Travelling is one of the best ways to expand not only your horizons, but also your palate. One of the most rewarding parts of travel is getting to try different cuisines, and more so if you happen to be travelling over a holiday. That’s when food takes center stage in many cultures, and it can be very exciting to try something new! Here are some traditional Easter dishes from around the world:
Greece
Lots of food during Easter is highly significant, and no more so than Tsoureki, which is a yeast-based dough that contains sugar, ground cherry pits and citrus zest. The dough is braided and baked to create sweet bread that is decorated with pastry and looks like the blood of Jesus. In the past, Tsoureki would have been eaten for breakfast on Easter morning, but now it’s more of an ornamental centerpiece.
Russia
Paskha is an egg dish that has a connotation of innocence and purity. It is often prepared using foods which are “forbidden” during Lent, such as milk products and eggs. Paskha is a traditional Orthodox Easter dish that usually stands up in the shape of a tomb. Paskha can be decorated with religious symbols such as crucifix to represent the burial places of Christ.
The United States
In the United States, a glazed ham is a traditional Easter favorite which is usually served in thick slices. The ham is typically coated with honey or maple syrup and then roasted to give it a sweet, glossy crust.
Italy
Colomba di Pasqua are cute little cakes that are served at Easter and the shape is a dove. The dough is sweet, but it’s also spiked with freshly zested lemon peel, which gives it a distinctive flavour. The doves have almonds & sugar pearls too before they’re baked.
Lebanon
Lebanon’s Easters are marked with the practice of making ma’moul. These sweet treats are made from shortbread cookies which are molded into a domed shape and stuffed with the likes of dates and pistachios.
France
You can’t have a traditional Easter lunch in France without having a Lamb Gigot as the centrepiece. The leg of lamb is usually roasted with aromatics such as rosemary or thyme, which is typically served with black beans on the side.
Ecuador
Over Easter, the Fanesca soup is traditionally served in Ecuador because it symbolizes the dish Jesus ate after his death. You can vary the recipes, but they generally involve gourd, pumpkin, and twelve different types of beans that represent the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ.
United Kingdom
Hot Cross Buns are traditionally eaten on Good Friday as a token of saying goodbye to Lent. The mix is sweetened with either currants or raisins, and then mixed with dried fruit. Crosses are traditionally made in the top of bread buns to represent the crucifixion of Jesus.