My Basket
Bring colour and fragrance to your Christmas table with a few everyday spices. Paprika, cumin and black pepper can give familiar chicken and vegetable dishes a festive touch, without needing a long list of ingredients.
This guide shares seasoning ideas rather than a complete recipe. Choose a recipe suited to your ingredients and cooking equipment, and follow its quantities and cooking instructions.
Three Spices to Explore
Paprika: Colour for Your Christmas Table
Paprika adds a reddish colour to chicken, potatoes and other vegetables. Mix it with oil and the other seasonings in your chosen recipe before coating the ingredients.
Paprika varies in heat and flavour. Do not assume this product is smoked or mild; check the product information and choose an amount suited to your dish.
Cumin: A Warm, Earthy Aroma
Cumin brings a distinctive, warm aroma to chicken and roasted vegetables. It is a useful option when you want to give familiar ingredients a different character.
You do not need to combine it with every spice on this page. Choose a recipe that uses cumin and follow its suggested quantity.
Black Pepper: A Fragrant, Peppery Accent
Black pepper adds a peppery accent to chicken, vegetables and sauces. Use it during preparation or as a finishing seasoning, according to your recipe and taste.
For the Main Dish: Spice-Seasoned Chicken
Chicken pieces can make a festive centrepiece without preparing a whole bird. Choose a suitable oven-baked or pan-cooked chicken recipe, then use the spices it calls for.
For inspiration, look for combinations such as paprika and black pepper, or cumin with garlic and lemon. These are flavour ideas, not a tested spice blend or fixed recipe.
Prepare raw chicken separately from ready-to-eat foods. Follow reliable food-safety guidance and ensure the chicken is thoroughly cooked through; surface colour alone is not a reliable guide to doneness.
For the Side Dish: Fragrant Roasted Vegetables
Potatoes, carrots and cauliflower are options for a colourful vegetable side. Choose one spice to begin with, or follow a recipe that combines several.
Cut vegetables to suit your recipe. Different vegetables and piece sizes need different cooking times, so adjust their preparation and the order in which you cook them.
For a vegetable-only dish, keep utensils and preparation areas separate from raw meat, and check the other ingredients in your recipe.
Start with One Spice
You do not need all three spices to enjoy Christmas cooking. Choose paprika for colour, cumin for a distinctive aroma, or black pepper for a peppery accent. Pick a recipe first, then buy the seasonings you need.
Salt, oil, fresh ingredients and other seasonings may be needed separately. These individual spice products are not a complete meal kit.
For Those Who Enjoy Christmas Baking
Planning a homemade sweet treat as well? Explore our guide to spices, raisins and almonds for Stollen-inspired Christmas baking.