Prep a Boxing Day meal with a difference

You know how it is. You open the fridge on Boxing Day and see yesterday’s leftovers staring back at you. But you just can’t face another turkey-based meal. Well, no worries. Boxing Day lunch doesn’t have to be Christmas Day’s poorer cousin. Instead, prep ahead of time and make it one of the main events!

There are a few things to consider here. The first is that you’ll probably be tired or recovering from the excesses of Christmas Day. So we need something that you can set-up quickly. Second, you probably don’t want something too heavy after the full shebang the day before. And, finally, you’ve probably got plenty of mouths to feed.

What’s the solution? Picking plates! A load of stuff you can buy or make ahead of time for people to pile up or leave as they please, buffet style. We’ve taken inspiration from all over for this one, so check it out…

A Scandinavian smorgasbord

Nobody does Christmas quite like Scandinavians. The snow, the pine, the proximity to Lapland. It screams Christmas. And, luckily, their food is delicious too.

To load up on a (semi) authentic Scandinavian smorgasbord, get yourself some or all of these:

Salmon gravlax (or smoked salmon)
Thinly sliced onion
Rye bread (but most will do)
Hard boiled eggs
Pickled herring (like Rollmop herring)
Meatballs
A potato salad of boiled new potatoes, mayo and dill
Pickled vegetables (you can even make your own Swedish pickled beetroot and cauliflower a couple of days ahead of time)

A mega brunch

With all those heavy lunch and dinners, breakfast doesn’t really get a look in at Christmas. So why not show it some love on Boxing Day? It is the most important meal of the day after all.

Prep some…

Scrambled or fried eggs
Bacon
Toast
Croissants and pastries
Spreads like butter, jams and honey
Freezer breakfast sandwiches you can just defrost on the day
Hash browns
Fresh fruit

A hefty charcuterie

Maybe you’re sick of cheese by the time Boxing Day rolls round. Or maybe, like us, you just can’t get enough. This is a great way to use up those cheeseboard leftovers and liven them up with some tasty extra sides.

Buy ahead of time…

Hard cheeses (like Gouda, Havarti, Provolone)
Soft cheeses (like Mozzarella, Brie, Camembert, Comté, Blue cheese)
Cured meats (like prosciutto, salami, chorizo, sobrasada)
Olives, stuffed or plain
Tapenades
Paté
Cornichons or regular pickles
Crusty French bread
Fresh and dried fruit (like grapes or dried apricots)

A sandwich making station

This is a good one if you’ve got some picky eaters in your family, since everyone can assemble their own dream sandwich. Stick to the old favourites with fillings or try something new- it’s totally up to you.

And since most supermarkets sell ready-made fillings, you don’t need to do any cooking ahead of time if you don’t want to.

Lay out some…