We give you the best ideas for Christmas menus, so you can enjoy these holidays with the best dishes and Your Spanish Shop.
Índice
Christmas is one of the most special times of the year, and in Spain, gastronomy plays a fundamental role in the celebration. From Your Spanish Shop with this post we give you several ideas for Christmas menus divided into sections with traditional recipes, so that you can surprise your guests with dishes full of flavour and tradition.
Starters
Starters are essential to prepare the palate for the main course. In Spain, Christmas starters are usually light but tasty, based on products from the land and the sea.
Iberian Ham with Tumaca Bread
Ingredients: Iberian ham, pan de cristal, ripe tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, salt.
Preparation: Lightly toast the bread and spread it with grated tomato. Add a splash of olive oil and a pinch of salt. Place thin slices of Iberian ham on top. A simple but perfect starter for Christmas.
Garlic Shrimp
Ingredients: Fresh shrimp, garlic, olive oil, chilli, parsley.
Preparation: In a clay pot, brown the sliced garlic in olive oil, add the shrimp and chilli, and cook until pink. Sprinkle with fresh parsley before serving.
Artisanal Cheeses with Quince and Walnuts
Ingredients: Various cheeses (Manchego, Idiazábal, Cabrales), quince paste, walnuts.
Preparation: Cut the cheeses into small portions and serve with pieces of quince and walnuts. It is a simple dish that highlights the quality of the products.
First Courses
The first courses are more substantial, but they should not be too heavy so as not to overwhelm before the main course. Here are some ideas that combine tradition and flavour.
Seafood Soup
Ingredients: Mussels, clams, prawns, white fish, fish stock, tomato, peppers, onion, garlic.
Preparation: Sauté onion, garlic, peppers and tomato. Add the fish stock and cook. Add the seafood and fish, and cook until done. Ideal for a cold Christmas night.
Seafood Cream
Ingredients: Prawns, crayfish, mussels, leeks, cream, brandy, fish stock.
Preparation: Sauté the leek, add seafood and flambé with brandy. Cook the fish stock, blend and strain. Finally, add liquid cream. It is a mild but delicious dish.
Christmas Eve Salad (Typical from Andalusia)
Ingredients: Escarole, pomegranate, desalted cod, spring onion, oranges, olives, extra virgin olive oil, vinegar, salt.
Preparation: Mix all the fresh ingredients and season to taste. This salad, with the sweet touch of pomegranate and cod, is ideal for refreshing the palate.
Main Dishes
The main dish is the star of the Christmas dinner, and in Spain there are many options, both meat and fish, to choose from according to the diners´ tastes.
Roasted Suckling Pig (Typical from Segovia)
Ingredients: Suckling pig, garlic, bay leaf, lard, salt, water.
Preparation: Rub the suckling pig with garlic and salt, spread it with lard and roast it slowly with bay leaf and water. The skin is crispy and the meat juicy. It is a Christmas classic that never fails.
Roast Lamb (Typical from Castilla y León)
Ingredients: Leg or shoulder of lamb, garlic, thyme, bay leaves, white wine, olive oil, salt.
Preparation: Marinate the lamb with garlic and herbs, drizzle with olive oil and white wine, and slowly roast in the oven until golden on the outside and juicy on the inside. A traditional option that meat lovers love.
Baked Sea Bream (Typical from Madrid)
Ingredients: Fresh sea bream, potatoes, onion, garlic, lemon, parsley, white wine, olive oil.
Preparation: Place the sea bream on a bed of sliced potatoes and onion. Sprinkle with garlic, parsley and white wine, and roast until the fish is tender and juicy. It is a lighter and more elegant option for a special dinner.
Desserts
Christmas in Spain would not be complete without the traditional sweets that sweeten the end of the meal. From nougat to roscones, the options are varied and delicious.
Jijona and Alicante nougat
Ingredients: Almonds, honey, sugar, egg white.
Preparation: Although today you can buy it ready-made, making nougat at home is a tradition in some families. The mixture of almonds with honey and sugar is irresistible and very Christmassy.
Polvorones and Mantecados
Ingredients: Flour, lard, ground almonds, sugar, cinnamon.
Preparation: These small sweets, typical of Andalusia, melt in your mouth and are perfect to accompany coffee or liquor after a meal. They can be flavoured with cinnamon, lemon or cocoa.
Roscón de Reyes
Ingredients: Flour, sugar, eggs, butter, milk, orange blossom water, candied fruit, almonds.
Preparation: Although it is usually eaten on Three Kings´ Day, many homes prepare it at Christmas. This sweet bun, decorated with candied fruit and almonds, is a real delight and can be filled with whipped cream or custard.
Christmas Drinks
To accompany these dishes, you cannot miss the traditional drinks that enhance the flavor of the delicacies.
Cava
Cava is the most popular sparkling wine at Christmas. Originally from Catalonia, it is enjoyed throughout the country to toast and accompany both appetizers and desserts.
Cider (Typical of Asturias)
Asturian cider is an excellent choice, ideal to accompany desserts.
These Christmas menus will help you create an unforgettable dinner to celebrate with your loved ones. In our catalog you can choose the best ingredients to enjoy your recipes during the holidays. Merry Christmas!