Top 15 Traditional Christmas Dishes You Must Try - Mytour.vn

On a cold day, a piece of gingerbread can warm you up both physically and emotionally. It helps ease a cold quickly and is often made with ginger, sugar, breadcrumbs, almonds, and fruits, which are simple ingredients but carry a rich history. The first gingerbread was made by Queen Elizabeth I, who gave them to guests at the royal Christmas celebration. Today, gingerbread is especially popular in Germany, where you may have heard of the famous Lebkuchen, considered the most renowned gingerbread in the world.

The first gingerbread man was said to have been made upon the request of Queen Elizabeth I as a special gift for her guests. By the 17th century, gingerbread men were being sold throughout England, and in America, they have been loved for over 200 years. A well-known children's story based on the gingerbread man, published in 1875, has become a favorite among many. Over time, gingerbread has evolved across cultures, starting from a simple mixture of breadcrumbs, ginger powder, and honey, later replaced by flour, butter, and eggs. Depending on the region, gingerbread can be light brown, white, or dark brown.

Pudding Cake is a popular dessert in Western countries. The name 'Pudding' originates from the French word 'Boudin', which comes from the Latin 'Botellus', meaning 'small sausage', referring to the meats wrapped in dough used in medieval European desserts. Today, pudding cake is a sweet, soft cake primarily made from fresh milk, making it highly nutritious. Its texture is similar to jelly, and to enhance the flavor, chefs often add green tea, chocolate, fruit powder, or dried fruits. However, tracing back to the 15th century, pudding was made from plums, wine, veal, breadcrumbs, herbs, vegetables, dried fruits, and spices. By the 19th century, the ingredients and flavor of pudding had evolved closer to what we recognize today. In fact, a few beans or coins were sometimes added to the cake, and it was believed that the person who found them would be blessed with good fortune for the coming year.

No Christmas dinner would feel complete without a rich, aromatic pudding cake. While modern variations can be made with ingredients to suit personal tastes, the first pudding cakes in the 15th century were made with plums, veal, breadcrumbs, herbs, dried fruit, spices, and wine. Over time, these ingredients were adapted. Traditionally, a coin was hidden inside the pudding, and it was believed that whoever found it would be blessed with good luck for the following year, making it a highly anticipated part of the celebration.

No Christmas feast would be complete without salted ham. This dish, with its perfect balance of chewiness, sweetness, and rich, fatty flavors, will leave anyone delighted. Salted ham first appeared in Norwegian Christmas celebrations before gradually spreading around the world. Christmas dinners are made even more special with the addition of this savory treat, enjoyed together while listening to the sounds of Christmas carols. It would be an oversight not to share this delicious salted ham with family and friends on Christmas night, wouldn't it?

Every Christmas, salted ham is a must-have at European dinner tables. On Christmas day, families gather to sing Christmas carols while sharing salted ham, a symbol of joy and togetherness. Originating in Norway, this dish has spread across the world due to its irresistible taste. What could be better than experiencing the warmth of Christmas by enjoying this dish during your travels in Europe?

Meat-Filled Pastry is no stranger to us, but for a Christmas feast, it's one of the most special dishes. The pastry, shaped like a pouch, is filled with various ingredients—meat, fruits, sugar… Older generations share that this dish was added to the Christmas table as a symbol of wishes; the pouch represents holding hopes for a life full of happiness and abundance. So, don't forget to include this meat-filled pastry in your Christmas meal!

This dish might not be unfamiliar to many, but it remains an irreplaceable part of Christmas. The meat-filled pastry is like a “pouch,” packed with minced meat, fruits, a bit of sugar, and special seasonings. It's a dish full of good wishes, symbolizing happiness, abundance, and completeness just like the pastry itself. Sounds irresistible, right? Christmas is approaching, so get ready to prepare this delightful pastry to share with your loved ones for a warm and joyful holiday.

Pâté Pastry that you usually eat is made from pork or goose meat, right? But for the Christmas feast, this pâté pastry is crafted from the finest ingredients like venison and elk. The baker uses every part of the deer to create this unique pâté pastry, making it truly special. For the aristocracy in the past, the pâté pastry was the top choice to make their festive meals even more exquisite.

This is yet another special dish. The filling isn't the usual pâté made from pork or goose liver; instead, it's made from the heart, liver, and brain of deer or elk—essentially every part of the animal. This dish was once the preferred choice of the aristocracy. It only became widely known in the 17th century. Isn’t it intriguing?

Candy Balls are just as essential to Christmas as candy canes, though they may not have the same level of fame. Unlike the iconic candy cane, candy balls come in many different flavors. These delightful sweets are a favorite among children because of their irresistibly sweet taste and their round, egg-like shape. Candy Balls make the perfect gift for kids during Christmas.

Candy Balls and peppermint canes are the ultimate duo that can't be separated, and both are essential at any Christmas celebration. They may not be as large or eye-catching as the candy cane, but Candy Balls have a small, round shape resembling bird eggs, with a variety of flavors and vibrant colors. They are sweet, visually appealing, and simply irresistible, making them the ideal treat that brings joy to children during Christmas.

Soup is a common dish served daily, and naturally, it also has a place at the Christmas table. Depending on each family’s preferences, the cook will select and prepare the perfect soup for the occasion. But why is soup served at Christmas? The answer is simple: it is a delicious appetizer, symbolizing wishes for good health and success for everyone present.

Soup is more than just a dish—it's a thoughtful blessing for everyone during the holiday season. While soup is a regular part of everyday meals, on Christmas it becomes a more elaborate and meaningful dish. Served as an appetizer, it is carefully prepared with love, carrying with it the best wishes for all who partake.

Hallaca is a traditional dish from Venezuela, widely enjoyed during Christmas time. It is considered a hallmark of Venezuelan cuisine. The dish is made with ingredients from European origins like raisins, nuts, and olives, combined with local elements, and wrapped in smoky plantain leaves. Hallacas are pronounced as "ah-ya-ka."

Although Hallacas have various historical roots, many people believe that the Christmas version of the dish was created by enslaved individuals during the colonial era. During these months, slaves were often given leftover food from the Christmas feasts by their masters, which they mixed with corn flour, wrapped in banana leaves, and then boiled. Initially, Hallacas were made with pork, poultry, or beef, influenced by Indian and African cultures. The dish tastes best when cooled and stored in the refrigerator for at least a day.

Making Hallacas for Christmas in Venezuela is a time-consuming process that often involves the whole family. It takes hours of preparation, but it serves as a wonderful opportunity for family members to come together, share moments, and create warm memories.

Lutefisk is a traditional Norwegian delicacy made from dried cod (not salted). If you've never heard of Lutefisk before, it can be difficult to imagine what this dish actually is without some explanation. This mysterious food looks nothing like any seafood you've seen before. It has a creamy white color and a somewhat gelatinous texture. Lutefisk is made from white fish—only certain species like cod, haddock, or flounder can be dried, salted or unsalted.

To prepare this exquisite dish, you first soak the fish in cold water for about 5-6 days, changing the water daily. Afterward, the fish is soaked in cold water and an alkaline solution until it becomes gelatinous, almost like jelly. Due to the alkaline soaking process, you must continue soaking the fish in cold water for an additional 4-6 days, changing the water each day to rinse it clean. Finally, before cooking this delicate Lutefisk, you must salt it or coat it with a layer of salt for about half an hour before steaming it over low heat for 20 to 25 minutes. Lutefisk is typically served with a creamy sauce. Lutefisk and lefse (a type of flatbread) make up a traditional Christmas meal for Norwegians.

The Philippines is one of the countries with the longest Christmas seasons in the world, with festivities beginning in September and lasting until the end of December. The holiday season here stretches for three months, filled with colorful dishes and delicious treats. One of the most beloved and iconic dishes during this time is Puto Bumbong. This treat is made from a special type of rice called pirurutong, which has a natural purple color. When you visit the Philippines during Christmas, you can find vendors selling Puto Bumbong outside Catholic churches, especially in the nine days leading up to Christmas Eve.

Preparing Puto Bumbong is a meticulous and time-consuming process. First, the purple rice is soaked with glutinous rice in a salty water mixture overnight. Then, the mixture is ground with a mortar or blender and left to dry. Afterward, the moist rice mixture is placed into bamboo tubes and steamed until it turns a deep purple. Once ready, the Puto Bumbong is removed from the bamboo tubes and placed on banana leaves, topped with butter, freshly grated coconut, and muscovado sugar. This dish is best enjoyed while still hot, allowing you to savor the sweet rice flavor, rich butteriness, and the aromatic taste of grated coconut.

Hanukkah is the Jewish festival that begins eight days before December 25, overlapping with Christmas, which is why many of the foods consumed during Hanukkah also appear during Christmas. One of the most iconic dishes served during this time is the Latkes, a type of potato pancake. The dish has its roots in the ancient Jewish tradition of slaughtering geese at the start of December. During the months leading up to slaughter, geese were fed generously to fatten them up, and the fat was used for cooking.

Potatoes, which became widely cultivated in Jewish communities by the early 19th century, soon replaced cheese in the original version of the dish. The early versions of Latkes were made from fried cheese, but with the availability of potatoes, cheese was replaced with shredded potatoes. Today, there are many variations of Latkes, but the most common is made from grated potatoes. These pancakes are traditionally fried in oil, symbolizing the miracle of the oil during Hanukkah.

During the Christmas season, the French indulge in a variety of seafood dishes, with oysters being the most consumed. While oysters are enjoyed throughout the year in France, their consumption skyrockets in December, as the French enter a sort of 'oyster craze'. It's hard to estimate the exact amount, but it's believed that two-thirds of the annual oyster consumption occurs during the Christmas period. This tradition dates back to the Middle Ages and has biblical roots.

In addition to oysters, the French also enjoy scallops, which are considered a symbol of pilgrimage. Oysters are prepared in various ways, from steaming to baking, depending on the family's taste. On the other hand, goose and duck liver are also popular delicacies during Christmas, with their rich, creamy texture making them perfect when paired with cream and a glass of Armagnac wine.

Originating from North America, turkey first appeared in England during the 16th century, replacing other festive meats such as goose and pork. In 1526, the merchant William Strickland introduced turkey to England, after purchasing six birds from Native Americans during his travels to the New World. Since then, turkey has become an essential dish for Christmas celebrations around the world. December's cold weather, with its biting chill and winds, makes the aroma of roasted turkey especially comforting, filling both the belly and the spirit.

But why is turkey so important at Christmas? This tradition first took root in England and gradually spread worldwide. In the 16th century, explorer Sebastian Cabot brought turkey back to England, where it became the main dish for Christmas. By the 18th century, the tradition spread to Australia and beyond. Today, the UK consumes around 10 million turkeys every Christmas, with nearly 90% of people believing that Christmas wouldn't feel complete without it. However, turkey is not the traditional Christmas food in most European countries. In Portugal, cod is favored, while Germans enjoy wild boar or venison. In Sweden, Christmas meals typically include caviar, oysters, and various fish dishes, both raw and cooked. Without turkey, Christmas simply wouldn’t be the same.

The Yule Log Cake, also known as Bûche de Noël or Christmas Log, is a classic holiday dessert that originates from France and is deeply rooted in ancient customs. It is tied to the tradition of burning a log to welcome the return of the sun. In ancient Scandinavia, during the Yule festival, a large piece of wood was burned for twelve days and nights, and if it burned continuously without extinguishing, it was considered a sign of good fortune from the sun god. Although the Yule festival is no longer celebrated in the same way, the tradition has evolved into the creation of the Yule Log Cake, a symbol of Christmas that is often prepared with great care and presented in festive displays.

There are several theories about the origins of this cake. One theory links it to the ancient Celts, who would burn large logs throughout the night on New Year's Eve to celebrate the return of the sun after the long, cold winter. The ashes of the log were kept for medicinal purposes and to protect the home from storms, lightning, and evil spirits. Another theory suggests that the Yule Log Cake came from the tradition of burning a log to honor the sun god and bring good luck. Over time, as the practice of burning large logs disappeared, smaller branches began to take their place. These branches were decorated with sweets and ornaments to welcome guests. Eventually, this transformed into the Yule Log Cake we know today, a delightful treat to complete any Christmas feast.

The legend of the candy cane dates back to the 15th century. In 1670, a choirmaster in Germany created the first 'sugar canes' to give to children. This gesture was intended to keep the children quiet during the performances of nativity plays. Additionally, gifting sweets was already a common tradition at Christmas. The choirmaster believed that the cane-shaped candy would remind children of the shepherds who were the first to visit baby Jesus after his birth.

Just as fireworks signal the New Year and lanterns symbolize the Mid-Autumn Festival, candy canes have become an iconic treat during Christmas. These sweet candies, shaped like the crook of a shepherd’s staff, are made from sugar and other ingredients. Initially, candy canes were only white, but over time, as tastes evolved, multicolored swirls were added to make them more visually appealing and appetizing. Candy canes are not just a delicious snack, but they are also used to decorate Christmas trees and serve as a fun part of Christmas Eve traditions like caroling and trick-or-treating!