5 European Christmas dishes you should try

[@andrewjones-productions]

It used to be that roast goose was the main dish in the UK too. The turkey being less fatty and larger, meant that it became a favourite. The whole point of a large turkey was that it would last the entire period of the holidays (Christmas and New Year) and make light work for the housewife who traditionally was the cook. The rich Christmas cake has the same purpose. A small portion of roughly two fingers sized, was more than enough and therefore lasted a long time and was something to give to visiting relations and other guests.

[@spectre8_fulcrum]

turkeys are depressing

[@leviturner3265]

That is true. Roast goose was the most popular Christmas dinner in England, until the years following the discovery of America. The Aztecs were one of the most known, and widest domesticators of turkeys at that time. When the Spanish ventured into the area, they soon brought the turkey back with them to Europe. In England the turkey was seen as much more desirable than the goose. For one it was a new trend, but also that the turkey had more meat than the goose and grew larger. At this point geese were more often seen as for the poors.

[@Angloman2000]

Here in the hills of Kentucky, my family cook up country ham, eggs, homemade biscuits, and grits on Christmas morning!

[@varoonnone7159]

And your famous fried chicken !

[@b_ks]

lol But probably not on Christmas morning. 😊

[@jeffhicks7605]

Amen! Missing me some Bardstown and country ham !

[@vaughnwilliams1208]

We normally have Christmas pudding with brandy sauce too. I liked the German goose the best

[@mihaelac2472]

In the meanwhile, in Romania we eat salata de boeuf, a potato salad with meat, pickles , boiled vegetables and mayo, sarmale, a meat with rice mixture wrapped in cabbage leaves and slowly cooked in tomato sauce, cozonac, a pannetone type dessert filled with ground nuts, or poppy seeds.

[@madhusmita9868]

that sounds amazing. Can you Please put down some links for these recipes or maybe the names of these dishes? I would love to try out them 🥰💖💖

[@yannamk3504]

😂😂😂😂😅😅😅 *All of Romania* works in England and eats *Indian food* every day when returning from construction.

[@johnhonai4601]

Why does it sound Spanish.

[@mihaelac2472]

@@yannamk3504 and you base this on what?

[@mihaelac2472]

@@madhusmita9868 google: sarmale (cabbage rolls), cozonac (Romanian sweetbread), salata de boeuf.

[@mrmouse7642]

We literally ate all day. We started the feast with a Leicestershire Breakfast - ham, ox tongue and pork pie all with English mustard. Pork pie was always a 5 lb one from Walkers in Leicester (not a Melton Mowbray one). Ma used to boil up an entire ox tongue with onions, carrots, celery, pepper corns, bay leaves and salt, peel the rough "skin" off it and curl it up in a bowl with a heavy weight on it and press it for a week or so. The ham had cloves pierced into it and was coated with marmalade (a sort of bitter orange jam/jelly) but I don't know what else. It was baked not boiled. We had turkey and all the trimmings - chipolata sausages, bacon rolls (but not pigs in blankets - bacon wrapped round sausages) three types of stuffing, bread sauce, roasted and mashed potatoes, brussell sprouts and a cheesy celery dish (which I never liked), Christmas pudding made to my grannie's family's recipe and boiled for literally a week, set fire to with rum and served with rum butter and rum sauce. At tea we ate Christmas cake (had lots of rum in it) with slices of strong cheddar cheese - something my Grampie brought back from Yorkshire when serving there in WW1. Then finished the day with cold meat sandwiches. We would always get a whole half stilton cheese (i.e. a whole cylindrical cheese but half the usual size) from Long Clason dairy near Melton, which my pop couldn't resist. He ate the lion's share. He'd wrap a damp cloth round it and put it on a little table and cut a small piece off it every time he walked past. Never poured port wine on it - sacrilege. We'd go for a walk ("to make room for more food") and listen to the Queen's speech. The turkey would last about a week and would get transformed into multiple dishes including the last one one mysteriously entitled "disposing of the body" a fantastic creamy curried dish with broccoli! Then the bones got boiled up for stock. We did that each year until Ma got too old to do it. I cook now but not the whole traditional thing but with the elements that we just can't do without. Just can't eat that absurd amount of food all in one day.

[@Steve-em4tb]

I've got some Native Canadian friends who hunt regularly and I think they would enjoy the roast goose.

[@lienbijs1205]

The age of wild goose decides the preparing method and it is hard to tell the age of the goose so it is better to put it in a Dutch oven and prepare it as a stew.

[@angelasieg5099]

We have the usual turkey but also Norwegian meatballs and lefse. We usually make a batch of Rosettes along the cookies. My family's favorite are peanut butter kiss cookies. White cut out cookies to decorate, sugar cookies, and some gingerbread. I make fudge too. It's so much fun and I give some as gifts.

[@DWFood]

Sounds delicious! :)

[@FluxTrax]

Meatballs as in Medister?

[@jontalbot1]

Most British people do not have enough room for pudding after an enormous main meal- especially as it often comes with whipped double cream or brandy butter. I used to make crème Anglais, which in Britain is known as custard. Most people eat ready made and don’t know how delicious the real thing is. Sherry trifle is another traditional dessert and that is also terrific

[@brendanhoffmann8402]

It was just Mum and I for Christmas this year, we had a large spiny lobster, salads, a heritage ham and x-large tiger prawns. I made a Laksa with the tiger prawns, it's something I do for myself every year.

[@varoonnone7159]

Sounds delicious ! Just saw what a laksa was

[@patriciamauricio2910]

Invite me next time. 😊

[@freudvibes10]

It gives me a sweet warm feeling watching these videos,although none of them is smth i really like.❤ Merry Christmas to everyone, and especially a Happy New Year!

[@DWFood]

Happy holidays!

[@b_ks]

Merry Christmas 😊

[@armlovesmetal1036]

We make a fondue with lobster, chicken and beef in an herb oil. Served with fresh pasta and vodka sauce and a salad. We have 6 dipping sauces.

[@allwhatilove914]

I'm curious: what country are you from? My Belgian husband told me about lobsters for Christmas first time today and I was amazed and never thought of it. I'm brazilian, we generally have roasted turkey for xmas dinner. 🙂

[@armlovesmetal1036]

@@allwhatilove914 I am an American with German heritage.I was lucky that the Lobster Tails were on sale for $7.00 per tail. My parents made fondue for Christmas Eve when we were kids. It was more of the cheese variety. My menu was on my own making. Lobster is my favorite.

[@rajr1032]

Thank you, DW Food.

[@DWFood]

Thanks for watching! :)

[@hamodalbatal464]

Merry Christmas Europe and the World ❤

[@DidYaServe]

Goose is excellent. As Europeans, we should eat it instead of turkey.

[@patriciamauricio2910]

In Brazil we eat ham with pinnapple, turkey, rice, salad and farofa (manioc flour roasted with garlic or onions, butter and eggs). This is the basic. If the family can’t afford it, it’s chicken, rice and farofa.

[@mayjimeno2327]

Merry Christmas from the Philippines, where the jolly season starts by September and ends close to February lol. Our food is influenced by our previous colonization from Spain & US as well as from trade with nearby countries. Holiday food includes roasted pig (lechon), tomato-based meat stew (menudo), rolled meatloaf (embutido), coconut rice cakes (bibingka and puto bumbong), Filipino sweet spaghetti, fried spring roll (lumpia), meat skewers (bbq), noodles (pancit)

[@ms.keyshawineglass7590]

Sounds like a fine eating experience. I'd be so impatient waiting for the lechon and lumpia.

[@GUTOMOFFICIAL]

Oh delicious Christmas!

[@privaterecipe]

Happy Christmas

[@kilantravels]

Frohe Weihnachte and Selamat Natal (Merry Christmas) from Indonesia, where for the holiday we would serve the same dishes that we would serve for other festivals like Eid and Lunar New Year, from satay to lapis legit (layered cakes) 🎉

[@magdalensartworld9116]

sounds delicious...!!!

[@ron56pvi13]

I have fond childhood memories of my Schwabish Grandmother starting an oven fire (more than once) with her Christmas goose. The pandemonium was hilarious to a little kid.

[@happycook6737]

This was fun to see. What about a Christmas dessert tour?

[@DWFood]

Good idea. We might do that next year :) Would you be interested to learn more about food on German Christmas makets?

[@happycook6737]

@@DWFood Sure. It will remind me of living in Germany for 2 years as a child.

[@johncameron4194]

Duck with red cabbage

[@MrChangchichris]

goose, ham, and pudding looks good to me

[@TaTa-gd8wh]

Goose 😋

[@asdisskagen6487]

That restaurant that specializes in Peirogi is now on my bucket list 😂😂😂😂 *edited for grammar

[@YankeeWraith]

It's pierogi

[@johncameron4194]

Looks good

[@dojchinstanojkov8397]

What about Romania, Spain, Italy? We need to tend to mediterranian Cuisine, especially in this periodes of hard eating 😅😅😊

[@robertcapek2425]

Panettone!

[@maily8388]

Spanish foods are my favorite 😍. Tapas, Paella 🥘👌😆🎉 . Merry Christmas 🎄 and happy new year 🎊 2024.

[@DWFood]

It's only a selection. Of course there are plenty of other yummy Christmas dishes from Europe, that we didn't mention.

[@leviturner3265]

I think that the selections were well rounded. I was honestly a little surprised France was not listed, I would also agree with ITaly being a good inclusion. I am unaware of Christmas traditions in Romania, and in Spain.

[@luis16467]

Well, christmas time in Italy means over hard eating.

[@rclaughlin]

I live in America. At various times, our family's Christmas dinner has included roast fresh leg of pork (a Danish thing) or Swiss fondue.

[@DWFood]

What's your favorite Christmas dish? 🎄🍽

[@bjetkabathory5185]

Czech fried carp :-)

[@Jokkkkke]

In the Netherlands, I really nice soup option would be snert, a hearty green pea soup, with Frisian rye bread topped with a thick layer of butter and smoked bacon slices

[@bjetkabathory5185]

Butter AND bacon? You Dutch must have iron gall bladders 🙂

[@Always-Hangry]

Roast turkey/Crispy garlic Potatoes

[@joeyjamison5772]

Sounds great!

[@rungus24]

I'll have the goose please! But I would also love to try piegori one day.

[@mypointofview1111]

You can buy them all year round from your local Polish delicatssen

[@rungus24]

@@mypointofview1111 I've never seen a Polish delicatessen, even though a lot of Polish people live here in the UK.

[@suevialania]

Tbe British Christmas Pudding 🇬🇧! The Portuguese, Bolo Rei 🇵🇹

[@coffeecake8098]

The polish pierogi are phantastic ✨✨

[@VladislavBabbitt]

I like Roast Beast with Who Hash.

[@jelena7604]

I personally prefer to smoke the Who Hash.😅

[@VladislavBabbitt]

@@jelena7604 That will tend to make you high as a Who. It also gives people the munchies, so you will be hungry for that Roast Beast, along with some famous Who Pudding. The Grinch should maybe smoke some. It might make him more cheerful.

[@laodesyukur]

Happy Christmas day and Happy New Year...🌐🎁❤️

[@陳允新]

The German one and the Swiss one are the best

[@LexxLarsD]

Danish is best

[@TheCasimir94]

I had no idea swedes boil their ham 😬 in finland its baked in the oven for 8 hours

[@asdisskagen6487]

I'm so glad to see I'm not the only one who was horrified 😂

[@AnMal01-h6b]

It's first boiled, then baked. For many days it felt like when I was a kid, but probably more like three hours boiling/five hours baking.

[@AnMal01-h6b]

We're trying to go vegan and up until i saw this video I thought i was doing a good job of not missing Christmas ham, but dang it, I could feel the scent from that pot through the screen! My favourite Christmas food is another Swedish classic, though - meatballs with allspice seasoning and beetroot salad. If I get to put it all on a piece of Vört bread too I'm smiling from ear to ear.

[@varoonnone7159]

I'm from a hindu background and eat beef and pork How come you're going the reverse way?

[@MyBeachyLife]

Ham, pasta, fried chicken

[@madingthree]

I legit thought fondue was just melted cheese in a pot and nothing else until I saw this

[@lilastawinsky7885]

😅

[@jjaus]

Don't ever do that! It splits into a ball of protein and water. 😄

[@Thetastytable0]

Thanks for sharing wonderful and delicious food❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@DoraJenerowicz]

Pierogi and the goose ❤

[@itsjohndell]

Good luck getting goose in the US. When i lived in Chicago it was every year!

[@asdisskagen6487]

You can get them if you live in a portion of the country where they are raised, or if you are willing to pay a premium to a mail-order company that specializes in gourmet ingredients.

[@rftn666]

It's Pierogi not Pierogis! Pierogi is already plural! Singular is pieróg.

[@DWFood]

That's correct. Nevertheless, in English it's often written with an additional "s" at the end. 🤷‍♂

[@bednar1991]

It's the American name for pierogi

[@johncameron4194]

Red cabbage with turkey

[@ElizabethHurtado-py8ur]

I love the red cabbage

[@mambaman9363]

Delicious

[@rowenasantos4311]

during the christmas eve in the philippines, we filipinos, would have ham, quezo de bola, slices of bread, and spaghetti.

[@BelaRube]

What does the X stand for?

[@Dimo4ka.]

This year I celebrate Christmas with MRE (meal ready to eat) because I'm a Ukrainian soldier and spending Christmas in a trench.

[@varoonnone7159]

Good luck to you and your fellow soldiers. Keep the spirits up !

[@Dimo4ka.]

@@varoonnone7159 Thanks a lot!

[@varoonnone7159]

@@Dimo4ka. Hope you're fine !

[@muellkoerbchen]

Peace 🕊

[@feedthebirdstuppenceabag]

Merry Christmas to you!

[@marythomas1807]

Yummy 😋

[@danidejaneiro8378]

All looks wonderful but I'm pretty sure pierogi and fondue are consumed all year round...?

[@DWFood]

Yes, it's not only served for Christmas, that's true. But pierogi with mushrooms and sauerkraut are a typical variation for Christmas.

[@danidejaneiro8378]

@@DWFood - sounds incredible :p

[@johncameron4194]

Ahhh fondue

[@mgithaiga1]

Nyama Choma

[@DWFood]

Is it a typical Christmas dish? :)

[@mgithaiga1]

yes it is@@DWFood

[@Justin_and_Mathias]

German goose is the best, but it takes ages to prepare!

[@katalazar3080]

Hungary: fish.We ate roasted trout (fresh and smoked) with maynaise-potato salad and pickles.

[@ritaferreyraarce8694]

Muy agradables

[@markmool1]

Which one ? none, its 35 C in my country in christmas ...

[@danidejaneiro8378]

@@koreyb - Brazil, Australia....

[@danidejaneiro8378]

@@koreyb - indeed! The only way to spend Christmas is on the beach 🏖

[@jantube358]

I miss the traditional Christmas carp in this video! 😭

[@BrownyBird]

Good selection! I'm fed up to watch things from Spain, France or Italy! 😅 Also the WORSE fondé I ever tried was in the French Alps. Gosh, no flavour and tasted like starch! 😅

[@OranjeSchildpad]

Fondue is not a Christmas dish and it is for sure not the national dish in France...

[@mypointofview1111]

I've never understood why you would melt cheese and then eat it while it's hot enough to give 1st degree burns.

[@ssemson]

Are klöse (forgive me if I spelt it wrong) that easy to make? 75% raw grated potato and 25% mash, then simmered until done? There's an eastern German red cabbage recipe I've been after for ages. I doubt it involves apples but I think juniper berries are involved?

[@hmvollbanane1259]

There are different types, some made with old bread, some with potatoes. The most common potato one is halb und halb (half and half cooked and raw potatoes)

[@hmvollbanane1259]

And yes, put the mixture together, wait for the liquids to become clear (so that the potato starch has settled), drain the liquid, add some nutmeg, depending on how starchy your potatoes were knead some more starch in, put into the fridge for half an our, get it out, roll and cut into pieces, form and then let them simmer (not boil!) for half an hour in salt water

[@RosalbaDorfmuller]

I just to make it. Mmm Is traditional. But very good to. Mmm

[@TatianaCueto-q9y]

Que rico se ve todo

[@ilkiwi]

In Italy we eat a lot.

[@krystynarubiec1260]

Funny that the "Polish cook" is in fact probably Ukrainian or Belarussian... Polish Christmas Eve supper in much more dishes and customs than just pierogi. Polish Christmas dinner is similar to other European feasts...

[@stuckintheshed]

This year instead of a typical English dinner will do the first dish in this video, except use duck

[@BeaglefreilaufKalkar]

Goose is nice, but actually, a fat duck is better. More meat, less bones, more tender and better taste

[@mypointofview1111]

In Poland the main dish isn't pierogi which accompanies the soup but fish, specifically karp. This is a beautiful, slightly fatty fish like salmon and is served with an array of accompaniments. Whoever made this video doesn't know much about the different Christmas dishes in Europe

[@StefannyMallquibernaldo]

Muy rica

[@Franciscog555]

there was missing bacalhau from Portugal

[@markmool1]

Comen bacalao todo el año

[@DWFood]

It's only a selection. Is bacalhau traditionally served on Christmas? 🙂

[@Franciscog555]

@@DWFood yes, it is a staple of Portuguese food specially on Christmas

[@delynndehardt1859]

I love Polish food in general, but their traditional Christmas? YUK. Not even a good breed of fish like trout or perch. I guess its all about being humble -- extra extra humble (& proud of it! 😊😊)

[@k.s.421]

I am German (but my lovely grandma was polish and we still got some family there). Actually, the Polish have 12 dishes for christmas. And the pierogies are just one little part of it. They serve f.a. a beetroot soup, breaded mushrooms, eggs with mayonaise etc.... They have plenty of bowls on the table and they would eat a little bit of everything.

[@witness1ish]

Our tirolian Brothers will get upset, because you Play tirolian folk music to the Swiss part of the Reportage. By the way, Swiss Fondue ist vastly eaten during the Advent season, but Most Swiss will Eat Something more versatile at the 24th or 25 th. while gathering within families!

[@metime4325]

What country food is goulash? Polish? Ukraine? Austrian?

[@rclaughlin]

Goulash is Hungarian.

[@armlovesmetal1036]

Hungary

[@LexxLarsD]

Danish Christmas pls .

[@BristolBerg]

Ofcourse the Scandinavians eat herrings and fish on Christmas like savages. I am surprised the French are not in the video talking about the carcass of Ortolan’s for X Mas😂

[@iseegoodandbad6758]

Whatever is local and natural is good. Good on the Scandinavians for eating wild game and fish. The lack of if hormones in their meat means they don't have terrible acne and body hair!!

[@Temptation666]

No Danish Flæskesteg?

[@mypointofview1111]

Goose does NOT need to be basted. It is goose not turkey. Goose is a fatty bird and you should drain off the fat at least twice during the roasting period, save the goose fat to roast your potatoes and you will have the most delicious roasties. Because turkey is not very fatty it needs to be basted frequently otherwise it is dry when it comes out of the oven.

[@johncameron4194]

puff pastry with chicken

[@bagsofcans7729]

This segment could have been made by chat GPT.

[@PatGeo95]

It's a sin you forgot Romanian Christmas cuisine!

[@TheAllMightyGodofCod]

No codfish?!?! Unbelievable! 😱

[@tanjaliljeqvist143]

That is for new yrs🎉😂

[@paer_vers]

I definitely need subtitles for the British part...

[@DWFood]

@@22poopoo Thanks for your comment but please refrain from comparison like this, it's not very respectful. So please, stick to our netiquette: www.dw.com/en/dw-netiquette-policy/a-5300954

[@22poopoo]

@@DWFood OK. Although faced like slapped arse is an idiom in UK used to mean miserable. It's not considered offensive. It's used by parents to their children for instance.

[@DWFood]

Thanks for the clarification@@22poopoo!

[@spectre8_fulcrum]

i roasted a goose once its very hard

[@mypointofview1111]

Whoever cooked your goose must have overcooked it. We have goose most Christmases and I've never had a problem with it.

[@varoonnone7159]

I had a stuffed nose, so everything tasted bland even my oysters 😭

[@sebertl1293]

Nix Franconia, es seids Northern Bavaria

[@Hadriandidnothingwrong-z8c]

why is this so weird, why do I have to pay for this? qwq

[@shaunpattinson1621]

But I thought Britain wasn’t a part of Europe?

[@22poopoo]

not part of EU, doesn't change geography.

[@geemo4284]

Britain is most definitely part of Europe

[@edwardvillate2112]

They LEFT OUT, the BEST GASTRONOMIES in EUROPE 😊, the MEDITERRANEAN COUNTRIES 😅 ,....

[@DWFood]

We're sorry, but didn't forget you!😃 It was only a selection. Of course, there are plenty of other tasty Christmas dishes in Eruope.

[@edwardvillate2112]

@@DWFood I don't FORGET , that you are DW , that's way you're NOT OBJECTIVE, when it comes to GASTRONOMY , and CHARITY starts al HOME 😉 , ....LOL.

[@wkielpinskasurdyk1408]

not in every were

[@michael-ps9ko]

It's Christmas not Xmas.

[@pauladambarral5039]

Yeah but still 😊

[@vaughnwilliams1208]

I've stopped using "xmas" too

[@064pointbreak]

Where do you think we celebrate xmas? 27th of December? Come on; it’s the same

[@macacd]

Christmas snowflake

[@hellie_el]

xmas used to annoy me, too, but i learned that it has been in use for hundreds of years and was in no way disrespectful.

[@javier220577]

Christmas!!!!!!!! You woke people

[@DWFood]

What's wrong with Xmas in your opinion? To be honest, it was simply shorter for the thumbnail 😉 And "X" stands more or less for "Christ", as our colleagues from Vox explain in this article: www.vox.com/2014/12/14/7374401/jesus-xmas-christmas

[@papagen00]

my christmas meal tradition = KFC

[@IvanValerioCortesi]

Everything looks so good when it finally came to the British food there You spoiled it for the video too bad... hello from Italy 🇮🇹

[@DWFood]

So you wouldn't give the Christmas pudding a try?

[@IvanValerioCortesi]

@@DWFood you think I will drop the panettone for Christmas pudding 😂

[@DWFood]

@@IvanValerioCortesi 😂

[@mypointofview1111]

Christmas pudding isn't the nicest end to a meal. It's been heartening to know fewer people bought or made this concoction from the 14th century this year. Personally I prefer something lighter.

[@mypointofview1111]

​@@IvanValerioCortesi Panettone isn't very nice

[@ramichidiac7469]

IT'S CHRISTmas not xmas

[@DWFood]

What's wrong with Xmas in your opinion? To be honest, it was simply shorter for the thumbnail 😉 And "X" stands more or less for "Christ", as our colleagues from Vox explain in this article: www.vox.com/2014/12/14/7374401/jesus-xmas-christmas

[@Dingdong3696oyvey]

This sounds like AI nonsense.

[@kimrandom176]

Scandinavian food traditions are always the worst in this kind of videos 😢

[@324liz]

British xmas food? Fish and chips. British traditional food? Fish and chips. Special day food for british? Fish and chips 😂😂😂😂

[@sonjagatto9981]

😉😉So true!

[@geemo4284]

British Christmas food is either Turkey or Goose, spiced red cabbage, roast parsnips and potatoes, sprouts and chestnuts, and most families do not finish up with Christmas pudding - it’s too rich to eat after a full roast meal

[@jontalbot1]

If you want a simple British classic which is completely delicious try Cullen Skink, a Scottish recipe. All you need do is boil potatoes, mash them, add salt/pepper, milk and butter to the consistency you like your soup ( Brits like thick soups). Then add flaked smoked white fish, preferably cod or haddock. That’s it!

[@Sofi-ji4jl]

Gosh the British one is the worst lol

[@jontalbot1]

It’s actually fantastic but it’s rich so you cannot eat much of it

[@Sofi-ji4jl]

@@jontalbot1 if you feed it to me i'll eat it ;)

[@jontalbot1]

@@Sofi-ji4jl If you ever see it and feel tempted the cheap ones are not very nice.

[@jontalbot1]

@@Sofi-ji4jl What you might enjoy is a tradition unique to Britain. On the table are things called Cmas crackers. You pull them with someone pulling the other way and they make a bang. Each cracker has a very bad joke in the form of a question and everyone tries to guess the answer. There is also a silly paper hat and a completely cheap worthless gift. Everyone loves crackers especially children. It usually the men who wear the paper hats since we like putting things on our heads for reasons unknown to science

[@Sofi-ji4jl]

@@jontalbot1 lol that sounds actually cute, bring me some of those crackers daddy!