Omari Gates
Christmas in Austria is a magical affair, with enchanting Christmas markets, imperial architecture, and delicious food. The country's Christmas cuisine is hearty and warming, with lots of meat and cheese. From gingerbread houses to baked carp, there's something for everyone. So, get ready to indulge in the festive delights that Austria has to offer!
Foods eaten in Austria at Christmas
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Main course | Roasted goose, pork belly, or carp |
| Sides | Red cabbage, dumplings, potatoes |
| Dessert | Cookies, biscuits, apple strudel, gingerbread, Stollen (a rich fruitcake), Krapfen (doughnuts filled with jam) |
| Drinks | Glühwein (spiced hot mulled wine), Christmas punch (a combination of tea, sugar, red wine, cinnamon, and liquor) |
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What You'll Learn
Gingerbread houses
Gingerbread, or Lebkuchen, is a staple of Austrian Christmas cuisine. The tradition of decorated gingerbread houses began in Germany in the early 1800s, inspired by the fairy tale of Hansel and Gretel. The story, which features a house made of bread and cake, with windows of transparent sugar, sparked German bakers to craft small decorated houses from Lebkuchen, a spiced honey biscuit.
Lebkuchen is a soft biscuit pastry made with honey and a variety of spices, including cinnamon, nutmeg, coriander, ginger, fennel, cloves, allspice, aniseed, and cardamom. The word "Lebkuchen" comes from the Old High German "leb", meaning healing or medicinal remedy. At Christmas, monasteries would use healing herbs, spices, and juices to make biscuits, which were then distributed as Lebkuchen.
Gingerbread is closely associated with Christmas in Austria and is often used to mark the opening of the festive season. It is available all year round, but its strong connection to Christmas means that its appearance in supermarkets signifies the arrival of Advent. Gingerbread is also a traditional part of Christmas celebrations in other countries, with many families making their own gingerbread houses as a festive activity.
In Austria, the Christmas season is also marked by other traditional foods, such as cookies, biscuits, roasted meats, and cheese-based dishes like Raclette.
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Roasted goose
Preparation
To prepare the goose, first, preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C) or 425°F, depending on the recipe. Trim off the excess fat and skin from the goose, including the neck and organs, and set them aside for rendering. Prick the skin all over with a needle or a paring knife to allow the fat to render and drain out. This will help to make the skin crispy.
Seasoning
Rub the goose inside and out with marjoram, thyme, and salt and pepper to taste. You can also stud apples and onions with cloves and stuff them into the cavity of the bird. Tie the legs together with kitchen twine.
Cooking
Heat oil in a large heavy roasting pan over medium-high heat. Add the goose and cook until browned all over, which should take about 15 minutes. Set the goose aside and drain off the fat from the pan into a separate bowl. Return the pan to the heat and add wine and water, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Transfer the goose, breast side up, to the pan and roast until the skin is crisp. The cooking time will depend on the size of the goose, but it typically takes around 35-50 minutes.
Serving
The roasted goose is typically served with red cabbage, cooked with apples and red wine, and potato dumplings or bread dumplings. Seasonal roasted vegetables like pumpkin or beets can also be served as side dishes.
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Raclette
The name "raclette" comes from the French word meaning "to scrape". The dish consists of a small tabletop grill placed in the middle of the dinner table. On the grill, you can cook different meats, vegetables, and bread. Underneath the grill, small pans are used to bake various toppings, such as mushrooms, potatoes, and ham, and boiled potatoes, cornichons, and charcuterie. Most importantly, a slice of Raclette cheese is placed on top of the small pan to cover the toppings in molten cheese.
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Baked mice
The recipe for baked mice is simple and quick, taking less than 30 minutes to prepare and cook. The dough is made with curd cheese, flour, eggs, and baking powder. It is formed into small balls or dumplings and fried in oil until golden and crispy on the outside, soft and moist on the inside. The addition of cardamom and pumpkin makes them extra flavourful.
In Austria, Christmas markets offer a variety of traditional foods and drinks, including hot chestnuts (maroni), hot chocolate laced with eggnog or rum, and baked apples filled with cinnamon, hazelnuts, and chocolate. The markets are a great place to indulge in delicious treats and soak up the festive atmosphere.
Along with baked mice, Austrians enjoy a variety of other sweets during the Christmas season, including gingerbread houses, cinnamon stars, and Vanillekipferl, crescent-shaped cookies made with a buttery dough of flour, ground almonds or hazelnuts, and vanilla. These treats are often shared with family and friends, bringing people together to celebrate the holiday season.
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Christmas punch
While there is no specific mention of Christmas punch in Austrian Christmas traditions, there are several Christmas punch recipes that can be found online. These recipes are packed with fruits like cranberries, oranges, and pomegranates, and can be garnished with rosemary for a festive touch. The punch can be kept non-alcoholic or spiked with rum or vodka for an extra kick. Here is a recipe for a delicious Christmas punch that will surely impress your guests:
Ingredients:
- Cranberry juice or pomegranate cranberry juice (100% juice blend)
- Pineapple juice
- Almond extract
- Ginger ale (non-diet for a more natural flavor)
- Ice
- Fresh cranberries
- Oranges
- Sparkling wine (optional)
Directions:
- In a large punch bowl or pitcher, combine the cranberry juice (or pomegranate cranberry juice), pineapple juice, and almond extract. Stir well.
- Add in the ginger ale and give it a quick stir.
- Top it off with ice, fresh cranberries, and orange slices.
- For an adult-only version, add a bottle of sparkling wine or some dark rum or brandy.
- For a non-alcoholic version, use sparkling white grape juice or lemon-lime soda instead of wine.
- Garnish with a sprig of rosemary and some dried orange slices.
- Enjoy!
This Christmas punch is a perfect balance of sweet and tart, with a unique twist from the almond extract. It is a simple yet impressive drink to serve at any holiday gathering and can be easily adapted to suit your taste preferences. Whether you choose to keep it non-alcoholic or give it an extra kick, your guests are sure to love it!
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Frequently asked questions
Traditional Austrian Christmas foods include baked or fried carp, roasted goose, red cabbage, dumplings, and apple strudel. Cookies are also a staple, with popular varieties including Vanillekipferl (crescent-shaped cookies made with a buttery dough of flour, ground almonds or hazelnuts, and vanilla), Lebkuchen (spiced gingerbread), and cinnamon stars (star-shaped cookies famous for their cinnamon flavor).
Austrians have a unique tradition of creating gingerbread houses, inspired by the fairytale of Hansel and Gretel. They also have a dish called Raclette, which involves a small tabletop grill placed in the middle of the dinner table with different meats, vegetables, and bread. Below the grill, small pans are baked with various toppings such as mushrooms, potatoes, and ham, all covered in molten Raclette cheese. Another unique dish is baked mice (gebackene Mäuse), made from special dough and deep-fried in oil before being covered in powdered sugar.
During the Christmas season, Austrians enjoy spiced hot mulled wine, also known as Glühwein or Glüwein, and a hot alcoholic beverage called Christmas punch, made with tea, sugar, red wine, cinnamon, and strong liquor.
