‘Tis the season for good food, great company and long, lazy lunches under the South African summer sun. Whether you’re heading to a holiday home or camping somewhere coastal, these Christmas pork recipes bring a little luxury to laid-back celebrations. Think elevated yet effortless dishes layered with bright, fruity flavours; glazes that glisten with festive spice and mains made for sharing. Designed for easy entertaining, even without your full kitchen setup, these recipes prove you don’t need all the bells and whistles to serve something special.
Festive Made Easy
Nothing says festive fare better than pork. From roaring roasts to mouth-watering mains with the most, this protein deserves to be part of your table spread this season. Beyond being versatile, it’s classic yet contemporary, making it perfect for casual Christmas celebrations and fancy al fresco dining, where the cooking happens outdoors and friends and family feast together.
Each cut offers something different – from slow-cooked gammon to smoky pork neck skewers and from sticky ribs to glazed gammon steaks, the options are endless. Paired with fruity, festive flavours like cherries, pineapple, dates and pomegranate, it becomes a festive showstopper, especially with these tempting Christmas pork recipes.
Gammon Salad Wreath with Citrus & Cherries
Bright, colourful and full of holiday cheer, this gammon salad wreath brings together sweet, zesty and savoury flavours in a fun, festive edible arrangement.
Brushed with a glossy honey-mustard glaze before roasting to perfection, it’s utterly delicious.
Hosting a laid-back lunch or want a dish that feels effortless? This Gammon Salad Wreath delivers on all fronts. It’s light, vibrant and designed for easy entertaining. Best of all? You don’t have to cook a whole gammon – simply buy a pre-cooked ham and assemble the rest. Brushed with a glossy honey-mustard glaze before roasting to perfection, it’s utterly delicious. Thinly slice the gammon and arrange with crisp greens, peppery watercress and juicy blood orange. Cherries and pomegranate arils add sparkle, while crumbled cheese brings a creamy, salty contrast. Infused with lemon, mint and honey, the dressing ties it all together, making this a whimsical, wholesome centrepiece.
Recipe for Gammon Salad Wreath with Citrus & Cherries
Pork Neck Skewers with Date BBQ Sauce & Pecan Nut Crumble
Kindle the flames and treat friends and family to an al fresco feast featuring classic braai flavours and festive-spiced pork neck skewers.
Enjoy alongside golden roast potatoes drizzled with mustard-mayo for a true festive feast.
For a relaxed outdoor gathering, make these pork neck skewers. Smoky and satisfying, everyone will be reaching for seconds. Pork neck, known for its marbling and tenderness, is great for grilling. Each cube is basted with a date BBQ sauce, where sweet, caramel-like dates mingle with tangy tomato, vinegar and a touch of warm spice for depth. Plate on a luscious bed of labneh and scatter with toasted pecans, pomegranate and fresh chives for colour and crunch. Enjoy alongside golden roast potatoes drizzled with mustard-mayo for a feast and relish every bite of this sumptuous spread.
Recipe for Pork Neck Skewers with Date BBQ Sauce & Pecan Nut Crumble
Sticky Pork Ribs with Festive Cranberry & Cherry BBQ Glaze
Deliciously tender and bursting with flavour, these sticky pork ribs are a true indulgence, from the cranberry and cherry BBQ glaze to the rainbow slaw.
They’re savoury, tangy, fruity and smoky all at once.
Braaied ribs are the ultimate crowd-pleaser, making this Christmas pork recipe a must. Simmered until tender, then brushed with a festive-inspired cranberry and black cherry BBQ glaze, they’re savoury, tangy, fruity and smoky all at once. The glaze caramelises the ribs, adding charred goodness. Drizzle with chimichurri for a vibrant flavour; the combination of citrus, mint, chilli, garlic and olive oil cuts through the richness. Crisp rainbow slaw tossed in honey-mustard dressing is the perfect partner for these mains. Decorate with cherries, pomegranate and spring onion for a memorable meal.
Recipe for Sticky Pork Ribs with Festive Cranberry & Cherry BBQ Glaze
Grilled Gammon Steaks with Pineapple Salsa
Gammon and pineapple are a South African favourite. This braaied version takes all those familiar flavours and turns them into a relaxed yet refined Christmas lunch.
Serve with charred corn for a true local treat and savour.
Modern meets traditional in these meaty mains. Thick-cut gammon steaks are seasoned with paprika before they are grilled and basted with pineapple glaze, giving them a gorgeous, golden crust while staying juicy inside. Topped with a punchy pineapple salsa, this dish strikes the perfect balance of sweet, salty and smoky flavours. Serve with charred corn for a true local treat and savour. Easy to make and hard to resist, this delectable dish celebrates the best of simple, seasonal feasting.
Recipe for Grilled Gammon Steaks with Pineapple Salsa
Want more tasty inspiration? Try these pork-tastic recipes.
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