Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are generally celebrated as a family with one rich meal after another served from mid-day on Christmas Eve through late night Christmas Day |
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Christmas Eve in Andalucia and Spain
by Brenda Padilla
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are generally celebrated as a family with one rich meal after another served from mid-day on Christmas Eve through late night Christmas Day.
It is possible to dive in and do a little seasonal Spanish style cooking – if you have the right recipes. You can access a few Spanish Christmas recipes here at Andalucia.com. We even have a special contribution by one the mother of one of our Spanish staff members, a family recipe for making the famous “Roscos Navideños”. Again, learn about Spanish Christmas meals in detail in our article on Christmas in Andalucia
One of the more vibrant Christmas celebrations in Spain takes place in the gypsy community – known for its passion, close family ties and wonderful musical traditions. Get the inside scoop on a genuine gypsy Christmas in our first hand report.
The Flavours of Christmas
Traditional Christmas fare in Andalucia will vary from home to home, but it is the rare house that will be without an entire leg of cured ham – jamón. The humblest homes might splurge on a Serrano ham while those with more spending power will very likely opt for a leg of “pata negra”, which some believe to be the very best cured ham on the planet. These hams are served in thin slices as appetisers and also used to add a special flourish to soups, for example.
Special family dinners throughout the season generally begin with a selection of smoked salmon, pates, cured meats and special cheeses. The main course could consist of roast lamb or turkey. Seafood is also high on the list with platter after platter of cold boiled prawns served with homemade mayonnaise and cocktail sauce. These could easily be followed by slices of prime rib for a good protein overdose.
Another essential is found in the sweets and pastries that load the shop shelves at Christmas. Turrones, made of Almonds and honey, are brought in from the region of Valencia, along with marzipan tarts, powdery “polverones” (dust balls) and other pastries from across the region and beyond, many backed by the names of convents that have gained prestige thanks to their famous recipes. It is quite common for shops, banks and other businesses to put out a plate of these sweets along with bottles of anis for clients to enjoy.
If you’d like to try your hand at making a Spanish Christmas pastry, why not try to make Roscos or Polverones? They’re relatively easy to make and you’ll find an authentic recipe. Not to be missed is the special “Three Kings’ Cake”, called a “Roscón de Reyes”, which is made of a sweet bread dough, topped with candied fruits and sugar and often filled with whipping cream or custard. Most important is the surprise that is baked inside for the children. According to some traditions, the one who gets the treat has to pay for the cake, while others believe that the lucky one then gets to wear the paper crown that comes with this special pastry.