Few meals are awaited with more eager anticipation than Christmas dinner. There’s something special about getting the whole family around the table to indulge in an impressive spread of side dishes, surrounding the centrepiece (be it turkey, another meat or even a nut roast). Many of us, however, begin to grow tired of the traditional flavours year after year. A classic Christmas feast has little in the way of spices and aromatics – at best there’s some clove in the bread sauce, sage in the stuffing and a few herbs in with the potatoes and carrots – and while there’s something comforting about a traditional roast dinner, some of us want a bit more excitement during the colder part of the year.
For bright, in-your-face flavours full of deep umami savouriness and fiery heat, look no further than China. Soy sauce, oyster sauce and chilli oil are three store cupboard ingredients which can absolutely transform humdrum ingredients into flavourful masterpieces. If you’re getting weary of the classic flavours associated with Christmas, try serving the three dishes below on 25 December. Tradition is all well and good, but sometimes it’s fun to switch things up a little!
