Global Christmas: Recipes from around the world

John Core, Sodexo Culinary Nutrition Lead

Food
Published on Dec. 15, 2025

Foreword

Christmas is a time that brings people together —through food, stories, and the simple joy of sharing a meal.

The recipes has been lovingly compiled by
Sodexo chefs from across the globe, each contributing a treasured recipe from their own home and culture.

Every contributor is part of The Global Chef Program - an international residency that allows Sodexo’s top chefs to travel and share their native cuisine and culture around the world. Through this programme, our chefs bring authentic international flavours to life, creating meaningful connections through food and cultural exchange.

Global Christmas Recipes

From sweet festive bakes to savoury centrepieces and comforting dishes enjoyed in kitchens from Sweden to South Africa, each recipe reflects a shared passion for food and the memories it creates.

Whether you’re inspired to try something new or rediscover an old favourite, we hope this collection brings a little of that festive magic into your own home.

For those living far from where these traditions began, perhaps these recipes will bring back a taste of home and inspire new traditions around your own table.

Download the full global Christmas recipes from around the world PDF

Recipes for festive magic in your own home

Ginger and Honey-Glazed Leg of Ham on the Bone

Serves: 6
Preparation time: 3 hours
Cooking time: 2.5 hours (plus cooling time)

Ingredients:

7 kg pickled leg ham, skin on and scored in a diamond pattern
100g brown sugar
160g liquid honey
80g Dijon mustard
10 whole cloves
40g ground fenugreek
100ml apple juice (100%)
Cracked black pepper
100g pickled Japanese ginger root

Method:

Preheat the oven to 200°C. Place the ham on a lined roasting tray and stud the cloves into the scored skin. In a bowl, mix the honey, brown sugar, fenugreek, and apple juice to make a thick glaze. Brush the ham with Dijon mustard, then cover generously with half of the glaze. Roast for 20 minutes until the glaze begins to caramelise. Remove from the oven, brush with
the remaining glaze, and season with cracked black pepper. Return to the oven for another 20–30 minutes until the ham
is sticky and golden, lowering the heat if the glaze caramelises too quickly. Once cooked, remove and garnish with pickled ginger. Allow to cool

Tip:

Traditionally, Australians wrap the chilled ham in a clean white cloth before serving it at the table — a nostalgic nod to generations past. When the ham is nearly finished, the bone can be repurposed for a hearty ham and split pea soup, extending the flavours of Christmas well beyond the day itself.

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