Whether you mark Christmas or not, December in the UK means work dinners, school lunches and invitations from neighbours. Some Muslim families also enjoy a big roast on the bank holiday simply because everyone is off. Either way, the traditional British Christmas plate has several places where pork and alcohol appear, and each has a simple swap.
The turkey
A supermarket turkey is not halal unless it carries a halal logo. If you want a halal turkey from a halal butcher, order early. If you only eat unstunned meat, ask which certifier it comes from. Our stunned meat answer explains the difference.
Pigs in blankets
These are pork sausages wrapped in bacon, so they are out. Halal chicken or beef chipolatas wrapped in halal turkey bacon look and taste almost the same. Some families just roll halal sausages in thin pastry instead.
Stuffing
Ready-made stuffing can contain pork sausage meat. Dried stuffing mix is a different product, so check the pack for animal fat or suet.
Roast potatoes and Yorkshires
Restaurants and recipes love goose fat, duck fat and beef dripping for crispy roast potatoes. None of these are halal unless the bird or animal was slaughtered Islamically. Use rapeseed oil or halal ghee. The same goes for Yorkshire puddings.
Gravy
Gravy granules and stock cubes can contain meat extracts, and many recipes add red wine. Use a halal or vegetarian stock cube and leave out the wine. A little redcurrant jelly can add depth without wine. See bone broth and stock for what to look for.
Pudding and trifle
Christmas pudding and mince pies often contain alcohol and sometimes beef suet. Alcohol-free puddings made with vegetable suet exist. Trifle is often set with pork gelatine and soaked in sherry, so check the jelly or make your own with agar.
Chocolates and sweets
Plain chocolates raise fewer questions, but liqueur chocolates contain alcohol and jelly sweets are set with gelatine. A quick barcode scan in the shop saves a lot of reading.
At a work Christmas party
You can usually ask for the vegetarian option, which avoids the meat question. Check whether sauces contain wine, and stick to soft drinks. If you are unsure whether attending is right for you, our answer on celebrating Christmas sets out the different scholarly views.
