Create a festive feast this Christmas with these four delightful recipes

‘Tis the season to be jolly.

As the holidays approach, we're excited about the joy of gathering with loved ones. Christmas, a special celebration, brings families together, creating cherished moments.

In this blog, we share festive recipes to inspire you, from traditional favourites to creative twists. We aim to help you create a spread that delights the taste buds and fosters togetherness using Mistral’s 10 Litre Digital Air Fryer.

At the heart of Christmas is family – when kitchens fill with laughter, the air carries the aroma of festive delights, and the joy of sharing a meal becomes a treasured tradition. 

Join us in celebrating the magic of Christmas through cooking, where each recipe tells a story, and each dish symbolises love and connection. Let the holiday season begin with love, laughter, and the joy of sharing delicious moments with those who matter most.

Here is a festive feast you create for your friends and family this Christmas.

Gin mince pies

Ingredients

• A peeled, cored, and coarsely grated small Granny Smith apple
• 3/4 cup (165g, firmly packed) Brown sugar
• 1/2 cup (90g) sultanas
• 1/4 cup (45g) currants
• 1/4 cup (45g) blanched almonds, toasted and finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped red glace cherries
• 2 tablespoons mixed peel
• 1 tablespoon mixed spice
• 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 25g melted butter
• 1/4 cup (60ml) gin
• Optional: Dusting with icing sugar

Shortcut pastry

• 2 cups of plain flour (300g) 
• 1/4 cup of caster sugar (55g)
• Chilled and chopped butter (185g) 
• 1 egg, separated 
• 1/4 cup of milk (60ml)

Method

1. Use your hands to remove excess moisture from the apple and transfer it to a bowl. Add brown sugar, sultanas, currants, almonds, cherries, peel, mixed spice, cinnamon, butter, and gin to the bowl. Stir thoroughly to combine and set aside for 1 hour to let the flavours meld. 
2. Meanwhile, combine flour, sugar, and chilled, chopped butter in a food processor until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add the egg yolk (keeping the egg white aside) and milk, processing until the dough just comes together. 
3. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth. Roll out the pastry between two sheets of baking paper until it's 3mm thick. Use an 8 cm-diameter pastry cutter to cut 18 discs. Line eighteen loose-based patty pans (2.5cm deep, 4cm base, 7cm top) with the pastry discs. 
4. Reroll any remaining pastry between baking paper sheets until 3mm thick. Use a 7cm-diameter pastry cutter to cut 18 more discs. Transfer the fruit mixture to a fine sieve over a bowl and stir to eliminate excess liquid. Divide the fruit mixture among the pastry cases. 
5. Beat the egg white until frothy. Brush the pastry discs with a bit of egg white. Top the pastry cases, placing egg whites down with the pastry discs. Press the edges to seal, trimming any excess pastry. 
6. Reroll any leftover pastry and use a 6.5cm star cutter to cut 18 stars. Brush the tops with the remaining egg white. Place a star on the top of each pie and brush the stars with egg white. 
7. Preheat your Mistral 10 Litre Digital Air Fryer to 160C for 5 minutes. Carefully place 6 mince pies in the basket and cook for 15 minutes or until the pastry is golden and crisp. Repeat in two more batches with the remaining pies. Transfer the pies to a wire rack to cool completely. 
8. Add a tiny sprinkle of icing sugar before serving.

Air fried potato salad

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil 
• 3/4 cup (185g) whole egg mayonnaise 
• 40g packet French onion soup mix 
• 1kg baby potatoes, cut in half
• 4 streaky bacon rashers 
• 1/2 cup (125g) sour cream 
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 
• 1/2 bunch chopped fresh chives

Method

1. Mix the oil, 1/4 cup of mayonnaise, and the French onion soup mix into a bowl. Add the potatoes and toss them to ensure they are well coated. Transfer the coated potatoes to the basket of your Mistral 10 Litre Digital Air Fryer. Air fry at 200C for 15 minutes or until crispy.
2. Afterwards, shake the basket to toss the potatoes. Place bacon rashers on the potatoes and continue air frying at 160C for 10 minutes. 
3. Combine the remaining mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, and chives. Season the mixture with pepper. Transfer the air-fried potatoes to a serving bowl and pour the prepared sour cream mixture.
4. Coarsely chop the bacon and scatter it over the potatoes before serving.

Pork belly

Ingredients

• 1kg Pork Belly Roast Boneless, rind scored 
• 2 tablespoons sea salt flakes 
• Olive oil

Method

1. Preheat the air fryer to 200°C for 3 minutes. Dry the pork with a paper towel and massage salt into the pork rind. 
2. Put the pork in the Mistral 10 Litre Digital Air Fryer. Spray it with oil, and set the timer for 25 minutes, allowing the rind to crackle. 
3. After the initial cooking, lower the temperature to 160°C. Set the timer for an additional 30 minutes to ensure the pork becomes tender and thoroughly cooked.

Mini Oreo cheesecakes

Ingredients

• 10 classic Oreo Cookies 
• 250g cream cheese, chopped and at room temperature 
• 1 egg, to be lightly whisked
• 64g packet (2-pack) chopped Mars chocolate bars 
• Optional: Dusting with icing sugar

Method

1. Line 10 small patty cases with an additional layer of patty cases. Use a small knife to split the cookies in half. Arrange half of the cookie halves, cream-side up, into the patty cases. Use the electric beaters to smooth the cream cheese in a bowl. Add the egg and beat until thoroughly combined. 
2. Place chocolate bars in a microwave-safe bowl, microwaving on High for 45 seconds or until softened. Stir until almost smooth and add to the cream cheese mixture. Beat until thoroughly combined. 
3. Preheat your Mistral 10 Litre Digital Air Fryer at 160C. Add 2 tablespoons of the cream cheese mixture into each patty case. Top with the remaining Oreo halves, placing them cream-side down. Carefully place it into the air fryer basket. 
4. Cook in batches for 8 minutes or until just set. Move the cheesecakes to a wire rack to cool slightly. 
5. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or up to overnight for chilling. If desired, dust lightly with icing sugar before serving.

Leftovers

It’s almost inevitable that at the end of a fulfilling Christmas shared with your friends and family, you’ll have some leftovers that can be used as breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert for Boxing Day. 

So, what to do with your leftovers? Here are some ideas.

Transforming leftover gin mince pies into a delectable dessert variation is a delightful way to repurpose them. Consider crumbing the remaining pies and using the crumbs as a base for a decadent trifle. Layer the gin mince pie crumbs with whipped cream or custard, and add some fresh berries or a drizzle of additional gin for a spicy twist.

For the air-fried potato salad, repurpose any leftover portions by transforming them into a delicious hash. Simply dice the air-fried potatoes from the salad into smaller pieces and sauté them in a pan with some of your favourite seasonings until crispy and golden brown. A perfect breakfast side dish.

As for the pork belly, consider crafting mouthwatering tacos or sliders. Shred or thinly slice the leftover pork belly, reheat it with barbecue sauce or your preferred seasoning, and then fill taco shells or slider buns with the savoury pork. Top it off with fresh slaw or pickled vegetables for a delightful fusion of flavours that reinvents the initial dish.

Revamp leftover mini Oreo cheesecakes into a delightful indulgence by transforming them into Oreo cheesecake pops. Begin by crumbling the remaining cheesecakes and mixing the crumbs with any leftover frosting or cream cheese to form a malleable mixture. Roll this mixture into bite-sized balls, insert lollipop sticks into each, and then dip the cheesecake pops into melted chocolate. Finish by coating them with crushed Oreo crumbs for an extra layer of crunch. The result is a handheld, bite-sized treat that combines the creamy richness of cheesecake with the iconic chocolatey goodness of Oreo cookies.