Christmas dishes from Around the world
With travel restrictions and rising coronavirus numbers, getting home for the holidays this year is not an easy option. However, we at Club GLOBALS want you to feel at home! We have collected some of the most famous Christmas dishes from around the world. Maybe you can try recreating them at home or be inspired to put your own spin on these traditional dishes.
1. Christmas Pudding (England)
This dish has many names, figgy pudding, plum pudding, but we think it deserves it’s Christmas title since its name can be a little misleading. This pudding might not be what you expect and indeed there are no plums or figs to be found inside! A classic recipe contains suet, dried fruit, sweet spices and the best part – wine or brandy.
2. Pavlova (Australia and New Zealand)
Christmas in the southern hemisphere is a bit different from Berlin. The warm summer months around Christmas time are often accompanied by Christmas BBQ’s and this amazing dessert dish – Pavlova. This is a fluffy meringue topped with your choice of fresh fruits. Bonus if you can shape the meringue into a festive wreath!
3. Latkes (Israel)
Synonymous with Hanukkah since the Middle Ages, Latkes are fried potato pancakes cooked in oil. These delicious pancakes serve as a reminder that the Second Temple kept the Menorah burning with oil for eight days. These irregular pancakes are made simply with grated potatoes, egg and flour – but don’t forget the oil to fry them!
4. Panettone (Italy)
Italy’s traditional Christmas bread may be confused with North America’s (in our opinion, inferior) fruitcake but the shape of it is iconic! This tall domed bread traditionally has candied fruit, chocolate, raisins and nuts in it but more modern versions can also have nougat or marzipan mixed in. Originally from Northern Italy, this sweet treat has spread all around the world.
5. Seafood (Spain)
No Christmas in Spain would be complete without seafood. While variations are found across the country, the one agreed upon ingredient for any holiday dinner is king prawns. Typically a sign of status, some Spanish families will save all year in order to partake in this special holiday treat.
6. KFC (Japan)
This might seem like a strange Christmas tradition but it’s definitely the easiest to recreate in Berlin! Due to a very successful marketing campaign in the 1970s by a Japanese franchise owner, Kentucky Fried Chicken has become a time honoured Christmas tradition for many families in Japan. So pick up a bucket and don’t feel guilty about not cooking!
7. Christmas Goose (Germany)
Stuffed with apples, chestnuts, onions and prunes, this goose is slightly different from the usual Turkey on top of tables in the United States. Served with red cabbage, dumplings, gravy and sauerkraut – we can’t think of a better traditional Christmas dish to eat while here in Germany!
We hope that this has inspired you to make Christmas a little more special this year. However, even if you are a terrible cook or end up burning the dinner you made for your WG – there’s always Lieferando! Which will deliver you some delicious meals in no time. Take advantage of letting someone else cook and look forward to not doing the dishes this holiday season! That should make it feel extra special indeed.
What traditional dish will you be missing this year? Share in the comments below!
