festive Recipes
63 delicious festive recipes from around the world
Tahchin-e Morgh (Persian Saffron Rice Cake with Chicken)
A showstopping Persian saffron rice cake featuring a crispy, golden crust of parboiled rice mixed with yogurt and egg yolks, layered with tender, spiced chicken, and barberries. This dish is a true centerpiece for any festive occasion.
Tumpeng
Tumpeng is a ceremonial Indonesian cone-shaped rice dish, traditionally served as a centerpiece for celebrations and important events. The vibrant yellow rice, colored and flavored with turmeric, is molded into a cone and surrounded by an assortment of flavorful side dishes, creating a visually stunning and symbolic feast.
Vegetable Biryani
A fragrant and flavorful layered rice dish featuring tender mixed vegetables simmered in aromatic spices, layered with partially cooked basmati rice, and finished with saffron-infused milk and ghee. A true vegetarian feast.
Carbonada Criolla
A hearty and festive Argentine beef stew, traditionally served inside a hollowed-out pumpkin. It features a delightful balance of sweet and savory flavors with tender beef, root vegetables, corn, and fruit.
Rogel
A classic Argentine celebration cake featuring numerous thin, delicate layers of baked dough generously spread with rich dulce de leche and crowned with a fluffy Italian meringue.
Vitel Toné
A classic Argentine Christmas dish, Vitel Toné features tender, cold-sliced veal bathed in a rich, creamy tuna and anchovy sauce. It's a beloved festive meal, originating from Italian traditions but uniquely adapted in Argentina.
Bastilla bil Djaj (Moroccan Chicken Pie)
A festive and complex Moroccan pie featuring layers of crispy phyllo dough encasing a fragrant, spiced chicken and almond filling, traditionally dusted with powdered sugar and cinnamon. This sweet and savory dish is a true showstopper.
Fatira (Ethiopian Layered Flatbread)
A wonderfully flaky, buttery, and layered flatbread, traditionally served for breakfast or special occasions. It's often enjoyed with a drizzle of honey and scrambled eggs.
Fatta with Beef
A traditional Egyptian festive dish, Fatta features layers of toasted bread, fluffy rice, and tender beef, all brought together with a tangy garlic-vinegar sauce. It's a celebratory meal often prepared for Eid al-Adha.
Fattah
A traditional Egyptian festive dish featuring layers of crispy toasted bread, fluffy rice, tender meat, and a tangy garlic-vinegar sauce. It's a celebratory meal often served during Eid al-Adha.
M'hancha (Moroccan Almond Snake Pastry)
M'hancha, meaning 'the snake' in Moroccan Arabic, is a visually stunning and delicious coiled pastry filled with a fragrant almond paste. This festive dessert is often served during celebrations and special occasions.
Moroccan Couscous with Tfaya (Caramelized Onion and Raisin Topping)
A festive and flavorful Moroccan dish featuring tender lamb or chicken simmered in aromatic spices, served over fluffy couscous, and generously topped with a sweet and savory tfaya – a rich mixture of deeply caramelized onions, plump raisins, and honey infused with cinnamon.
Seffa Medfouna (Hidden Chicken Vermicelli)
A classic Moroccan festive dish, Seffa Medfouna features tender, spiced chicken pieces enveloped within a mound of fluffy, steamed vermicelli, then elegantly garnished with powdered sugar, cinnamon, and toasted almonds. The name 'Medfouna' translates to 'hidden', referring to the chicken concealed within the vermicelli.
Tagine Lahm bil Barkouk (Moroccan Lamb with Prunes and Almonds)
A rich and fragrant Moroccan lamb stew, slow-cooked in a tagine with sweet prunes, warm spices, and crunchy toasted almonds. This dish offers a delightful balance of sweet and savory flavors, making it a perfect festive main course for special occasions.
Tagine Lahm bil Mishmish (Moroccan Lamb with Apricots)
A classic Moroccan sweet and savory tagine featuring tender lamb shoulder braised with fragrant spices and plump dried apricots, finished with a scattering of toasted almonds. This festive dish is perfect for special occasions.