Christmas Gastronomy in Latin America

The Christmas dinner is one of the best times of the year, as families or groups of friends often come together to spend time together and enjoy delicious dishes, which vary depending on each city and country. If you want to learn more about what is eaten in each country during Christmas Eve, at kiwilimón we tell you about the Christmas gastronomy in Latin America and around the world.What is eaten in Latin America at Christmas?The cuisine of Latin American countries is varied, rich, and complex, which is reflected in such an important time as Christmas.Argentina: According to media from that country, Argentines enjoy vitel toné, chicken salad with mayonnaise, the traditional barbecue, stuffed eggs, and turrón.Brazil: It is common for people to enjoy dishes like stuffed turkey, marinated pork loin, cod, rice, torrijas, and a panettone filled with brigadeiro, one of the most famous Brazilian desserts, which is made with condensed milk.Bolivia: Here, picana is often prepared, a dish that dates back to the 19th century, made with beef, pork, lamb, and chicken, as well as wine, raisins, and vegetables.You can also read: 7 things that cannot be missing from your Christmas dinnerColombia: To start, buñuelos, a type of bread typical of Colombia, cannot be missing. As for drinks, salpicón is prepared, a cocktail made with soda, orange juice, and fruits like apple, banana, mango, papaya, and pineapple. Empanadas, cheese-stuffed potatoes, arepas, stuffed pork, turkey, and tamales are also essential. For desserts, hojuelas, rice pudding, and natillas are must-haves.Costa Rica: In this country, delicious tamales are usually prepared for Christmas, as well as pork leg, loin, turkey, or chicken. To accompany, rice, salad, and mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes are cooked. For dessert, the so-called queque navideño, a pudding filled with fruits and nuts with a touch of rum, is a must. Here, rompope, Yule log, and panettone are also consumed.Chile: Dishes like stuffed turkey, potatoes, Russian salad, pan de Pascua, ice cream, and a traditional drink known as “cola de mono,” made with milk, coffee, and aguardiente, are enjoyed.Cuba: Cubans prepare roasted pork, accompanied by congrí, a mixture of rice and beans. Salads, cassava, chicken, banana, and wine or cider are also served. For dessert, flan or rum cake is enjoyed.Ecuador: Like in many other countries, in Ecuador, stuffed turkey or chicken is usually served, accompanied by rice and salad. The dessert is usually panettone, and the Christmas dinner is often accompanied by wine.El Salvador: Here, the classic oven-roasted turkey is usually prepared for Christmas dinner, but delicious chicken tamales, glazed ham, and the delightful Christmas cake, a dessert made from seeds, nuts, and rum, are also served.You can also read: Classic desserts for this ChristmasGuatemala: For Christmas Eve, the classic turkey or pork is prepared in this country, accompanied by carrot salad, mashed potatoes, and sauce. On the other hand, black tamales filled with raisins, prunes, and olives are also cooked. The most traditional drink is fruit punch.Honduras: Hondurans usually cook oven-roasted turkey, pork leg, and tamales; the Christmas dinner is accompanied by the classic infernal punch, a very refreshing drink. For dessert, families often enjoy rompope and torrejas.Mexico: The most traditional dishes are romeritos with mole and shrimp, bacalao a la vizcaína, apple salad, and fruit punch. For main dishes, Mexican families opt for turkey, loin, or leg; however, nowadays, they also choose dishes like lasagna or pasta.Nicaragua: The most traditional dish is rice a la valenciana, a version of Spanish paella. Tamales, bread, punch, and biscuits are also prepared.Panama: Here, tamales, turkey, ham, potato salad, and egg bread for Christmas cannot be missing. As for desserts and drinks, punch with rum and fruit candy are classics.Paraguay: During the Christmas dinner, families enjoy chipa guasu, made from corn, as well as traditional Paraguayan soup and clericot to drink.Peru: Peruvian families usually enjoy stuffed turkey, chicken, pork, beef, or lamb. Main dishes are usually accompanied by rice, salad, and applesauce. For Christmas drinks and desserts, cider, hot chocolate, and panettone are essential.You can also read: What to prepare for Christmas dinner? the easiest recipesPuerto Rico: Here, green banana pasteles filled with meat, rice, pork, and the famous coquitos, a drink made with coconut milk, sugar, egg yolk, cinnamon, vanilla, and rum, are enjoyed.Dominican Republic: The most traditional Christmas dinner consists of various dishes such as baked chicken and the famous puerco en puya. Side dishes usually include Russian salad and moro de guandules, a dish made with rice. The plantain pie cannot be missing either.Uruguay: In this country, chicken, pork, or lamb is usually prepared for the Christmas dinner. To accompany the food, picadita, stuffed eggs, tongue, cider, wine, sweet bread, and cheeses are usually served.Venezuela: The dish that cannot be missing from Venezuelan tables is hallaca, a tamale filled with meat, pork, and chicken. Ham bread, salad, and desserts like black cake and panettone are also enjoyed.