Five healthy Christmas recipes for you
Want to enjoy and take care of yourself at the same time this Christmas? It's definitely possible, believe it or not. Simple choose quality dishes with more natural, less-processed foods. Take note of these healthy Christmas recipes and don't worry about overindulging over the festive period.
Eating healthy and great-tasting food aren't mutually exclusive, and our suggested recipes below are proof of it. As you'll see, all you need to do is pay a little more attention to the ingredients you choose for your meals. The key to a light and healthy Christmas menu? Let fruit and vegetables take centre stage. It's much easier than it seems, so unleash your inner chef and let's get started! Your family members will be amazed when you explain that all the delicious food they are eating is completely healthy.
However, before we get started with our healthy Christmas recipes, we'd like to remind you how important it is to make the most of the food, especially during times of the year when we tend to cook too much. We therefore recommend that you keep any leftovers in the fridge, in well-organised containers so that everything is properly stored and you can finish it off within a few days.
1. Salmon and vegetable rolls
Ingredients:
- Wholegrain tortillas
- Smoked salmon
- Rocket
- Lamb's lettuce
- 1 pot of natural Greek yoghurt
- Extra virgin olive oil
- ½ lemon
- Basil
- Garlic powder
- Black pepper
- Salt
Method:
1. Pour the yoghurt into a bowl and mix it with the juice of half a lemon, a dash of extra virgin olive oil and salt to taste. Tip: add some herbs or spices if you like for an extra kick.
2. Stir well until you have a smooth sauce.
3. Place some wholegrain tortillas on a tray or counter. The exact number will depend on how many will be eating.
4. Spread a layer of sauce over the tortillas.
5. Cover them with a layer of smoked salmon and a layer of mixed basil, lamb's lettuce and rocket.
6. Roll the tortillas, cut them into small rolls and pin them with cocktail sticks.
7. You could even plate on tender shoots and give them an extra kick with wholegrain mustard sauce.
2. Healthy canapés for Christmas
Ingredients:
- Wholegrain bread
- Soft goats' cheese
- Salmon
- Roast turkey breast
- Chicken or vegetarian meatballs
- Red onion
- Beetroot
- 1 pot of Greek yoghurt
- 1 cucumber
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Dill
- Black pepper
- Salt
Method:
1. Peel and chop the cucumber.
2. Mix with the Greek yoghurt and add a dash of extra virgin olive oil, dill, pepper and salt to taste.
3. Stir until you have a smooth sauce and set aside.
4. Cut several slices of wholegrain bread and top with the various ingredients.
5. You could start with a cheese base and then create combinations to your liking: cheese, salmon and red onion; cheese, meatballs and beetroot; turkey with cucumber salsa… let your imagination run wild!
3. Warm citrus salad
Ingredients:
- 1 orange
- 1 grapefruit
- 1 pomegranate
- Tenderstem broccoli
- Red cabbage
- Kale
- Sesame seeds
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Balsamic vinegar
- Black pepper
- Salt
Method:
1. Wash the vegetables.
2. Heat a frying pan on medium heat with a dash of oil and sauté the tenderstem broccoli, red cabbage and kale.
3. Peel the orange and grapefruit and split into segments.
4. Open the pomegranate and remove the seeds.
5. Mix the vegetables and fruits together in the dish and season with extra virgin olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper.
6. Finish with sesame seeds.
4. Potato and salmon cake
Ingredients:
- 4 salmon fillets
- 6 potatoes
- 3 eggs
- 1 onion
- 250 ml milk
- 250 g white cheese
- Dill
- Black pepper
- Salt
Method:
1. Peel the potatoes and slice finely.
2. Put the potatoes in a microwavable bowl with lid. Pour half a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil and add salt and pepper to taste.
3. Mix well, cover the bowl and cook in the microwave for 2 minutes at 800 W.
4. Remove, stir and repeat the process until tender.
5. Chop the onion into small cubes (or a brunoise cut as the pros would say) and poach it in the pan.
6. Grill the salmon fillets.
7. Preheat the oven to 180ºC.
8. Beat together the milk, eggs, cheese and some black pepper.
9. In a large dish, alternate between adding one layer of potato and onion and one layer of salmon (previously chopped).
10. Top with some dill and cover everything with milk, egg and cheese sauce.
11. Bake for 40 minutes and it's ready to serve!
5. Vegetable balls with avocado sauce
Ingredients:
- Vegetable balls
- 1 red onion
- Tender shoots
- Green asparagus
- 1 carrot
- 1 avocado
- Juice of ½ lemon
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Water
- Garlic powder
- Black pepper
- Salt
Method:
1. Open and peel the avocado. Put the avocado, the juice of half lemon, a teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil, garlic powder to taste, salt and pepper into the blender.
2. Blend well and add water, if necessary, so that the sauce is not too thick. Store in a glass container and set aside.
3. Wash the tender shoots.
4. Peel the carrot and use a peeler to make carrot ribbons.
5. Finely chop the red onion.
6. Heat a frying pan with a dash of oil and grill the green asparagus.
7. Cook the vegetable balls.
8. Plate a bed of sprouts and asparagus on a plate. Place the onion, carrot ribbons and finally the vegetable balls on top.
9. Serve the sauce on the side so that each diner can add to their own taste.
Which of these recipes did you like the most? Whichever it is, they'll all help you take better care of yourself this Christmas. And remember, don't waste any food!
Here are some articles with tips to help you enjoy your food in a healthy and sustainable way this Christmas. Take note!
We love it when customers use our products in a creative way. Why not try to do something new with them yourself? But do remember, any modifications or changes that you make to IKEA products will prevent them from being resold or used for their original use, thus invalidating IKEA product warranties and your right to return.
