International Holiday Dishes

International holiday dishes are a reflection of the cultural and culinary traditions of different countries around the world. These dishes are often served during special occasions such as Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and other holidays.

In many European countries, Christmas dinners often feature roast turkey or goose as the main course, accompanied by a variety of side dishes such as roasted potatoes, gravy, stuffing, and cranberry sauce. In Italy, a traditional Christmas Eve dinner is the “Feast of the Seven Fishes,” which has a variety of seafood dishes such as baccala (salted cod) and calamari (fried squid). In Germany, a popular holiday dish is roast goose with red cabbage and potato dumplings. Here is a recipe for the featured  cod fish dish.

In many Latin American countries, a popular holiday dish is tamales, which are made with cornmeal dough filled with a variety of ingredients such as chicken, pork or beans, then wrapped in a corn husk and steamed. In Brazil, a traditional holiday is pernil, which is roasted pork with a diverse group of side dishes such as rice, beans and farofa (toasted manioc flour). 

In the Middle East, a traditional holiday dessert is baklava, a sweet pastry made with layers of phyllo dough filled with nuts and honey. In Israel, a popular holiday dish is latkes, which are potato pancakes with applesauce or sour cream.

In Asia, a popular holiday dish is mooncakes, which are small pastries filled with ingredients such as red bean paste, lotus seed paste, or mixed nuts. In Japan, a traditional dish for the holidays is Osechi Ryori, which is a selection of small, carefully arranged dishes served in a special box.  

International holiday dishes are a delicious and integral part of traditions around the world. They bring people together and allow them to celebrate and honor the cultural heritage of different countries and communties.