Christmas Food Around the Globe

All of you could probably describe the typical American Christmas dinner, although many of us may put our own twist on it. What about other countries? How do they celebrate Christmas at the dinner table? This Cooking Tip will explore the traditions of a few other countries.

England

• Main dishes & accompaniments
  • The main dish that sits on most English dinner tables is roast turkey, although you might also see roast goose or prime rib.
  • The number one accompaniment to the meat is roast potatoes, often cooked in goose fat.
  • Other sides are pigs in blankets, which are sausages wrapped in streaky bacon (not in pastry as in the US), Brussels sprouts, braised red cabbage, cranberry sauce, parsnip puree and Yorkshire pudding. The latter is similar to popovers.

• Desserts
  • Traditional English desserts are heavy with dried fruits and spices. This might be in the form of mince pies, Christmas pudding or Christmas cake.
  • Christmas pudding is also called figgy pudding or plum pudding. It is cooked by steaming and contains dried fruit, spices and alcohol. Although not as prominent today, there is something called Stir-up Sunday. That tradition involves making the Christmas pudding on the last Sunday before Advent. All the family would take turns to stir clockwise, east to west, to mark the journey of the three wise men while making a wish for the year ahead.
  • Christmas cake is a spiced fruitcake that is baked in the oven and is less dense than Christmas pudding.
  • Mince pies initially started savory, using a “mincemeat” filling. Today, they are made with a mixture of dried fruit, spices and sugar.
  • A Yule log is a chocolate-covered cake shaped like a log that spread from France to the UK.
  • An English trifle is a dessert made of layers of cake, custard, whipped cream and fruit or jam.
  • Sticky Toffee Pudding is a moist date-based sponge cake served warm with a toffee sauce.

France

• Christmas dishes & traditions will differ by region of France.
• Le Réveillon de Noël – This is Christmas Eve dinner and is the most important meal during the Christmas season. Traditionally, it was not served until after midnight mass. Today, most partake of this meal much earlier.
• Appetizers/Starters – any of the following might be served at the beginning of the meal.
  • Smoked salmon
  • Escargot (snails)
  • Caviar
  • Shrimp
  • Oysters
  • Scallops such as Coquilles Saint Jacques
  • Foie gras, especially with a slice of spiced bread (similar to gingerbread) and fig jam.
  • Gourgères (cheese puffs)
• Main course and accompanying sides
  • The meat course might be turkey, capon, duck or guinea fowl and is often stuffed with foie gras or a chestnut or other type of stuffing. Less traditional would be Beef Wellington or a fish course.
  • Potatoes are common and may be in the form of pureed potatoes, Gratin Dauphinoise or Duchesse potatoes.
  • Risottos
  • Gnocchi
  • Haricots Verts Amandine – green beans with almonds
• Salad & cheese course – as is typical with French meals, the main course is followed by a salad course and a cheese course.
• Dessert
  • The most classic dessert is Bûche de Noël, also known as a yule log and is a chocolate sponge cake put together and decorated like a log in the forest in winter.
  • Other little sweet bites might be chocolate truffles, cookies, nougat or candied fruit.
  • In Provence, one might see Les Treize Desserts (Thirteen Desserts), which is a symbolic arrangement of sweets, nuts, nougats, and fruits representing Christ and his apostles at the Last Supper.

Italy

• Just as in France, the dishes served at Christmastime are regional in nature.
• The Christmas Eve meal is known as Cenone della Vigilia. It is a very important dinner centered around fish and vegetables.
• Many Americans think of the Feast of the Seven Fishes and assume it is what is served in Italy on Christmas Eve. It is, however, an Italian American tradition. It does not exist in Italy, although their Christmas Eve meal is also seafood-focused.
• Starters
  • Seafood salad
  • Shrimp cocktail
  • Stewed eel
  • Canapés such as smoked salmon, caviar, or tuna mousse
• First course
  • Pasta dishes such as spaghetti with clams, salmon penne or fish ravioli
  • Rice dishes such as scampi risotto are also typical.
• Main course
  • Baked sea bass
  • Grilled prawns
  • Fried salt cod
• Christmas Day lunch is more meat-based and can last for hours. Here are examples of dishes that might be served at this hearty lunch.
• Appetizers
  • Cured meats and cheeses
  • Insalta Russa or Russian salad – This is a mixture of diced vegetables and mayonnaise.
  • Savory pies filled with spinach, ricotta or cured meats.
  • Marinated vegetables
• First course
  • Northern Italy – tortellini in brodo
  • Piedmont – agnolotti
  • Central Italy – lasagna, cannelloni
  • Southern Italy – pasta al forno, fusilli al ragu
• Main course
  • Northern Italy – roast beef, veal, polenta, roast potatoes
  • Central Italy – roast lamb, rabbit
  • Southern Italy – roast lamb, honey-glazed duck
• Desserts
  • Panettone – This is the tall, dome-shaped sweet bread we see in bakeries that is filled with candied fruit and raisins.
  • Pandoro – This is a soft, buttery cake that is shaped like an eight-pointed star and dusted with icing sugar to resemble snow. It is often served with a drizzle of chocolate or cream.
  • Cartellate is from Puglia and is a sweet dough that is rolled out, coiled and fried.
  • In Sicily, you will find struffoli, small dough balls that are fried and coated in honey & colorful sprinkles.
  • Tuscany showcases panforte, a chewy, dense fruitcake from Siena that is flavored with honey, cloves, coriander, cinnamon and white pepper. Siena also boasts a dense and chewy almond cookie called ricciarelli.
  • In addition, one might find tiramisu and the nougat candy called torrone.

Mexico

• Pork is the meat of choice for many Mexicans for a Christmas meal. It is often coated with a spice mixture.
• Carne Asada is also common.
• Tamales are very traditional at Christmas.
• Soups and stews such as pozole, codfish or beef stew, and menudo (tripe and hominy) are often served at this time.
• A dish called Romeritos is made from the romerito plant and paired with baby potatoes, nopales, and dried shrimp. It is cooked in a rich mole sauce.
• Ensalada de Noche Buena is a fruity Christmas Eve salad.
• For dessert, one might find the following.
  • Bunuelos – large rounds of fried dough covered in cinnamon sugar.
  • Marranitos – pig-shaped cookies
  • Churros
  • Rice pudding
  • Cake

You may be a person who only serves a traditional American Christmas meal. If you want to switch it up a bit, try introducing just one or two of these dishes from other countries. Or, if your family will allow it, why not serve a French, Italian or other nationality Christmas?

Whether you say Merry Christmas, Happy Christmas, Joyeux Noel, Buon Natale or Feliz Navidad, I hope it is a wonderful time with friends and family and great food!