Turkey served with tropical fruits for Christmas
La Brazil Christmas dinner incorporates additional regional flavors and ingredients that make the occasion deliciously unique.
It is often centered around a roast turkey, served on a plate with tropical fruit. Although centuries of immigration from Europe have imparted a certain influence on Ceia from Natal (Christmas dinner), the tropical flavors and local customs bring some nice color to the table.
Following the country's Iberian heritage, Christmas food is the focal point of the festivities and is traditionally eaten late on Christmas Eve, either before or after a mass night known as the Missa do Galo (Mass of the Rooster). announcing the coming of Christmas day.
In some parts of southern Brazil, it would not be uncommon to find the German strudel and »stollen» (a cake containing dried fruit and marzipan), and the very popular Italian »panettone» (sweet bread), sitting next to the Christmas party. , which shows the strong European influence on the history and tradition of these regions of the Latin American country.
Across the country, however, the traditional Christmas Dinner is widely scattered with dishes like kale highly seasoned with garlic, regional fruits, walnuts, and the Brazilian signature of rice, ham, roast turkey, and salad.
As in many European countries, a Christmas party will focus on a turkey, but in the purest Brazilian style served with local exotic fruits.
A dish that is not lacking on the table is the Bacalhau (cod) very popular in the coastal cities of Brazil, and frequently more likely to make an appearance as well.
Apart from turkey, it is popular to serve the leg or calf of pork which is delicious and can be served with or without the bone, stuffed and baked in a conventional or wood oven, which gives it a very good smoky flavor.
As for desserts, the Rabanada made of bread and cinnamon stands out, which is dipped in a mixture of milk and beaten eggs, fried in butter and deliciously covered in syrup, honey and cinnamon.