The best Christmas recipes to prepare for your holiday table

The Christmas dinner menu has evolved over several centuries. Traditions have been preserved from the times of our ancestors and are worth honoring and passing on to the younger generation. When celebrating Christmas, it's important to think ahead and explore the unique and delicious recipes for Christmas dishes. We offer the best variations that will be a worthy addition to your holiday table.

How many dishes should be on the Christmas table?

The Christmas table consists primarily of Lenten dishes. Traditionally, there are 12 of them.

This was introduced many centuries ago by our ancestors, and these conditions are still followed in many families.

12 Traditional Lenten Dishes for Christmas

Every family prepares a menu in advance and jointly decides which dishes should be on the festive table. Since ancient times, it has been customary in Russia to include 12 dishes on the table:

1. The main dish without which Christmas should not pass is kutia. The meal should begin with this dish, symbolizing care for the souls of the dead.
2. Bread. It's traditional to bake it yourself a few days before the holiday. It's a symbol of life and harvest.
3. Vinaigrette.
4. A drink containing solar energy is uzvar. It is made from dried apples and pears.
5. Borscht with ears. In the old days, it was made with kvass, which is why it had a slightly sour taste.
6. Pickles. These are light, lean dishes that enhance the flavor of any meal.
7. Cabbage rolls.
8. Fish. Can be cooked in any form.
9. Vareniki. A plump, stuffed vareniki symbolizes the continuation of the family line.
10. Cabbage with peas.
11. Cabbage soup.
12. Baked apples. They are traditionally baked with honey and raisins.

What can you serve during the Christmas holidays?

You can prepare a variety of dishes for the festive table on Christmas Eve. We offer the most delicious and original recipes.

Christmas goose and duck

A Russian dish that won the hearts of gourmets many centuries ago and remains very popular to this day.

You will need:

• duck or goose - 2.5 kg;
• apple - 340 g;
• mayonnaise - 120 ml;
• sea ​​salt;
• garlic - 6 cloves;
• ginger - 7 g ground.

How to cook:

1. Pat the washed poultry dry. Press the garlic cloves through a press. Mix with mayonnaise.
2. Rub the carcass with salt and ginger. Coat with garlic sauce. Cover with a plastic bag and set aside for 24 hours.
3. Cut the apples into medium-sized pieces. Place them in the bird's belly.
4. Place the dough on a baking sheet. Cover with foil. Bake for 2.5 hours at 180°C.
5. Reduce heat to 220°C. Remove foil. Cook for 12 minutes.

Christmas guinea fowl

This dish is ideal for people who like to experiment and try new and unexplored recipes.

You will need:

• pumpkin - 900 g;
• pepper;
• salt;
• guinea fowl - 1 pc.;
• sesame - 7 g;
• lemon - 120 g;
• honey - 45 ml;
• chestnut - 720 g;
• rosemary - 0.35 g;
• tangerines - 350 g.

How to cook:

1. Rub the bird with salt and let it rest for an hour. Make a cross on each chestnut and place it in hot salted water. Boil for 7 minutes. Turn the heat to high. Cool and peel.
2. Don't peel the pumpkin. Cut it into wedges. Grease a baking sheet with oil and place the pumpkin on it. Drizzle with lemon juice. Sprinkle with sugar. Bake for an hour at 160°C.
3. Slice half the tangerines, mix with rosemary, and place them in the carcass. Place any remaining fruit on a baking sheet.
4. Place the bird on the pumpkin. Sprinkle with spices. Cover with foil. Cook for an hour.
5. Mix honey, salt, a couple of sprigs of rosemary, and the juice from the remaining tangerines. Bring to a boil. Pour over the guinea fowl. Arrange chestnuts around it and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Cook for an hour.

Goose in foil

An exquisite, original dish that can decorate any festive table.

You will need:

• goose - 1 pc.;
• pepper - 7 g;
• salt;
• ginger - 7 g;
• honey - 35 ml;
• soy sauce - 40 ml.

How to cook:

1. Mix the honey with the sauce. Add ginger and pepper. Season with salt and stir.
2. Rub the goose with the sauce. Wrap in foil and leave for 2 hours.
3. Transfer to a baking sheet. Bake for 2 hours at 180°C.

Christmas cake

A prerequisite is a large amount of dried fruit. This will ensure the treat is aromatic and delicious.

You will need:

• dried fruits - 950 g;
• butter - 190 g;
• lemon zest - 25 g;
• lemon - 230 g;
• port wine - 260 ml;
• hazelnuts - 220 g;
• almonds - 120 g;
• sugar - 220 g;
• eggs - 4 pcs.;
• baking powder - 15 g;
• flour - 220 g;
• rum - 160 ml;
• milk chocolate - 220 g;
• ginger - 14 g;
• cardamom - 14 g.

How to cook:

1. Chop the dried fruit. Mix with finely chopped lemon. Pour in the port and stir.
2. Beat the butter. It needs to be soft. Pour in the eggs. Beat.
3. Grind the nuts in a blender. Add to the liquid mixture. Add flour. Beat.
4. Mix the two prepared mixtures and add the chocolate broken into small pieces. Sprinkle with spices and pour in the rum. Transfer to the mold.
5. Place in the oven at 220°C. Bake until golden brown. Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes.

Christmas Ring Cake

This appetizer chicken pie will win everyone over with its appearance.

You will need:

• chicken fillet - 1.3 kg;
• vegetable oil;
• eggs - 6 pcs.;
• salt;
• onion - 260 g;
• pepper mix - 7 g;
• carrots - 120 g;
• puff pastry - 450 g;
• dill - 25 g.

How to cook:

1. Chop the fillet and put it through a meat grinder.
2. Chop the onion and grate the carrots. Pour oil into a frying pan and fry the vegetables.
3. Mix the minced meat with the fried vegetables, eggs, chopped dill, salt and spices.
4. Pour water into a glass and place it in the center of the baking sheet. Spread the mixture around the glass in a nice circle.
5. Cut the puff pastry into strips. Cut out decorative decorations: flowers, leaves, birds.
6. Place the strips in a pattern on the minced meat and decorate with cut out figures.
7. Place in the oven. Bake for 45 minutes at 180°C.

Christmas Stollen

You should definitely delight your family with amazingly aromatic baked goods.

You will need:

• sugar - 80 g;
• flour - 825 g;
• raisins - 260 g white;
• butter - 300 g;
• powdered sugar - 120 g;
• milk - 330 ml;
• cognac - 130 ml;
• salt;
• candied fruit - 220 g;
• fresh yeast - 50 g;
• almonds - 120 g;
• lemon zest - 25 g;
• raisins - 260 g black.

How to cook:

1. Chop the almonds. Mix the candied fruit with the raisins and pour in the cognac. Stir. Leave overnight.
2. Heat the milk and mix with the yeast. Add sugar and a couple of cups of flour. Stir and let rise. When the mixture has risen, add the remaining flour and softened butter. Season with salt. Stir in the zest. Knead.
3. Cover with a cloth and leave to rise.
4. Roll out, sprinkle with nuts and the infused mixture with dried fruits. Fold the edges. Knead until smooth.
5. Place in a mold. Leave to rise.
6. Place in a hot oven at 180°C. Leave for half an hour.
7. Cover with foil. Cook for an hour.

Cerro - "Yule Log"

A traditional European dish. This log is considered sacred and occupies a place of honor in the center of the table.

You will need:

• eggs - 3 pcs.;
• butter - 35 g;
• sugar - 180 g;
• cocoa - 45 g;
• flour - 160 g;
• cream - 220 ml fatty;
• instant coffee - 10 g;
• baking powder - 7 g;
• powdered sugar - 320 g;
• water - 100 ml.

How to cook:

1. Beat the eggs until foamy. Add the sugar. Beat until the crystals dissolve. Pour in the water. Add the baking powder and flour. Pour into a square pan and bake for 17 minutes. Preheat oven to 180°C.
2. Sprinkle a towel with a little powdered sugar and place the finished cake layer on it. Roll it up, towel and all. Let it rest for half an hour.
3. Whip the cream. Add coffee and half a cup of powdered sugar. Whip.
4. Unroll the roll. Spread with cream and roll it up again.
5. Trim the edges at an angle. Apply to the workpiece to create the appearance of knots.
6. Cream the butter with the cocoa powder. Add the remaining powdered sugar and hot water. Beat until smooth. Spread the glaze over the pastry. Use a spoon to create patterns to imitate tree bark.

Christmas Lights Snack Cake

A magnificent, elegant appetizer that will fit harmoniously into the Christmas menu.

You will need:

• puff pastry - 600 g;
• cottage cheese - 120 g;
• cheese - 200 g;
• cranberry;
• carrots - 460 g;
• dill;
• garlic - 4 cloves;
• eggs - 3 pcs.;
• tomato;
• liver - 420 g;
• cucumber;
• onion - 160 g;
• mustard - 35 g;
• vegetable oil - 45 ml;
• sour cream - 45 ml;
• butter - 25 g;
• bay leaf - 2 leaves;
• water - 220 ml.

How to cook:

1. Roll out the dough into several layers. Place on a baking sheet. Bake for 17 minutes at 180°C. You should end up with 4 layers.
2. Chop the vegetables. Fry in vegetable oil. Add chopped liver. Season with salt. Pour in water. Add bay leaves and pepper. Stir and simmer until the moisture evaporates.
3. Remove the bay leaf, add oil and blend.
4. Add sour cream and mustard to the resulting puree. Stir.
5. Grate the cheese. Chop the garlic. Mix with the pâté.
6. Spread the liver mixture on the cake layers, placing them on top of each other.
7. Refrigerate for 4 hours. Spread the surface with cream cheese frosting. Place a grated yolk in the center. Fill the edges with grated egg white. Garnish with chopped cucumbers, herbs, and tomatoes.

Christmas duck with mushrooms and nuts

No Christmas would be complete without a beautiful, festive duck.

You will need:

• duck - carcass;
• nuts - 150 g;
• champignons - 350 g;
• onion - 130 g;
• olive oil;
• spices;
• salt;
• mayonnaise - 120 ml.

How to cook:

1. Slice the mushrooms. Grate the carrots and chop the onion.
2. Heat olive oil in a saucepan. Add mushrooms and vegetables. Fry. Cool. Mix with chopped nuts.
3. Rub the carcass with spices, salt, and mayonnaise. Place the vegetable mixture into the belly.
4. Place in the oven. Preheat to 170°C (350°F). Cook for 2 hours. If the meat isn't done yet and the skin is starting to burn, cover the bird with foil.

Arkhangelsk Kozuli Gingerbread

A fragrant treat that will bring a lot of pleasure to children.

You will need:

• flour - 860 g;
• salt - 1 g;
• butter - 210 g;
• spices - 21 g;
• water - 140 ml;
• sugar - 320 g;
• soda - 7 g;
• eggs - 3 pcs.

How to cook:

1. Place the sugar in a saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly. This will create a dark caramel. Pour in boiling water. Cook until dissolved. Remove from the heat.
2. Add butter. Stir. Add spices. Cool. Pour in eggs. Stir.
3. Add baking soda and salt. Stir.
4. Add flour and knead into a stiff dough. Refrigerate for 24 hours. Roll out. Cut out shapes with cookie cutters. Place on a baking sheet. Bake for 17 minutes at 180°C.

Nut and poppy seed roll

This beautiful festive roll will delight all guests with its amazing taste.

You will need:

For the dough:

• flour - 190 g;
• warm milk - 260 ml;
• dry yeast - 10 g;
• sugar - 7 g.

Dough:

• eggs - 2 pcs.;
• vegetable oil - 40 ml;
• flour - 410 g;
• melted butter - 40 ml;
• sugar - 140 g;
• water - 40 ml;
• salt - 4 g.

Poppy seed filling:

• milk - 130 ml;
• ground poppy seeds - 220 g;
• butter - 20 g;
• sugar - 100 g.

Nut filling:

• milk - 100 ml;
• ground walnuts - 260 g;
• protein - 1 pc.;
• sugar - 140 g.

Mixture for greasing the roll:

• yolk - 1 pc.;
• milk - 10 ml;
• sugar - 5 g.

How to cook:

1. To prepare the dough, mix all the ingredients listed and wait until the mixture rises.
2. Add all the ingredients listed for the dough to the dough mixture. Mix and let rise.
3. For the poppy seed filling, mix all the ingredients and cook until the mixture thickens.
4. Mix all the nut filling ingredients except the egg whites and cook until the mixture thickens. Cool and combine with the beaten egg whites.
5. Roll out two layers of dough. Spread one with poppy seed filling, the other with nut filling, and roll them into rolls. Interlace them and wrap them like a wreath. Place on a baking sheet.
6. Make several slits with a knife and open them. Mix the ingredients for the coating and coat the dough.
7. Place in the oven. Set the temperature to 180°C. Bake for 45 minutes.

Fish with ginger sauce

A worthy substitute for meat dishes, this tender and healthy fish cooks very quickly.

You will need:

• white pepper - 4 g;
• sea ​​bass - 650 g fillet;
• ginger - 10 g;
• soy sauce - 60 ml;
• sesame oil - 3 drops;
• rice wine - 20 ml;
• sugar - 35 g;
• water - 80 ml.

How to cook:

1. Place the fillet in a narrow dish.
2. Mix all remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil and simmer for 7 minutes. Pour over the fish.
3. Place in the oven. Bake for 35 minutes.

Eggplants stuffed in the oven

Exquisite pumps are a worthy decoration for the holiday.

You will need:

• ground meat;
• eggplants - 900 g;
• dry ginger - 5 g;
• pepper;
• cheese - 220 g;
• salt.

How to cook:

1. Cut the vegetable in half. Scrape out the center with a spoon.
2. Add salt and spices to the minced meat. Mix. Place in the eggplants. Sprinkle with grated cheese.
3. Place in the oven. Cook for 37 minutes at 180°C.

Apples baked with honey and nuts

A treat that all children will love.

You will need:

• apples - 750 g;
• honey - 120 ml;
• nuts - 230 g.

How to cook:

1. Cut off the tops of the apples. Use a knife to cut out the core.
2. Grind the nuts and mix with honey. Pour into the apples.
3. Place in the oven at 180°C. Bake for 35 minutes.

Spiced pumpkin

You will need:

• pumpkin - 750 g;
• herbs;
• salt.

How to cook:

1. Cut the vegetables into slices. Sprinkle with herbs and salt. Mix well.
2. Place on a baking sheet and bake in a hot oven.
3. Cook for 25 minutes at 180°C.

This spicy appetizer will be appreciated by lovers of pumpkin dishes.