How to Enjoy International Dishes this Holiday Season
Get inspired during the holidays with fun and festive meals from around the world
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Get inspired during the holidays with fun and festive meals from around the world
Whether your holidays are spent embracing the snow, lounging on a sandy beach or relaxing by a crackling fire from the comfort of home, find inspiration from around the world for your festive meals. Here are five delicious ways to spice up your menu.
Oil-cooked foods honour the miracle of Hanukkah as it is said one small bottle of oil kept a menorah lit for eight days instead of just one day. Yiddish for pancakes, latkes are crispy, fried potato-and-onion patties, though some recipes also contain matzo. These savoury treats pair heavenly with cool toppings like applesauce, onions or sour cream.
The origin of this sweet bread dates back to the 19th century in Italy’s Lombardy region, near Milan. Made with candied fruit, butter, eggs and wheat flour—ingredients hard to come by at the time—panettone requires several days of preparation, so it’s a particularly special treat.
The most important element of a Swedish julbord, or Christmas buffet, is pickled herring. The herring is first salted then pickled with water, vinegar, sugar and spices. A typical julbord has a variety of herring to offer, flavoured with different spices and sauces. Families often have their own unique pickled herring recipes passed down for generations.
While tamales are found all over Latin America, they’re especially revered during the holidays in Costa Rica. Family and friends will gather for a tamaleada—a party to prepare, cook and eat tamales. A savoury filling of meat, spices and vegetables is nestled into a corn flour dough then wrapped lovingly in a banana leaf and boiled. For a sweeter option, try a filling of pineapple, jam or dulce de leche.
Soba noodles made from buckwheat are traditionally served with a simple dashi broth and chopped green onions as part of a New Year’s Day feast in Japan. The long noodles are meant to symbolize longevity. As buckwheat noodles break off easily when bitten, they symbolize a clean break from any difficulties faced in the past year.
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To plan your own culinary adventure or your next holiday, speak with an experienced CAA Travel Consultant by visiting CAA Travel.