Gut-friendly Christmas recipes

Have a look at all our joyfully delicious Christmas recipes, as well as recipes for kicking off celebrations on Christmas Eve. Next find out how to eat 30 plants a week.

Gut-friendly Christmas recipes

Spiced pickled shallots

Fermented foods, like pickles, contain good bacteria which help support your gut microbiome. For a thoughtful gut-friendly gift, make our spiced pickled shallots.

Check out our recipes for pickled beetroot and pickled cherries.

Christmas cheeseboard

This glorious spread is perfect for festive parties. It's full of complementary flavours and textures and looks really impressive – plus, it's super easy to prep. Be sure to include fresh figs, as these are especially high in fibre so promote a healthy digestive system. Some cheeses also have probiotic properties, these include aged cheddar and gruyère.

Browse all our effortless entertaining ideas.

Celeriac rostis with harissa yogurt

For a nutritious brunch, try these spiced celeriac hash browns topped with crispy fried eggs and spicy yogurt. Check the label to make sure your yogurt is contains 'live' bacteria, this increases the microbial diversity of your gut.

Check out our ultimate brunch recipes.

Stuffed butternut squash with blue cheese and leeks

Butternut squash is impressively high in fibre, which has been linked with improved gut health. Here, it's roasted whole to make a wonderful meat-free centrepiece — the combination of nutty grains, sweet leeks and blue cheese is truly delicious.

Next, enjoy butternut squash risotto and more butternut squash recipes.

Sticky miso roast sprouts

Toss Brussels sprouts with umami-packed miso and lime then roast until caramelised. Miso, which translates to 'fermented beans' in Japanese, contains plenty of probiotics. These help to improve the delicate balance of enzymes in your gut.

Check out our brussels sprouts gratin and more brussels sprouts recipes.

Christmas nut roast

We think this is our best ever nut roast – it's packed with smokiness and sweetness from squash, lentils and dates. Your gut will benefit from the lentils, as they're packed with prebiotic fibre.

Be inspired by our vegetarian Christmas dinner ideas.

Sourdough bread sauce

A nice twist on an old classic, this sourdough bread sauce is the perfect accompaniment to your Christmas day feast. Unlike regular white bread, traditional sourdough goes through a slow fermentation process – this means it may be easier to digest.

Don't forget to make our boozy cranberry sauce.

Crispy spud salad with sauerkraut, ham hock and peas

Sauerkraut (fermented cabbage) is not only healthy and good for your gut, but its distinct flavour lifts this simple salad with super crisp potatoes and salty ham. You could even use leftover potatoes. Interestingly, as potatoes cool, they become richer in resistant starch, which causes less gas then other fibres – great for those with a sensitive gut.

You'll love our ham hock stew.

Turkey curry

Delicately spiced with coconut and ginger, this turkey curry is suitable for the whole family. It's a brilliant way to use up leftover cooked turkey and the golden turmeric, a natural anti-inflammatory, may help to soothe your gut.

Red cabbage kimchi

Lacto-fermenting is an ancient way of preserving food – the term ‘lacto’ refers to the lactic acid created during the ferment, which increases levels of nutrients and probiotics. Here, it transforms red cabbage into kimchi, great for adding to sandwiches and salads.

For another favourite way with leftovers, tuck into our kimchi bubble and squeak cakes.

Miso roasted cauliflower, avocado and lentil salad

For those days after all the Christmas excess when you find yourself craving something healthy, there's this satisfying salad. Fibre-rich cauliflower is roasted in a miso dressing – also filled with probiotics – and turned into a rustic salad with pickled onions and lentils. It's delicious and great for your gut, too.

We've got lots more healthy salads for you to try.

Date flapjacks

Turn a handful of storecupboard ingredients into an easy bake and keep for moments when you're craving something sweet. Oats are another food that's rich in prebiotic fibres, so contribute to a properly functioning gut.

Browse all our bakes using oats.