleo Brunch.
- Sausage and Leek Paleo Breakfast Casserole
- Mini White Russian Bundt Cakes (inspired by Betsy, Queen of The Bundt)
- Bite-sized Primal Fried Chicken and Waffle Grilled Cheese
- Overnight Baked French Toast with Blueberries
- Sweet Potato Pommes Anna
- Florida Citrus Salad with Coconut & Mint (ingredients thanks to the fruit we gathered at the U-Pick orange & grapefruit orchard we stopped at in Florida on our way home)
2012 Christmas Dinner
Theme: Paleo Tapas
In 2012 we went with a Tapas Paleo Christmas menu.
- Belgian Endive stuffed with Marinated Calamari
- Roasted Garlic Spread on Primal Crackers
- Broiled Zucchini with Cucumber-Mint Sauce
- Crispy Prosciutto Fruit Cups
- Ricotta & Mushroom over Cheese Bread Pizza Crust
- Vegetable and Meatball Pasta Nests (similar to this)
- Salmon Mousse smeared on Raw Cucumber Chips
- Tomato & Parsnip Soup
- Bite-Size Greek Salad Skewers
- Spicy Chorizo Enchiladas (from Los Paleo)
- Sweet Latkes (Sweet potato latkes topped with raw honey and pomegranate seeds)
- Guacamole-Watermelon Bites
- Hazelnut and Cherry Dark Chocolate Clusters
- Warm Pineapple-Pear Crisp
2011 Christmas Dinner
Theme: Primal
In 2011 we finally decided to introduce a full Primal meal to our families.
- Bacon Wrapped Dates Stuffed with Goat Cheese
- Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes
- Deviled Eggs
- Shrimp Cocktail
- Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus (from Pigskin Paleo)
- Pumpkin Soup
- Greek Salad
- Carrot Souffle
- Garlic and Herb Mashed Cauliflower
- Zucchini and Squash Gratin
- Creamy Pesto Pasta
- Chive Butter Chicken
- Dark Chocolate Dipped Clementines with Chopped Pecans
- Lemon Bars
- Santa’s Secret Sangria
2010 Christmas Dinner
Theme: Tuscany, Italy
In 2010 when Jeff & I backpacked around Italy and took a cooking class in Tuscany, I couldn’t pass up bringing Italy back to my kitchen for Christmas. I prepared all of the recipes we learned (and more) while we were in Tuscany and again the Christmas theme was an easy choice.
- Crostini with Marinated Bell Peppers
- Crostini with Mushrooms and Herbs
- Gnocchi with Fresh Tomato and Basil Sauce
- Spinach Gnocchi with Butter Sage Cream Sauce
- Pear and Fig Tart
2009 Christmas Dinner
I’m at a loss. For some reason this menu is no where to be found!
2008 Christmas Dinner
Theme: Healthy
While we were generally eating “healthy” this Christmas was mere days before we discovered Paleo!
- Papel Potatoes
- Braised Carrots with Fennel & Onion
- Sweet & Spicy Brussels Sprouts
- Mushroom Stroganoff with Mustard and Chive Mash
- Cornish Game Hens with Orange Balsamic Glaze
2007 Christmas Dinner
I’m at a loss. For some reason this menu is no where to be found!
2006 Christmas Dinner
Theme: Rachel Ray
In the past, I’ve planned and prepared a menu based on a specific theme. When I first started preparing meals beyond the basics (burgers, tacos and chicken) I experimented with many of Rachael Ray’s recipes. So the theme I decided on for our first Christmas dinner was a simple one. It was inspired by Rachael Ray.
- Marinated Bocconcini & Spiced Nuts
- Asparagus with Gremolata
- 3 Color Fennel Salad
- Vegetable Medley with Honey Mustard Sauce
- Roast Beef Tenderloin with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce
- Eggnog Bread Pudding
- Walnut & Apple Tart
Our Typical Christmas Meal
As a kid, our entire family used to gather at Gam & Poppa’s (my mom’s parents) for dinner on Christmas Eve. Gam (my grandma) used to prepare the most ginormous amount of fish and seafood, for the most part all cooked in tomato sauce.
One dish, I’ve affectionately named Crab-Ass Salad, was served as an appetizer along side a main dish of snails, cod, squid, mussels and a whole host of other salads.
If you’re the I serve ham for my Paleo Christmas kind of person, maybe you’d be interested in a savory Paleo ham recipe. In one of the previous years I made turkey. Bacon-wrapped turkey, to be more specific.
But really, any slow food meal like braised pork, braised lamb or pot roast would be a fabulous choice for the main dish, if you’re not among those who prepare a fish dish.
If these Christmas menu’s don’t fuel your foodspiration, feel free to check out my Paleo Thanksgiving Menu for some additional Paleo menus.
No matter what you serve, I hope you have a fabulous day whether you’re celebrating with friends, family or simply your favorite furry friend. Let me know if you try any of my menus. I’d love to hear how your Christmas feast turned out!
