4 Tips for a Stress-Free Cooking Experience This Christmas

‘Tis the season to treat yourself and your loved ones, and as a proud Nigerian, we all know this is the perfect time to show off your culinary skills.

We all know that Christmas in Nigeria is a feast for the senses, with dishes that embody the true spirit of the season. From our steamy hot jollof and chicken to silky pounded yam and egusi, Nigerian Christmas meals are to die for.

And of course, cooking for Christmas has always been a hefty task, from the slaughtering of animals to the slicing, grating, chopping, all to meet the expectations of your visitors who would come from their houses with empty stomachs.

But does it really have to be that hard? We don’t think so. Let’s check out some tips that can help you have an easier cooking experience this holiday season.

Meal Planning

This is one of the key aspects of cooking a sumptuous Christmas meal. Planning ahead can help you avoid mistakes and last-minute trips to the market or local supermarket. You can start by making a list of all the meals you would like to cook. This list should cover your appetizers, main courses, sides, desserts and even drinks. Ensure to create a comprehensive shopping list of all the ingredients you will need to make each meal.

It is best to plan your menu and write your shopping list at least a week or two before Christmas. This way, you will have enough time to buy everything you need and even make adjustments where necessary. You can still do it now sha. Better late than never, right?

Cooking Techniques

Making traditional Nigerian dishes, especially for a large number of people, can involve specific techniques. These techniques often require some level of planning, patience and practice. For example, when making puff puff, you’ll need to deep-fry the dough in hot oil. On the other hand, cooking jollof rice requires precise timing and attention to avoid undercooking or burning the rice.

If you plan to try out a new recipe for your Christmas meal, we advise that you practice cooking it at least once before D-day. This will help you get the hang of the techniques and make you more comfortable with the process. It’s better that you cook tasteless jollof for just you and your household than to serve it to all your visitors. So you better start practising now. Also, try not to burn down the house.

Time Saving Tips

Even the simplest Nigerian dish requires time and effort to prepare. But there are some time-saving hacks you can use to streamline your cooking process. One of the easiest ways to save time is to make some of those meals in advance and store them in the freezer until Christmas day.

This hack works great for stews, jollof base, and soup base. You can also boil and fry/grill your proteins (beef, chicken, turkey) ahead and freeze them until you’re ready to use them. Also, if you have a pressure cooker, this is the best time to put it to good use as it’ll speed up the cooking process.

Presentation and Plating

Our people say ‘eyes dey chop first before mouth chop’. This speaks to the importance of good plating and presentation. Your meals have to be appealing to the senses of sight and smell before they can be eaten. So take the time to carefully arrange each dish and garnish with fresh herbs and fruits where necessary. You can also add decorative elements like napkins and tablecloths that match the festive theme.

As you go about planning your Christmas menu, remember that this season is about celebrating and enjoying the time with family and friends. Don’t get too engrossed in planning and cooking that you miss out on spending quality time with your loved ones.

You should also spend some time with your online community on Fusion this Christmas and send us some of the delicious food you’ll make for Christmas too.

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Nesiama Fasola

Nesiama (Ness) Fasola is a community manager, tech enthusiast, writer and full time hopeless romantic. She loves to scribble words in a bid to make sense of the jumble of thoughts, ideas and emotions that constantly plague her mind. At her leisure, you can either find her nose-deep in a book, brewing coffee or poking around in her garden.