Noche Buena Christmas Eve Spanish Feast Recipes

Christmas dinner in Spain is held on Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) and doesn't begin until 10 or so in the evening, when the celebrants return from Christmas Eve Mass. The Spanish Christmas meal is typically comprised of several courses and will often last for 2 or 3 hours with talking, eating special foods that have been prepared ahead of time and sharing with family and friends the joy of Noche Buena (The Good Night). Feast plans and traditional foods have been prepared ahead of time, allowing the "cook" of the house to participate in Mass and all the trappings of this Holy Eve.

Typical foods might include the following courses:

A tapas course of appetizers and cheeses

A soup course, typically a fish chowder

The main entree, perhaps lobster or a lamb roast

And of course numerous traditional sweets made several days in advance.

All accompanied by wonderful Spanish wines

A Spanish Tapa Meatball for Noche Buena Feast

Adapted from a recipe at Epicurian (I changed porportions and added a touch of curry!)

Spicy Meatballs with a North African or Middle East spice combination are often a popular tapa that can be made ahead and heated up right before serving. This recipe combines the local pork, beef and lamb or veal.

Ingredients: ½ ground pork, ½ lb. Ground veal or lamb, 1 lb. Ground beef/chuck, 2 eggs, 1 1/3 c. dry bread crumbs, 6 to 7 garlic cloves (minced fine), 3 T. chopped fresh parsley, 1 t. ground coriander, ½ t. curry powder, 1 t. cumin, ¼ t. cayenne powder or red pepper flakes, sea salt and freshly ground pepper, 1 medium Spanish sweet onion, minced fine, 4 T. virgin olive oil, 1 c. dry white wine, 4 c. of crushed Italian plum tomatoes, (can be canned or fresh, but drain if canned)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375. Combine the meats, bread crumbs, 4 garlic cloves, spices in bowl. Mix in thoroughly 2 eggs, beaten ahead. Form into 1 inch meatballs and place on a cookie or baking sheet. Bake in oven for about 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from oven and put in slow cooker. Heat olive oil in skillet. Add the chopped diced onion and 2-3 minced garlic cloves, saute till tender and golden. Add the wine and the tomatoes, stir and pour over the meatballs in slower cooker. Cook for 15 minutes on high setting and then lower to low and hold meatballs until serving time, (no longer than 4 hours) Meatballs can be made 2 or 3 days ahead and then sauce made the same day as serving. Sauce can be made on top of stove and meatballs added to skillet and served without using slow cooker.

A Spanish Fish Chowder

You must make fish broth to have an authentic Fish Chowder. The taste of a good fish stock is absolutely stunning and good cooks know this to be a base ingredient for wonderful soups.

Homemade Fish Stock

Soak 1-2 lbs of fish heads and bones in cold water for about 30 minutes. Squeeze the juice of half of a fresh lemon into the water as they soak. Then drain off the water and rinse and drain again. Put the fishheads and bones into a pot with 1 medium onion, chopped, a bouquet garni (made of fresh thyme sprigs or 1 t. dried thyme, a medium bunch of parsley and a large bay leaf. Put in cheesecloth bag and tie shut. Bring this broth to a slower simmer and cook for 30 minutes to an hour. Skim the top of the stock as it cooks, Then strain through a medium-mesh stainer. Reserve the stock, throw the bones away!

Cook 4 slices of thick bacon in a 6 quart kettle or soup pot till the fat is rendered and the bacon begins to get crispy. Remove the bacon, reserve it, and cook 3 medium onions, diced small and 2 large potatoes, peeled and cut into med. Diced cubes over med. Low heat. Add the fish broth when the potatoes begin to be tender and the reserved bacon. Simmer for about 10 minutes to finish cooking the potatoes.

While the potatoes are cooking in the fish stock, chop up 4 lbs. Of a firm fish such as haddock or cod, perhaps pollack into about 20 equal size pieces. When the potatoes are finished, Add 1 c. of heavy cream to the soup pot, bring it to a simmer and drop in the fish. Let is cook for about 5 to 10 minutes, depending on the size of fish chunks. Season with salt and pepper to taste as it cooks.

Top bowls of hot fish creamy fish chowder with chopped chives or fresh parsley.

Roast Lamb with Oven Roasted Potatoes and Onions
(Adapted from Better Homes and Garden Cookbook recipe)
It's the simple Christmas roast of many international cuisines and very typical of Spain. You can't go wrong with a good roast lamb, flavored with rosemary and garlic.

Purchase a 5 lb leg of lamb (you can have the butcher debone it). Rub the lamb with olive oil, then rub with a spice mixture of ½ t. cumin, coarse black pepper and 1 t. sea salt. Then stab he lamb in even spots all around the surface. Insert a piece of garlic clove and a rosemary sprig tip in each hole. Chill for an hour or so to let the flavors meld and then roast in a 400 degree oven for 20 minutes. Turn heat down to 350 and roast for about 2 more hours, basting with the pan juices as needed to prevent dryness. On a meat themometer, roast until it says 170 degrees.

While the lamb is roasting, slice golden yukon potatoes into ¼ in slices and slice a sweet onion into thin slices. Clean and scrape about 4 large carrots, cut into 2 inch diagonal slices and layer with the onion and the potatoes in casserole dish, brush with olive oil and sprinkle with a spice blend mix of Spanish paprika, sea salt and coarse black pepper. Roast uncovered in the oven while the lamb is roasting for about the last 45 minutes of the roasting time.

Remove the lamb, let sit for about 20 minutes. Carve in thick ½ slices, plate up potatoes and garnish with a fresh sprig of rosemary or parsley. The roast lamb can be prepped and placed into the refrigerator until returning from Mass. Put it in the oven as soon as arriving home. Put out tapas, some wine, and begin the first course. While the party begins, the lamb is roasting. Add the potatoes about an hour before time to serve the lamb and the main entree will be ready before midnight!

A Spanish Christmas Eve Feast made with easy recipes that the cook can prep ahead of time and enjoy with the family. Feliz Navidad!