Those traveling abroad this Christmas may not find their favorite holiday food on the menu.
It’s because the normal holiday fare varies world wide.
To see who’s eating what this weekend, cooking site Chef’s Pencil has created a map showing what’s written the preferred Christmas dishes world wide.
Where turkey is a practice
According to the map, travelers vacationing within the US, Canada, France, Ireland and the UK can expect a turkey on their holiday table.
Those heading to parts of South America can do it too – the map shows that turkey is the preferred holiday food in Brazil, Chile and Peru.
Still, according to Chef’s Pencil research, each country has its own approach to serving turkey traditionally.
In Peru, for example, slices of roasted turkey are served with a melange of creme fraiche, chicken broth, lime juice, jalapeno peppers, fresh coriander and cayenne pepper. “In Chile, roast turkey is traditionally full of apples.”
But there may be one similarity: baked potatoes are served alongside turkey “almost in all places,” according to Chef’s Pencil.
More countries eat pork
Pork dishes are much more popular than turkey when it comes to the number of nations where each are served, Chef Pencil representative Salomea Restea told CNBC Travel.
She said pork is the preferred traditional Christmas dish in 23 countries, greater than the 17 that focus on turkey.
The suckling pig is the centerpiece of the normal Christmas table in Spain and Cuba, while roast pork is feasted on within the Philippines, according to the map.
Filipina Marites Rheme Lopez Javier said “no person eats turkey” in her hometown of Bangar, La Union on the island of Luzon. As an alternative, families buy a live pig to cook at home or a pre-roasted whole pig, called “lechon”.
“Lechon could be very expensive,” she said, adding that a pig that may feed up to 50 people can cost over $300.
That is why “liempo,” or grilled pork belly, can also be popular, she said. She said she could feed 10 people for 300-500 pesos ($5-9 USD).
Roast pork can also be dominant in Haiti, Switzerland and Slovenia, while ham is a favourite in Jamaica and South Africa, according to the map.
Julskinka, which translates as “Christmas ham”, is a chilly ham dish with mustard and breadcrumbs that’s eaten in Sweden, while crispy pork ribs or ribbe are served in Norway for the vacations.
According to Chef’s Pencil, in Mexico and other parts of Central America, pork is steamed and wrapped in corn husks to make tamales.
But roast pork is one other holiday hit in Mexico as well.
“IN Mexicoroast pork shall be covered with a generous layer of homemade adobo, a thick chili paste with vinegar or citrus juice, and enriched with flavors of onion, garlic, cumin and oregano.
Where other meats predominate
Because the map shows, duck is dominant in Denmark, and goose is dominant in Belarus and Russia.
Nonetheless, it seems that chicken is the popular dish during celebrations in Malta and Uganda. According to the Latest York Times, Brazilians also eat Chester chickens, that are larger than average chickens but smaller than turkeys.
Within the Netherlands, revelers grill a mixture of meat and vegetables on the table during a festive meal called gourmets.
Italians traditionally eat veal while Rwandans grill each beef and goat for Christmas because the map shows.
Other countries prepare a mix of meats for the vacations. For instance, Bolivia has a keenness for picana soup, which is commonly made with chicken, lamb and beef, and seasoned with wine and beer.
Rice, fish and shrimp
According to the map, stuffed cabbage rolls grace Christmas feasts across the Black Sea in places like Ukraine, Romania and Bulgaria.
It also shows Nigerians and Ghanaians celebrating over jollof rice, a dish made from long-grain rice, tomatoes, onions and spices.
Carp, a freshwater fish, is popular in Central and Eastern Europe, and saltwater cod tops the festive menu in Italy and Portugal, because the map shows.
In a post about Christmas in Portugal, a travel site Portuguese states for someday“Christmas is not Christmas without cod on the table!”
Sydneysider Paula Williams said Australians feel the identical way – when it comes to shrimp.
Crowds flock to buy shrimp before Christmas on the Sydney Fish Market, which is experiencing the busiest week of the yr leading up to Christmas.
James D. Morgan | Getty Images | News Getty Images
“Shrimp are key to Australians at Christmas,” she said. “Persons are lining up at fish markets for shrimp. The lines are huge – they’re huge.”
Since Christmas marks the start of summer, Christmas in Australia “is all concerning the outdoors,” she said.
“It’s about Barbie, sitting within the sun and swimming,” she said. “It’s too hot to eat turkey.”