What dishes are essential in a Mexican Christmas meal? What is the most popular Christmas food in Mexico?
Christmas is a time of celebration and family reunion around the world. In Mexico, Christmas traditions date back to pre-Hispanic times and have merged with Christian traditions. One of the most important traditions is food, which is plentiful and delicious.
If there is something that characterizes Mexicans, it is their taste for good food. Their cuisine is considered Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. During Christmas and New Year’s, there are typical Mexican dishes that are a delight for the palate.
Christmas food in Mexico
The typical Christmas meals in Mexico are varied and reflect the country’s cultural richness; it should be noted that recipes can vary depending on the region of the country. Some of the most popular Mexican Christmas dishes are:
- Mexican Christmas turkey: The turkey is stuffed with a mixture of dried fruits, vegetables, and spices, and is roasted until juicy and flavorful.
- Romeritos with mole and shrimp patties: Romeritos are a green plant prepared with a mole stew, a thick and aromatic sauce made with chilies, spices, and chocolate.
- Tamales: Tamales are a traditional Mexican dish that can be filled with a variety of ingredients, such as meat, chicken, vegetables, or cheese.
- Roast pork leg: The pork leg is cooked in the oven with spices and aromatic herbs until golden and juicy.
Mole poblano: Mole poblano is a thick and aromatic sauce made with chilies, spices, and chocolate. It can be served with a variety of dishes, such as meat, chicken, or vegetables. - Cod: Traditionally prepared for Christmas Eve dinner, this dish includes desalted cod cooked in a tomato sauce with olives, chilies, and capers.
- Pozole: This is a broth prepared with meat (usually pork or chicken) and seasoned with chilies and other spices.
- Cochinita pibil: This traditional dish from Yucatán is prepared with pork marinated in a mixture of annatto, sour orange, chilies, and spices. It is slow-cooked in an earthen oven and served with tortillas, red onion, and avocado.
What is eaten on December 24th in Mexico?
Christmas dinner in Mexico is celebrated on December 24th. The tradition is to gather with family and friends on Christmas Eve to enjoy a delicious meal. The most common dishes are those mentioned above, as well as:
- Apple salad with nuts: Apple salad with nuts is a fresh and light dish prepared with apples, raisins, peach, pineapple, nuts, chantilly cream, and cream. Some prefer to add grated carrot and condensed milk.
- Buñuelos: Buñuelos are a traditional Mexican dessert that are fried and served with a variety of sauces, such as honey, caramel, or chocolate.
- Churros: Churros are another traditional Mexican dessert that are fried and served with a variety of sauces, such as chocolate, caramel, or caramel.
- Mexican Punch (ponche mexicano): Can’t be missing, prepared with piloncillo, tamarind, cinnamon, and fruits like guava, apple, prune, tecojote, sugar cane, raisins. It can be accompanied with rum.
What is “el recalentado” mexicano?
El recalentado is a Mexican tradition that consists of eating the dishes from the Christmas dinner the following day. It is a way to take advantage of the food and enjoy it again. For many, in the recalentado the food is much tastier than at the Christmas Eve dinner.
What can be served at a Christmas posada?
Christmas posadas are a Mexican tradition that dates back to colonial times. They are held during the nine days leading up to Christmas and consist of a series of gatherings where people pray, sing, and eat.
The dishes and drinks that are usually served at Christmas posadas are:
- Atole
- Tamales
- Punch
What do Mexicans eat on New Year’s?
New Year’s is a time of celebration and good wishes around the world. In Mexico, Christmas traditions extend to New Year’s, and food is an important part of the celebrations.
In Mexico, many families choose to spend Christmas Eve together and go out to a restaurant or party on New Year’s. The dinner is usually similar to Christmas but some rituals are carried out:
- 12 grapes: Eating 12 grapes at midnight on December 31st is a Mexican tradition believed to bring good luck in the new year.
- Lentils: Lentils are a symbol of prosperity and are usually eaten on New Year’s to attract good fortune.
- Three sweet dishes: Eating three sweet dishes on New Year’s is a Mexican tradition believed to bring happiness and joy in the new year.”
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