What food do celebrity chefs actually take to Christmas parties?

Have you ever wondered what celebrity chefs really cook at home? With party season in full swing, we asked a few of our favourite chefs what dish they would take to a Christmas party.

Rick Stein holding a platter — Image caption,
Find out what Rick Stein would make

Christmas party season is in full swing, and we love nothing more than knocking up a plate of our favourite food to add to the buffet table. A ‘potluck’ party is the best kind of party in our opinion, where each guest brings a dish to make the best possible spread.

With that in mind, we asked celebrity chefs including Rick Stein, Poppy O’Toole and Tom Kerridge what they would take as their contributions.

Tom Kerridge, sausage rolls

A lover of good-quality British food, Tom’s choice is a party favourite.

“Everyone loves a sausage roll! Make sure you cook the pastry enough, as quite often the pastry is undercooked and you don’t want that.”

Rick Stein, bao buns

Rick explains he’d go for something a bit different, though he warns they can be time consuming to make.

“I wouldn't take anything that was too much like a main course, I’d bring steamed Chinese pork bao buns. They do require a lot of work because they involve steaming dough, but bao buns are so lovely and they're nice to share.”

Poppy O’Toole, mini jacket potato canapés

It will come as no surprise that the ‘Potato Queen’ would bring along a spud-based dish.

“Using baby potatoes, roast them off on a tray until they are fully cooked and golden, then slice into them like you would a normal jacket potato. After that, you can fill them with whatever you like! I like to go for bacon, brie and cranberry, or a herby cream cheese.”

Sanjana Modha, mozzarella sticks

A buffet favourite, Sanjana spices up her mozzarella sticks.

“Crunchy, melting mozzarella sticks with an Indian-spiced crumb coating. If you love cheese, you'll devour this shareable starter or party dish. The crisp mozzarella is made with tikka masala paste and golden panko breadcrumbs for big, bold flavours and maximum crunch. These are delicious with my quick tomato dip.”

Becky Excell, gluten-free mince pies

Festive pastry treats might seem out of reach if you’re following a gluten-free diet, but they don’t have to be, says Becky.

“My gluten-free, frangipane-topped mince pies are always my go-to for any festive potluck gathering of friends during the party season. I promise you; gluten-free pastry can be a doddle to make.”

Nadiya Hussain, chocolate espresso cake

In the recent series Nadiya’s Cook Once Eat Twice the celebrity cook made dishes that avoid food waste and she explained that this cake, which is super-moist due to the olive oil in it, will last days and days, so none will go to waste.

“I'd take my chocolate espresso cake, Oh, my, it's easy. It's SO easy. I could be doing my makeup for a party and make that cake at the same time. It's that easy.”

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A sweet treat that would go down well at any party

Elly Curshen, Scandi nachos

It’s hard to beat the appeal of crisps at any party, so take them to the next level, says Elly.

“I love crisps, so if I was going to a potluck, this is what I’d bring, and I guarantee that everyone would love it. If you’re making it to have at someone’s house, you could take the components with you and just put it together when you get there.”

Crystelle Pereira, baked chicken Caesar dip

Every gathering table needs to have a few dips to stick crudites and crisps into and this is where Crystelle’s recipe will shine.

“My baked cheesy, chicken Caesar dip is great for sharing and I’d definitely bring it to a festive potluck for my friends and family. It’s made extra special with homemade crispy bacon bits.”

Dr Rupy, festive winter apple, beet and roast parsnip salad with dried cranberry

Every party platter should include a salad, and they can be both delicious and full of nutrients, says Rupy.

“Roasting vegetables is super simple for sharing platters and sides to celebrate the holidays without any fuss. And once cooked they make the perfect base for a salad. This is the perfect dish for a winter gathering as it has the warming North-African spice mix of ras-el-hanout which is a blend of cumin, ginger and cinnamon. I also sneak nutrient-dense greens into it but trust me, it still tastes indulgent and delicious.”

Matt Tebbutt, brandy cake

“I like to make my Mum’s recipe for brandy cake at Christmas. It’s nice and portable to take along to parties but can be dressed up as a pudding when served with mascarpone and another slug of brandy. My tip is to add old-fashioned coffee and chicory syrup as well as the brandy, to add an extra depth of flavour.”