These are the most popular Christmas dishes from around the world
The Christmas table: are you already looking forward to it? Are you going all out in the kitchen, joining someone else’s table, or do you not really care and think it’s just as good a day as any other for a fries feast? In any case, this is what traditionally appears on tables in other countries around the world at Christmas.
What didn’t surprise me was the turkey in the United Kingdom; for years now, I’ve been allowed to pile a classic Christmas plate high at my in-laws’ with juicy, tender turkey, potatoes and roasted parsnips, steamed Brussels sprouts and carrots, and the ever-slightly-indefinable side dish known as ‘stuffing’. Oddly enough, this stuffing isn’t inside the turkey but is served alongside it. Why? ‘That’s just how it is.’ Okay! And in North America too, turkey is what’s on the Christmas menu. And elsewhere?
Australian Christmas prawns
In Australia, it’s prawns; in Nigeria, it’s jollof; in Spain, suckling pig; and in Italy, cod or veal. Interesting, right?! These and many more fun facts come from a study by Chef’s Pencil, who sent us the results.
Roll them up
In Bulgaria and Romania, the festive season is celebrated with sarma(le): rolled leaves (for example, vine, chard or cabbage leaves) filled with a mixture that varies by region but can consist of rice, minced meat and tomatoes.
Colourful Christmas card
In the Scandinavian countries, pork is a popular choice, as shown on the colourful map featuring favourite Christmas dishes from around the world. Except in Denmark, where they prefer duck at Christmas. Fried fish is popular in several European countries east of us.
Still a favourite
That leaves the question: what is (still) the most popular Christmas meal in the Netherlands? Whether surprising or not: gourmetten. Yes, according to this map by Chef’s Pencil, the fiddling around with little dishes and pans is still Holland’s ultimate culinary Christmas tradition.
Will you be having gourmetten this Christmas too? Then read these tips on how to clean a gourmet set in the most convenient way, and perhaps stock up on a bottle of odour spray against the gourmet smell. Merry Christmas in advance!
Source and images: Chef’s Pencil
Also read:
- Not gourmetten again this Christmas? These are the 6 best alternatives
- 3 surprising gourmet recipes
- Ring ring: move over beer bike, here comes the gourmet bike
