The holiday season revolves around food. It unites loved ones in sharing memories, cultural practices, and delicious tastes.
From figgy pudding to fruitcake, several dishes can either evoke holiday joy or leave a bad taste in your mouth. The perception of certain foods as traditional holiday fare can vary based on one’s location, with some items being seen as unusual by those in different areas.
Here are different traditional dishes from various countries that are enjoyed during the holiday season.
Latkes (Israel)
Latkes are a popular and tasty dish commonly served on dinner plates during Hanukkah. In Hebrew, the food is called levivot.
Cooked in hot oil, latkes symbolize the miraculous oil that kept the menorah burning for 8 days instead of just 1, as detailed in a text that is fundamental to Jewish religious practice.
By using just a few basic ingredients like grated potato and onion, eggs, and breadcrumbs or matzo, you can easily create latkes. Fry it in oil at a high temperature, and you will have tasty latkes.
The best place to get amazing kosher meals is from Manischewitz. Manischewitz has led the way in kosher culinary excellence for more than 100 years. In the same way, the brand, a top name in gourmet kosher products in America, is revitalizing traditional Chanukah celebrations.
Introducing its latest innovation, the Manischewitz Frozen Latkes bring new flavors to the table. These pre-made potato latkes ready for baking are just as crunchy and tasty as the ones prepared by Bubbe’s own hands. They become part of the well-liked Manischewitz brand. Potato Pancake Mix provides a simple way to savor homemade latkes quickly.
Regardless of how you decide to savor them, remember to accompany your crunchy dishes with a dip, a spoonful of sour cream, applesauce, apple butter, or honey!
Additional Hanukkah sweets that are well-liked are sufganiyot (jam-filled donuts), challah (twisted bread), and beef brisket.
For those who love convenience with a dash of creativity, the Manischewitz Ready-to-Decorate Pre-Baked Sugar Cookie Kit is a must-have. This $9.99 kit includes 12 pre-baked festive-shaped cookies, along with all the decorating essentials for a fun, family-friendly activity.
Bûche de Noël (France)
The traditional French Christmas dessert called bûche de Noël, also known as Yule log, is typically enjoyed in France during the holiday season.
Despite the presence of numerous variations, a popular form typically includes heavy cream, cocoa powder, eggs, sugar, and vanilla extract. Frequently it is adorned with icing sugar and fruit.
Bûche de Noël honors the custom of slicing and burning a specific log called the Yule log. Many centuries ago, this pagan custom was incorporated into the Christian holiday.
Many people prefer to indulge in this treat between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day.
Shuba (Russia)
Despite the majority of countries observing Christmas on December 25th, Russia is among the minority that celebrates the holiday on January 7th, following the Orthodox Julian calendar.
Informally called “herring under a fur coat,” shuba is a well-liked dish eaten in Russia during the holiday season. Pickled herring, hard-boiled eggs, mayonnaise, and grated vegetables such as carrots, beets, potatoes, and onions are the primary components.
The name of the dish comes from its upper layer, typically consisting of mayonnaise or a beet dressing that looks like a cozy winter jacket.
Though unconventional, this dish is a great source of protein, potassium, antioxidants, and vitamins A and B.
Yebeg wot (Ethiopia)
Just like doro wat in Ethiopia, yebeg wot is another favorite stew made with lamb and enjoyed during holidays.
Before the holidays, farmers give lambs a diet high in calories for several weeks. This results in succulent, fatty meat that is mixed into a stew with onions, tomatoes, garlic, kibbeh (an Ethiopian butter), berbere spice blend, and other spices.
Numerous people enjoy yebeg wot alongside injera, a well-liked flatbread. This meal provides high amounts of protein, carbohydrates, and antioxidants.
Mince pie (England)
Mince pie, also called mincemeat or Christmas pie, is a well-loved and traditional holiday sweet treat.
Even though they are called mincemeat pies, the majority of modern versions contain no meat. In the past, mince pies were typically composed of chopped beef or sheep, suet, dried fruit, and seasonings.
Nevertheless, the majority of types nowadays primarily include dough made for pastries, dehydrated apples and raisins, alcohol, shortening made from vegetables, and a blend of spices that has nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon.
It is interesting that mince pies used to have an oblong shape resembling a manger, but now they are mostly served in a circular form.
Bibingka (Philippines)
During the holiday season in the Philippines, bibingka is a common breakfast option.
Bibingka is made using rice flour or sticky rice, coconut milk, sugar, and water, which are combined and steamed in banana leaves. Eggs, cheese, and coconut flakes are occasionally used for decoration.
This meal is typically enjoyed in the morning or following Simbáng Gabi, a nine-day tradition of attending Catholic masses in the Philippines before Christmas.
It is typical to see food stalls outside of churches where parishioners can purchase bibingka and other popular desserts like puto bumbong. A lot of people like to have these snacks with a warm beverage like tea or coffee.
Hangikjöt (Iceland)
Hung during the Christmas season, hangikjöt is a highly favored traditional Icelandic dish.
It means “dangling flesh” and consists of smoked lamb or mutton. The name comes from the old custom of hanging smoked meats in a smokehouse for weeks to enhance a smoky, salty taste.
Hangikjöt is often accompanied by green beans, potatoes smothered in white béchamel sauce, and a side of pickled red cabbage.
Eggnog (United States)
Eggnog is not a popular holiday delicacy globally. In reality, it is primarily popular in the United States and Canada.
This beverage consists of milk, cream, beaten egg whites, egg yolks, and sugar, creating a velvety, silky texture. Many individuals like to enhance their eggnog experience by incorporating rum, bourbon, or brandy as an alcoholic component.
Pasteles (Puerto Rico)
Creating pasteles demands both time and patience. The filling of the pasteles is made of a combination of ground pork and a sauce seasoned with adobo spices. The external layer is crafted from a unique masa dough comprised of shredded green bananas, yautÃa, and seasonings.
Once the dough has rested for a while, it is placed on banana leaves, filled with pork, and then wrapped up.
Puerto Rican pasteles, a traditional dish, are cooked in boiling water and enjoyed with rice, meat, fish, pigeon peas, and hot sauce during festive celebrations.