The Christmas season is here with bright decorations, delicious sweets, and a fun atmosphere. What better way to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year than with a gastronomic journey that defies convention and celebrates the exotic. From bright, spicy side dishes to aromatic herb-seasoned roasts, imagine a table piled high with mouth-watering delicacies that showcase the diversity of the world’s cultures. This Christmas, indulge in an array of irresistible and unique recipes that turn your holiday meals into gourmet experiences. From rich sweets that create a sweet symphony to succulent roasts flavored with spices from around the world, these gourmet dishes are designed to add a touch of magic to your celebrations. (Also read: 3 delicious and healthy recipes to enjoy walnuts this winter )
Recipes you must try this Christmas
1. Spaghetti vegetable bolognese
(Recipe by Chef Deepak Bhatt of Gangakinare Rishikesh)
material:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion (chopped)
2 carrots (chopped)
1 celery stick (chopped)
1 clove of garlic (minced)
100g vegetable mince
200g pasta
basil florets, chopped
Parmesan cheese (appropriate amount)
Method:
1. Heat olive oil in a pot over medium heat.
2. Add the chopped onions, carrots, and celery to the pot.Saute
3. Slowly fry the onions until they are soft.
4. Add the crushed garlic to the vegetables and continue sautéing until the vegetables are soft.
5. Add the chopped vegetables to the pan and fry for a few minutes until golden brown.
6. Boil the pasta separately according to package directions.
7. Drain the cooked pasta and add it to the pot along with the stir-fried vegetables and mince.
8. Pour in the tomato sauce, add crushed black pepper, salt and chopped basil leaves. Stir the ingredients thoroughly.
9. Heat the mixture and make sure all the flavors are well mixed.
10. Arrange the spaghetti vegetable bolognese in bowls and top each serving with Parmesan cheese.
11. Enjoy the flavorful spaghetti vegetable bolognese.
2. Strawberry berry and basil smoothie
(Recipe by Chef Ronit Kumar, Ministry of Appetite)
material:
strawberry 50g
mixed berries 20g
20g fresh basil
50g oats
180ml milk
100g ice
decoration:
basil 10g
Strawberries 10g
mixed berries 10g
Method:
1. Add strawberries, mixed berries, fresh basil, oats, milk, and ice cubes to a blender.
2. Blend the ingredients until smooth and well combined.
3. Pour the smoothie into a glass.
4 Garnish the smoothie with fresh basil leaves, sliced strawberries, and mixed berries.
5. Serve immediately and enjoy a refreshing strawberry berry and basil smoothie. Feel free to adjust the amount of ingredients to suit your taste preferences.
3. Plum pudding
(Recipe: Namzbakehouse Namita Zusshi Chef)
material:
Nut mix:
Walnuts 40g
40g almonds
25g orange peel
25g cherry
Cranberries 25g
raisins 40g
75ml rum
3 tablespoons honey
orange juice 70ml
butter:
75g flour
75g almond flour
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 egg
100g butter
decoration:
drip cream or royal icing
red fondant balls
green fondant leaves
Method:
1. Combine walnuts, almonds, orange peel, cherries, cranberries, raisins, rum, honey, and orange juice in a bowl.
2. Mix well and soak for 3 weeks.
3. In a separate bowl, combine flour, almond powder, cocoa powder, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and baking powder.
4. Prepare your wet ingredients by mixing the butter and brown sugar in a separate bowl until creamy.
5. Add the eggs to the butter and sugar mixture and mix well.
6. Combine dry and wet ingredients. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix with a spatula until well combined.
7. Add the soaked nut mixture to the batter and stir until evenly mixed.
8. Transfer the dough to a round baking pan, making sure it is well distributed.
9. Bake: Preheat the oven to 160℃.
10. Bake the plum pudding for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
11. Once the plum pudding has cooled, drizzle drip cream or royal icing on top.
12. Decorate with red fondant balls and green fondant leaves for a festive feel.
13. Slice the plum pudding and serve with fun garnishes.
4. Gingerbread cookies
(Recipe: Namzbakehouse Namita Zusshi Chef)
material:
For batter:
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons white sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup golden syrup
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/4 cups flour
For decoration:
1 egg white
sugar (for icing)
Method:
1. Combine butter, brown sugar, and white sugar in a bowl and mix until creamy.
2. Add the eggs to the mixture and mix until well combined.
3. Add golden syrup, flour, baking soda, ginger powder, cloves, and cinnamon. Use a spatula to mix the dry and wet ingredients until a dough forms.
4. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
5. Preheat the oven to 180℃. Roll out the chilled dough and use Christmas-themed cookie cutters to create festive shapes.
6. Place the shaped cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
7. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until edges are golden brown.
8. While the cookies are cooling, prepare the decorations. Beat the egg whites until foamy and gradually add the sugar to make a smooth icing.
9. Transfer the icing to an icing bag and design the cookies to your liking. You can create intricate patterns or simply outline edges.
10. Once the icing has set, serve with delicious homemade gingerbread cookies and enjoy.
11. These cookies have a warm, spicy flavor that makes them the perfect treat for the holiday season. Feel free to get creative with your icing and add a festive touch.