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The World’s Favorite Holiday Foods

Food, glorious food! Join us on a Christmas culinary tour of the world and learn all about the worlds favourite festive foods.
22 November 2023

Calling all foodies! December is here, which means that all over the world, people will be beginning to prepare their favorite comfort foods and festive dishes to celebrate the holiday period over the next few weeks.

Here at Civitatis, we’re also excited about the upcoming festivities, coming from all of the different traditions, and the delicious dishes that go with them. That’s why we’ve assembled a platter of 10 different plates from all over the world to try with your loved ones, whether you’re at home or abroad this holiday season. So, grab your knife and fork and dig in!

Argentina’s Holiday Asado

Argentinian asado at Christmas with different grilled meats on a wooden board
Argentine asado

Argentina is home to many wonderful things. Among them, we have tango, the beautiful region of Patagonia, and the legendary Argentinian barbecue or asado. Argentinians make asado all year round, but they can agree that the very best happen in the warm months around Christmas.

This barbecue platter is Argentina’s signature dish. It comes from the Pampa plains where, much more than just a delicious meal, asado becomes an actual ritual. A typical asado includes different types of beef or pork cuts, accompanied by morcillas, chorizo, and ribs.

Israel’s Festive Latkes

Israeli latke plate ready to eat with sour cream on the side on a wooden table
Israelian latkes

In Israel, locals traditionally serve potato latkes during Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights. These round potato treats are fried in oil to symbolize the miracles of Hanukkah, in which the oil that was meant to last for one day, lasted for eight. This is why it’s customary to celebrate this holiday by having the candles burning for 8 nights.

Latkes are made from grated potato, onion, and egg which is then made into the shape of a disc and fried.

There are two opposing opinions as to what the perfect latke should look like:

  • Very golden, thin, and crispy. The shape is more irregular, they are darker on the outside, and strips of potato should protrude from the edges.
  • Crispy on the outside but with a creamier interior. Rounder in shape and thicker, more like a potato pancake.

Dominican Tropical Christmas

A wooden plate of Dominican tostones, fried plantain chips, a holiday favorite
Dominican tostones

If you’re spending Christmas sunbathing on this sunny Caribbean island, there’s one dish you’ll definitely want to try! In the Dominican Republic, lots of people dig into tasty tostones.

These delicious treats contain plantain fried to perfection twice until it’s a delightful golden brown. Dominicans sometimes serve tostones with a garlic and vinegar sauce or perhaps guacamole and pico de gallo. A handful of other Latin American countries are also fans of tostones, such as Puerto Rico and Cuba.

Spanish Seafood on New Year’s

A Spanish seafood platter with sardines, octopus, shrimp, and lemon
Spanish seafood

Like many European countries, the main Christmas meal in Spain takes place on the night of Christmas Eve. Numerous families prepare a spread featuring a wide variety of delicacies, almost all of which tend to include seafood.

It’ll come as no surprise that for the European country that consumes the most fish, seafood is one of their favorite festive foods! Some top picks include shrimp, lobster, and prawns prepared in salads, tarts, or simply stacked on plates in a mouth-watering pyramid. This tradition is particularly popular in Spain’s coastal regions, such as Galicia in the northwest and Andalusia in the south.

The Nigerian Tradition

Nigerian jollof rice in a big pot cooking on the fire
Nigerian jollof rice

In Nigeria, the main holiday meal consists of rice, most notably jollof rice. What’s jollof rice, you ask? It’s a tasty stew made with vegetables and plenty of spices, such as ginger, curry, and garlic.

There are two secret ingredients in Nigerian jollof rice that set it apart from Ghanian or other jollof dishes: white pepper and butter. Butter is added at the very end of cooking to add to its rich appearance and taste, while the white pepper gives it a bit of a kick.

Japan’s Surprising Christmas Food

Kentucky Fried Chicken sign in Japan Christmas themed
Japanese KFC – a surprisingly popular holiday food

As some poultry in Japan is more difficult to track down, KFC is this nation’s favorite festive food. Millions of Japanese place their orders months in advance for the colonel’s chicken Christmas bucket.

This surprising custom owes its popularity to a massively successful marketing campaign in the 70s that saw KFC advertised as a traditional American holiday food.

Australian Summer Holiday Barbecue

Shrimp skewers roasting on a barbecue in Australia, a favorite food for the Australian summer
Australian Christmas barbecue

As Christmas falls in the summer in Australia, it isn’t very fitting to cozy up indoors with a roast dinner! Instead, plenty of Australians fire up the coals and toss a shrimp on the barbie!

This barbecue spread could include oysters, prawn cocktails, a mixed seafood grill, and some sizzling surf-and-turf skewers. Plenty of households also grill chicken, lamb, and mini steaks for this festive celebration.

Festive Colombian Tamales

Colombian tamales fresh steamed in front of a festive holiday background
Colombian tamales

A classic Latin American dish, no matter the season, tamales are one of Colombia’s favorite holiday foods. This dish varies from country to country. In Colombia, they’re wrapped in fresh banana leaves, while in Mexico, they’re typically wrapped in corn husks.

Originating from the Aztec civilization and fused with Colombian cuisine through the addition of pork, carrots, and peas, tamales are incredibly popular. The tradition of a family gathering to make tamales together even has its own name: the tamaleada. Colombia alone has several different kinds of tamales, with the most popular varieties being from Tolima, Antioquía, and Bogotá.

What do Italians Eat at the Holidays?

Italian zampino sausage served on a bed of lentils, a New Year's Eve favorite in Italy
Italian zampino

In Italy, a New Year’s Eve meal is never complete without either cotechino or zampino, two holiday delicacies that originate from the charming northern town of Modena. These tasty sausages are normally prepared over a bed of stewed lentils, which are said to bring good luck for the new year.

The two versions of this holiday tradition are a matter of some debate – Italians can’t seem to agree on which one is the best. The difference lies largely in their appearance and both contain the same type of meat and spices: pepper, nutmeg, cloves, and sometimes even cinnamon. You’ll have to try for yourself to see which one is the winner!

The United Kingdom’s Beloved Christmas Pudding

A decorated table with Christmas Pudding and warm drinks, festive lights in the background
The UK’s Christmas pudding – a favorite holiday food

A Christmas dinner in the UK isn’t complete without Christmas pudding! This pudding has evolved significantly over the last 500 years, from being banned by the Puritans to eventually becoming the version we know and love today in Victorian times.

Christmas puddings are typically made with a mixture of dried fruits, such as raisins, sultanas, and currants, as well as muscovado sugar and plenty of warming spices like nutmeg. For an extra touch, some people choose to pour brandy on top and light it on fire to create a delicious and visually appealing flambé effect.

From all of us at Civitatis, we wish you a merry Christmas, and save us some figgy pudding!

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