Last Updated on April 25, 2024 by Kimberlee Johnson
On my previous Christmas trip to China, I was pleasantly surprised by the delicious holiday meals.
Christmas isn’t traditionally celebrated in China, but it has recently gained popularity as a festive occasion.
While you won’t find the classic roast turkey or ham on Chinese dinner tables, you’ll be treated to various delicious dishes. So, what do they eat for Christmas in China?
Today, I’ll share these delectable dishes that make Christmas in China a truly unforgettable experience.
10 Mouthwatering Foods That Chinese Eat For Christmas
1. Roast Pork
Roast pork is a superstar on Chinese Christmas tables. This dish is like a juicy, flavorful gift for your taste buds.
It’s made by cooking a big piece of pork until the skin becomes crispy and the meat is tender. The outside is usually seasoned with tasty spices and sometimes sweet sauces.
“A recipe has no soul. You, as the cook, must bring soul to the recipe.”
– Thomas Keller, American Chef and Restaurateur
When you bite, you get a mix of crunchy and savory goodness that makes your mouth water. It’s a must-try dish with a delicious twist to the holiday celebration.
2. “Huoshao” (Baked Roll With Stuffing)
Another delightful treat during a Chinese Christmas is “Huoshao.” These are like little rolls that are baked to perfection. What makes them special is the yummy stuffing inside.
It could be a mix of meat, vegetables, and spices. The outside is crispy, while the inside is soft and filled with flavors that dance on your taste buds.
It’s like unwrapping a delicious surprise gift with each bite. But what do people in Australia eat for Christmas?
3. Stir Fried-Rice
Stir-fried rice is a Christmas favorite in China that’s as simple as it is tasty.
It involves cooking rice with various ingredients, including eggs [1], vegetables, and occasionally even small pieces of meat.
Everything is tossed together in a hot pan; the magic happens when the flavors mix and mingle. The result? A plateful of deliciousness that’s a bit crunchy and a bit soft.
Find out what people in China eat around Thanksgiving here.
4. “Jiaozi” (Chinese Dumplings)
During the Christmas season in China, you can’t miss out on a plate of delicious Chinese dumplings called “Jiaozi.” These little pockets of joy are like tiny gifts wrapped in a thin dough.
You’ll find a mix of tasty fillings: meat, veggies, or a combination of both. People make them by
hand, filling the dough and folding it into various shapes.
Then, they’re cooked by either steaming or frying.
5. Spring Rolls
Spring rolls are a delightful Christmas treat in China. Think of them as crispy, thin rolls filled with goodies.
Inside, you might find vegetables, shrimp, and sometimes bits of meat, all wrapped up in a thin pastry shell.
When you bite, you get a crunch from the outside and a burst of flavors from the inside.
6. Teriyaki Salmon
While more traditional than other dishes, teriyaki salmon has found its way onto Chinese Christmas tables.
This meal’s sweet and savory sauce is prepared from soy sauce, sugar, and other tasty ingredients, and it coats soft salmon fillets.
The salmon is grilled or pan-fried to perfection, creating a slightly crispy outer layer and a juicy, flaky interior.
Its sweet and salty teriyaki sauce flavor makes it an irresistible addition to the holiday feast.
7. Miso Soup
Miso soup is like a warm hug on a chilly Christmas day in China.
It’s a simple but heartwarming dish made from a flavorful broth and miso paste, which is soybean paste [2]. Sometimes, it’s filled with goodies like tofu, seaweed, and green onions.
The soup is all about comfort and balance – salty, savory, and soothing.
8. Sticky Rice
Sticky rice is a star in Chinese Christmas celebrations. It’s a type of rice that sticks together, almost like magic. Cooked to perfection, it becomes soft and chewy.
You’ll often find it wrapped in lotus leaves or banana leaves during the holiday, adding a lovely fragrance. It might contain tasty treats like pork, mushrooms, and sausage.
9. Orange Chicken
Orange chicken is a flavorful and festive addition to Chinese Christmas feasts. It’s like a dance of sweet and tangy flavors in your mouth.
This dish features crispy pieces of chicken coated in a mouthwatering orange sauce.
“In China, Christmas is celebrated with a feast of flavors from all corners of the country, reminding us that love and food know no boundaries.”
– Howkapow Gift Site
The orange zest adds freshness and brings out the correct balance of sweetness and tanginess in the sauce.
10. Egg Rolls
Egg rolls are a delightful addition to the Chinese Christmas feast. These are not the breakfast egg rolls you might be thinking of; these are savory treats.
It is a thin, crispy pastry wrapped around tasty ingredients. You’ll often find vegetables, bits of meat, and sometimes even shrimp.
The outside is golden and crunchy, while the inside is packed with delicious flavors and textures.
Read: What Are Three Other Places In The World That Celebrate Thanksgiving?
FAQs
What fruits do Chinese people consume during Christmas?
Chinese people consume special apples known as “Peace Apples” on Christmas Eve as a tradition.
These apples, often cellophane-wrapped, are exchanged among friends and loved ones as gifts during the holiday season.
What colors are associated with Christmas in China?
In China, Christmas is often associated with the vibrant colors of red and gold. These hues hold significant cultural importance and symbolize prosperity, happiness, and good fortune.
On A Final Note
While spending my Christmas vacation in China before, I enjoyed a mix of Western and Chinese food traditions. One of the highlights is roast pork—juicy and crispy, it’s like a flavor explosion.
There’s delicious stir-fried rice, a perfect match with the pork. It is a fluffy, tasty rice mixed with flavorful ingredients.
And remember the crunchy spring rolls, crispy snacks filled with tasty surprises. So, Christmas in China is about presents and delicious food that makes your taste buds happy.
References:
- https://www.insider.com/egg-facts-2017-2
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/soybeans
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