7 great Christmas dishes and where to find them

From sweet to savory, there are many typical Christmas dishes that you can't miss at the table... with a good wine to go with it of course.

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Mandriola

Christmas is coming and it shows! There are decorations, lights, and traditional music everywhere, but the best is yet to come: that full table. And between conversations about everything, we eat the typical Christmas dishes and drink a good Mandriola wine. The night is long, and the party continues the next day.

1. “Pasteis de bacalhau” for starters

Cod is king at Christmas, and about this there is hardly any discussion. Even before the main course (we’ll get to that in a moment), the famous codfish cakes/cakes start the party. The grandparents’ favorites are a warm comfort and, freshly made, are as addictive as the Mandriola white wine that accompanies them so well. The starting signal for Christmas dinner is given.

2. Codfish with everyone

From North to South, with or without eggs, carrots or cabbage, one thing is certain: codfish and boiled potatoes are a must on Christmas Eve. But why? This Portuguese tradition arose at the end of the 16th century, when for religious reasons meat was not eaten during the week before Christmas.

In this way, and since at this time it was not easy to go out to sea, the dried preserved codfish ended up conquering a place at the table. And this is how one of the most typical Christmas dishes was created in our country.

3. Boiled or baked octopus

In the North of Portugal octopus is brought directly from the sea to the Christmas dinner, a delicious second course. That is, after the codfish and before dessert, there’s always a little room for a piece of octopus, baked in the oven, with roasted potatoes and drizzled with green sauce (parsley and onion chopped in olive oil). These fish dishes go very well with a chilled Mandriola white.

4. Turkey

In ancient times, the mass of the rooster marked the end of the period of abstinence. Therefore, for centuries turkey, brought from the Americas at the time of the discoveries, has been the prime meat dish of the Christmas season. Today, tradition dictates that it be served roasted in the oven and stuffed to taste at lunch on the 25th.

This dish is demanding and takes about 4 hours to prepare. This is because the turkey must be left to marinate in water, salt, orange, and lemon. Then, before it goes into the oven, it is stuffed with sausages, chestnuts, mushrooms, and spices such as parsley, nutmeg, or black pepper. Finally, it can be savored with a Mandriola red.

5. “Roupa Velha”

Also, on Christmas Day there are those who can’t do without “roupa velha” and, in fact, there is no simpler recipe. Add the leftovers of Christmas Eve to a good garlic stew: cod, potatoes, and cabbage in small pieces. At the same time, the eggs are boiled and then sliced. Finally, everything is mixed and ready to serve. This dish can be eaten as a starter at Christmas lunch, before the meat, or at supper on the 25th. It also works well as an afternoon meal in the following days.

6. A Christmas sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon

Moving on to desserts, how can we not talk about French toast. The basic ingredient is simple: hard bread. Before continuing, let’s toast with Mandriola to the creativity of Portuguese cuisine that transforms leftovers into true works of culinary art.

The recipe varies, and the bread can be dipped in milk (already boiled with lemon and cinnamon) or in hot sweet wine. It is then coated in egg and fried. Some people also make them in the oven.

Right next to it, on another platter, we have a sweet that is also very common: azevias. The best-known recipe involves chickpeas, but the filling can be sweet potato, squash… The tradition originated in Alentejo, but nowadays it has been adopted all over the country.

Finally, we will add to this set the” filhós” or “filhoses”. Made with eggs and flour, pumpkin, and orange zest, they are a must in this festive season. And all these sweets have a common denominator: they are sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon (no need to lick the screen).

7. “Bolo-Rei”, crowning the Christmas Eve

Did you know that we inherited this Christmas tradition from the French? Moreover, it is said to represent the offerings of the Magi to baby Jesus. The yellowish crust symbolizes gold, the aroma and flavor represent incense, and the myrrh is symbolized by candied and dried fruit. Thus, this masterpiece of national pastry deserves to be accompanied, at the very least, with a toast!

All these typical Christmas dishes are a “must-eat” and have the power to remind us of many happy moments. Remember the hilarious stories and the laughter they provoked, the children in ecstasy around the tree, Christmas soundtrack playing, and even the late nights, and grandma already asleep on the couch.

If cooking is not your forte, don’t risk it. These dishes deserve to be prepared by trained hands. Visit the second floor of the Mercado da Ribeira in Lisbon and enter PAP’AÇORDA.

That’s all you need to do: you will find that the magical world of typical Christmas dishes is waiting for you. Toast with Mandriola and make this a nice dinner among friends!