Food makes holiday festivities more fun. It's an excuse to gather and celebrate the season.
And depending where you are from, these holiday meals may take on different looks and tastes.
So while you may have your Christmas traditions when it comes to the feast, let’s go global
and discover the Top 10 Christmas Meals Around The World.
Tripe Soup - Dominica
Dominica is a Caribbean island. It's not the Dominican Republic. Dominica's citizens love
eating satisfying bowls of tripe soup during the Christmas season. While this soup is definitely
a year-round favorite, it's a staple during the holidays. Most families have tripe soup
recipes which have been passed down through the generations. Some families enjoy adding
root veggies to the basic recipes, while others enjoy spicing up their soups with extra oregano.
Tripe soup is comforting, hot and easy to share with family and friends. This soup celebrates
the island's food culture, which is all about consuming whole animals. In Dominica, people
eat parts of animals which might typically be thrown out. This is a food philosophy that's
actually popular with some famous chefs, too. Dominica's cuisine has influences from Spain,
Britain, and Africa. Hot soup is such a comfort food when you come in from the cold. It's
also great reheated, as flavors tend to blend beautifully while it's in the fridge overnight.
While you may not be used to eating tripe, you may want to take the plunge and try this
holiday soup. It'll expand your culinary horizons. If you've already tried it and you love it,
whip up a batch during the holidays.
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Dumplings (Pierogi) from Poland
Pierogi may also be known as dumplings and they are typically filled with sauerkraut,
cottage cheese or mashed potatoes. These delicious little dumplings are a favorite holiday dish
in Poland. While fried dumplings are becoming more commonplace these days, pierogis crafted
according to Polish tradition are always boiled. Once they're cooked, they're served with a
host of toppings. If you want to try pierogi at Christmastime, offer your guests fried
onion, melted butter and crispy nuggets made from golden pork (fatback) as toppings. If
you're a vegetarian, skip the animal or dairy-based fillings and toppings. Then, enjoy a meat-free
feast. Most traditional pierogi are not filled with meat, anyway. That's because it is taboo
to consume meat at Christmas dinner. A lot of Polish people are devout Catholics and
they follow dietary restrictions on Christmas Day, which are similar to the dietary restrictions
of Lent. These little dumplings are available ready-made in most grocery stores, but making
them by hand will be fun. It'll be a culinary project with wonderful payoff. Just look for
a truly traditional recipe that comes straight from Poland. If you're lazy, and we are all
lazy sometimes, cave in and buy frozen pierogies at the grocery store. Buy fresh toppings,
though. Obviously, freshly-prepared dumplings are going to have the most authentic taste,
but some excellent prepackaged pierogies are out there.
Seafood Gumbo - New Orleans
If you're ready to let the good times roll during the winter holidays, you may want to
whip up a traditional New Orleans seafood gumbo for friends and family. If you're alone
during the holidays, whip it up just for yourself. You'll enjoy making it and eating it and you
definitely deserve a treat. Seafood Gumbo is a Christmas dinner mainstay in the charming
and iconic city of New Orleans, which is renowned for its hot jazz, Creole influences, and delicious
regional cuisine. The most traditional New Orleans Christmas dinner is called Reveillon.
Its origins are French and it dates back to the early part of the nineteenth century.
Usually, Reveillon is consumed after a trip to mass. Mass is held at midnight, before
Christmas Eve. At a Reveillon feast, there are a host of delectable dishes to sample,
including seafood gumbo. Other dishes served at Reveillon include game pies and soups.
While the Reveillon tradition isn't as popular as it once was, a lot of New Orleans hotels
do offer these traditional and elaborate feasts to locals and visitors. It sounds so exciting
to enjoy this type of traditional Christmas dinner in New Orleans. New Orleans is a fascinating
place and its culinary traditions are just as fascinating.
Rice With Pigeon Peas - Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is a place where Christmas is really important. It's renowned for its long
and lively holiday celebrations. In fact, it ranks high in terms of countries that make
Christmas festivities an integral part of their culture. Celebrations begin towards
the latter part of November and keep going until the early part of January. Food is a
big part of the fun. Many Puerto Rico residents enjoy making rice with Pigeon peas during
the holidays. They call it Arroz con gandules. This classic Puerto Rico recipe features rice,
pigeon peas and other enticing ingredients, including olive oil, oregano, garlic, and
tomato sauce. People nosh on this dish all through the year but treasure the experience
of making it and sharing it during Christmastime. If you want to try it, find a good recipe
that's authentic and then prepare to enjoy an aromatic and filling dish which gives you
a glimpse into another culture. When is the last time you branched out and tried a recipe
that you've never made before? If you're in a rut, I get it. But the holidays might be
a good time to go to the grocery store with a shopping list that is way different from
the usual. Find the ingredients for this dish and spend some calming time in the kitchen,
perhaps with a glass of wine in hand. Put on some music and start your meal prep. Invite
people over to sample this dish, or eat it yourself while you watch Netflix.
Herring In a Fur Coat Salad - Russia
Do Russian supermodels, such as Natalia Vodianova, break their diets to enjoy a little Herring
In a Fur Coat Salad during the Christmas season? Maybe. This colorful salad has many layers
and it's a popular choice in Russian homes during the winter holidays. This Christmas
staple is made from herring, boiled eggs, mayonnaise, and beets. If you have some free
time during the holidays and you want to create dishes that are a bit more memorable and elaborate,
making this salad in your home kitchen will be so much fun. You may want to have some
vodka on hand, but don't drink too much of it as you put this layered salad together.
Also known as "herring under a fur coat", it's loaded with nutrients. There are versions
of this recipe which contain layers of grated apple. The salad's distinctive purple appearance
comes from it's boiled and grated beetroot layer, which is then covered in a layer of
mayo. This recipe is popular during Christmas and at New Year celebrations. This dish sounds
really filling. It looks a bit intimidating. It's surely delicious, or it wouldn't be a
beloved dish in Russia, which is enjoyed during the winter holidays. This decorative salad
definitely has wow factor.
Tamales - Costa Rica
Costa Rica's citizens get into the holiday spirit by preparing traditional tamales during
the Christmas season. Most families have tamale recipes that are considered top-secret. In
December of each year, tamales are often a part of the daily diet of Costa Ricans. Lucky
them! Who wouldn't mind making tamales and enjoying them regularly. If you are in Costa
Rica during the Christmas season and you go to a Tico home, which is a rural home in the
nation, you'll be gifted with a tamale. Giving a tamale is the Tico homeowner's way of showing
hospitality. Tamales typically feature banana leaf wrappers. They are usually stuffed with
meat, such as beef, pork or chicken, as well as veggies, such as potatoes, onions, and
garlic. They also contain raisins and may have other ingredients, too. Tamales are a
big part of Latin American culture. Each Latin American nation has its own take on traditional
tamales. If you can't be in Costa Rica this Christmas, bring a little bit of Costa Rican
culture into your home, by enjoying some homemade tamales.
Whole Roasted Pig - Philippines
In a lot of parts of Asia, pork is as commonplace as rice. It's an everyday staple. The Philippines
is a place where pork is definitely frequently on the menu, especially at Christmastime.
The climate in the Philippines makes it an ideal place to gather friends and family in
outdoor environments and enjoy pig roasts. A traditional whole roasted pig is known as
a "lechon". Preparing the pig for roasting is part of the holiday tradition. Usually,
the pig gets stuffed with aromatic spices and veggies, such as garlic, onions, and lemongrass.
During a typical Christmastime family event in the Philippines, most people don't rely
on fancy kitchen equipment to prepare the hog for roasting. People take care of food
prep tasks the old-fashioned way. Once the pig is roasting, they continue pitching in.
They take turns rotating the pig, which is mounted on a pole made from bamboo. While
roasting a whole pig in your yard during the holidays might be a bit difficult and insensible
if you're in a cold-weather climate, you could possibly roast a pork tenderloin indoors,
in your own oven, and use the same seasonings as they use in the Philippines. You'll then
get a facsimile of the real thing, which is better than nothing. The beauty of the Internet
is that so many amazing recipes from other places are at our fingertips twenty-four hours
a day. It's possible to create authentic cuisine from other nations, just by sourcing out recipes
from people who live in these countries.
Feast Of The Seven Fishes - Italy
Now it's time to explore the Christmas culinary traditions of Italy. In the land of Ferrari
and Versace, fish is typically on the menu. Many Italians take great pleasure in enjoying
the Feast of the Seven Fishes at Christmastime. The Feast of the Seven Fishes happens on Christmas
Eve. It's a filling ritual to be sure. It's popular in Italian-American communities, as
well as in Italy. During this Christmas Eve feast, there must be seven types of fishes
served and they need to be prepared in different ways. One type of fish will be cured, and
another will be fried, and another will be presented in a rich sauce made from tomatoes.
The dishes keep coming all through the evening. In certain households, there may be even more
than seven courses. Sometimes, there are more than a dozen courses. One ingredient that
must be featured during The Feast of the Seven Fishes is salt cod. Calamari is also a staple
during this decadent holiday meal.
Grilled Meat, Fish And Vegetables - Netherlands
In the Netherlands, at Christmas, there is a dinner tradition known as Gourmetten. During
Gourmetten, a bunch of people sit together at the dining room table and cook small dishes
in compact pans, over big hot plates. It's a lot like French and Swiss "raclette". However,
unlike "raclette", cheese isn't grilled. Instead, veggies, meat, and fish are grilled. Dutch
people also love making small pancakes and omelets. They add excitement to their holiday
feasts by adding a host of sauces. They also enjoy garlic bread. It seems like it would
be fairly easy to enjoy this fun communal meal at home, as long as a big hot plate is
available. Grilling is a simple and satisfying way of cooking. If you want to try something
new, embrace the Dutch Christmas spirit and invite people over to grill small dishes at
your place. If you don't have a big hot plate, you could set up a fondue pot or something,
just to get the same group cooking vibe going. Sure, it won't really be Dutch, but it'll
be fun, right?
Christmas Goose - Germany
There's something so romantic about the idea of spending Christmas in Europe. Those who
are fortunate enough to experience Christmas in other countries must treasure their travel
experiences. Imagine taking the Eurail around Europe during the winter holidays, sampling
cuisine from the different countries and enjoying the old-world architecture. If you make it
to Germany during Christmas, you might be lucky enough to enjoy a traditional Christmas
dinner, which includes roast goose. Roast goose is a staple in German households at
Christmastime. It is the Christmas dinner menu item. It's the centerpiece for the whole
meal. People in Germany are also enjoying roast duck at Christmas these days.
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