Nadiya Hussain's top tips for Christmas dinner

Use our easiest ever Christmas dinner plan for simple recipes and clever time-saving techniques.

2. Do you have any tips for getting ahead with Christmas dinner?

I like to do all the shopping a week beforehand, and always online. That means I don’t have to face the crowds, and if I’m missing one or two ingredients, I can just nip down to a smaller supermarket.

Take a look at our last-minute Christmas recipe collection.

3. What’s the most important ingredient in a Christmas pudding?

We don’t have Christmas pudding, but I do make a fruit cake that is aged and fed Earl Grey for seven weeks.

Browse our Christmas pudding collection.

4. What’s your tip for making the perfect mince pie?

The pastry has to be perfectly short, buttery and crumbly. I like to bake with the tops off and bake the tops separately. When it’s time to serve I put the mince pie top on, blast in the microwave for 15 seconds and pop a dollop of thick cream on top. Divine!

5. Do you have a secret to the perfect roast potato?

I like to add a few teaspoons of baking powder to the spuds after I have bashed them around the pan. This gives them a yummy crispy exterior.

Watch our 4 ways with roast potatoes video.

6. What’s your favourite meal to make with Christmas leftovers?

I really like eating the rest of the meal in bits, cold, straight out of the fridge, so often there’s not a lot left. But I always make a massive pot of curry with what’s left over.

See our guide on using your leftovers.

7. What’s the best way to serve Brussels sprouts?

I like to serve sprouts with onion and garlic, cooked until the onions are really soft. Then I add some chilli flakes and cumin seeds. Add the halved sprouts and cook under a lid till they are just tender and still very vibrant.