Get jolly with Jamie!

The superstar chef and father-of-five reveals his Christmas secrets

To celebrate his latest cookbook 7 Ways, which offers easy ideas for every day of the week, we sit down with Jamie Oliver to chat festive food and family fun.

How will you be celebrating Christmas this year?

I think this year is more important than ever because we need joy. We need to look at budgets for sure, but we’ve got to make it a big one, and make sure it’s a good one.

What’s the key to having a stress-free day?

Planning is everything. I think Christmas is the time when most people write lists and plan. I usually do a one-month “pathway to success” planner on my website (jamieoliver. com). Getting ahead of the game is really important, and using your freezer. You don’t have to do it all on the day or the day before.

Do you have any easy entertaining tips?

Think about batching cocktails in a bottle, so everything’s pre-measured and just needs to be poured over ice. Do a twist on a Buck’s Fizz and use passionfruit instead of peaches, or whatever fruit is in season... Let’s make it nice!

What are your budget Christmas tricks?

If you want to spend less, do a vegie Christmas. The research we did last year was nearly 70 per cent of all families had a vegetarian or a vegan at the table, and they want to make it really nice for them too. Try putting harissa around a whole cauliflower then roast it until tender and charred, dust it with something crunchy like nuts, and serve it with something creamy and delicious.

What are your family’s favourite traditions?

My tradition is to infiltrate one of our Christmas crackers and put a really inappropriate joke in it and give that to my mother-in-law. You should see her face! When we cut the Christmas cake, they all scream. It hurts my ears! In the old days, they used to put the coin in the Christmas puddings but everyone thinks it’s a bit unhygienic these days. We do like to sing, but the English Christmas couldn’t be more different to yours. You’re on the beach!