Christmas is an exciting time of year, what with the trees and decorations, the songs, the gifts, Christmas dishes, and the time spent with family. We all know the usual stories about Christmas but there are lots of other interesting information about Christmas out there.

Did you know, for example, that the tallest ever Christmas tree was displayed in Washington, America, in 1950 and was a towering 221 feet tall! How would you find enough presents to fit under such a massive tree? Easy, just take reference from the song Twelve Days of Christmas, because if you were to get all the presents mentioned in the song, you’d receive a massive 364 gifts.Perhaps too, whilst standing around the giant tree with a mass of presents, you’d like to sing a Christmas song like Jingle Bells which was, Incidentally, that is the first song ever to be sung in outer space.

On top of all that though, one of the most enjoyable parts is the food eaten during Christmas. We’ve all got those Christmas dishes that we love and that we make year after year. It’s tradition after all, but people celebrate Christmas in all sorts of ways and the traditional Christmas dinner menu is different all over the world. From England to Australia and everywhere in between, there are many different Christmas dishes, meaning that you can have a traditional Christmas with a twist, if you fancy trying something out of the ordinary. Why not try a dish from another county? Here is a collection of 12 traditional Christmas dishes from around the world that are easy to cook and will add a different taste to your celebrations.

Traditional English Christmas Dinner

Roast Turkey and Gravy

Prep time: 4 hours 15 minutes | Serves: Approx. 8 people

Roast turkey with gravy is a delicious traditional English Christmas dinner. With moist, succulent turkey paired with warm, rich gravy, this Christmas dish is sure to wow your family. It’s easy to make too! Get the full recipe from allrecipes. Photo By: Alex Grichenko

Ingredients:

• Whole turkey (5.5kg)
• Butter (120g)
• Lemon (1)
• Sea Salt (pinch)
• Celery (1, sliced)
• Carrot (1, roughly chopped)
• Fresh thyme or rosemary
• Red or white wine (60ml)

Directions:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 220°C or Gas Mark 7.
2. Remove the neck and giblets from the Turkey if necessary and place in a pot with 200 ml water, the celery, carrot, and fresh herbs in order to make a stock for the gravy. Boil for around 15 minutes or until the vegetables have softened.
3. Place the bird on a roasting tin and, starting at the neck, gently slide your hand between the meat and skin in order to loosen it.
4. Soften the butter and then rub directly onto the breast meat beneath the skin. Rub more butter onto the skin itself and then season with sea salt to taste.
5. Cut the lemon in half and place both halves inside the turkey’s cavity. This is to keep the meat moist.
6. Roast for 30 minutes or until golden brown and then remove from the oven. Brush with more softened butter and reduce the oven temperature to 180°C or Gas Mark 4.
7. If you are making stuffing as well, now is the time to stuff the bird’s cavity.
8. Cover the turkey with tin foil and then return to the oven.
9. Baste every 30-40 minutes with either softened butter or by spooning the turkey juices from the bottom of the pan. Continue to do this until the turkey is cooked and the juices run clear when the thickest part of the meat is skewered. This should take approximately 3½ hours more.
10. When cooked, transfer to a serving plate but keep covered with foil to retain the heat.
11. For the gravy, take the stock that you prepared earlier and pour through a sieve, pushing through the vegetables but discarding the giblets and neck.
12. Pour the resulting liquid into the roasting tin that you cooked the turkey in and stir in order to scrape up the bits of meat and juice from the bottom. Add a splash of wine for additional flavour.
13. Pass the liquid through a sieve one more time and reheat before serving.

Cranberry Sauce

Prep time: 15 minute |Serves: 12

A perfect accompaniment to your other Christmas dishes, this tart cranberry sauce with a hint of orange will really add something special to your roast turkey. Get the full recipe from allrecipes. Photo By: Veganbaking.net via Wikimedia Commons

Ingredients:

• Caster sugar (200g)
• Orange juice (225ml)
• Fresh cranberries (350g)

Directions:

1. Place the sugar and the orange juice in a pan and cook over a medium heat until the sugar has dissolved.
2. Stir in the cranberries and cook them until they begin to pop (this should take around ten minutes).
3. Remove from the heat and transfer to a bowl.
4. The sauce will naturally thicken as it cools.

Pigs in Blankets

Prep time: 20 minute |Serves: 8

As Christmas dishes go, this one is super simple and quick to make, but is a really tasty addition to any Christmas meal. They work well as a party snack too, if you are doing a buffet at home this year. Get the full recipe from BBC Food. Photo By: Ali Elangasinghe

Ingredients:

• Streaky bacon (8 slices)
• Chipolata sausages (16)
• Cocktail sticks

Directions:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 200°C or Gas Mark 6
2. Place the bacon onto a chopping board and using the side of a knife, stretch it and flatten it until it is about half as long as it was previously.
3. Cut each strip of bacon in half across the centre.
4. Wrap each piece around a chipolata sausage and secure it in place with a cocktail stick.
5. Arrange on a low-sided roasting tin and roast for around 15 minutes, until they are golden brown and cooked throughout.

Traditional Christmas Pudding

Prep time: 3 hours 15 minutes |Serves: 8

Fruity and light, a traditional English Christmas dinner would be incomplete without a Christmas pudding. Serve it with brandy sauce, maple syrup, or just pour alcohol over the top and set it alight for an impressive end to your Christmas meal! Get the full recipe from Jamie Oliver. Photo By: James Petts via Wikimedia Commons

Ingredients:

• Mixed dried fruits (500g)
• Dates (100g, chopped)
• Crystallized ginger (3 tablespoons)
• Suet (125g)
• Orange zest (from 1 orange)
• Plain flour (125g)
• Caster sugar (125g)
• White breadcrumbs (150g)
• Brandy (2 tablespoons)
• Chopped nuts (1 handful)
• Egg (1)
• Milk (150g)

Directions:

1. Mix together all the ingredients and place inside a pre-greased, 1.5 litre pudding bowl.
2. Cover completely with two layers of tin foil and tie a piece of string around the side of the bowl to hold the foil in place.
3. Place the bowl into a large saucepan and add water until it is halfway up the side of the bowl. Bring to a boil.
4. Put a lid onto the saucepan and allow to simmer for three hours, checking the water levels regularly to ensure that it doesn’t boil dry.
5. Remove from the pan, discard the foil, and turn the pudding out onto a plate. Drizzle with your chosen topping.

Traditional American Christmas Dinner

Sweet Potato Soup

Prep time: 30 minutes |Serves: 2-4

This warming sweet potato soup is the perfect way to kick off your traditional American Christmas dinner. Creamy and smooth, it’s a starter that will set you up for the luxurious meal to come. Get the full recipe from Simply Recipes. Photo By: Geoff Peters via Wikimedia Commons

Ingredients:

• Sweet potatoes (1 pound)
• Shallots (2 large)
• Olive oil (2 tablespoons)
• Salt (½ teaspoon)
• Ground thyme (1 teaspoon)
• Cumin seeds or ground cumin (¼ teaspoon)
• Chicken stock (3 cups)
• Black pepper (pinch)
• Sour cream orplain yoghurt (2 tablespoons)

Directions:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 180°C.
2. Peel the sweet potatoes and chop into cubes of around 1 ½ inches in size. Peel the shallots and cut in half lengthwise.
3. Place the potatoes and shallots into a bowl, drizzle with oil and sprinkle with the salt, thyme, and cumin. Toss together so that all the pieces are well coated with the seasoned oil.
4. Spread the sweet potatoes and shallots onto a baking sheet that you have lined with foil. Bake for around 25 minutes or until cooked through and they are starting to brown on the edges.
5. Heat the chicken stock in a saucepan until steamy.
6. Once cooked, put the sweet potatoes and the shallots into a blender and add the hot chicken stock. Remember not to fill your blender higher than halfway! Start blending in short pulses to get it going. Blend until smooth.
7. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
8. Serve in bowls with an added dollop of yoghurt or a swirl of sour cream.

Roasted Winter Vegetables

Prep time: 1 hour |Serves: 8

Simple and delicious, these roasted winter vegetables make a great accompaniment to your other Christmas dishes. Served as a side or with a tasty piece of meat. You can pick and choose the vegetables you want to include. Get the full recipe from My Recipes. Photo By: Gloria Cabada-Leman

Ingredients:

• Fresh thyme (16 sprigs, divided)
• Beetroots (4, peeled and quartered)
• Carrots (4, peeled and cut in half lengthways)
• Turnips (2, peeled and quartered)
• Olive oil (2 tablespoons)
• Salt (½ teaspoon)
• Black pepper (½ teaspoon)
• Garlic cloves (8, unpeeled)
• Red onions (2, peeled and cut lengthways into quarters)
• Fennel bulbs (2, cored and cut lengthways into quarters)

Directions:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 218°C.
2. Place all the vegetables and the thyme into a bowl and drizzle with the olive oil. Add salt and pepper and toss all the ingredients together so that the vegetables are well coated.
3. Arrange onto a baking tray and roast for around 45 minutes or until the vegetables are soft and beginning to brown, stirring occasionally.
4. Transfer to a serving dish or serve directly on plates.

Cinnamon Stewed Apples

Prep time: 1 hour |Serves: 2 cups

Nothing says Christmas quite like cinnamon and these stewed apples are a terrific companion for your pork or ham Christmas dishes. They will add a little sweetness and perhaps a little decadence to your meal, so it’s typical of the types of food eaten during Christmas! Get the full recipe from My Recipes. Photo By: jules

Ingredients:

• Apples (2 pounds. Granny Smiths apples work well for this recipe)
• Packed brown sugar(½ cup)
• Apple juice (¼ cup)
• Ground cinnamon (1 teaspoon)
• Ground nutmeg (pinch)
• Salt (pinch)

Directions:

1. Peel, core, and roughly chop your apples.
2. Combine all the ingredients in a large saucepan.
3. Cover and cook on a medium to low heat for 45 minutes or until the apples are soft. Stir occasionally.
4. Allow to rest for five minutes before serving.

Eggnog

Prep time: 15 minutes |Serves: 6-7

If you want a traditional American Christmas dinner, then Eggnog is an absolute must! Sweet and creamy, it’s got that little kick of alcohol to get the Christmas party started. It’s one of those definitive Christmas dishes that deserves a place in any home. Be aware though, this recipe contains raw eggs so is unsuitable for the pregnant or sick. Get the recipe from Food Network. Photo By: Erin Stevenson O’Connor

Ingredients:

• Eggs (4, whites and yolks separated)
• Sugar (1/3 cup)
• Heavy cream (1 cup)
• Bourbon or whisky (3 ounces)
• Grated nutmeg (1 teaspoon)

Directions:

1. Using a mixer, beat the egg yolks until they are lighter in colour.
2. Slowly add the sugar, continuing to beat, until it is completely dissolved.
3. Add the milk, cream, bourbon, and nutmeg, and continue to stir.
4. In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites until they form soft peaks.
5. Slowly add a tablespoon of sugar, still beating, until the soft peaks turn stiff.
6. Whisk the eggs whites into the yolk mixture and chill until ready to serve.
7. Grate a little nutmeg onto the top before serving.

Traditional Asian Christmas Dinner

Puto Bumbong

Prep time: 30 minutes |Serves: 4

Traditionally eaten as part of the Christmas Eve feast, Puto Bumbong is a type of rice cake that is sticky and purple in colour. It’s one of those Christmas dishes that works well as part of a buffet or a sit-down meal, making it a versatile but necessary part of a traditional Asian Christmas dinner. Get the recipe from Pinoy Recipe. Photo By: tacit requiem (joanneQEscober )

Ingredients:

• Glutinous rice flour (400g)
• Purple yam powder (115g)
• Water (2 ½ cups)
• Banana leaves
• Grated coconut

Directions:

1. Add water to the steamer in preparation for steaming.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the purple yam powder and the glutinous rice flour until they are well combined.
3. Slowly, add water to create a dough consistency.
4. Using your hands, make a ball with the dough and roll into a round, long shape of around four to five inches.
5. Place on a greased, heat-proof plate in layers and steam for three to four minutes, until cooked.
6. Roll in the grated coconut and serve on a banana leaf with a sprinkle of muscovado sugar.

Traditional Belgian Christmas Dinner

Flemish Beer Stew

Prep time: 2 hours 30 minutes |Serves: 4-6

A traditional Belgian Christmas dinner is served on December 6th and as part of their celebrations, Belgians prepare a range of delicious Christmas dishes to try. This Flemish Beer Stew is just one of them, and it’s perfect to warm you up on a Christmas evening before the celebrations truly begin. Get the full recipe from Made Man. Photo Source: Hamburger Helper

Ingredients:

• Bacon (1 pound, diced)
• Butter (1 tablespoon)
• Onions (2, sliced)
• Garlic cloves (3, minced)
• Flour (2 tablespoons)
• Beef chuck (2 pounds, cubed)
• Salt (2 teaspoons)
• Belgian dark beer (16 ounces)
• Parsley (½ bunch, chopped)
• Lemon (1, juice and zest only)

Directions:

1. Blanch and drain the chopped bacon and then put into a pan with the butter.
2. Cook the bacon over a medium heat until nicely browned.
3. Add the onions and continue to cook until golden.
4. Add the garlic and cook for a further two minutes.
5. Remove from the pan and put to one side.
6. Brown the beef chuck in the same pan.
7. Add the bacon mixture to the beef chuck and then add the flour, salt, pepper, and beer. Stir well.
8. Bring to the boil and then reduce to a simmer for around two hours or until the ingredients are tender.
9. Remove from the heat and stir in the parsley, the lemon juice, and the lemon zest.

Traditional Australian Christmas Dinner

Prawn and Avocado Salad

Prep time: 40 minutes |Serves: 10

Light and fresh, this Australian Christmas dish makes a delicious starter on a sunny Christmas morning. It can be prepared well in advance too, meaning that you get to spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying the celebrations with your loved ones. Get the full recipe from Taste. Photo Source: Yahti.com

Ingredients:

• Thick, crusty bread (10 slices)
• Olive oil (250ml for the sauce, 1 tablespoon for the salad)
• Pancetta (10 slices)
• Baby cos lettuce (2, leaves separated)
• Avocados (2, halved, peeled, and thinly sliced)
• Prawns (2 kg, cooked, peeled, and deveined)
• Egg yolks (2)
• Garlic cloves (2, finely chopped)
• Dijon mustard (1 teaspoon)
• Lime rind (2 teaspoons, finely grated)
• Lime juice (2 tablespoons)

Directions:

1. Make the sauce first by placing the egg yolks, garlic, and mustard in a food processor and mixing until combined.
2. With the processor still running, gradually add the oil in a thin, steady stream, until the mixture becomes thick and pale.
3. Add the lime rind and lime juice and continue to mix until well combined.
4. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Place the bread in a single layer on a baking tray and drizzle with oil.
6. Cook under a hot grill for two minutes on each side or until lightly toasted. Transfer to a plate.
7. Place the pancetta in a single layer on the tray and grill under a high heat for five minutes or until crisp.
8. Divide the bread and the separated lettuce leaves among serving plates. Add the pancetta, avocado, and prawns and then top with the lime aioli sauce.
9. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Moroccan-Style Barbecued Turkey

Prep time: 2 hours 45 minutes | Serves: 8

Barbecuing is a typically Australian method of cooking and this dish could easily find a place in a traditional Australian Christmas dinner. Get the full recipe from Best Recipes. Photo source: Creative Commons

Ingredients:

• Whole turkey
• Honey (¼ cup)
• Lemons (5, halved)
• Dukkah (2 tablespoons)
• Chicken stock (1 ½ cups)
• Couscous (1 ¼ cups)
• Olive oil (¼ cup)
• Red onions (1)
• Moroccan seasoning (1 ½ teaspoons)
• Dried dates (¾ cup)
• Parsley (½ cup, coarsely chopped)
• Coriander (½ cup, coarsely chopped)
• Toasted pine nuts (1/3 cup)

Directions:

1. Heat a hooded barbecue, with the hood closed, using indirect heat on a medium setting.
2. Remove the neck and giblets from the turkey and pat dry with a paper towel.
3. To make the stuffing, bring the stock to the boil in a medium sized saucepan.
4. Remove from heat and stir in the couscous. Allow to stand for ten minutes. Once settled, fluff the grains with a fork.
5. Heat half the oil in a frying pan and cook the onion until soft.
6. Stir the Moroccan seasoning, the dates, parsley, coriander, pine nuts, fried onions, and remaining oil into the couscous and then stir in the egg.
7. Loosely fill the turkey’s cavity until it is about two-thirds full. Don’t overfill it – the stuffing will swell!
8. Close the cavity with metal skewers and tie the legs together with kitchen string. Bend the wings back and tuck them beneath the turkey.
9. Place in a large roasting pan and cover completely with foil. Place in the centre of the barbecue and roast with the hood closed. If you have stuffing left over, you can put it in a greased dish covered in tin foil to bake separately.
10. Forty minutes before the end of the cooking time, remove the foil from the turkey. Cover the ends of the turkey legs with foil and brush the bird with one tablespoon of honey. Place the lemon halves around the turkey and close the hood again to continue cooking.
11. During the last forty minutes, you should brush the turkey with honey twice. If it looks like it is browning too quickly, cover it loosely with foil.
12. Five minutes before the end of cooking, sprinkle dukkah over the turkey. Test the turkey by skewering the thickest part. If the juices run clear, the turkey is cooked.

Whatever Christmas dishes from around the world you decide to make, Christmas this year is sure to be special.