Festive recipes from around the world

Looking for new Christmas dinner ideas? Branch out this Christmas and bring some new traditions to your dinner table with these festive recipes celebrated across the globe. 

Try our delicious recipes below, then why not try our best Christmas market recipes? Bring the flavours of your favourite stalls to your kitchen, from sweet lebkuchen to a warming mug of glühwein.

Christmas recipes from around the world

Crispy pork wontons

Crunchy and hot with a sweet and tangy sauce, these crispy wontons were always a part of the festive season at Emily and Amy Chung’s Chinese-Burmese childhood home. These crispy bites are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

Jerk Christmas turkey with stuffing and gravy

Give your Christmas centrepiece a punch of spice with this alternative turkey recipe from Caribbean cooking duo Original Flava.

Burmese chicken pilaf

A fragrant chicken pilaf, danbauk is served at countless celebrations in Burma. This recipe comes from MiMi Aye, a chef, author and host of the Burmese Food & Beyond supperclub. This spiced sharing dish is ideal for feeding the whole family.

Korean galbi jjim

“These savoury-sweet soy-braised beef ribs are a great example of family tradition and celebration,” says recipe author Su Scott. Melt some cheese on top of left-over meat to make the best sandwich with pickles, herbs and your favourite chilli sauce.

Antiguan ducana

Evolving from Ghanaian ‘dokono’, this celebratory Caribbean dish calls for cornmeal, pumpkin or sweet potato, raisins and fresh spices, sweetened with sugar and coconut, then wrapped and steamed inside banana leaves.

Russian honey cake

Check out our impressive Russian-inspired cake recipe with moreish burnt-honey icing. This layer cake takes a bit of effort to make but it’s the perfect cake to show off to friends and family for a special occasion.

Gravadlax

Gravadlax is a show-stopping centrepiece for a festive spread. Making this Scandi classic is easier than you think with step-by-step help from olive’s test kitchen.

Lamb curry with chana dal

Nik Sharma’s lamb and chana dal curry is a delicious one-pot dish that really tastes great with some rice or bread, a little salad, and a bit of creamy yogurt. Scoop up a symphony of flavours and let guests help themselves.

Baumkuchen

Baumkuchen is a cake of German origin, popular at Christmas, particularly in Japan. It’s also known as ‘tree cake’ due to the rings visible in the cake when you cut into it. Traditionally, baumkuchen is made on a spit over a fire, which creates the classic rings and hole in the middle. However, this version by Hannah Miles can be easily made under the grill in a ring pan – it tastes just as wonderful.