From traditional European recipes to modern twists on holiday classics, the holiday season has something delicious for everyone.
A religious festival celebrated by more than two billion people worldwide, Christmas is a celebration that brings with it a series of traditions and interesting events. While everyone has a different idea of what a season should look like, there is one aspect that is universal, and that is food. And while customs vary by country, such as when the main feast should be eaten and what it should consist of, there are some standout dishes and drinks that seem to be favorites across the board.
Restaurants and supermarkets around the world carry food especially for the Christmas season, in fact there is an abundance of it. From traditional European recipes to modern twists on holiday classics, the holiday season has something delicious for everyone. Here are 10 of the most popular dishes we'll be having this festive season.
1. Roasted turkey.
A plump turkey cooked to perfection is the traditional centerpiece of many Christmas dinners. While this dish may not be as common in some parts of Europe, it is served for dinner on Christmas Eve and again for lunch on December 26th, so it's on our list!
Turkey is a traditional Christmas dish - but since August 2014, turkey has been the number one choice for Christmas dinner in British homes, overtaking traditional roast beef. About 22 million turkeys were eaten at Christmas 2013, an increase of 1 million from the previous year.
2. Plum pudding.
In England and other areas around the world, plum pudding - also known as Christmas pudding or fig pudding - is a traditional treat served during the Christmas season. It consists of suet, dried fruit (in medieval times, 'berry' was the generic term for any dried fruit), flour, spices, and brandy, and it has long been traditional to make this dessert. Be made to 'star-up' with the family. Sunday - the last Sunday before Advent - whereby each member of the family has to stir the pudding mixture before leaving it to be wrapped and cooked.
3. Mulled wine.
Mulled wine, also known as Glühwein, is a sweet and spiced red wine popular in Europe during the holiday season. Europeans like to serve this hot drink with cinnamon or other spices to make it more special. It is a popular drink at winter festivals across Europe and is often served with a piece of fruit.
4. Eggnog.
Americans love eggs during the holidays, but many Europeans can't understand why it's so popular! In fact, in most European supermarkets, you won't find any eggnog during the holiday season - it's not a popular drink there. Still, it remains an important part of holiday celebrations in America. It is made from eggs, milk and sugar sweetened to taste with honey or syrup.
5. Roast beef.
Roast beef is becoming increasingly popular across the UK for Christmas dinner. Just over half (51%) of British adults say they are likely to serve beef when planning their Christmas dinner this year, which makes more sense given that turkey is a staple of the big day. has won for food.
6. Plum Cake.
Plum cake has been a tradition for centuries and remains a festive favorite at Christmas time in Ireland and England. It is made from dried fruits and spices and covered in a thick glaze and is said to have originated in medieval times where it was popular to abstain from any feasts in the weeks leading up to Christmas. So that you can join it when the time comes.
7. Mince pies.
Mince pies are small. Round pies usually contain minced fruit such as raisins, currants and orange peel. They can also contain a variety of spices, such as cinnamon and nutmeg, and are best enjoyed with mulled wine.
8. Christmas cake.
Possibly the earliest English dessert is made from fruits and nuts with sugar and spices to celebrate the Roman festival of Saturnalia. There are many variations of this rich, spicy cake throughout Europe, each with a different combination of spices and dried fruit. Often served with coffee or wine after dinner, this is a Christmas treat you won't want to miss!
9. Roast potatoes.
The humble roast potato is very popular at Christmas time. It's the number one British food vegetable during the festive season! The secret to good roast potatoes is to boil them, drain and give them a good stir, and toss them in a tray of hot goose fat for that crispy exterior. delicious.
10. Gravy.
Gravy is essential to any festive meal, with the first written recipe for gravy coming from the Roman cookbook Apicius. Gravy is a savory sauce made from meat drippings mixed with other ingredients such as flour or cornstarch, and one of the most popular types of gravy in the UK is made from meat juices. Stock is added – usually made with oxo cubes!
It doesn't matter if you live in the UK, Australia, Germany, Ireland, or anywhere else in the world, if you're celebrating Christmas this year and want to celebrate it traditionally, my article will help you.
You must be logged in to post a comment.