The season of Christmas will always be above anything else, especially when it comes to holiday-approved classic dishes. From family traditional home-cooked cuisine, experimental dishes, up to seemingly weird but surprisingly good recipes, all will be ready to cover your most awaited big dinner this Christmas 2021.
Thinking and planning a Christmas dinner? Below are some mouthwatering traditional and not to be missed food from around the world. You better prepare for the highlight of this season!
Bacalao
Bacalao is the Spanish term for dried and salted codfish; it was later adapted in Mexican cuisine. It is particularly popular in Mexico for Christmas Eve dinner, this can be prepared in many different ways. It can be added with roasted tomatoes, garlic, onions, olives, parsley, and raisins. Leftovers can still be used to make sandwiches.
Ensalada de Navidad
Ensalada de Navidad is widely known all over Latin America, however, Peru levels it up to a whole new style. Vegetables together with potatoes and local specialties like quinoa or huancaina sauce. Peruvian Christmas salad can be replaced for the main dish.
Smalahove
Smalahove is a traditional Norwegian dish, made from steamed sheep's head paired with some potatoes, mashed swedes, beer, aquavit and rutabaga. Traditionally served on the Sunday before Christmas. The head of the sheep would be split in two, then once split remove the brain and the pieces must be soaked in water for two days. Once done with the soak, the head would be salted, dried and smoked, it would then be boiled or steamed ready to be eaten.
Mopane Worms
Mostly prepared and consumed in rural areas of southern Africa. The Mopane Worms are rich in protein, this caterpillar of the Gonimbrasia Belina moth is widely present in festivities. Harvesting starts in the last weeks of November, worms are preserved for the rest of the year, while fresh worms can be dried with onions, tomatoes and chili.
Feast of the Seven Fishes
"The Feast of the Seven Fishes" is their annual Christmas Eve vigil. It is considered the most anticipated seafood feast of the year in all Italian-American households. It started in the past when the Roman Catholics abstain from eating meat and animal fats around Christmas.
Mattak and Kiviak
Mattak is a tough strip of a narwhal or white whale skin, with the blubber still attached. Carved up in small chunks said to taste like fresh coconut. Mattak often has to be swallowed whole because it is too difficult to chew. Meanwhile, Kiviak is from a specific type of seabird found in Greenland, a small arctic bird called auk, wrapped in a lining of seal skin then fermented for several months before serving.
Bibingka
Bibingka is one of the most adored kind of snack mostly available during the Christmas season. It is known as kakanin, a rice-based snack made with rice flour and coconut milk, cooked in clay pots lined with banana leaves, placed over hot coals.
KFC Christmas Dinner
Well, in Japan KFC Christmas fried chicken has become a new tradition for most people. An estimated 3.6 million families are reported to order each year, setting orders in advance is a must to avoid long wait hours.
Sweet Potato Noodle
It is known as Korean glass noodles that are made from sweet potato starch and water. Christmas buffets are sought after, especially in Seoul, and sweet potato noodles will always have a place on the table.
Selyodka Pod Shuboy
Selyodka Pod Shuboy originated from Russia, considered one of the more expensive-looking dishes for Christmas celebrations. It is translated to "herring under a fur coat," made up of diced pickled herring layered under diced potato, carrots, beetroot, onions, and mayonnaise then topped with boiled eggs.
Basler Brunsli
Traditional Swiss Christmas cookie meaning "Little Brown Cookies" made with almonds, chocolate and a touch of spice. These cookies are naturally gluten-free. People enjoy the slight nuttiness and its chewy texture, which originated in the 1700s from Basel, Switzerland.
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