Everyone has unique Christmas recipes that add a special touch to the holiday season. For so many, it’s impossible to think about Christmas without thinking fondly of the foods—irresistible sights, smells, and tastes that are unique to the holiday. As the Yuletide season draws closer, consider adding some of these European Christmas recipes to your holiday feast this year, or add your own family’s food traditions to FamilySearch Memories to preserve them for years to come.
Christmas Starters
Gravad Lax—Cured Salmon
Gravad lax, also known as gravlax, is a cured salmon dish often used as part of a Christmas smörgåsbord in Sweden. Although often used as a starter or part of a buffet table, it can also be used as a main course. Dill is a prominent ingredient in this savory recipe.
Kutya (or Kutia)
This sweet food is a very traditional part of Christmas Eve dinner in Ukraine. Made of boiled wheat berries, honey, and poppy seeds, kutya is the first of 12 symbolic dishes eaten on this special night. It makes a delicious start to a holiday meal.
Gourmet Panettone
Panettone is well-loved Christmas dessert that originates from Italy. There are several possible stories of how it came to be, but whether panettone was invented by a hawker, a nun, or a court cook, it is worth the time it takes to make! This recipe changes up the traditional cakelike bread, leading with savory flavors instead of sweet.
Velouté de châtaigne aux saint-jacques—Chestnut Velouté with Scallops
Ancient Greek and Roman writings show that chestnuts have been cultivated for thousands of years. Although chestnuts were used in times past as a staple for the poor, nowadays many people around the world consider them a traditional Christmas flavor—whether roasted over the fire or in warm, delicious chestnut soups. This traditional French recipe combines chestnuts with velouté, a typical French soup base made with white meat stock and thickened with cream.
Christmas Main Courses
Bacalhau de Natal—Christmas Cod
Cod became a popular Christmas Eve meal in Portugal during the 16th century. Fasting from certain foods before Christmas was a tradition in the Catholic Church at the time, and meat was off the menu. Because fish was not considered meat, cod was an inexpensive replacement that was accessible to most people.
Pavo relleno—Stuffed Turkey
Few things are as common in a Christmas celebration as a perfectly roasted stuffed turkey. This delectable dish is a popular holiday meal in many places around the world, with each country giving the turkey its own unique twist. This particular recipe is from Spain. How closely does it match your favorite?
Weihnachtsgans—Roasted Goose
Sausages, roast pork, or a good roasted goose are often the main Christmas dish in German-speaking countries. All three have been around since the Middle Ages, though which one was eaten in a household used to be a matter of wealth. During the Industrial Age, goose—considered by some people to be the more festive of the three meats—became a favorite in many households that could begin to afford it.
Cannelloni al forno—Baked Cannelloni
One of the many pasta dishes common across Italy on Christmas, cannelloni al forno consists of large, tube-shaped noodles stuffed with meat, cheese, and tomato sauce. As a pasta dish, it is just one piece of a traditional Christmas feast, which also includes breads, a meaty main course, roast vegetables, and of course, sweet desserts.
Christmas Dinner—Roasted Turkey
In Great Britain, while some people still eat goose or beef as the main dish for Christmas dinner, many will not dispute that a traditional Christmas dinner involves turkey. Because this meat is such a popular staple for Christmas, we have a second recipe for you that is simpler than the one above. If you don’t want to tackle stuffing a turkey, try this roasted turkey recipe from Great Britain that goes well with roasted vegetables.
Christmas Desserts
Walnut Bejgli—Walnut Roll
Christmas Bejgli in Hungary often comes in 2 main varieties, one with a dark poppy seed filling (mákos bejgli) and another with a light brown filling made from walnuts (diós bejgli). This recipe is for a walnut filling and is sometimes called a walnut roll. It is a beautiful addition to a festive holiday dessert table.
Vanillekipferl—Vanilla Crescent Cookies
These melt-in-your mouth crescent-shaped cookies are made with ground nuts—almonds, hazelnuts, and walnuts are all acceptable options!
Rabanadas—Golden Slices
Some people call rabanadas “Portuguese French toast,” but both French toast and rabanadas are believed to have been developed at around the same time. Although Rabanadas recipes often just call for “sliced bread,” the type of bread (usually round slices) and how it is soaked before applying the egg mixture can distinguish a Portuguese rabanadas dish, which is often eaten in both Portugal and Brazil at Christmastime.
Le bûche de Noël—Yule Log
The French yule log cake has its origins in an actual log—a dense, large piece of wood that was chosen, decorated, and then burned on the night of Christmas Eve. This log was meant to last all the way through Christmas and into the New Year to keep the frigid winter at bay. As times changed and wood-burning fireplaces became less necessary, a cake was made to symbolically replace the important yule log.
Plum Pudding
This delectable pudding incorporates a mixture of dried fruits and aromatic spices, all once considered the most luxurious and expensive ingredients available. The pudding is steamed as it bakes, ensuring a moist, spongy texture. It is often topped with a sweet sauce.
Roscón de reyes—King’s Cake
Roscón de reyes, roughly translated as “king’s cake,” is a Spanish sweet bread that is often topped with candied fruit and stuffed with cream. Most famously, it often contains a small baby figurine meant to represent baby Jesus. The person who finds the doll is said to have good luck for the next year.
Share Your Family’s Christmas Recipes
Are any of these Christmas foods a part of your family’s celebration? Or do you have different traditions that have been passed down through the generations? Although recipes on paper and other memories can fade over time, the digital age makes it easier than ever to keep traditions alive or restore them.
As a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people connect to their families and cherish these moments, FamilySearch offers free services that can help you connect with your past and digitally preserve the memories that are most important to you or your family. Create a free account this season, or try some of these delicious recipes, and have a wonderful Christmas!
