35 delicious festive recipes from around the world
By: Kitiara Pascoe
Tags: Recipe, Food, Cuisine, Christmas

December and early January are times for traditions but the holiday season is also perfect for experimenting with new recipes. We all grow up with the festive recipes in our families and cultures but it’s fascinating to look outside those tried-and-tested favourites to find even more glory.

The festive period has lots of similarities across the world. Roasting meat is a particular commonality although fish is also heavily emphasised in many nations. Earthy vegetables take a leading role during this time too, especially in northern hemisphere nations where warmth and cosiness are prioritised.

No matter which country you’re eating in, visiting or recreating on your dining table, sweet treats and cakes are a big part of the holidays.

To keep your festive feasting as sustainable as possible, stick to buying organic meat, dairy and vegetables. Not only is it the environmentally-friendly choice but organic food is more flavourful and has a better texture.

So, without any further ado, let’s check out some glorious festive recipes from five countries.

Australia

Lounging around in mid-summer, the festive period in Australia brings everyone out to the BBQ. These delicious recipes use both classic and more unusual ingredients to create a veritable taste explosion.

Sweet potato and cabbage gratin

This recipe is the sort of comfort food that makes you want to keep eating. It’s packed with nutritious foods and flavour but you’ll get plenty of mouth-watering cheese in each bite too.

Roasted cauliflower

Why not try something new this holiday season? Roasted cauliflower has taken off in recent years and is a perfect side dish for everyone, especially vegetarians. This recipe uses Middle Eastern spices to give the cauliflower an intriguing zing.

Prawn corn cups

Prawns are quintessentially Australian but these tasty treats have serious sustainability issues surrounding them. Check the GoodFish prawn guide to see which types you’re better off buying this holiday season.

These prawn corn cups are a delicious and vibrant starter. Not to mention they look super cool on the plate.

Pineapple-glazed ham

Christmas ham on the table goes without saying but this pineapple glaze takes it to a whole new level. Make sure you buy organic ham as you’ll get far more flavour. Combined with the pineapple, this is utterly fantastic.

Maple-glazed chicken and kumara kebabs

It’s not an Australian Christmas without something on a skewer. This tasty, fresh recipe uses sweet potato to match with succulent, sweet chicken. Again, choose organic chicken for the best flavour and texture.

United States

The US has many holiday season traditions thanks to its diverse population and huge size. Each state has its own traditional dishes and while there are plenty of commonalities, there are lots of delectable differences.

Onion, fennel and kale stuffing

Stuffing is an international festive foodstuff and the US eats plenty of it every year. This version can easily be vegetarian by using vegetable stock too. With caramelized onions, fennel and kale, there’s plenty of flavour in this Christmas dish.

Pecan pie

Pecan pie is an All-American dish that’s a non-negotiable in several states. Very sweet but rich in flavour and texture, pecan pie brings an earthy taste to the dessert table.

Green bean casserole

An iconic dish for both Thanksgiving and Christmas, green bean casserole is an outstanding recipe that everybody should try. Kentucky, Wisconsin and Missouri are big fans of this casserole but you’ll find it eaten with gusto throughout the country.

Gumbo

A Louisiana holiday season wouldn’t be right without some kind of gumbo. This incredibly varied dish essentially uses whatever you have to hand, making it ideal for using up leftovers.

Potato and apple latkes

There’s an awful lot you can put with latkes but smoked salmon is a great festive addition. These potato and apple latkes are so good you’ll want to make them throughout the year.

Germany

Embracing full winter over the festive period, often with snow in higher regions, Germany’s holiday cuisine is warming, cosy dishes and plenty of cake.

Lebkuchen

You’ll find these throughout Germany and Austria all the time but particularly so at Christmas. Often in festive shapes, these are soft, chewy cookies with icing sugar or chocolate on top. The spices used are what will keep you reaching for another.

Apfelstrudel

Apple strudel is a mainstay of German cuisine and is a fantastic, warming festive treat. Pastry, apples, cinnamon and brown sugar combine to make this most delicious of desserts. You can easily serve with ice cream, custard or double cream.

Sauerkraut

Got leftover cabbage? Give your gut health a boost in January by making this delicious sauerkraut. This is incredibly easy to make and store, a perfect side to lunches and dinners throughout the New Year period.

Spaetzle

This intriguing dish is wonderfully cosy and there are many different recipes. This one is a great place to start and you’ll soon be trying out a new spaetzle recipe every week.

Braised red cabbage

The Germans love their cabbage dishes and this red cabbage recipe is simple and ideal for a festive side dish. The apples bring a new flavour into the mix and complement the cabbage perfectly.

United Kingdom

The Brits love their Christmas traditions but with vegetarianism and veganism on the rise, the dishes are getting even more interesting every year. There are some staples that will never disappear though.

Mince pies

It’s not a British Christmas without mince pies. Stewed fruit in pastry, what’s not to love? While every supermarket sells them from September onwards, nothing beats a homemade mince pie.

Aubergine dip

Every Brit has a box of crackers in their house over Christmas but sometimes you want something other than cheese to put on them. This exquisite aubergine (eggplant) dip is just the thing.

Mushroom hotpot

Vegetarian and vegan dishes have been historically stuck at nut roast in Britain but not anymore. There are innumerable outstanding go-to dishes now and this mushroom hotpot is a serious showstopper.

Festive biscuits

The holiday season is an exciting time for children and sometimes they need to put their energy into something creative and delicious. These Christmas biscuits are easy to make and super fun to decorate. Of course, they’re even more fun to eat.

Vegetarian stuffing

There’s a lot of excellent root vegetables around at this time of year, not to mention nuts — a festive favourite. This vegetarian stuffing is an ideal way to use up some organic veg box contents and makes for a tasty side dish.

Spain

The Spanish have a lengthy festive period and don’t exchange gifts until early January. Traditional Spanish dishes have been honed over generations and are often easy to recreate no matter where you are in the world.

Arroz con pollo

Chicken and rice is a Spanish staple but the extras and seasoning will change from one cook to the next. This recipe looks so good and uses easy to find ingredients.

Seafood soup

Spanish holiday season feasts almost always include at least one fish dish, if not five. A seafood soup or chowder is a classic way to open any festive meal and you can use any fish you can get hold of. Before you choose which fish to use, check out the Seafood Watch guide to see if it’s a sustainable choice.

Arroz con leche (rice pudding)

Commonly known as rice pudding, this classic Spanish dish is a wonderful festive dessert that differs from the heavy cakes that are popular elsewhere. Strawberries might not be in season where you are, so choose a different fruit topping to match your location.

Spicy potatoes

Potatoes are a big deal in Spain and these spicy potatoes are an excellent accompaniment to whitefish and other light meats. To be honest, they’re so good, you could eat them by themselves.

King’s cake

This cake is eaten in plenty of European countries but is very popular in Spain. You’ll need a ring or Bundt cake tin and plenty of candied peel and dried fruit for this one. The Spanish place a coin inside, for one lucky person to find. It does mean that you must eat it very carefully. Remember to wash the coin first!

Italy

Gathering together for a feast is an intrinsic part of Italian culture so it’s no surprise that some pretty fantastic food comes out of this Mediterranean country each Christmas. Each region has its own traditional foods but shares one particular commonality; they’re all delicious.

Panettone

Packed with candied fruit, this sweet bread is an absolute Italian classic. You’ll see them in shops in lovely presentation boxes but making your own can be really fun. True panettone takes over a day to make as the dough requires significant proving.

Mussel linguine

Italy has a large Roman Catholic population and its from this background that many traditions spring. Abstaining from meat before Christmas is one such tradition and has led to fish taking pride of place on the table on Christmas Eve (and plenty of other days throughout the season). This mussel linguine is delicious, flavourful and looks mightily impressive.

Focaccia

The holiday season in Italy is adorned with baked goods, not least focaccia. Thought to have originally come from Liguria in north-western Italy, focaccia has many variations that differ from region to region. This classic recipe is surprisingly easy to make and unbelievably moreish.

Spinach and ricotta ravioli

Homemade pasta is an entirely different food to the pasta you buy in the shops. While there’s certainly a bit of an art form to making it like a true Italian, anyone can start making their own pasta and enjoying the exquisite texture. This recipe needs a pasta machine but once you try it, you’ll be making it every week.

Lemon marinated anchovies

Antipasti platters are everywhere in Italy come Christmas time and what they’ll feature depends on which region you’re in. As fish is such an important part of Italian cuisine, this simple yet punchy recipe is perfect for nibbles.

France

The French typically have their most important meal on Christmas Eve but, like in many other countries, food takes a central role throughout the holiday season. This time of year is full of the most exquisite foods in France and no expense is spared.

Smoked salmon mousse canapés

French Christmas parties always come with a serving of canapés, vol-au-vents and other bite-sized morsels of flavour. This recipe is an absolute classic, often served on crackers, toast or even cucumber slices.

Oysters with mignonette sauce

Seafood is a staple in French Christmas cuisine and oysters are a firm favourite. This classic recipe is quick and easy to pull together, and results in a perfect balance of flavours. After all, you’d expect nothing less from France.

Chocolate truffles

The French truly know their chocolate and luxurious chocolate truffles should never be far away. This recipe is simple to make and the taste and texture are incredibly rich.

A cheese platter

A selection of cheeses is as much a part of a true French feast as the wine. The great thing about this simple spread is that you can use whichever local cheese you have available. The holiday season is the perfect excuse to try some more artisanal cheeses too.

Profiteroles

These little choux balls of goodness are wonderful to look at and wonderful to eat. There’s a knack to making them but nobody said they have to be perfect so don’t be afraid to give it a go.

Enjoy your festive feasting

No matter what foods you make this holiday season, be sure to take your time, savour the flavours and remember that there’s nothing wrong with making new traditions.

After such a challenging year, it’s about time we all put our feet up and tucked into some great, hearty meals. If you’ve got any firm favourites, do share them in the comments and inspire others.

Happy holidays!