Preparing Christmas dinner is already stressful, especially if you're cooking for a houseful of hungry holiday guests. If you add a gluten allergy to an already intimidating situation, it's enough to put a well-meaning home cook over the edge!
Take heart, dear reader. Cooking a gluten-free Christmas dinner is not difficult at all. With a few recipes and cooking tips in your arsenal, you can easily feed everyone at the table an impressive meal without sending your gluten-y guests running for the door.
Hors D'oeuvres
Gluten-free hors d'oeuvres are probably the easiest part of the meal. A platter full of fresh veggies with ranch dressing is always a hit, as is a plate with sliced cheese and Kalamata olives. Traditional baguettes with olive oil and balsamic are out, but your local gluten-free bakery may carry gluten-free French bread -- call to find out.
While veggies and cheese are great, what if you want to spruce up your early dishes with something special? Here are a few recipes that will liven up your pre-meal game.
- Smoked Paprika Almonds
- Fig Tapenade with Walnut Crackers
- Butter-toasted Hazelnut
- Crab Spread
- Turkey Meatballs with Cranberry Sauce
- Baked Brie
Sides
Side dishes are another easy part of a gluten-free holiday dinner. Stick to vegetable-based recipes and you'll find a lot of dishes that are gluten-free by default, requiring no doctoring or wheat analogues. If you really want to make something that involves bread crumbs or a crust, your local natural foods store will carry a selection of gluten-free options. For something more original, check out these wonderful sides by some of the internet's best gluten-free cooks.
- Green Bean Casserole
- Tassajara Warm Red Cabbage Salad
- Broccolini with Brown Butter and Cashews
- Pumpkin Potato Gratin & Mushroom Swiss Chard
- Wild Rice and Mushroom Bake Recipe
- And what's dinner without gluten-free dinner rolls?
Entrees
Christmas foods in the United States are much more free-form than traditional Thanksgiving fare, but a lot of folks still love their turkey or ham for dinner. Try thinking outside of the box when planning your holiday entree, taking a cue from these recipes.
- Make-Ahead Gravy
- Roasting the Perfect Turkey
- Corn and Bean Casserole
- Apricot Turkey
- Gluten-Free Coconut Chicken with Sunbutter Sauce
- Tiny Turkey Meatballs Atop Penne and Escarole
- CrockPot Maple Ham Recipe
- Are you a Honeybaked Ham lover? Then you're in luck, because the company's signature sweetened, cured ham is now gluten-free!
Dessert
For many, the best part of dinner comes after all the savory plates have been cleared. Many folks get tripped up when it comes to preparing gluten-free desserts, since baking with wheat flour is what we've all come to accept as the norm for American sweets. The following recipes are all gluten-free, but more importantly, they're incredible desserts that everyone at your table will love.
- Buy goodies from a gluten-free bakery
- Salted Caramel Hot Cocoa
- Gluten-Free Toffee Pecan Apple Streusel
- Make gluten-free gingerbread cookies
- Down Under Pavlova
- Pumpkin Pie
- Double Chocolate Mocha Cookies
Merry Christmas, everyone! I wish you all a drama and stress-free holiday dinner.