Seasonal Solo Meals

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A solo Christmas is sometimes a good opportunity to try something spicy, interspersed with some more traditional meals. For Christmas Eve you could try Nigella's Pink Picante Prawns and use about a quarter of the recipe to make a substantial main course for one person, served with a green salad and crusty French bread. Or Scallops With Thai Scented Pea Puree which serves two but can easily be halved. For Christmas Day Chicken, Mushroom And Bacon Pies are always comforting and have some traditional flavours and can be assembled the day before. Again the recipe serves two so you can easily halve it. If you are more adventurous then you could make Nigella's Italian inspired Turkey Breast Stuffed With Italian Sausage And Marsala Steeped Cranberries with a small turkey breast, reducing the other ingredients accordingly. Cold leftovers will keep for sandwiches for up to 3 days or can be frozen in single portions for up to one month (thaw in the fridge overnight before eating). A Chestnut And Pancetta Salad could be made, without the pancetta if necessary, to go alongside and a few Hasselback Potatoes as well. If you like ham on Boxing Day then instead try Gammon Steaks With Parsley, easily scaled back for one. Served with mashed or sauteed potatoes it is a cosy meal with a nod to British tradition.

For desserts it is more difficult to make individual portions but the No-Churn Chestnut Ice Cream can be stored in the freezer for up to a month. And Nigella's Christmas Puddini Bon Bons could be made with a small Christmas pudding and will keep in a cool place for up to 2 weeks. For other Christmas ideas please visit Nigella's Season's Eatings and Christmas Recipe Inspirations.