Mexico Foods: 5 Noche Buena Meals We Love To Enjoy Every Christmas

Christmas is upon us, and this means a fest on Christmas Eve or Noche Buena would certainly bring in many favorite foods in Mexican households. There are plenty of traditional Christmas dishes that are quite exquisite and perfect for such a festive occasion.

As Mexico in My Kitchen pointed out, Christmas in Mexico always brings family and friends together, especially if Mexican Christmas foods are involved. The most traditional Mexican feast, of course, happens on Noche Buena, the night before Christmas, and plenty of foods are usually served during that feast.

5 Mexican Meals To Be Enjoyed During Noche Buena

We have chosen five of our favorite things to eat every Noche Buena, and we certainly did not decide on our choices lightly, as we had to drop some personal favorites.

Here are our five picks:

Bacalao

This dish made with dried salted codfish may have originated in Europe, but much like Christmas itself, it has been embraced throughout Mexico and is usually enjoyed during Noche Buena. In fact, many believe the Christmas Eve feast would not be complete without it.

One of the most popular variants enjoyed during Christmas is bacalao a la vizcaina, which is dried cod stewed with tomatoes, capers, olives, and potatoes.

Pozole Rojo

Christmas in Mexico is usually quite cold, so to enjoy Noche Buena, soup is commonly served. While there are many types of Pozoles being served during the feast, many consider Pozole Rojo as their favorite.

Tender pork cooked with sweet white corn and served hominy, and red dried chiles and topped with shredded cabbage, radishes, lime, and cilantro paired with its immaculate soup will certainly warm you up during that cold Christmas Eve.

Ponche Navideño

Speaking of drinking something hot during a cold Christmas night, Ponche Navideño would also be a perfect drink to enjoy in winter. This Mexican hot fruit punch is made with tejocotes or Mexican hawthorn and flavored with cinnamon and is a great way to warm up during a cold winter night.

Ensalada de Noche Buena

No Mexican feast would be complete without a colorful Christmas salad, and this dish often makes Noche Buena feasts even more festive. They usually contain beets and lettuce, as well as various fruits and tubers such as oranges, pineapple, beets, jicama, and pomegranates. They all come together in a sweet and citrusy dressing. That feels very festive and perfect for Christmas.

Flan

Of course, we end this with dessert. And what better dish to serve at Christmas than flan? This sweet and velvety custard, with origins dating back to ancient Rome, is a staple of many Christmas feasts around the world, and Mexico is certainly no different.

Silky smooth, eggy, and creamy, this festive dessert is made even more divine thanks to its signature caramel syrup, and many believe it is a great way to end a great holiday feast.

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Written by: Rick Martin

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