Christmas is a time when food becomes a bridge between generations, cultures, and memories. Across Europe, the holiday table transforms into a celebration of flavours, rich with traditions passed down through the years. If you are seeking fresh and exciting Christmas Eve dinner ideas, this guide explores how you can recreate the magic of European festive meals in your own home. From savoury classics to indulgent, traditional Christmas desserts, every dish has a story to tell.
A warm welcome with appetisers
Start your feast with appetisers that invite anticipation. In Norway, smoked salmon paired with dill cream on rye bread is a simple yet elegant choice. Spain offers the irresistible allure of tapas, where small plates like garlic shrimp and Manchego cheese shine. These appetisers not only enrich your traditional Christmas dinner menu but also offer a delightful nod to European culinary diversity.
This holiday season, travel to the best places in Europe for Christmas to become closer to European culture.
Mains that steal the spotlight
What do people eat on Christmas? Across Europe, the main course is a star of the celebration. In Italy, a succulent roasted lamb seasoned with rosemary and garlic often graces the table, while in Portugal, bacalhau (salted cod) is a cherished centrepiece. In Eastern Europe, baked carp served with a side of horseradish sauce, is both symbolic and flavorful. Incorporating these dishes into your Christmas Eve dinner ideas will bring authenticity and a sense of occasion.
Recipes for your Christmas Eve dinner ideas:
Roasted lamb with rosemary and garlic (Italy)
- Ingredients: 1 leg of lamb, 4 cloves garlic (sliced), fresh rosemary sprigs, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Instructions: Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F). Rub the lamb with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Insert garlic slices and rosemary sprigs into small cuts on the lamb. Roast for 1.5-2 hours, basting occasionally, until cooked to your liking.
Bacalhau à Brás (Portugal)
- Ingredients: 500g salted cod, 4 potatoes (thinly sliced), 1 onion, 4 eggs, olive oil, parsley.
- Instructions: Desalt cod in water for 10-12 hours, changing water periodically. Sauté onion in olive oil until translucent. Add cod and cook until flaky. Fry potatoes until golden. Mix cod, potatoes, and beaten eggs in a pan. Garnish with parsley. If you’re ready to spend some time cooking and preparing the ingredients, include this in your traditional Christmas dinner menu.
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Sides full of character
Side dishes carry a sense of nostalgia, completing the traditional Christmas dinner experience. In the Czech Republic, potato salad with pickles and onions is a must-have, adding a tangy counterpoint to rich meats. For more Christmas Eve dinner ideas, let’s go to Finland. Here, they cook rosolli, a vibrant beetroot salad with a creamy dressing, adds a splash of colour and flavour to the table. These sides aren’t just accompaniments; they’re staples that enrich your holiday spread.
Czech potato salad
- Ingredients: 4 potatoes, 2 carrots, 2 pickles, 1 small onion, 1/2 cup mayonnaise, salt, and pepper.
- Instructions: Boil potatoes and carrots until tender. Dice them along with pickles and onion. Mix with mayonnaise, salt, and pepper. Chill before serving.
Desserts to remember
Every good family dinner ends with traditional Christmas desserts. In Hungary, beigli, a rolled pastry filled with poppy seeds or walnuts, is a holiday essential. Austria’s Sachertorte, a decadent chocolate cake with a layer of apricot jam, offers a luxurious ending to the meal. Don’t forget Christmas sweets like Polish pierniki (spiced cookies) or Danish kransekage, an almond ring cake that looks as festive as it tastes.
Recipes of some Christmas sweets
Beigli (Hungary)
- Ingredients: 500g flour, 250g butter, 100g sugar, 20g yeast, milk, and poppy seed or walnut filling.
- Instructions: Make a yeast dough, let it rise, and roll it out. Spread filling over the dough, roll it up, and bake at 180°C (350°F) until golden.
Pierniki (Poland)
- Ingredients: 2 cups flour, 1/2 cup honey, 1/4 cup sugar, 1 egg, spices (cinnamon, cloves, ginger), baking soda.
- Instructions: Mix ingredients into a dough, roll it out, and cut into shapes. Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 10-12 minutes. Decorate with icing if desired. It's one of the traditional Christmas desserts that makes the table look cute and festive.
Drinks to complement the meal
Beverages during Christmas dinner enhance the meal’s flavours and provide warmth to the occasion. Traditional Christmas dinners should include some drinks to warm you during winter nights. For example, Glögg, a Scandinavian spiced wine, is perfect for colder evenings. Pair hearty dishes with bold red wines or sparkling cider to elevate the meal. For children, spiced berry punch or creamy hot chocolate adds a joyful touch. These drinks are wonderful companions to both main dishes and Christmas sweets.
Building personalised menu
To craft a memorable traditional Christmas dinner menu, consider combining elements from across the globe. A menu that begins with Spanish tapas, continues with German roasted goose, and ends with Italian panettone can create a journey of flavours. You can even turn it into a game—prepare meals from the countries that you visited this year or wish to visit next year. Maybe this manifestation will work? Find out what do people eat on Christmas in your desired location and put them on your table.
The heart of the celebration
This Christmas, let your table reflect the richness and diversity of European traditions. Whether you embrace Christmas Eve dinner ideas from Scandinavia or add French-inspired elegance to your dessert course, the joy lies in bringing people together through food. With dishes inspired by Christmas foods around the world, your holiday feast will be one to remember, creating stories and traditions of your own. Oh, we almost forgot the main part of the Christmas dinner — heartwarming gifts for the people you love. Prepare it in advance and enjoy giving and receiving.
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