Top 5 Latino Popular Traditional Christmas Dishes

Traditional Christmas dinners in Latin households invariably feature the delicious flavors of our heritage. 'Nochebuena' celebrations can't be complete without some of the distinctive Latin American Christmas dishes.

If you're planning your Christmas Eve menu and plan to include some of these flavors, you've likely contemplated iconic Latin American recipes such as tacos, arepas, or tamales. However, these dishes are already so deeply ingrained in U.S. culture that a significant number of people no longer consider them as foreign.

Latin America's rich culinary tapestry has a diverse array of options for traditional dishes primarily reserved for holidays. Many of them draw inspiration from the amalgamation of indigenous, European, African, and Asian influences.

Top 5 Latino Popular Traditional Christmas Dishes

1. Mexican food for Christmas: pozole

When it comes to the holiday season, and particularly Christmas Eve dinner, Pozole stands out as one of the customary culinary dishes that link Mexicans to their Latin roots. This stew traces back its origins to Mesoamerican ancient culture, crafted from hominy, referred to as 'maíz pozolero' in Mexico.

It typically includes meat and can be seasoned and garnished with shredded lettuce or cabbage, chili peppers, onion, garlic, radishes, avocado, salsa and limes. There are three popular variations in Mexico: white pozole, green pozole and red pozole.

2. El Salvador food for Christmas: 'pavo navideño salvadoreño'

The popular choice for Christmas Eve dinner in El Salvador is the 'Salvadoran turkey,' with creole sauce being the preferred accompaniment in many households. This sauce is crafted using a combination of ingredients including onions, garlic, chili, tomatoes, tomato paste, chicken broth, and achiote.

Achiote, a reddish spice derived from the fruit that has the same name and is native to Latin America, plays a significant role. Additionally, the mixture incorporates 'relajo salvadoreño', a distinctive spice blend comprising dry thyme, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, bay leaves and oregano.

3. Guatemalan food for Christmas: 'Paches navideños'

Known as Guatemalan tacos or potato tacos, Guatemalan paches are a dish made with potatoes. The recipe originated in the city of Quetzaltenango, driven by the abundant potato production in the surrounding municipalities. Similar to tamales, the only distinction between them and paches is that they are not made with corn but with potatoes.

4. Honduran food for Christmas: 'Tajadas de plátanos fritos'

Fried plantain slices can function as either a side dish or the centerpiece for the Christmas Eve table in Honduran households. Nothing beats a bowl of these strips for relishing the sweet taste of the fruit with a subtle touch of salt. This Latin American recipe is easy to prepare has become wildly popular. It is also commonly presented with corn tortillas, butter, scrambled eggs, fresh cheese, and refried beans.

5. Nicaraguan food for Christmas: gallina rellena

This typical Nicaraguan dish, usually prepared for dinner on December 24th and 31st, consists of a chicken stuffed with pork and other ingredients such as onions, bell peppers, and carrots. While the filling allows for experimenting with various combinations, the key to a true Nicaraguan 'galliana rellena' is to coat it with butter before baking.