Enjoy the perfect Gluten Free Christmas with our guide to dinner preparations and recipes. We’ve put together a selection of how-to videos and recipes along with off-the-shelf products from our top gluten free producers, ideal for saving you time and money.
Tell us in the comments below what’s essential to your perfect gluten free Christmas.
The links below the videos will take you to the more obscure ingredients on Amazon.
Prepare in Advance
Christmas Pudding
How-to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SI7OpgaIW8U
Buy a pud: Foods of Athenry Christmas Pudding
Gluten Free Mincemeat (and Mince Pies)
How-to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Isk5b-goErg
Gluten Free Suet: http://gfr.ee/gfsuet
Gluten Free Psyllium Husk: http://gfr.ee/psyhusk
Buy Mincemeat: Foods of Athenry Mincemeat
Buy Mince Pies: Foods of Athenry Mince Pies
Gluten Free Treats
Look out for Kelkin Gluten Free Teacakes – light and fluffy inside, ideal for a light snack after all the food.
Christmas (Gluten & Dairy Free) Cake
How-to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7_wURFyAQA
Gluten Free Flour: http://gfr.ee/dovesflour
Buy a cake: Foods of Athenry Christmas Cake
Prepare & Freeze a Few Days in Advance
Check the defrost time for your turkey or other poultry. Large poultry can take 24 hours or more to defrost so don’t wait till Christmas eve or even Christmas day to check. Also check the cooking times so you know when to preheat the oven on Christmas morning. If you’re not cooking until mid morning on Christmas day, you can make the stuffing early in the morning. Alternatively, look for chicken products which are portioned and ready to cook, giving you more time under the tree on Christmas morning. Rosie & Jim have a great selection, including a ready-stuffed fillet, all gluten free.
Sausages
Buy frozen gluten free sausages and keep them in the freezer. Look for “Cook from Frozen” on the pack so there’s no worry about defrosting times and leaving them out early. Just open the pack and cook them as you need them. Dohertys’ Meats and Oh So Lean make great gluten free sausages and they’re available in major supermarkets and many smaller retailers.
Sausages wrapped in bacon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZinCelrHYYs
Roast Potatoes with Garlic & Rosemary
How-to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1bXQlWLl7U
Glazed Carrots
Simple glazed carrots: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZDfJmm9Y00
In-depth glazed carrots: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kwGJzIpkD8
Cranberry Sauce
How-to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4o1nk2veEVw
Wine & Spirits
When it comes to wine, spirits and beers, there are plenty on offer for the Coeliac, including a dedicated gluten free range of craft beers from 9 White Deer. In the wine and spirits sector, United Wine Merchants are your one stop shop.
Defrosting
Take care to defrost your poultry in time for cooking – overnight may not be enough, it could take several days depending on the size of your bird and the defrosting temperature. You’ll know it’s completely thawed when the body is soft, the legs can be moved and there are no ice crystals inside the cavity.
Always defrost meat and poultry on the bottom shelf of the fridge on a plate or tray.
It will take at least 24 hours to defrost every 2-2.5 kgs of turkey, that’s 3 days to defrost a frozen 7.5kg turkey! Make sure you check the weight on the label and give yourself enough time. for more safety tips visit SafeFood.eu.
Christmas Eve
Take out any frozen foods required for Christmas day that aren’t “cook from frozen” and can be defrosted in time. Decorate the Christmas cake and make the dessert trifle and brandy butter.
Make the stuffing for the bird and place it in the fridge.
Prepare starters and keep them in the fridge.
How to prepare a turkey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtUZaL9ZSTw
Trifle Base
How-to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPFAGt_Yo6o
Brown Rice Flour: http://gfr.ee/dovesbf
Arrowroot Starch: http://gfr.ee/arrowroot
Xylitol: http://gfr.ee/xylitol
Palm Sugar: http://gfr.ee/palmsugar
Brandy Butter
How-to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVlrl_6YP34
Christmas Day
Cooking times for the turkey will depend on the size of the turkey and if it’s stuffed so adjust accordingly. The easiest way to keep on top of the days’ preparations is to write out a timetable and stick it to the fridge. Use a timer and set it for the next item, e.g. at 8am, set the timer to 30 minutes. When it beeps, it’s time to take the next action on the list. Over estimate the time required to allow for interruptions, toilet breaks and sampling. (Sampling is essential) 😉
For a turkey cooking time calculator see the SafeFood website: http://www.safefood.eu/christmas/turkey.html
Sample Christmas Day Timetable
8.30am
Stuff the turkey or goose. Make balls of stuffing with any leftovers.
How to stuff a turkey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qb0zi6AFopE
Set the table.
Prepare the onions.
9.00am
Begin steaming your Christmas pudding.
Preheat the oven.
Place turkey in the oven. (Keep basting it throughout the morning).
How to cook a turkey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAJtnOjxexE
Turkey cooking times: http://www.safefood.eu/christmas/turkey.html
12.15pm
Cook the sprouts, potatoes, onions and pre-prepared root veg.
Make the gravy.
12.45pm
Cook the remaining stuffing.
Turn the potatoes.
1.45pm
Take out the turkey and veg and allow the turkey to rest on a heated dish.
Cover the veg with foil to keep it warm.
Grill or oven cook the sausages wrapped in bacon.
2.00pm
Serve the first course.