There’s More Than Turkey On The Table: Top Dishes From Around The World To Try This Christmas
The turkey is often the queen of the Christmas table, but while Christmas without one is almost unthinkable in the United States, Canada or the UK, it’s not really the top choice in most countries around the world.
Chef’s Pencil have been putting a lot of work in to illustrate the most popular Christmas dishes all around the globe.
In some respects, the world is shrinking and turning into a melting pot of cultures, with their cuisines mixing together along the way. So how about adding some spice and glamor to your Christmas table this year?
To get you inspired, we’ve rounded up some of the most interesting Christmas delicacies that you can try this year. We promise they are all delicious! You might need some extra kitchen utensils for some of them, but if you have limited space in your kitchen, instead of over-cluttering it you could rent a small 5’x5’ self storage unit to put them in.
1. Mexican Tamales
Tamales are a staple Christmas dish throughout Central America, but nothing comes close to the delicious Mexican version.
They are also a symbolic dish – made with masa (corn dough) that supposedly served as God’s material for creating people. This is probably the very reason why this simple dish made its way to the Christmas table. Masa rolls are filled with various types of meats and then wrapped in banana leaves.
They taste fantastic when steamed. Just make sure you remove the leaves before eating tamales.
2. Argentinean/Spanish suckling pig
Spaniards and Argentineans know how to make and serve a high-quality piece of meat – the secret lies not only in top quality produce but also in presentation and the right wine to go with.
Cochinillo asado or suckling pig steals the spotlight on the festive table (although that’s not the only mouthwatering option there for sure).
With an apple in the pig’s mouth, a dark-brown crust, and herbal flavors tickling your nostrils as soon as you enter the dining room, you won’t be able to resist this delicacy even if you’re on the strictest of diets. And imagine the caramelized potatoes and onions slowly roasting beneath the pork — irresistible!
Favorite Christmas Foods Across the Americas
3. Australian grilled prawns
Prawns on Christmas Day might seem quite unusual but remember that in Australia Christmas falls in the summer season. Grilled prawns have become a Christmas staple Down Under since the 80s, and why not? They are delicious and perfect for a light summer dinner. Even if you’re not ready to swap your favorite turkey roast for seafood, you could introduce grilled prawns as a fancy extra. Add a creamy garlic sauce for the perfect combo.
”Just bear in mind to clean grills on time!”, notes cookery cleaner Matt Smith. “The #1 reason for complicated cleaning afterwards is not acting to mitigate on time. When done with your meal, make sure to give your grill a good rinse before nasty stuff hardens”, the expert adds.
4. Ethiopian Doro Wat
One of the national dishes in Ethiopia, and a centerpiece of the festive table there, is a chicken-based stew called doro wat. It’s served on top of injera (Ethiopian flatbread) and is an interesting alternative to a large roasted fowl.
Be aware that local recipes can sometimes be way too spicy for unprepared Westerners. One key ingredient is berbere, a traditional Ethiopian blend of spices, and you could use only a half or a third the recommended amount if you don’t want to risk burning your taste buds.
5. Swedish pork ham
Julskinka is the Swedish term for Christmas ham, and it’s a top festive-season choice not only in many Northern European countries (Sweden, Finland, and Iceland) but also the Caribbean, the Philippines and South Africa.
The recipes differ across the regions, but generally julskinka is unsmoked and salt cured pork ham. It works great for your festive table, especially if you plan it the Swedish way – as a buffet.
Julskinka Swedish Christmas Ham
6. Danish roasted duck
Denmark is rather unique as three out of four families there opt for a roast duck (andesteg) at Christmas.
Duck may not be to everyone’s taste, but the Danish recipe is definitely worth trying at least once. The secret of an authentic Danish duck roast lies in the stuffing – onions, a generous helping of thyme, fried sliced apples, and prunes.
7. German roasted goose
For many Germans, the Christmas meat of choice is goose. You’ll appreciate goose if you like juicy and slightly fatty meat – goose beats turkey by a mile here. Plus, serving it German-style is a game changer: just make sure you provide the hearty Kartoffelklöße (potato dumplings) and the tangy Apfelrotkohl (red cabbage & apple) as the sides.
8. Polish fried carp
Here’s a wonderful piece of news for all pescatarians – some countries replace a roast fowl with fried fish. While shunned in North America and much of Western Europe, Carp has earned the hearts and stomachs of lots of Europeans and become a centerpiece on Christmas tables in Poland, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia and throughout Germany.
Strictly speaking, it doesn’t replace meat dishes altogether – it is served on 24th December, which is supposed to be a meatless dinner anyway. You can still reserve your family’s favorite meat for the next day.
There are tons of recipes for Christmas carp, but I’d recommend starting with the traditional Austrian flour-coated, pan-fried carp topped with breadcrumbs. The dish is as palatable as it is unpretentious. The crunchy outer coating is balanced by the tender, juicy flesh inside and pairs well with all kinds of potato and vegetable dishes.
Fried carp garnished with lemon, tomatoes and rosemary
9. Dutch gourmetten
This is not a dish but a whole festive ritual of eating and communicating. The Dutch gourmetten may be compared to the Swiss raclette.
You gather around a table where you have a large platter with all sorts of meats, and a cute, small frying pan for every guest. Expect all kinds of meat to fry, for example hare, venison, turkey and goose. Vegetables and Christmas bread (kerstbrood) are also typical. It’s a great option if you’re not into spending hours to roast and stuff a fowl, as you can make your guests do the job and have some fun — a win-win!
10. Ukrainian holubtsi
No Ukrainian family gathering goes by without holubtsi, the local term for stuffed cabbage rolls.
This dish was introduced in Eastern Europe by the Tatars and is also beloved in Poland (goląki), Romania (sarmale), Serbia (sarma), Lithuania (balandėliai) and Hungary (töltött káposzta).
What’s special about Ukrainian Christmas holubtsi is that you’re expected to have two kinds – one for the meatless Christmas Eve meal and the other one for the more festive Christmas Day event. Both types are baked in tomato sauce, and it’s the stuffing that makes all the difference.
Try the meat ones (stuffed with the mixture of rice and beef-and-pork minced meat) for the big table, but settle with modest buckwheat and onion filling for Christmas Eve. The meatless holubtsi taste surprisingly delicious given that they’re so basic and not even served with the usual sour cream.
Favorite Christmas Foods Across Europe
So, think about which one is your favorite and prepare for a mouth-watering Christmas!
Where to Donate Clothes in Houston
If you are sorting through your closet and none of your friends and relatives need your clothes, you may be wondering where to donate clothes in Houston, TX. Luckily, the city offers plenty of convenient options for clothes donations, all rooted in a strong culture of community giving. Your simple gesture will keep wearable items in circulation, reduce waste, and may directly support someone’s health and dignity by providing weather-appropriate, clean clothing.
Smart Cleaning Schedule Tips for a More Comfortable Home
Oftentimes we tend to think of cleaning as a single action, isolated on its own. A monotone task repeated over and over, mostly there to cut into our free time of binge-watching the latest Netflix series. But it’s far more interconnected than you might think.
Self Storage Software: 8 Benefits for Big and Small Businesses
Self storage software is how operators turn scattered tasks, spreadsheets, and disconnected tools into one coordinated system that’s easy to run and easy to grow. It’s a digital home for everything from move‑ins to accounting, so the entire operation becomes more consistent and more profitable. But before jumping in, operators should know what self storage software delivers in practice, plus where options for smaller and larger operators fit in.
Best States for Electric Vehicles (2026): The West Leads EV Adoption, North Carolina Speeds Up
Rising oil prices are hitting American households hard — and nowhere more than among the long-distance commuters who fled big cities during the pandemic in search of cheaper housing, only to trade rent savings for higher fuel costs. For that group — and for a growing number of cost-conscious drivers — the case for going electric has rarely been stronger.
How to Store Hats the Right Way
Growing up is realizing that there’s a wrong and a right way to store your hats. It’s up to you whether they stay sharp or end up crumpled, discolored, and linty. Back when hats were an everyday essential and travel didn’t involve A/C, leather hat boxes were such a hit that even panettone boxes borrowed their iconic design. So let’s honor the tradition and get serious about hat storage.
How to Store Pillows Long-Term Without Ruining Them
Pillows are one of those household items we don’t think much about until we pull one out of a closet and it smells stale, feels flat or looks oddly misshapen. Whether you’re rotating seasonal bedding, setting up a spare bedroom for guests, moving homes, or just trying to declutter, knowing how to store pillows properly makes a real difference.
How to Store Wine the Right Way for Long-Term Enjoyment
How to store wine properly depends on what you’re storing and how long you plan to keep it. A few bottles you’ll open soon don’t require the same conditions as wine meant to age for a year or more. The good news is that proper wine storage isn’t complicated. With a few simple adjustments, you can protect flavor, balance and aging potential. Whether you’re keeping a modest collection at home or exploring specialized self storage options, understanding the basics ensures your bottles remain in good condition until you’re ready to open them.
How to Make Living with Roommates Work in Real Life
Living with roommates can save you thousands of dollars a year. In many cities, it is the only realistic way to afford a decent apartment in a good neighborhood. That is one reason shared housing continues to grow, especially among young professionals and renters in high-cost markets.
Interstate Moves Hit 10-Year Low As Affordability Bites: Which States Are Still Gaining Residents?
America’s pandemic-era relocation boom is officially cooling. Interstate migration fell to its lowest level in a decade in 2024, with just 7.15 million Americans moving across state lines — more than 1 million fewer than at the 2022 peak. That’s roughly a 13% drop in just two years.