Mexico: Aztec history on your plate with Romeritos
Mexicans celebrate Christmas with lots of flavour and colour, and Romeritos is a classic dish that dates back to Aztec times. The star ingredient, romeritos (a plant resembling spinach), is cooked with shrimp patties, potatoes, nopalitos (cactus), and a rich mole sauce. The secret to mole? It contains cocoa! Don’t worry, it won’t taste like chocolate – instead, you get a deep, savoury flavour explosion.
Fun tip: Romeritos tastes even better the next day, according to experts. Worth a try, right?
Recipe for making your own Romeritos.
Netherlands: gourmet dining with friends and family
In the Netherlands, gourmet cooking at Christmas is an unwritten tradition. Each year, the big grill plate returns to the centre of the table, surrounded by cute mini pans where you can create your own culinary masterpieces. Whether you choose meat, veggies, or mini potatoes – anything goes! Add bread, tasty sauces, and lots of laughter, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a night full of cosy chaos.
The best part? Everyone gets to cook what they want, all while enjoying endless chatter and a relaxed atmosphere. It’s cooking together, without the rush, and with heaps of gezelligheid.
Recipe for a relaxed gourmet.
Bulgaria: pulneni chushki and more
Christmas Eve in Bulgaria is far from ordinary – it’s all about tradition, symbolism, and simplicity, paired with comfort food. The table is filled with vegetarian or vegan dishes made from pure, simple ingredients. Think pitka (homemade bread), sarmi (grape or cabbage leaves stuffed with rice), pulneni chushki (peppers stuffed with rice and herbs), and bobena chorba (a hearty bean or lentil soup). To top it off, they serve oshav – a sweet, aromatic drink made from dried fruit that immediately sets the Christmas mood.
Fun fact: The number of dishes on the table must always be odd – 7, 9, or 11 – as it’s said to bring good luck!
Recipe for making your own Bulgarian stuffed peppers.
Germany: enjoy cosiness with raclette
In Germany, the classic Christmas dinner of duck or goose, red cabbage, and potatoes is increasingly being swapped for something simpler but irresistibly delicious: raclette. Picture a cosy table, a special grill in the middle, and melted cheese poured over everything. Bread, veggies, cold cuts, potatoes – anything goes!
It’s like gourmet dining but with a Swiss twist, starring the deliciously melty raclette cheese. Melt it, pour it, and enjoy – because let’s face it, Christmas isn’t complete without lingering at the table with friends and family.
Check the perfect raclette recipe.
Greece: christopsomo and keftedes, festive Christmas dishes
In Greece, Christmas is all about tradition, warmth, and amazing food. Christopsomo, the Greek Christmas bread, is a must-have on the holiday table. This sweet, fragrant bread is filled with spices like cinnamon and nutmeg and topped with walnuts and orange. It’s the perfect addition to any meal and symbolises abundance and togetherness.
Another festive staple? Keftedes, Greek meatballs often served with a fresh tomato sauce. These dishes bring a piece of Greek Christmas tradition to your table and are easy to prepare, leaving you more time to enjoy with your loved ones.
Recipes for christopsomo and delicious keftedes.
