Christmas Dinner Tips With Luke Hines and Scott Gooding

Clean Living: Eat Clean All Year by Luke Hines and Scott Gooding ($29.99), published by Hachette Australia.

They're the fun-loving, clean eating men we loved to watch cook on My Kitchen Rules and now Luke Hines and Scott Gooding have given us their top Christmas dinner tips.

From being well prepared to letting others help and keeping your dishes clean and simple, the two chefs definitely know a thing or two about cooking a mean Christmas feast.

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Check out their helpful tips below to keep you from getting frazzled in the kitchen in the lead-up to the big day.

How important is preparation when you're cooking Christmas dinner?

Luke: Being prepared for cooking Christmas dinner is a big must for me, because with a little operation and forward thinking, you can avoid any potential stressful situations arising in the kitchen. From being equipped with all the right ingredients, and being sure to allocate enough time for all your tasks, preparation is key to a relaxed, clean living Christmas.

Scott: Preparation is crucial in any cooking and can be the make or break of a dish or dinner party. However, this is amplified for Christmas, chances are Christmas dinner is a social event so you're cooking for friends and family which makes it's very important to prep. You may or may not have celebratory glass of sherry, beer or champagne, which again makes it's vital to have prep sorted. Lastly, if you're the one cooking, then good prep will allow you to relax and socialise whilst cooking at the same time.

How far in advance should you buy your turkey and how do you know which what type to get?

Luke: It really depends where you are and your circumstances but for me, I like to have a really good relationship with the butcher I source my meat from. So, at the beginning of December I open the conversation about sourcing an organic free range turkey, and to avoid having to get a frozen one, I simply reserve it for just a few days before Christmas. That way I know I am getting the freshest possible turkey, from an ethical and sustainable place.

Scott: First and foremost it's important to choose a turkey that been ethically raised - choose free range/organic and locally sourced if you can. You can search online for farms that raise turkeys and see what their ethics are. Similarly with chickens, don't simply reach for the biggest.

What are the top ingredients needed to create the perfect Christmas dinner?

Luke: I love celebrating what’s in season, and what you can source locally. Christmas is at its core about celebrating and it’s a great opportunity to celebrate the abundance of wonderful produce we have in this country. So have a chat to local butchers, farmers and food suppliers and create a meal based on your region and taste preferences.

Scott: For me the perfect Christmas dinner needs to include pickles, buttery sweet potato mash and slow-cooked duck - this is a throwback to my family Christmas dinners back in UK.

How can you make a Christmas dinner on a budget?

Luke: An epic Christmas doesn’t have to be overboard or out of reach financially. It’s about being smart with what you use. So things like cheaper cuts of meat, slow cooked are great options and creating larger sharing platters packed with heaps of vegetables keep everyone happy. Who said delicious fish and chips on the beach isn’t special? It’s about the company, not how much you spend.

Scott: The traditional Christmas dinner calls for turkey which can be expensive and/or excessive for two people for example. Christmas is all about sharing and spending time with loved ones, that is the most important thing, so don't be afraid to break the rules of tradition but cooking cheaper cuts of meat like brisket, skirt steak, lamb shoulder, ribs etc. A popular option for Christmas dinner, which will keep the cost down, is to share the load (ask guests to bring a dish or two) any contribution will reduce the costs.

What's the one dish everyone should cook in Christmas day?

Luke: I love fresh berries. So whether they appear on a delicious Christmas morning breakfast parfait like the one in the Clean Living Cookbook, or they are part of our neapolitan ice cream cake - berries rock.

Scott: That's a tough one. Christmas means many things for different people. In Australia we have the traditional turkey which is a colonial throwback from Britain and the newer Aussie BBQ and all the other multicultural traditions so for me, it's about coming together and sharing time and laughs through food. Whatever you cook, cook with love.

How should people avoid getting stressed out in the kitchen on Christmas day?

Luke: Pump some tunes and have fun. It’s about creating a really fun environment, surrounded by loved ones. That turns cooking into a fun celebration of all the great food. Don’t over complicate things, as more often than not, simple clean food is the most delicious.

Scott: My advice would be to shop a few days in advance if you can. Avoid shopping on Christmas eve to swerve the crowds and bear in mind that shops will be closed on the 25th. Prep days ahead if you can - make your sauces, dips, dressing etc days in advance. Ask your guests to contribute a dish or side will reduce stress on the day. Get the kids involved chopping veggies and stirring pots to make things easier. One pot wonders will certainly help to reduce the stress - they are very hard to stuff up.