Why not switch up your Christmas dinner this year and bring some international recipes to your festive feast?
Videos by Wide Open Country
Around the world, Christmas is celebrated in a variety of ways. However, unless you've been invited to share the day with someone from another culture, you may have missed out. Everyone has their own dishes and recipes to fill the Christmas table. This year, try out one or two of these to make your Christmas dinner a little more international.
Poland - Borscht
Take this delicious, sour, soup recipe for your Christmas dinner starter. It is a traditional Eastern European dish, made with fermented beetroot liquid. It is traditionally served with small, mushroom-filled, perogi and is completely vegetarian.
This is slightly different from the traditional Borscht you may have had before. This international Christmas dinner dish is sour, sweet, and completely clear. It is the perfect starter, as a palette cleanser for all those chocolates you've been eating throughout the day. Its light, sour, flavour will set you up for a whole day of feasting.
Italy - Feast of Seven Fishes
Due to the amount of Italian immigrants in the US this Christmas tradition may be familiar to some. The Italians love their seafood, and they know how to cook it. Bring a taste of Europe to the table this Christmas with the feast of seven fishes.
This complete switch up the usual Christmas feast will see a total of seven fish courses served. These can vary in everything, from octopus to cod, depending on what is available and in season. Many Americans like to enjoy oysters with their Christmas dinner already, so why not incorporate them into your international seven-fishes feast too?
Japan - KFC
In Japan, only about 1% of the population is actually Christian, so Christmas isn't really celebrated. However, there is still a tradition across the country that you could bring to your international Christmas dinner. In fact, if you're caught short, or accidentally burn the bird, this could be your perfect solution.
The Japanese like to celebrate the festive day with KFC. Whereas Coca-Cola managed to buy Christmas in the US, The Colonel owns the rights to Christmas in Japan. With a mega marketing scheme, it is now traditional for the family to sit around and tuck into a bucket.
South Africa - Malva pudding
There are many amazing desserts to choose from for an international Christmas dinner, from the British Christmas pudding to the Australian pavlova. However, I think the Malva pudding from South Africa takes the, ahem, cake.
This is similar to the UK's Christmas pudding in that it is sweet, sticky, and fruity. However, the Malva is significantly easier to make, and perhaps even more delicious. It has a slightly caramelized texture. Additionally, the apricot running through it gives it a sweetness to die for. The international Christmas dinner dessert is traditionally doused in cream while still hot, which soaks into the sponge, turning it into a sticky, heavenly mess.
