It is customary to spend Christmas Eve in Russia in the family circle, inviting all relatives. Unlike Western countries, we celebrate Christmas not before, but after the New Year, so often the dishes on the table are not much different from the New Year's banquet (olivier, herring under a fur coat and crab salad so pass a seven-day “soak”). We enjoy baked chicken or goose, mashed potatoes, various desserts and many other treats. And always on the table there is some new dish, the recipe of which was picked up in the culinary program or borrowed from friends.
Are you curious to know what residents of other countries eat on Christmas evening? If yes, then for you we have prepared the 10 most popular Christmas dishes in different parts of the world.
10
Germany
Not a single Christmas feast in Germany goes without sweet muffins decorated with icing sugar and stuffed with dried fruits and nuts. The special aroma of adits (the name of cupcakes) is acquired by the addition of various spices. Also, the Germans bake special cookies called weihnachtsplätzchen, Nuremberg gingerbread cookies lebkuchen and springerle cookies with a print on top.
During the festive feast, you can always enjoy fried goose, river fish, diet meat sausages (Weisswurst), venison and schäufele (fried ham from a tin can). The Germans often use potato salad as a side dish, decorating it in honor of the holiday. All of the above dishes are washed down with aromatic mulled wine and feuerzangenbowle (a kind of punch with burnt sugar dripping inside).
9
Italy
Each region of Italy can celebrate Christmas in its own way, choosing dishes that are inherent in a particular region, but the basis of the festive table is sure to be a dish called “Feast of Seven Fishes”. It consists of seven separate treats prepared using seafood. In this case, the number seven is a reference to the Bible, and symbolizes 7 Christian sacraments.
Linguine covered with lobster or clam sauce, baked fish or fried shrimp, octopus salad, squid, baccala (salted cod), shrimp cocktail stuffed with tomato sauce squid and baked cod - we have salivated, we can’t imagine how you still hold on Sweet pastries complement the composition: the popular pandoro (figured sweet bread) and panettone (a cake with raisins and other dried fruits, reminiscent of our Easter cake).
8
France
All of France is eagerly awaiting the Christmas dinner, considering it one of the main events of the outgoing year. At the dinner before Christmas, they are sure to be treated with turkey stuffed with chestnuts, duck or goose liver (foie gras), baked bird (usually a goose), fried chicken, smoked salmon and oysters.
We do not claim that you will see everything at once in any French family, but you will find most dishes almost everywhere. And also the French love the "Christmas log." Do not worry, they do not gnaw ate, the so-called cake, specially stylized as a sacred log, which is traditionally burned in fireplaces on the eve of the holiday. 13 types of sweets are added to the cake, symbolizing Jesus and his 12 apostles. As you can see, no frog legs.
7
Sweden
Despite the fact that Sweden is a Nordic country, Christmas is celebrated on a grand scale. Festivities can begin in November, Christmas banquets are called julborg, and they are no different from our corporate parties. Of course, a buffet is served at the festival, where each visitor can choose from a variety of dishes.
Almost everywhere there are fried ribs, famous Swedish meatballs (Ikea visitors know exactly what they are talking about), sausage and sausages (several types with names that are hard to pronounce for us), ham, cabbage, rye flour bread with shabby orange peel, beets, various types of cheese and herring.
The main course of Christmas evening in Sweden is Lutefisk, a white fish soaked in a solution of caustic soda for several days. To prepare this dish, cod or capelin is usually used. Lutefisk is perfectly complemented by grog or mulled wine. For dessert, Swedes offer almond rice pudding called julgröt.
6
Poland
Poland is famous for its traditions, and also sacredly honors all Catholic holidays, observing fasting. That is why the Polish Christmas Eve (wigilia) is customary to meet without meat dishes.
At the festive table there are 12 delicious dishes symbolizing the twelve apostles of Jesus. These include: carp with potato salad, borsch with ears (dough that resembles a dumplings shell), herring, dumplings, rollmops (don’t be scared, the Poles don’t eat dogs, these are just pickled herring rolls), cabbage rolls, mushroom soup, potato salads and dumplings.
As you can see, despite the relative proximity, Polish Christmas dishes are significantly different from ours, combining the traditions of Western European and Ukrainian cuisine.
5
Norway
The traditional Christmas Eve of Norwegians uses such dishes: pinnekjøtt (paired lamb ribs are first salted and then fried until golden brown), julepølse (pork sausage with spices, ginger, Bavarian mustard and other spices), svineribbe (baked pork breast) small sausages, more like sausages) and the familiar lutefisk (unlike the Swedes who prefer lutefisk from capelin or pollock, Norwegians remain true to tradition - they cook cod).
The role of the side dish is played by sweet and sour red cabbage, which is washed down with a special kind of Christmas beer juleøl or julebrus. These drinks are prepared in Norwegian breweries and can be consumed even by children, as they do not contain alcohol.
By the way, on thebiggest.ru you can find out which champagne is the best and most delicious.
4
New Zealand
Although New Zealand is located at the end of the world, their dishes during the celebration of Christmas are not particularly original. On almost every table you will find ham, pies, turkey and Christmas pudding with sausages.
But do not think that New Zealanders will not surprise you at all. They are extremely proud of their dessert, which is called Pavlova. This is a meringue cake garnished with fresh fruits (often passion fruit and strawberries). You will not believe it, but this famous dessert is directly related to Russia, because it bears the name of the world famous ballerina Anna Pavlova, who came to New Zealand in the 20s of the 20th century.
Unfortunately for New Zealanders, Pavlova also visited Australia, and now the place where the cake was invented causes heated debate between the two peoples of Oceania.
3
Japan
We have a stereotype that all Americans are turned on fast food, but the people of Japan can give them 100 points of handicap. The Japanese prefer to order food at Christmas at KFC, instead of cooking at home.
KFC is very popular in the Land of the Rising Sun. A chain of fast food restaurants takes orders for New Year's festivities two months before Christmas. For dessert, the Japanese are preparing a Christmas cake with a layer of whipped cream, which is decorated with strawberries.
2
Republic of South Africa
We have decided to associate Christmas with snow, spruce and frosty weather. In South Africa, everything is different, there the Christmas holidays are at the peak of the summer season, so most people have a barbecue in the open.
For residents of the Republic of South Africa, the main dishes on the Christmas table are roast beef, roasted pig, baked poultry, meat pies and yellow rice with vegetables. As a dessert, “mallow” is served - the famous South African pudding, resembling a sponge for washing dishes.
1
Philippines
The main dish on Christmas evening for Filipinos is considered to be Lechon - a baked milk pig. Also on the table are necessarily present cheesecake (queso de bola), jamon, chorizo (morcon), pansit (fried rice noodles with vegetables, seafood or meat), goat stew (kaldereta) and beef stew (mechado).
From sweet, Filipinos can enjoy baked rice cake (bibingka), which is prepared in pots with the addition of butter, sugar and coconut milk, as well as steam rice cake (puto bumbong), steamed in bamboo pipes and sprinkled with grated coconut. Almost all Christmas dishes in the Philippines came to the country from Spain, which for a long time controlled the territory of this island state.
Finally
And what New Year and Christmas dish do you cook at home? TheBiggest is waiting for your answers in the comments.