This holiday, we’ll be trying out some of these recipes from around the world as we get together with friends and family. Each recipe comes with a taste of that countries culture and in the recipes, we get to learn a bit of the language as well. To learn more about the dishes, read the full posts which are linked below the recipes.
GREECE
Βασιλόπιτα Va-SE-lo-pi-ta= Vasilis’s pie/cake from Greece: A holiday cake for Santa Clause 
Recipe:
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted βούτυρο (VU-te-ro= butter)
• 1 cup ζάχαρη (ZHA-cha-re=sugar)
• 3 extra-large αυγά (av-GHA=eggs)
• Grated rind of 2 large πορτοκάλια (por-to-KA-lea=oranges)
• Grated rind of 2 large λεμόνια (le-MO-nea=lemons)
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed/powdered sour cherry pits (Arabic mahleb, Greek makhlepi)
• 2 teaspoons crushed/powdered gum mastic (Arabic miski, Greek mastikha)
• 4 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 egg yolk blended with 1 tablespoon milk
• sesame seeds
• blanched almonds
• a clean coin - a quarter will do nicely - wrapped in silver or gold foil
Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Thickly butter a 10-inch round spring form pan.
- In a large bowl with an electric mixer, cream the butter until it is light and fluffy. Beat in the sugar and beat until the mixture is light. Beat in the eggs, one a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the orange and lemon rinds, and the crushed/powdered sour cherry pits and gum mastic.
- In a separate bowl, sift together three cups of the flour, the baking powder and salt.
- With the mixer on low speed, gradually beat in the dry mixture alternately with the milk. The batter will be very thick. Using a wooden spoon, gradually blend in the remaining flour, beating well until completely smooth.
- Spread the batter into the pan, press the coin into the dough until it is completely covered (don’t let anyone see where you place it!), and then smooth the top. Brush the top evenly with the egg and milk mixture and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Gently press the blanched almonds into the top to make a Cross and spell out the date of the Νew Υear!
Read the full story here.
SPAIN
Cocido de Navidad from Spain
Here’s a bilingual list of ingredients:
Meats:
Hueso de ternera = beef bones (knee)
Garreta de ternera = beef, inferior leg
Muslo de pavo = turkey thigh
Pollo = chicken breast, thigh etc.
Morcilla = blood sausage
“Pelota” = meatball
For the meatball:
Ternera = beef
Cerdo = pork
Huevo batido = beaten egg
Perejil = parsley
Especias = spices
Vegetables:
Garbanzos (en una malla) a remojo = chickpeas (in a cooking bag) on water from the night before
Zanahoria = carrots
Puerro = leek
Nabo = turnip
Patata = potato
Pencas de cardo = Thistle (Cardoon) stalks
Preparation:
All the ingredients go into the pressure cooker and are cooked for about 45 minutes. La morcilla has to go later, otherwise it will disintegrate. Add sal (salt).
How to serve:First we serve a soup made with el caldo (the broth) and with very thin fideos (noodles), and second, we have the meat and the vegetables together. Each person has its preferences, my mom still remembers mine (only chicken). ¡Feliz Cocido de Navidad!
Read the full story here.
IRELAND
Irish stew
One of the most famous Irish dishes, this simple recipe should ward off the cold this winter.
Ingredients
- 1kg lamb shoulder
- 3 large onions
- 4 large carrots
- 4 stalks of celery
- 3 large potatoes
- butter for frying
- bouquet of herbs, e.g. thyme, parsley, rosemary
- 300ml vegetable stock
Debone and cut the lamb into chunks. Brown in butter and set aside. Finely chop onions and soften in butter, then add chopped carrots and celery, browned lamb and herbs. Cover with stock and simmer for 45 minutes. Peel and add potatoes. Continue to simmer for 30 minutes and serve.
Irish coffee
From its home in Shannon Airport Co. Limerick, Irish coffee is now enjoyed across the world as a hearty and potent beverage.
Ingredients
- 25ml whiskey
- 100ml fresh coffee
- 25ml cream
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
Combine whiskey, coffee and sugar in a glass or glass mug. Whip cream and carefully add to the surface. Enjoy.
Read the full story and get more recipes here.
BRAZIL
Recipe for Batita de Coco [bah TEE dah dgi KOHcoo] – Coconut Cocktail from Brazil
Because it is summer, there are no hot drinks at holiday celebrations in Brazil. Brazilians drink beer, cider, wine and juices at holiday parties. The cocktails served are usually peach juice with champagne or batida de fruita, a blend of fruits with cachaça, the native rum made from fermented sugarcane. Try this drink recipe and dream of sipping it poolside in Rio.
| IngredientesRende 4 batidas* ½ xícara de leite condensado* 1 xícara de leite de coco* 4 doses (200 ml) de cachaça* gelo
Modo de preparo Em um liquidificador misture o leite condensado, o leite de coco, a cachaça e o gelo e bata até o gelo ficar triturado. Sirva em taças tipo martini.
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IngredientsMakes 4 cocktails* ½ cup of condensed milk* 1 cup coconut milk* 4 doses (200 mL) of cachaça* ice
Instructions In a blender combine the condensed milk, coconut milk, cachaça and ice and blend until the ice is completely crushed. Serve in martini glasses. |
Recipe for Salpicão [sahl pee KOUN]
Although each region in the country has it’s on take on this salad, and each cook, insists he or she knows exactly which ingredients make the best salpicão, here’s a basic recipe from São Paulo:
| Ingredientes* 500 gramas de peito de frango cozido e desfiado* 1 pé de salsão * 1 pimentão verde* 1 pimentão vermelho* 2 cebolas médias*2 maçãs verdes* ½ xícara de nozes picadas
* ½ xícara de uvas passas pretas * 2 cenouras médias * salsinha picada * sal * pimenta do reino 500 gramas de maionese 300 gramas de batata palha
Modo de Preparo Corte o salsão, os pimentões, , as cebolas e as maçãs em cubos bem pequenos Rale as cenouras Misture todos os ingredientes, exceto a batata palha Coloque na geladeira por uma hora Espalhe a batata palha por cima antes de servir.
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Ingredients* 500 grams of chicken breast cooked and shredded* 1 head of celery* 1 green pepper* 1 red pepper* 2 medium onions* 2 green apples* ½ cup chopped walnuts
* ½ cup of black raisins * 2 medium carrots * chopped parsley * salt * black pepper 500 grams of mayonnaise 300 grams of potato sticks (store bought)
Instructions Cut the celery, peppers, onions or apples into small cubes Grate carrots Mix all ingredients except potato sticks Place in refrigerator for an hour Sprinkle the potato sticks on top of the salad before serving. |
Read the full story and get more recipes here.
