Those who experience allergies and those who are close to them are quite clear about what they need to do in order to eat safely. It’s important to be mindful of every ingredient you use and to keep a clean and careful cooking environment. In professional kitchens, for instance, any suggestion of a guest with an allergy requires chefs to entirely clean their cooking stations down or use an alternative, never cross-contaminating or even leaving the possibility of that open.
A festive meal for the entire family should, of course, be treated the same way. If one of your loved ones has a nut allergy, then completely removing dishes you might have served otherwise, such as having roasted chestnuts available, could be wise. It’s just not worth the risk. But if you have a new relative, perhaps a new in-law who wishes to attend your table this year, and you haven’t cooked for someone like that before, it’s best to be very careful. Of course, there’s no shame or taboo here, so asking them many questions and making certain they can eat your festive meal will be essential.
In this post, we’ll discuss a few ways to begin with that approach:
Call About Specifics
It’s good to give your relative a full list of everything you plan to include in the meal. Also, make sure any composite ingredients are clearly defined by what’s in them; even take pictures of the ingredients list on the back if you’re unsure. For instance, Ras-el-hanout is a wonderful spice blend and contains many different ingredients, which should be fine for most, but it’s best to be clear. If it gets their full approval, then you know you’re golden.
Try Alternatives
Just because a single meal might have a potential allergen, it doesn’t mean you can’t work with the guest to find an alternative or switch to a substitute. For instance, instead of nuts in stuffing, toasted seeds offer a similar texture. Dairy-free alternatives have improved hugely in the past five years, so making creamy sauces possible for those with milk allergies, too. These substitutions often work so well that all guests can enjoy the same dishes, but again, checking and double-checking (and triple-checking) is wise. Just try not to make your guest feel as though you’re inconvenienced; frame it as a fun means of learning something new!
Create A Personal Option
No vegan would expect their family members to eat something completely different to them simply because they don’t follow the same advice. You may love to honey glaze gammon and find it delicious, but you may also create a vegan meal that fills the spot for them. As long as you cook separately, clean utensils and surfaces down (or use variants), and even include your guests in the cooking to help them make sure there’s no cross-contamination, you can still enjoy the meal you had planned and work with your loved one to help you create something more suitable for them. They may even wish to bring their own ingredients, which helps.
With this advice, we hope you find it easier to cook a meal, even for those with allergies!