Michelin-starred chef Angela Hartnett has revealed the two simple yet spectacular foods she always serves on Christmas Day, promising they will have your guests singing your praises. The acclaimed chef and restaurateur shared her festive secrets on the popular food podcast, Dish, which she co-hosts with broadcaster Nick Grimshaw.
Angela Hartnett's Go-To Christmas Canapés
During the podcast episode released on December 17, 2025, Hartnett explained her approach to Christmas Day catering. She confessed she "never really" has breakfast on the big day, preferring to save her appetite for the main feast. When asked by celebrity guest Keira Knightley for canapé ideas, Hartnett didn't hesitate to share her two fail-safe favourites.
Her first suggestion is a deceptively simple yet elegant starter. "I get some sourdough or baguettes, butter it and then some smoked trout, put that on top, squeeze of lemon and black pepper," she said. The key, she notes, is in the portion size. Instead of fiddly, tiny bites, she serves a "sizable" half-piece of bread, making it a more substantial and satisfying opener.
The 'Warm Parmesan Biscuit' Trick
Hartnett's second signature canapé is a homemade Parmesan crisp, which she describes as a biscuit. "I basically bake Parmesan pastry," she explained. "So that's pastry with Parmesan through. Roll it into a log and then cut them." The beauty of this recipe is its make-ahead convenience. The log can be prepared weeks in advance and stored in the freezer, ready to be sliced and baked.
Her top professional tip for guaranteed applause is all about timing. "You can time it so they come out slightly warm and then people are like 'oh my god they’re warm, these are amazing'," Hartnett revealed. This simple act of serving them warm transforms the easy biscuits into a memorable culinary moment.
Keira Knightley's Roast Potato Revelation
The podcast episode, which featured actress Keira Knightley, also saw Hartnett demonstrating her recipe for the ultimate festive side. For Knightley, she prepared roast potatoes with rosemary salt, a dish the actress found "delicious." Hartnett, who is a director of four restaurants including Murano London, shared the full method.
The recipe for Roast Potatoes with Rosemary Salt requires:
- 120ml duck fat, beef dripping, or vegetable/sunflower oil
- 2kg Maris Piper potatoes, peeled
- 2 sprigs rosemary, leaves picked and finely chopped
- ½ tbsp sea salt flakes
The method involves parboiling the potatoes, fluffing them in a colander for crispy edges, and roasting them in hot fat. The final flourish is a homemade rosemary salt, made by rubbing the chopped rosemary with sea salt for a minute before tossing it through the golden, crisp potatoes.
For more of Angela Hartnett's culinary expertise, including the full roast potato recipe, you can find her recipes online. The complete episode with Keira Knightley is also available to watch on the Dish Podcast YouTube channel.
