Traditionally, each area in Greece has its own traditional Greek Christmas food. In northern parts (the mountainside) the Christmas dinner consists of comfort stews and soups while in other areas, they serve roasted pork or beef along with homemade rustic pies.
As for desserts? There's really nothing better to serve on Christmas Day than Greek desserts. Warm, comforting, full of spices and aromas, very Christmas-y! So here's what you would find on a Greek Christmas table...
LAHANODOLMADES - Stuffed Cabbage Rolls In Egg & Lemon Sauce
This hearty stew is served on Christmas Day in many areas around Greece. The cabbage leaves symbolize the swaddling clothes in which baby Jesus was wrapped.
A very aromatic, flavorful roasted pork shoulder, served with potatoes and flavored with orange. Roast pork is what's traditionally served on the Greek Christmas table. This delicious pork is brined overnight and then slowly baked, covered, until it's perfectly tender!
AVGOLEMONO - Egg & Lemon Chicken Soup With Rice
Nice and creamy, this comforting soup is served as a main dish with Greek pies or as a starter. Cook it using a large, free-range chicken or rooster to make this dish truly stand out!
The combination of pork and cabbage is a classic one on the Greek Christmas table. In this recipe, the pork gets cooked in its juices, with lemon, wine, and sauteed cabbage.
Slow-cooked Leg Of Lamb With Potatoes
Lamb is almost every Greek's favorite meat. Therefore, we won't miss a chance to cook it for any celebration. Most times, it's slowly cooked in the oven along with the potatoes until it falls off the bone.
SPANAKOPITA - Spinach Pie With Homemade Phyllo
This rustic, old-fashioned Greek pie can't be missing from any Greek celebration table. And although most of the time it is made with store-bought phyllo, using homemade phyllo instead makes a huge difference in flavor.
MOSHARI LEMONATO - Stove Top Pot Roast With Lemon Gravy
A truly unique dish made with a part of beef that's more budget-friendly. Loaded with garlic and served with the most amazing lemon gravy. Again, a classic Greek holiday meal.
There isn't a more wintry, comforting dessert than a proper homemade apple pie. This one is made with a sugar cookie crust and a jam-like spiced apple filling. A must-try!
Traditional Christmas Stuffing
Whether it's stuffed turkey, chicken, or goose, this traditional rice stuffing always steals the show, and it's one of the tastiest foods on the Christmas table! Loaded with sweet flavors of dried fruit, chestnuts, spices, herbs, and ground meat.
A traditional Greek Christmas bread, filled with walnuts, raisins, and spices. When served, everyone gathers around and holds it while the oldest family member cuts it, creating a cross at the center first.
Beef Stew With Tomato-Wine Sauce & Spices
This hearty stew is served on Christmas Day in some parts of Greece, often alongside rice or pasta. Goes well with Greek pies as a side, like a Tiropita or Spanakopita, which are never missing from a Greek feast!
KOURABIETHES - Almond Shortbread Cookies
These cookies are in every Greek home during Christmas time. It's the cookie we leave for Santa on Christmas Eve, next to the fireplace, along with a glass of scotch and a carrot for his reindeer!
MELOMAKARONA - Honey Cookies With Walnuts
These cookies are soaked in honey syrup, flavored with warm Christmas spices, and topped with extra honey and lots of walnuts. Melomakarona go hand in hand with Kourabiethes, and they're in every Greek home during Christmas.
This is a classic chocolate dessert, very popular at all holiday celebrations in Greece, because it's very easy and quick to make, yet delicious and pretty to look at. Made with cocoa instead of chocolate.
ISLI - Walnut-stuffed semolina cookies
These are amongst the best Greek Christmas cookies! They are very similar to Melomakarona. They're also made with semolina, but they are filled with a delicious filling of spices, ground walnuts, and a hint of cocoa!
KARYDOPITA - Syrup Soaked Walnut Cake
If you attended a Greek dinner, that's what you'd probably get for dessert. An old-fashioned Greek cake, full of spices and walnuts, completely soaked in syrup. Imagine all the flavor of Baklava in a cake!
DIPLES - Fried Pastry With Syrup & Walnuts
Another very traditional Greek sweet is served on Christmas Day. Diples means folded. And it's a pastry that's folded and deep-fried. Diples are then either soaked or drizzled with a warm honey syrup. Utterly crispy and delicious!
The favorite Greek Christmas Honey Cookies this time are coated with chocolate. The dark chocolate brings the sweetness of these cookies down a notch. Ideal for chocolate fans!
VASILOPITA - Greek New Year's Cake
A soft, buttery cake, flavored with orange and brandy, and a hidden coin inside. Traditionally served on New Year's Day. Whoever finds the coin is to have good luck for the whole year!
VASILOPITA TSOUREKI - Greek New Year's Sweet Bread
Vasilopita Tsoureki is another version of the traditional Greek New Year's cake. This time, as a sweet, buttery bread with sweet aromas, just like Easter Tsoureki.
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