Superstition says that if you can fast all Christmas Eve, you will see a golden pig in the evening.But what is better than gold? Food! Who wouldn’t love the upcoming celebration of winter and the chance to have something good (and Christmassy) to eat! In this article, we have selected several traditional dishes that are among the Czech Christmas classics and are definitely worth trying.
What’s the best part? With a little effort, you can make them all in your kitchen too 😉
Mushroom Kuba
Basically baked hail and mushrooms. One would be hard pressed to find a more traditional Christmas meal. Yet it was once the food of the poor. Today, however, people from all walks of life enjoy it on Christmas Eve.
However, try it for yourself, for example, this recipe can really handle even a beginner!
Carp and potato salad
This combination is rightfully number one in Czech households on Christmas Eve.
But don’t let the word “salad” fool you – this calorie bomb will definitely not support your diet.
Carp is traditionally eaten fried, but some families use other recipes and, for example, bake it. A well-known example is the “blue carp”. You can also replace the carp with another fish or fillet (as a suitable choice for people who simply do not eat fish mea
Potato salad is traditionally made with boiled potatoes, mayonnaise, pickles and other vegetables such as carrots and peas. Some people add other things to this traditional combination – ham, boiled egg, or paprika.
Of course, you can buy the salad ready-made in the store (and throughout the year). But if you want to try a traditional side dish, try, for example, this recipe.
Tip: If you buy a whole carp (they can be bought in front of every supermarket during Advent), save the head and guts. You can use them for the next course of dinner – fish soup.
Semolina porridge
In some households, semolina porridge is the traditional starter for Christmas Eve dinner. It is prepared from wheat semolina and milk.
The recipe is then very simple: put 8 tablespoons of semolina into 1 litre of hot milk with a pinch of salt and vanilla. Cook for a few minutes until the semolina is soft and the porridge is thick enough. Serve with butter, sugar and sprinkle to taste (e.g. cocoa, chocolate, nuts, honey, jam…).
Christmas Cookies and Gingerbread
Sweets are baked during Advent and before Christmas everywhere. You can even buy it ready-made in the supermarket. Some of the most traditional types include Vanilla Rolls, Wasp Nests and Linzer Cookies.
Honey gingerbread is extremely popular among Czechs. It is traditional in winter to bake the so-called. Gingerbread house – individual parts of a small house (walls, fence, …) are baked from gingerbread, then they are glued together with sugar icing and the house is decorated.
All gingerbread cookies are also decorated with various decorative toppings. All gingerbread cookies are also decorated with various decorative toppings. It gives the tree a natural look.
Try this recipe and bake yourself some gingerbread goodness!
Egg Cognac and Mulled Wine
Traditionally prepared and consumed during the Advent season, these two alcoholic beverages are hard to beat.
Although the recipe for eggnog is quite easy, the easiest (and cheapest) solution is to buy a ready-made bottle in the store. If you still want to try the liqueur, try this recipe.
Mulled wine is also very easy to prepare at home. A big plus of the homemade version is the fact that you can flavour it completely to your liking. For example, try these two basic versions!
Lentil and pea soup
You can use these soups as one of the courses of the Christmas dinner or as a lunch on Christmas Eve (if you are not planning to fast completely). Superstition has it that lentil soup eaten on this day means money for the household – so it’s definitely worth a try!
Try, for example, this recipe for traditional Christmas pea soup with bacon or this recipe for a simple lentil soup with vinegar.
Traditional Christmas pastries – Vánočka
So we already have dinner and lunch planned. But what about breakfast? A traditional food in Advent and on Christmas Eve is vánočka – a sweet pastry with nuts and raisins, which is eaten with butter or other sweet spread and washed down with cocoa.
Preparing a Christmas cake is not just for anyone, it requires a decent amount of baking skills! But if you dare, you can try this one, for example.
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year!