Celebrate the Beauty of Culture: An International Christmas Meal

This Christmas, I decided to celebrate the beauty of culture through food. I prepared dishes from various countries, including Egypt, India, France, Italy, Greece, Australia, Hawaii, Mexico, and Indonesia. Our world is full of unique flavors that can transform your culinary skills and tastes. Let’s take a journey around the globe with the amazing international appetizers, entrees, and desserts I served for Christmas.

A Culinary Journey Begins

The holiday season is a perfect time to explore new flavors and traditions. Each dish I prepared tells a story of its origin. Food has a magical way of connecting us to different cultures. I believe that trying new recipes can inspire us to embrace diversity and celebrate our differences.

Appetizers

Italian Antipasto

Our appetizer

Antipasto is a traditional Italian appetizer served before the main course. To create this delightful dish, I used:

• Water crackers

• Green olives

• Salame Milano

• Salame Napoli

• Dark chocolate-covered almonds

• Provolone cheese

• Colby Jack cheese

  
  

Egyptian Baladi Bread, Hummus & Greek Tzatziki Garlic Cucumber Dip

Next appetizer we had Egyptian bread

Next, we traveled to the Middle East. I served Egyptian Baladi bread paired with hummus and Greek Tzatziki Garlic Cucumber dip.

Ingredients for hummus include:

• Organic garbanzo beans

• Organic tahini

• Organic olive oil

  
  

Ingredients for Greek Tzatziki Garlic Cucumber dip include:

• Organic Greek yogurt

• Organic cucumbers

• Organic garlic

• Organic lemon

  
  

Entrees

Australian BBQ Turkey

Our entree of the day honors Australia. Since Australia loves BBQ, I marinated a 16 lb. turkey with Baby Ray’s Original BBQ Sauce, which has no sugar added. I marinated the turkey for four days in the refrigerator using a Reynolds Kitchens Oven Bag. On Christmas Day, I transferred the turkey into another oven bag and baked it at 350 degrees for 2.5 hours.

Indonesian Nasi Goreng

Indonesian fried rice

We incorporated the Southeast Asian favorite, Nasi Goreng, into our meal. This traditional Indonesian fried rice can be made with:

• Organic rice

• Sweet soy sauce

• Organic green onions

• Chili sauce

• Organic minced garlic

• Organic chopped cucumbers

• Organic chopped tomatoes

• Optional: Sunny side up egg

  
  

Mexican Chicken Tamales

Tamales are popular Christmas dish in Mexico

Our taste of the world continues with the Mexican favorite, tamales. Tamales come in various types, including pork, cheese, chicken, and green. For our meal, we had chicken tamales made with:

• Corn husks

• Organic shredded chicken

• Spices including garlic, salt, bay leaves, black peppercorns, onions, oregano, and cilantro

• Organic tomatillos

• Organic green chile

• Organic olive oil

  
  

Italian Caprese Salad

Delicious Italian Caprese Salad

We traveled to the European region of Capri with the world-famous Caprese salad. Designed to reflect the Italian flag, this salad is easy to make with just a few ingredients:

• Organic tomatoes

• Fresh, organic mozzarella cheese

• Organic basil

• Organic Balsamic Vinegar

  
  

American Green Bean & Corn Casserole

Casseroles are delicious

Casseroles are a staple American dish that have been around for many years. They vary with different ingredients. For this casserole, I used:

• Organic ground turkey

• Organic green beans

• Organic corn

• Cream of mushroom

• Shredded Colby Jack cheese

  
  

Indian Vegetable & Chicken Samosas

Samosas are a crispy and flaky snack

A popular Indian snack, samosas are a delicious treat with a flaky and crispy crust. They have been around for centuries and are a noted Indian street food choice. You can make your own samosas with the following ingredients:

• Crust made of all-purpose flour, olive oil, carom seeds, salt, and water

• Organic medium potatoes

• Organic green peas

• Organic green chilis

• Organic spices including ginger, cumin seeds, fennel seeds, garam masala, coriander powder, red chili powder, turmeric powder, and salt

• Organic chicken

• Organic olive oil

  
  

Desserts

Hawaiian Chocolate Covered Macadamia Nuts

My mother loves chocolate covered macadamia nuts

My mother recently visited Hawaii and brought back some chocolate-covered macadamia nuts. These can be purchased at local shops in Hawaii as well as online retailers, including Amazon and Target.

French Eclairs

Eclairs are a beloved French dessert

A popular French pastry, eclairs have been around for centuries and are considered a luxurious, traditional sweet. You can make your own eclairs with the following ingredients:

• All-purpose flour, butter, eggs, milk, and water for the shell

• Pastry cream containing egg yolks, sugar, milk, and vanilla (favorites include chocolate mousse, coffee-flavored, and whipped cream)

• Cream topping such as chocolate ganache, mocha pastry cream, and raspberry

  
  

French Macarons

French macarons, a divine treat

A worldwide favorite, French macarons are a staple dessert in France. You can create your own macarons with:

• Almond flour

• Egg whites

• Granulated sugar

• Powdered sugar

• Choose fillings you prefer, including chocolate ganache, meringue buttercream, lemon curd, and cream cheese frosting

  
  

Celebrate Diversity!

This Christmas meal was not just about food; it was about celebrating diversity and the beauty of different cultures. Each dish brought a unique flavor and story to our table. I hope this inspires you to explore new cuisines and share your culinary adventures with loved ones. Let’s continue to embrace the beauty of culture through food!