Recettes de Christmas
Traditional Christmas recipes from around the world. From roasted meats to festive desserts, find everything you need for a memorable holiday feast.
Morocco(9)
Tanjia Marrakchia
Tanjia Marrakchia is a traditional Moroccan dish from Marrakech, often prepared by men for communal gatherings. It features lamb shoulder slow-cooked to extreme tenderness in a distinctive amphora-shaped clay pot called a 'tanjia'. The long, slow cooking process, traditionally in the embers of a hammam (public bath) furnace, allows the flavors to meld beautifully.
Seffa Medfouna
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.
Hout bil Chermoula
A classic Moroccan coastal specialty where a whole fish is generously coated in a vibrant, aromatic herb and spice marinade (chermoula) and then baked until tender and flaky. This dish is bursting with fresh flavors.
Tagine Lahm bil Mishmish
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.
Tangia
A traditional Marrakech specialty, Tangia is an incredibly simple yet profoundly flavorful slow-cooked lamb dish. Traditionally cooked in the embers of a hammam (public bath) furnace, this recipe adapts it for a home oven, resulting in meltingly tender lamb infused with aromatic spices and preserved lemon.
Moroccan Couscous with Tfaya
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.
Egypt(8)
Egyptian Musaka'a
A hearty and flavorful Egyptian eggplant casserole featuring layers of fried eggplant and a rich, spiced ground beef and tomato sauce. This version omits the béchamel sauce common in other Mediterranean musaka'a variations, focusing on the natural richness of the eggplant and tomato.
Egyptian Moussaka
A hearty and flavorful Egyptian eggplant bake, distinct from its Greek counterpart. This version features layers of fried eggplant and spiced ground meat in a rich tomato sauce, baked until tender and bubbly. It's a comforting home-style dish that doesn't use béchamel.
Bram Rice
A traditional Egyptian dish featuring rice and meat baked slowly in a clay pot, resulting in tender grains and a flavorful, slightly crispy texture. This recipe enhances the classic method with detailed instructions for optimal results.
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.
Balah el Sham
Balah el Sham are delightful Egyptian fried dough pastries, similar to churros, that are soaked in a sweet syrup. They are a popular street food and a beloved treat, especially during Ramadan.
Umm Ali
A rich and comforting Egyptian bread pudding, often called 'Mother of Ali's' dessert. This version uses puff pastry or croissants soaked in a sweet, creamy milk mixture, studded with nuts, raisins, and coconut, then baked to golden perfection.
Angola(6)
Kissuto Rombo
Kissuto Rombo is a traditional Angolan dish featuring roasted goat meat marinated in a flavorful blend of garlic, lemon juice, and spices. It's often prepared for special occasions and served with rice and chips.
Peixe no Barco
A unique and flavorful way of preparing fish, typically sea bream or similar white fish, stuffed with a mixture of vegetables, herbs, and sometimes breadcrumbs, then baked or grilled. It's named 'fish in a boat' due to the way the fish is prepared to hold its filling.
Frango Assado com Gindungo
A flavorful roasted chicken marinated in a blend of Angolan spices, including the fiery gindungo (African bird's eye chili), garlic, and herbs, then slow-roasted to perfection.
Cabrito Assado com Batata Doce
A flavorful roasted goat dish, often prepared for special occasions, featuring tender goat meat marinated and slow-roasted with sweet potatoes, infused with aromatic herbs and spices.
Kissuto Rombo de Cabrito
A traditional Angolan dish featuring tender, slow-roasted goat meat marinated in a flavorful blend of garlic, lemon, and spices, often served with rice or chips.
Cabrito Assado no Forno
A flavorful roasted goat dish, often prepared for special occasions, featuring a marinade of herbs, garlic, and spices, resulting in tender and aromatic meat.
Ethiopia(5)
Doro Wot
Ethiopia's quintessential celebratory chicken stew, slow-cooked to tender perfection with the complex, warming spice blend of berbere and infused with aromatic niter kibbeh. Traditionally served with hard-boiled eggs nestled within the rich sauce, this dish is a holiday essential.
Doro Wot
Ethiopia's celebratory chicken stew, often called the 'crown jewel' of Ethiopian cuisine. This rich, slow-cooked dish features tender chicken and hard-boiled eggs simmered in a deeply flavorful, spiced berbere sauce. Essential for holidays and special occasions, traditionally served with injera.
Fatira
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.
Tej
Tej is a traditional Ethiopian honey wine, fermented using gesho (Rhamnus prinoides) leaves, which impart a unique bitter flavor and act as a natural yeast source. This recipe outlines the basic process for creating this distinctive beverage at home.
Dabo
Dabo is a traditional Ethiopian honey wheat bread, often prepared for special occasions and holidays. Its slightly sweet flavor and soft texture make it a delightful accompaniment to coffee or meals.
Algeria(3)
Mrouzia Lamb Tagine
A celebratory and aromatic lamb tagine, Mrouzia is a sweet and savory dish traditionally prepared for Eid al-Adha. It features tender lamb cooked with dried fruits, honey, and a blend of warm spices.
Poulet à la Cannelle Algérien
A fragrant and subtly sweet chicken dish, often prepared for special occasions, featuring tender chicken pieces simmered in a rich sauce infused with cinnamon, honey, and almonds.
Tajine Mechoui Lamb
A flavorful and tender slow-roasted lamb dish, inspired by the traditional Algerian Mechoui. This version is adapted for home cooking, featuring a leg of lamb marinated in a blend of aromatic spices and slow-cooked until fall-off-the-bone tender.
Moldova(3)
Plachie de Pește
A flavorful baked fish dish where fillets are layered with thinly sliced vegetables like onions, tomatoes, and bell peppers, then baked in a savory sauce. It's a lighter yet satisfying way to enjoy fish, often seasoned with herbs and garlic.
Moldovan Pasca
Pasca is a traditional Moldovan sweet bread, typically prepared for Easter celebrations. It features a rich, brioche-like dough often enriched with eggs and butter, encasing a sweet, creamy filling made from fresh cheese, eggs, and sugar. Sometimes raisins or candied fruits are added to the filling. The bread is often shaped into a round loaf with a braided ring on top, symbolizing the crown of thorns or the sun.
Moldovan Baked Fish with Sour Cream and Dill
A simple yet elegant dish where tender white fish is baked in a creamy sour cream sauce infused with fresh dill and garlic. This recipe highlights the fresh flavors of Moldovan cuisine, perfect for a light and satisfying meal.
Libya(3)
Zlabia
Zlabia are delightful, crispy, deep-fried fritters made from a fermented batter, often enjoyed during festive occasions. They are typically drizzled with syrup or dusted with powdered sugar, offering a sweet and satisfying treat.
Libyan Mrouzia
Mrouzia is a traditional Moroccan and Libyan sweet and savory tagine, typically made with lamb, honey, raisins, and almonds. This Libyan version often incorporates aromatic spices for a rich, festive flavor.
Libyan Lamb and Eggplant Moussaka
A rich and savory layered dish featuring tender lamb, roasted eggplant, and a flavorful tomato-based sauce, often topped with a béchamel or egg mixture.
Malta(2)
Maltese Baked Fish with Herbs
A simple yet flavorful dish featuring fresh fish baked with aromatic herbs, lemon, and white wine, creating a light and healthy meal that highlights the Mediterranean influences on Maltese cuisine.
Timpana
Timpana is a show-stopping Maltese dish featuring macaroni pasta coated in a rich meat sauce, then encased in a savory shortcrust pastry and baked until golden brown. It's a celebratory and hearty meal.
Vietnam(2)
Bánh Hỏi
Bánh Hỏi are delicate, woven rice vermicelli noodles, traditionally made by steaming thin sheets of rice flour batter and then carefully bundling them. They are typically served with grilled meats, fresh herbs, and a flavorful dipping sauce (nuoc cham), creating a light yet satisfying meal.
Bánh Chuối
A comforting and sweet Vietnamese dessert cake made with ripe bananas and tapioca pearls, traditionally steamed or baked. It offers a delightful chewy texture and tropical flavor.
Colombia(2)
Champús
A traditional Colombian fermented corn and fruit drink, often enjoyed for its refreshing and slightly tangy flavor. This recipe combines the earthiness of corn with the tropical sweetness of pineapple and the unique citrusy notes of lulo.
Buñuelos Colombianos
Crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside, these Colombian cheese fritters are a beloved Christmas essential. Made with salty costeño cheese and tapioca starch, they puff up beautifully when fried to a golden brown.
Benin(2)
Poisson Braisé à la Mode de Porto-Novo
A flavorful grilled or baked fish dish, inspired by the coastal city of Porto-Novo. This recipe features a marinade of spices, herbs, and often a touch of tomato and onion, resulting in a tender and aromatic fish.
Poulet Bicyclette
Poulet Bicyclette, meaning 'Bicycle Chicken,' is a popular dish in Benin and Togo, known for its flavorful and tender chicken. The name likely comes from the active lifestyle of free-range chickens that roam freely, resembling a bicycle in their movement. This dish typically involves marinating chicken pieces in a blend of spices, then grilling or roasting them to perfection. It's often served with a side of vegetables and sometimes rice or potatoes.
Israel(2)
Maqluba
A festive Palestinian dish, popular in Israel, featuring layers of rice, vegetables, and meat (optional) cooked and then inverted onto a platter.
Israeli Chicken with Preserved Lemons and Olives
A fragrant and tender chicken dish inspired by North African and Middle Eastern flavors, featuring the unique tang of preserved lemons, the brininess of olives, and aromatic spices. This dish is often served for special occasions and holidays, embodying the rich culinary heritage of Israeli cuisine.
Comoros(2)
Comorian Chicken Faham
Aromatic and flavorful grilled chicken marinated in a blend of Middle Eastern and Comorian spices, yogurt, and lemon. 'Faham' refers to charcoal, indicating its traditional cooking method, resulting in a smoky and succulent dish.
Banana Kokomeri au Coco
A sweet and creamy dessert made with ripe bananas, coconut milk, and a touch of sweetness, often baked until golden.
Liberia(2)
Liberian Cassava Leaf Stew
A hearty and flavorful stew made from tender cassava leaves, simmered with a variety of meats (like beef, chicken, or smoked turkey), dried fish, and seasoned with onions, peppers, and palm oil. Often enriched with peanut butter, this dish is a staple in Liberian cuisine.
Liberian Baked Fish with Vegetables
A flavorful and healthy dish featuring whole fish baked with a medley of traditional Liberian vegetables and spices, creating a moist and aromatic meal.
