Bhubaneswar: Christmas is one of the biggest festivals which is celebrated in India with as much gaiety and excitement as Diwali, Holi, Eid and many others. As with most of these grand occasions, food plays a major role in getting people into the festive spirit. Recipes for bakes, cakes, desserts, delicious savoury dishes have been passed on through generations of Christians in Odisha, with a few alterations here and there, to perfectly fit in with their needs and necessities.
Here are the major dishes that embody the spirit of Christmas, curated by the public.
CHRISTMAS ROAST CHICKEN
Moist, juicy on the inside, packed full of flavours with perfectly crispy skin, it’s the preferred main dish on the Christmas table for most people. Rosy Bala says it has been a tradition in her house ever since she was a little kid, and she is continuing that tradition by preparing it for the family on December 25. “I make it along with roast potatoes and other veggies. The trick is to season the chicken overnight before you cook it. I use a homemade herb butter to generously coat the chicken before roasting it in the oven,” she says.
CHRISTMAS PLUM CAKE
The goodness of rich dry fruits and nuts, along with a flavourful mix of rum, lemon and orange zest makes this the perfect cake for your winter festivities; it is made with much aplomb across Odisha. “We prepare it on Christmas Eve using a mixture of raisins, black currants, figs and cranberries. We make at least 5-6 batches, as neighbours exchange food and other gifts among each other on Christmas Day in our close-knit community in Jatni. It is a simple recipe, but definitely a signature dish that is made with a lot of love,” says N Dwaraka.
CRANBERRY SAUCE
Even though not as hearty as a chicken roast, cranberry sauce might be the most iconic side dish that can bring the Christmas feeling to no matter what you are eating. Sidharth Kumar Behera says it’s the only thing he learnt to cook from the variety of dishes made by his mother, and it has done wonders for him and his friends. “My birthday falls in the Christmas week, this is the only thing I make. It’s a very easy cooking process, with a lot of fresh cranberries, sugar and your choice of spices. I use quite a few cinnamon sticks. We store this in jars and enjoy it all the way up to New Year, with different kinds of dishes. Parathas and cranberry sauce is actually an amazing combo that everyone should try out,” he says.
CANDIED SWEET POTATOES
Another favourite side dish, this version of sweet potatoes prepared with brown sugar, butter and marshmallows is a top delicacy during Christmas. A standout on the feast table, it is baked until the marshmallow sauce at the top of the mixture is golden brown in the oven or microwave. Yamini John mentions how debates over Christmas side dishes are a family tradition. “Candied sweet potatoes and creamy mashed potatoes are the top two dishes we argue over. The roasted vegetables feature somewhere in the middle of the list, while the green beans get cold and ignored throughout the conversation,” she says.
CHRISTMAS POMEGRANATE SALAD
A refreshing mix of fruit, cheese and green leafy vegetable, this salad acts as the perfect light accompaniment for the roast and the puddings with its slightly sweet, slightly acidic flavours. Snigdha Mishra has been using it for at least two decades, as a Christmas breakfast tradition. “My two sons love it to this day, in fact, they insist on having it with their lunch and dinner also. Everybody brings little twists and variations to the dish. I use mozzarella crumbles and a cranberry vinaigrette to make it extra creamy and tangy.”
CREAMY CORN PUDDING
A very underrated dish made with frozen yellow corn, honey syrup, milk and heavy cream, this sweet pudding is a must try for Christmas. Abhijit Barla got a whiff of it while living in Delhi and had to search for the recipe, bringing it back with him when he returned to Odisha. “I make it every year for myself or any Christmas gathering I go to. Everyone who tries it can’t stop singing its praises. I’ve yet to try a cream corn pudding here in Odisha, other than my own, that matches up to the first time I tried it,” he says.
