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Christmas 2024: From the delectable plum cake to the unique spicy delicacies, India’s diverse culinary landscape offers a delightful array of Christmas treats.
Make Christmas merry with traditional and mouth-watering delicacies.(Image: Shutterstock)
With Christmas just around the corner, people worldwide are busy with preparations to make the day special. Every addition adds to the festive atmosphere, from decking the Christmas tree to sharing delicious meals with family and friends. Well, just like other festivals, what better way to make it merry than with mouth-watering traditional delicacies?
Food is one thing that adds to the celebratory spirit, and when prepared at home, it makes one’s heart full. From the delectable plum cake to the unique spicy delicacies, India’s diverse culinary landscape offers a delightful array of Christmas treats.
Let us explore some of the delicious and traditional Christmas dishes from various Indian states. Vegetarian or non-vegetarian, this menu will appeal to all your loved ones this Christmas:
Plum Cake
How can a Christmas celebration be complete without a plum cake? Hailing from the heart of Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad), this cake is a festive staple and is also known as Allahabadi cake.
This rich, flavourful cake is made with rum-soaked dried fruits, petha, marmalade, and a generous amount of ghee, which gives it a unique flavour that’s both bold and satisfying.
This creation, brought to life by the Anglo-Indian community that resides in the city, oozes desi flavours and makes for a spectacular dessert to serve at the party. Once you try it, trust us, there is no going back.
Pork Vindaloo
Originally from Goa, Vindaloo is a must-try for those who love a spicy kick in their dish. The word vindaloo comes from the Portuguese recipe ‘vino de alhos,’ in which ‘vino’ refers to vinegar and ‘alho’ means garlic.
This traditional Goan dish is a staple during Christmas celebrations. It is a harmonious blend of Portuguese influence and Indian flavours.
To prepare this dish, meat is marinated in vinegar, garlic, and spices. Then, it is slowly cooked to perfection for a fiery, tangy, and utterly delicious taste. Serve it hot with steamed rice to relish its delicious taste.
Kulkul
No sweet platter is complete without kulkuls during Christmas. These deep-fried pastries resembling curls or shells are perhaps one of the most savoured recipes. Made from a simple dough composed of all-purpose flour, coconut milk, a pinch of salt, and sugar. The best part? They are easy to make, and your kids can join in too!
Nga Atoiba Thongba
In North East India, a Christmas feast is an extravagant affair, and to make this day special, Nga Atoiba Thongba is prepared. This is a popular fish curry from the state of Manipur, made using basa fish, potatoes, and pears. It is usually enjoyed with a mix of mashed vegetables and steamed rice.
Bebinca
This traditional Goan dessert is a layered pudding made with ingredients like flour, coconut milk, eggs, ghee, and sugar. Bebinca, especially during the Christmas season, typically has seven to sixteen layers, as per your wish. This sweet delight is golden-brown in colour and has a melt-in-the-mouth texture, and it is a must-have in Goa.
Rose Cookies
Like kulkuls, rose de coque, or rose cookies, is another essential sweet for your Christmas sweet platter. This crunchy traditional snack is quite popular in the southern part of India. They are deep-fried cookies that resemble a flower-like shape. It is made with rice flour, all-purpose flour, sugar, coconut milk, and a pinch of salt.
Duck Moilee
Duck moilee is another recipe made during Christmas by the Anglo-Indian community of Maharashtra. Christmas celebrations are almost incomplete without this tender and juicy dish made with duck meat. It is traditionally served with steamed rice, bread, fugias, and salad.
In Maharashtra, the special ingredient used by the Anglo-Indian community is bottled masala to make this dish.
Nevaris or Neureos
These sweet dumplings or pastries are made especially in India for Christmas. With all-purpose flour or semolina, Nevaris is stuffed with a mixture of jaggery, grated coconut, or chopped nuts. It is the same as karanji that is made during other festivals like Holi, Diwali, and Ganesh Chaturthi.
Gongura Mutton
It is a popular Andhra-style mutton curry prepared during the Christmas period. To prepare this authentic Andhra cuisine, all you need is gongura or sorrel leaves, mutton, and a few spices.
Cook mutton and gongura leaves in a blend of spices, and your flavourful dish is ready to be served. If you visit Andhra Pradesh during this time, make sure to savour the Christmas dinner with Gongura mutton and special biryani.
Guava cheese
Also known as perad, this chewy, fudgy sweet delicacy is a multicultural dish that can be traced back to Portuguese colonialists. It is one of the most delectable traditional Indian Christmas sweets and is made by East Indians and Goans. It is made from guava and is popularly prepared during Christmas in Goa. Believe us, these cheesy and tempting chunks will leave you wanting more.
