Christmas is synonymous with food so sumptuous and abundant that you’ll spend the day letting your belt notch out one hole after another.

Everyone knows the usual Aussie classics – a roast turkey or ham, perhaps a few snags on the barbie, and maybe a boozy trifle for dessert. But if you’re looking for something that’ll really impress the in-laws, check out these five Christmas recipes that will put a new twist on a favourite holiday.

Smoked salmon pikelets

Are you ready to wow the socks off your guests? Smoked salmon pikelets are super simple but offer a big punch (and they even look a bit Christmassy!)

You’ll need:

– Pikelets (either store-bought or make your own)

– 250g of cream cheese

– 1 tablespoon of lemon juice

– 1 teaspoon parsley

– 1 teaspoon chives

– 200g smoked salmon

– Extra chopped parsley or chives to garnish

To start, mix the cream cheese, herbs and lemon juice. Spoon this mixture into a piping bag (or a ziplock bag with a small hole cut into the corner), and then squeeze a swirl onto each pikelet. Add a mouthful of salmon on top, and sprinkle with added herbs. Be sure to keep these morsels refrigerated until you’re ready to eat them.

Avo and pear salad

Is there anything Aussies love more than a good avo? Make your Christmas Day all the merrier with a tasty (and healthy!) avocado and pear salad that won’t leave you with any leftovers.

You’ll need:

– 2 tablespoons red wine vinaigrette

– 2 tablespoons maple syrup

– 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

– 1/3 cup olive oil

– 8 cups mixed greens

– 2 thinly sliced ripe pears (skin on or off)

– 2 thinly sliced ripe avocados

– ¼ cup sliced red onion

– ½ cup feta

– ½ cup almond slivers

– Salt and pepper to taste

Make the salad dressing by mixing the maple syrup, vinegar, and mustard with a little salt and pepper.

Create the salad by mixing together your pears, avocados, onion, greens, and almond slivers.

Toss it all together and crumble your feta over the lot.

Shout out to ATCO Blue Flame Kitchen for inspiration for this recipe.

Turkey burgers

What better way to mix the traditional turkey fare with the classic Aussie BBQ dinner? Throw together these turkey burgers and serve them with a little cranberry sauce for a Christmas-style meal with a Down Under twist.

You’ll need:

– 700 grams lean turkey mince

– ¼ cup breadcrumbs

– ¼ diced onion

– 2 eggs

– ¼ cup chopped parsley

– Salt and pepper to taste

Throw all of these ingredients together, then form patties once they’re well combined. Cook them on the barbie to perfection. You can also use goats’ cheese instead of the usual burger cheddar for a creamy twist.

Roasted whole cauliflower

‘Tis the season, but it’s also 2017, and there’s a fair good chance that someone at your Christmas dinner party is vegetarian or vegan. Become their favourite person by giving them something to dine on that isn’t just a plateful of various salad and side dishes.

You’ll need:

– One cauliflower

– 180g of butter (or substitute margarine for a vegan option)

– Sea salt

– 3 tablespoons chopped garlic

– ½ red onion, chopped

– 1 green chilli, chopped

– 2 tablespoons hot chilli sauce

– 1 teaspoon tamari

– 1.5 cups vegetable stock

– 1 tablespoon cornflour blended in 2 tablespoons of water

First, set your oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Then prepare your cauliflower by removing the outer leaves (you can keep a few of the inner ones on there). Cut the stalk so that you can sit the cauliflower without it tipping over.

Put the cauliflower in a cast iron pan, melt roughly 100 grams of butter (or margarine) and generously smear it all over the cauliflower. Sprinkle sea salt over the top and rub it in, and cover the cauliflower with tin foil crimping the edges over the pan to create a seal. Bake for 35 minutes.

Remove the pan from the oven and baste the cauliflower with another 20 grams of melted butter (or margarine). Put it back in the oven without the foil for another hour (or until the top is nice and golden).

While it’s cooking, prepare your sauce. Heat the last of your butter (or olive oil) (60 grams) in a saucepan, and add the onion, garlic, and chilli. Stir for a couple of minutes on medium then add your chilli sauce, tamari, and veg stock. Bring the temperature down a little and let it boil gently. Add your cornflour/water mixture, and stir until the sauce thickens.

Pour the sauce over the cooked cauliflower and garnish with herbs of your choosing.

Thanks to Sneh Roy over at Cook Republic for inspiration for this recipe.

Healthier Christmas pudding made with quinoa

Put a healthy twist on an old favourite with this Christmas pudding that swaps some of those button-popping ingredients with a few healthier options (so you don’t feel guilty about taking a second piece).

You’ll need:

– 150g pitted prunes, chopped finely

– 150 dates, chopped finely

– 150g raisins

– 150g sultanas

– The rind and juice of two oranges

– 1 tablespoon brandy (optional)

– 1.5 cups of almond meal

– ¾ cup cooked quinoa

– 1 teaspoon cinnamon

– 1 teaspoon mixed spice

– ¼ cup olive oil

– 3 eggs