Featured page – category instead?

I’d like the three “Home featured page” links on the home page to link to three of the main categories. The only option in the dropdown menu is to go through to currently existing pages (you can’t put a category url in there) so my question is: do I need to create three new Pages, display the category posts on those new pages and then link to them via the customizer or is there a better way I’m not thinking of?

I’m going through the (most excellent!) documentation and many of these support questions but I’m rusty on WordPress so it’s taking a wee while.

Happy to edit the functions file, etc. if provided with some pointers.

Thanks for a great theme!