Global Holiday Recipes For Festive Gatherings

Are you hosting a holiday dinner party but unsure what to make? Get ready to explore flavors from around the world with these Unique Global Holiday Recipes for Festive Gatherings! These international dishes offer an interactive and enjoyable way to create new traditions with family and friends.

Forget the retro holiday staples like layered Christmas gelatin from the ’60s! Instead, we’re bringing you cozy and festive main dishes inspired by flavors from Asia, Africa, North America, South America, and Europe. One common element, no matter where you live in the world, is to shower your guests with delicious dishes.

These holiday recipes are designed to be shared, helping you create cherished memories with loved ones. Whether you’re planning an intimate dinner for four or a gathering for a crowd, we’ve got you covered.

Italy: Holiday Dinners to Impress

An Italian American tradition starts on Christmas Eve with Feast of Seven Fishes enjoyed by family, friends and even those that are remembered. When you are so full that you can barely move, it about time to head to midnight mass.

The actual roots to where the number seven originated is somewhat disputed but some believe that it represents the Bible’s reference to the seven days of the creation of earth. This Christmas eve vigil of abstaining from meat, puts forth an abundant seafood sensation.  

Global holiday recipes include baked clams on the half shell, octopus’ salad, shrimp scampi, linguini with mussels, baked Mediterranean fish, whole grilled fish, crab stuffed whitefish and many others. It is very interactive menu because the plates of food keep getting passed around and grandma keeps putting more on your plate (smiling).

Crab Stuffed White Fish

Our personal family tradition for Christmas Day is the epic Timpano Pasta Dome.  If you are not afraid of a culinary challenge, this Italian pasta recipe is sure to impress a big crowd. This Christmas party food can literally feed 12 hungry football players and a few of their friends!

Timpano Pasta Dome

Once you cut into your masterpiece, it will reveal the layers of pasta, meatballs, sausage, cheese, and other goodies hidden inside the flaky crust of the dome. You will have your friends, family and coworkers talking about this for years to come. All you need is a festive holiday salad and you are good to go. Buon Natale (Merry Christmas)!

England: Festive Recipes

You don’t want to miss a British holiday celebration complete with roast beef, pan gravy, Yorkshire puddings and the iconic Christmas pudding.

A traditional Christmas pudding is filled with dried fruits, spices and then flamed with alcohol and served with a sweet custard or brandy or rum butter. With loads of butter and sugar, you do not even want to know how many calories per slice. Our steamed gingerbread date bread is a healthy and guiltfree alternative Christmas pudding.

Steamed Gingerbread Date Bread

Some families celebrate with a roasted turkey and all the fixings. One of our personal favorite global holiday recipes is the vegetarian version of mince pie. They have a flaky buttery crust filled with candied fruits and spices.

Mexico: Christmas Dinner for a Crowd

Did you know that holiday festivities start in mid-December with the Feast of our Lady of Guadalupe, and it runs all the way to January to celebrate Three Kings Day? This provides ample time to spend with family and feast on many delicious Christmas treats.

Hands down, one of our favorite Mexican holiday foods to enjoy during the Christmas season is vegetarian tamales verde.  Steamed tamales are made with corn masa dough spread onto a corn husk or banana leaf and can also be filled with chicken, beef, pork, or vegetables. Champurrado is a thick spiced chocolate beverage that we think pairs perfectly with tamales.

Vegetarian Tamale Verde

This ultimate global holiday feast includes; pozole soup, enchiladas, burritos, salted cod fish are common dishes served during the feasts. Of course, you can’t forget about churros or a king cake for dessert.

Lebanon: Spice Up the World

With around 30% of the population being Christian, their festive international cuisine is filled with Middle Eastern flavors and spices. One of our favorite ways to entertain a crowd is with our Middle Eastern Party Feast. This unique holiday dinner includes falafel bites, hummus, Mujadara, baba ghanoush, tabbouleh and flat breads for sharing. It’s a fun and interactive meal to share.

Middle East Party Feast

South Africa: Holiday Dinner Party

Celebrating Kwanzaa is a delicious affair! The main dish is often a stew, curry, or something grilled due to warm summer weather.

As we love making a holiday main dish that can be prepared in advance, this healthy bobotie recipe is the perfect dish to share. It’s filled with the bold flavors of curry, tender ground beef and topped with an egg and baked to perfection. Serve bobotie with a side of yellow rice with raisins, sliced bananas, cornbread, black eyed peas salad and roasted sweet potatoes.

South African Bobotie

Japan: Keeping it Easy

The challenge of purchasing a turkey that does not cost as much as a 4-year university was a challenge when we lived in Yokohama, Japan.  We did not even own a proper oven, but instead - a “fish oven”. We have even made mini gingerbread cut out cookies in our little fish oven. However, there is no way a turkey or even a turkey breast would ever fit!

So how does one in Japan enjoy the festive holiday season with family and friends? You guessed it – The Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) meal! Back in the day, Colonel Sanders and team created a fabulous marketing campaign called “Kentucky for Christmas”. It solved the problems of not having an oven and it was an inexpensive turkey replacement meal idea.  

As we are not big on fried foods, we like to swap up the KFC meal with our air fried or baked wing dings, coleslaw, and a light and fluffy strawberry sweet cake for dessert. At the end of the day, the holidays are about spending precious time with family and friends.

Super Easy Baked Wing Dings

Hong Kong: Asian Fusion Holiday

December 25 and 26^th are public holidays in Hong Kong. As you may recall, Hong Kong was ruled by a British colony for over 150 years from 1841 to 1997. Therefore, even without the white snow, the holidays are bustling with decorations, lights, and delicious treats to keep everyone in a festive mood.

Sichuan Hot Pot

Many families gather and enjoy traditional Chinese dishes like Sichuan hot pot, jiaozi (Chinese dumplings), Hong Kong fried rice or a healthy stir fry. However, those with an oven may enjoy a roasted turkey and all the fixings.

Some busy families cook up some delicious reservations at their favorite restaurants. These holiday recipes from around the world are a delicious fusion of east meets west with everything from British Indian curries to air fryer spring rolls.

Philippines: Celebrating in Style

If you are a Christmas lover, the Philippines is the place to be. Starting in Mid-December to the first Sunday in January, they enjoy many special holiday recipes.  Get ready for the flavor explosion with roasted whole pig, coconut fish wrapped in banana leaves and various noodle dishes. Some enjoy a special fruit salad combined with sweetened condensed milk or purple rice cakes (puto bumbong) steamed in bamboo tubes as part of their traditional Philippine Christmas fare. 

Banana Leaf Wrapped Coconut Fish

Australia: Grilling and Chilling

While some of us are shoveling snow off our roofs, Australia is enjoying the warm summer days in December. Christmas at the beach or poolside sounds dreamy! It’s time to dust off that “Barbie” (grill) and get cracking on that appetizer of firecracker grilled shrimp.

A festive herb marinated grilled rack of lamb, potato salad and a pavlova for dessert is sure to impress a crowd this holiday season.

Herb Marinated Grilled Rack of Lamb

United States: The Holiday Melting Pot

The USA is a melting pot of different cultures. We enjoy celebrating dishes from every corner of the globe. With Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and more - the one thing in common is delicious food.

Maybe your family celebrates the holidays with a ham with a cranberry glaze, latkes, roasted turmeric spiced turkey or even prime rib.  There is always a delicious twist on the classic recipes making every dish special and unique.  Every family shares a different traditional main at the holiday dinner. Some enjoy vegetarian options like an easy make ahead butternut squash lasagna to feed a hungry crew.

Air Fryer Ham with Cranberry Glaze

Delicious Holiday Dishes from Every Continent

We hope you enjoyed these unique global holiday recipes for festive gatherings. Spanning from Italy, England, Mexico, Lebanon, South Africa, Japan, Hong Kong, Philippines, Australia, and USA, these jolly recipes are sure to please a crowd.  Trying recipes from other countries is a fun and interactive way to explore the world without ever leaving the kitchen.

Wishing you a very happy and healthy holiday season from our family to yours!