In Spain, Christmas is a time to eat, drink and be together as a family. There are 4 important meals on these dates: Christmas dinner (Christmas Eve), Christmas lunch, New Year’s Eve dinner, New Year’s lunch and Three Kings Day lunch.
The meals that are cooked on these days have been passed down from generation to generation, they may vary a little from one family to another. Bring a little ‘espíritu español’ (Spanish spirit) into your Xmas dining with these Top 4 Spanish Christmas Dishes, You’ll LOVE!
1. Red Cabbage with Apple, Raisins & Pine Nuts
This dish can be found almost all year round, but, in the past, it was only found in the markets in late autumn and is widely used for Christmas Eve or Christmas menus. Each family adds their own particular touch.
First, the red cabbage is cleaned and the leaves cut in julienne before being washed. Likewise, we cut an onion into julienne strips and poach it with a little salt, then we add raisins, cinnamon and sauté it all a little.
Then add a little vinegar and spices and let it cook on a low heat. At the 30 minute mark, add the apple cut into squares and cook until everything is as you prefer it. Finally, add pine nuts and you’re ready to enjoy!
2. Seafood Soup
The most common ingredients for this recipe are prawns, clams, mussels along with fish such as hake or monkfish.
For the broth, chop vegetables from the stock (leek, onion and carrot) and sauté for a few minutes over low heat. Then peel the prawns and add to high heat, removing the foam that appears. When it starts to boil, lower the heat to medium.
For the rest, fry the remaining vegetables with a little onion, add the stock and blend everything with a blender. Subsequently, add some pre cooked clams, prawns and mussels and cook for about 10 minutes. Done!
3. Baked Sea Bream
Fish such as sea bass is also cooked during these Xmas dates.
It is a very simple recipe, where you make three transverse cuts and we introduce a lemon slice in each one. As an accompaniment, julienne potatoes and onion are added, drizzled with a little olive oil and baked at 190ºC for 45 minutes.
4. Spanish Crumble Cake (Mantecados)
These are like soft, light cookies. It is a very typical Christmas sweet that is served as a dessert along with coffee. It is made from flour, lard or vegetables, sugar, milk, nuts and eggs. They are flavored with anise or lemon and a delicious flavor can be achieved when garnished with seeds or icing sugar.
Now that you know a little more about Spanish, Christmas gastronomy, which of the above will you be bringing to your Xmas dining table? For more vegetarian version dishes, check out: Traditional Spanish Dishes: Top 5 Vegetarian Versions You’ll Love! Let us know what Christmas dishes you’re looking forward to cooking up and enjoying in the comments below and join in the conversation on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram!
