Christmas is a time for gathering with loved ones, exchanging gifts and of course, sharing delicious food.
All around the world, families enjoy the season, many exploring unique culinary traditions, with almost every region having a different way of celebrating.
If you’re planning on preparing a holiday meal this year, why not take some inspiration from Christmas dishes worldwide?
With a modern kitchen setup, you can easily adapt these traditional recipes to your taste, adding a touch of worldwide wonder to your festive table.
Culinary Christmas Traditions From Around the World
- Italy – In Italy, (and very much so in the USA) the Feast of the Seven Fishes is a much loved Christmas Eve tradition. Families gather to enjoy a seafood feast, utilising seven foods from the sea, often including calamari, shrimp and mussels. With the convenience of induction hobs and multi-functional ovens, you can modernise this by quickly preparing a range of seafood dishes without crowding your stovetop, even using a countertop steamer for mussels and clams and an air fryer for crispy calamari.
- Japan – In Japan, Christmas is celebrated with fried chicken. Thanks to a popular KFC campaign in the 1970s, it has become customary for Japanese families to enjoy fried chicken on Christmas Day. If you want to add a Japanese-inspired twist to your Christmas feast, try making fried chicken with a homemade teriyaki glaze or sesame coating. A modern air fryer can make cooking the fried chicken healthier and quicker, while batch cooking will allow you to make enough for everyone at the table.
- Mexico – In Mexico, Christmas is all about tamales, delicious parcels of dough filled with meat, cheese, or veggies and wrapped in corn husks. Making tamales is a family affair, and it’s common for multiple generations to gather and prepare large batches to enjoy throughout the holiday season. Tamales can be labour-intensive, but a modern kitchen with a large island or plenty of counter space makes it easy to roll up these festive treats together.
- Germany – In Germany, roast goose is a traditional Christmas dish, typically served with red cabbage, dumplings and sometimes spiced wine. A convection oven makes roasting a goose easier, as it ensures even cooking throughout. You can also try using a slow cooker to prepare the red cabbage side dish in advance, so you can focus on getting the goose just right. For a modern twist, consider serving the goose with roasted root vegetables or swapping dumplings for crispy roast potatoes.
Incorporating festive traditions from around the world into your Christmas menu is a wonderful way to celebrate diverse cultures and add new flavours to your seasonal table. Thanks to modern kitchen appliances and creative adaptations, these international dishes can be easier than ever to make.
However, there are many who simply love to stick with a Festive, Traditional Christmas Roast & that is absolutely fine!
Traditional, festive, celebratory meals, incorporating a show stopping Christmas roast definitely fits the bill at any table during the holiday season.
Whatever you are thinking of doing, have a great time!
Pro tip: Simply contact Icon Kitchen Designs by clicking HERE for some innovative Kitchen refurb/renovation ideas to make your Kitchen into the unique and wonderful space you know it could be.
***************************************************************************************
Make sure you follow Icon Kitchen Designs on Social Media.
