Could these be the best Christmas recipes ever?

In my eyes, you can’t go wrong with crispy roast pork. Because, well… crackling. This one’s a cracker in itself – the stuffing is rice-based for an Asian twist, and you can start your prep the day before to ease the cooking burden. So much crunch, so much yes.

Is it Christmas if you don’t have a glazed ham? This one features a tart and tangy cherry rum topping that’s baked to sticky, spiced perfection and my word, it delivers. Forget presents under the tree: I’d take one of these any day of the week.

Cut through those rich meats with a versatile side dish that satisfies and delights the senses. This creamy potato salad is what you need. Trust.

The scene: you’re hosting at your place this year and you’re looking for the best Christmas recipes to impress. The solution: This side of salmon. It’s the answer to your festive prayers. What’s even more impressive is that you don’t need any specialist smoking equipment. Just your regular kitchen oven. Swoon indeed.

Sticking to the seafood theme (or Aussie theme, because a Christmas Down Under isn’t complete without prawns in some form), these bao buns are perfect party food to get your day started. Bite-sized, pillowy and utterly delectable.

Of course, this wouldn’t be a compilation of the best Christmas recipes without taking a dabble into dessert territory. This cheesecake recipe celebrates the plethora of fragrant spices found in chai and delivers them in the form of this light-as-you-like sweet treat. Pass the fork, don the napkin and dive in.

Another Christmas dessert that’s so much easier than you think to make, yet really delivers in the aesthetics department. Totally tropical, totally moreish. And how cute do they look as individual serves? Be still, my heart.

Well, I didn’t get very far without another roast pork recipe, but this time it’s a slow-roasted pork belly that sheesh… this one is all the things. Take the time to prep it with the multitude of cuts and I promise you’ll be rewarded with the best Christmas present ever. Santa ain’t got nothin’ on this crunch.

… or this sauce. The most epic drizzle situation for aforementioned pork situation.

And once you’ve got the crispy pork and the sauce going on, this is the freshness you need to cut through it all. Herby. Crunchy. Tangy. Getting hungry just at the thought of this one.

Of course, Christmas food can be anything you want it to be. And if you want it to be cosy, comforting and with lashings of humming, tongue-tingling spice, then this is the alternative food idea you need.

For a more cost-savvy, budget Christmas dinner option, try a humble roast chicken. It’s pretty much a turkey in miniature anyway… and with heaps more flavour, if you ask me.

Does dessert get much funner? Show me a more smile-inducing option than these ice-cream pops. I’ll wait.

Porchetta is traditionally Italian cuisine, but when has that ever stopped me (looking at you, fusion pasta recipes)? My version is stuffed pork belly with a fresh and fragrant Thai filling and crispy crackling and my word, it’ll make your year, let alone Christmas.

A beloved stuffing recipe with a twist, from me to you. The gift that keeps on giving.

If you’re looking for an easy Christmas food option, these next recipes have you sorted. Start things off with the Christmas table centrepiece that is an epic ham, and build your offering around that.

Start the celebrations with drinks and nibbles in the form of these prep-ahead, easy party appetisers. Oozy. Flaky. Kimchi-y.

Green beans get the gingerbread treatment in this most fabulous of festive sides. Vegetables never looked more appealing!

Not all Christmas roasts have to be turkey (case in point: my crispy pork mentions above). For an extra-special roast, it’s hard to beat lamb. Tender, juicy and sweet, it’s a beautiful meat that elevates any family occasion. My recipe hits all the right spots.