Gorgeousness on a plate. Lean into the spirit of the season with these festively coloured dishes of red, green, white, gold and silver.

The importance of “eating a rainbow” is something we learn in elementary school, but the world of social media has pushed the fixation on colourful food up a notch. Purple smoothie bowls and golden milk are as much about appealingly vibrant colour as they are about potential health benefits. It’s a fun challenge to create dishes around specific colours. (Does that sound boring? It’s really not. Restrictions breed creativity, after all.)

We’ve chosen classic Christmas colours for these recipes to include in your entertaining menus, but take inspiration from any appealing seasonal food. Shades of colour and variations in texture become the key to visual interest (and are a big part of what make these dishes delicious). Use deep-coloured spices and sauces to your advantage. Think about mixing raw and cooked, soft and crunchy, puréed and chunky. Follow our lead to a fun, festive (and Instagramable) meal.