Recetas/Recipes: Bolivian Christmas Cuisine 101

By Vision 360:

Delights to share with family during the holidays

Drinks, desserts, and main courses: 10 recipes for Christmas Eve and Christmas

Visión 360 brings you 10 options, ranging from sweet appetizers to main dishes. You’ll find simple options with chicken, pork, turkey, or vegetables and mushrooms.

Un tradicional plato boliviano. Foto: Shutterstock

A traditional Bolivian dish. Photo: Shutterstock

Christmas Eve and Christmas are just around the corner, providing a great opportunity to share a special meal with family, friends, or even on your own. If you still haven’t decided on the menu, there are plenty of options, ranging from traditional favorites to less explored flavors.

To help with some ideas, this edition of Visión 360 brings you 10 options for Christmas Eve and Christmas. The recipes feature a variety of ingredients that are easy to find.

You’ll find dishes where the main ingredient is chicken, pork, or turkey, allowing you to choose your preferred protein. But there are also options free of animal meat.

While you’ll come across dishes like orange-glazed turkey breast or the classic Ratatouille, you’ll also find traditional preparations such as Picana or Picante de Gallina, a specialty of Villa Serrano in Chuquisaca.

To offer a new twist on traditions, we include a recipe by chef Paola Lordemann: Vegan Picana. Made with seitan and oyster mushrooms, it takes you on a journey of flavors that rival the original recipe.

For those who reminisce about Christmases past, when chuntunquis and tundiquis were danced to worship the Baby Jesus and earn buñuelos, we also share the recipe for this delicacy, drenched in cane honey or syrup.

Hot chocolate with cinnamon and cloves, featuring the distinctive flavor of pure chocolate produced in northern La Paz or Beni, is a must. And of course, we include the recipe for panetón. Enjoy!

TRADITIONAL PANETÓN

INGREDIENTS

» 1/2 kilo of butter
» 6 eggs
» 1 cup of brandy
» 2 cups of milk
» 1/2 kilo of sugar
» 1/2 kilo of almonds
» 1 teaspoon of dry yeast
» 2 kilos of wheat flour
» 1/2 kilo of candied fruit
» 1/2 kilo of raisins
» 1/2 kilo of walnuts

PREPARATION METHOD

1 » Mix a little warm milk, yeast, and two tablespoons of sugar.
2 » In a bowl, pour 80 grams of sifted flour; add the yeast, eggs, sugar, melted butter, and milk.
3 » Add the brandy, knead everything well, and let it rise until it doubles in volume.
4 » Remove the dough, release the air, and add the rest of the flour, candied fruits, and previously floured raisins.
5 » Knead thoroughly so the fruits and raisins are evenly distributed. Then place the dough in a greased panetón mold.
6 » Make an X-shaped cut on the top and brush with egg yolk.
7 » Bake in a preheated oven at 175°C for 45 to 50 minutes.

MILK CHOCOLATE

INGREDIENTS

» 2 liters of milk
» 10 cloves
» 2 cinnamon sticks
» Chocolate bars from Yungas or Beni, as they have a special flavor
» 100 grams of cocoa powder (optional)
» Sugar to taste, preferably brown

PREPARATION METHOD

1 » In a pot, heat the milk over medium heat with the cloves and cinnamon. Stir to prevent the milk from sticking.
2 » Once the milk is boiling, add the chocolate bar. For a more intense flavor, you can add cocoa powder.
3 » Reduce the heat to low, allowing the chocolate bar to melt completely.
4 » Add sugar to taste, keeping in mind that if you plan to decorate or pair it with something sweet, less sugar is better.
5 » After turning off the heat, stir once more and cover. Let it rest for a while.
6 » You can decorate with cream or add marshmallows. It can also be sprinkled with grated almonds or ground cinnamon.

BUÑUELOS FOR THE CHILD

INGREDIENTS

» 2 whole eggs
» 3 cups of flour
» 3 tablespoons of sugar
» 1 1/4 cups of water
» 1 teaspoon of salt
» 2 tablespoons of anise
» 3 tablespoons of fresh yeast
» 1 liter of oil
» 1 tablespoon of melted lard
» Cane honey or syrup

PREPARATION METHOD

1 » Dissolve the yeast in 1/4 cup of warm water or milk with a tablespoon of sugar and two tablespoons of flour, and let it rest. Soak the anise in the remaining water.
2 » Mix the flour, eggs, melted lard, and prepared yeast. Add the anise water, along with the remaining sugar and salt.
3 » Knead until achieving a smooth, slightly runny dough. Cover with plastic and let it rest in a warm place until it doubles in size.
4 » Heat oil in a pot or pan, leaving some aside to grease your hands while forming small portions of the dough.
5 » To fry, stretch the portion of dough and place it in the oil. Turn it until golden brown.
6 » Serve with cane honey, accompanied by api, hot chocolate, or a cup of cedrón tea.

THE CLASSIC RATATOUILLE

INGREDIENTS

» 500 grams of eggplant
» 375 grams of zucchini
» 125 ml of olive oil
» 2 onions
» 1 red bell pepper
» 5 garlic cloves
» 750 grams of tomato
» Parsley, thyme, and basil; fresh, chopped, and to taste
» Salt and black pepper

PREPARATION METHOD

1 » Cut the eggplant into cubes and sprinkle with salt to remove its bitterness. Meanwhile, chop the rest of the vegetables.
2 » In a heavy-bottomed pot, heat three tablespoons of oil and sauté the onion for five minutes. Add the bell pepper and three garlic cloves. Stir in the vegetables for seven minutes. Season with salt and pepper, then set aside.
3 » Cook the eggplant in another three tablespoons of oil for about seven minutes and set aside. Repeat with the zucchini.
4 » Using the remaining oil, sauté the peeled and seedless tomatoes with the garlic and herbs until it forms a sauce.
5 » Add the reserved vegetables and let cook for 10 minutes over medium heat and 20 minutes on low heat. It is then ready to serve.

CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR’S SANGRIA

INGREDIENTS

» 1/2 bottle of wine, any type you prefer
» 3/4 liter of ginger ale
» 1/2 cup of fresh orange juice
» Juice of one lime, to taste
» 1/2 cup of peeled and chopped peaches
» 1/2 cup of chopped pineapple
» 1/2 cup of strawberries, halved
» 1/2 cup of grapes
» 1/2 orange, sliced
» 1 lime, sliced
» Sugar to taste
» This recipe makes two liters of sangria

PREPARATION METHOD

1 » Start with a very clean bowl or punch bowl, slightly larger than two liters in capacity.
2 » Add the orange juice and lime juice to the container first.
3 » Add all the fruits. Since peaches and apples oxidize quickly, you can sprinkle them with lime juice after chopping to prevent discoloration.
4 » Complete the fruit mix by adding the grapes, orange slices, and lime slices.
5 » Once all the fruits are combined, pour in the wine and mix well. If you are using a sweet wine, sugar may not be necessary. For a dry wine, add some sugar at this point.
6 » Cover the mixture and let it macerate in the refrigerator for three hours.
7 » Before serving, stir and add the ginger ale. You can garnish with lime slices..

SPICY CHICKEN FROM VILLA SERRANO

INGREDIENTS

» 1 free-range chicken
» 1 pound of serrano chili or your preferred variety
» 1/2 pound of breadcrumbs
» 2 carrots
» 2 celery stalks
» 2 green onion stems
» 1 bell pepper
» 2 starchy potatoes per person
» White or fluffy rice, as preferred
» A sprig of parsley
» Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
» Garlic to taste
» Oil
» The recipe yields six to eight portions, depending on how you cut the chicken.

PREPARATION METHOD

1 » In a large pot, fry the chicken lightly, then cook it with celery, green onions, carrots, garlic, and bell pepper. To make the meat tender, cook for at least two hours. Add salt halfway through cooking.
2 » In another pot, cook the white or fluffy rice along with the potatoes. Add salt to taste.
3 » In a pan, cook the chili. If using chili powder, add a bit of water and stir until there are no lumps, bringing it to a boil. Lower the heat and stir for another 15–20 minutes. Then add a splash of oil until it starts bubbling.
4 » Once the chicken is cooked, remove the pieces and the vegetable remnants to leave only the broth.
5 » Add the chili and breadcrumbs to the broth. Let it cook for another 30 minutes to thicken.
6 » Serve a portion of rice, two potatoes, a piece of chicken, and the chili sauce. Garnish with parsley.

TRADITIONAL PICANA FOR EIGHT

INGREDIENTS

» 1 kilogram of pork ribs
» 1/2 kilogram of lamb shank
» 1/2 kilogram of beef
» 1 1/2 kilograms of chicken
» 6 or 7 pureed tomatoes
» 1/2 cup of white wine
» 4 carrots, quartered
» 1 cup of fava beans and peas
» 2 onions, chopped
» 2 tablespoons of chili paste
» 1/2 cup of raisins
» 1 tablespoon of oregano
» 8 cooked white potatoes
» 8 cooked ears of corn
» 1/2 kilogram of cooked tunta (dehydrated potato)
» Bay leaves, parsley, pepper, and salt to taste

PREPARATION METHOD

1 » Sear all the meats and set aside.
2 » Sauté the onions, garlic, carrots, peas, and fava beans. When the onions are golden, increase the heat and add the wine.
3 » Once the wine’s alcohol evaporates, add the chili paste, tomato purée, salt, and pepper to taste.
4 » Add the beef and cook over moderate heat for 45 minutes. Then add the pork, lamb, and bay leaves. Add hot water to cover the meats and cook for another hour and a half on low heat.
5 » Add the chicken and tunta and cook for another hour. You can add the raisins at this point.
6 » Before turning off the heat, add the oregano and check the salt. Turn off the heat and let it rest.
7 » Serve in a deep plate with two potatoes, slices of corn, pieces of the three meats, and tunta. Finish with a sprinkle of parsley.
8 » The use of chili is optional for those who cannot consume it.

VEGAN PICANA

INGREDIENTS

» Onion cut into eighths
» Turnip cut into eighths
» Carrot cut into sticks
» Oyster mushrooms
» Oil
» Bay leaves
» Sweet pepper
» Textured soy
» Beer
» Wine
» Salt to taste
» Vegetable stock or water
» Tomato extract
» Garlic
» Potatoes, tunta, and corn
» Recipe by Paola Lordemann

PREPARATION METHOD

1 » Heat a bit of oil and sauté the vegetables until well browned.
2 » Add the oyster mushrooms and a bit of textured soy. Sauté for a few minutes.
3 » Pour in some beer and wine. Season with salt and pepper, and add a bit of vegetable stock or water.
4 » Add a touch of tomato extract.
5 » Slice some seitan, brown it with a bit of garlic, and add it to the previous preparation. To thicken, you can mash some potato and mix it in.
6 » Boil some tunta, corn, and potatoes.
7 » As with the traditional preparation, serve in a deep plate. Place a couple of white potatoes, tunta, and corn, then cover with the broth and mushrooms.
8 » You’ll notice the oyster mushrooms have a texture very similar to chicken. Don’t forget to garnish with some parsley.

STUFFED PORK LOIN FOR CHRISTMAS EVE

INGREDIENTS

» 1.5 kg of pork loin
» 2 apples
» 1 onion
» 100 g of shelled walnuts
» 4 sprigs of fresh rosemary
» 300 ml of white wine
» 25 g of butter
» Olive oil
» Salt
» Freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
» Can be served with rice, a salad, or duchess potatoes
» For the sauce, place the juices from the roast in a pan, along with 10 g of fine corn flour. Stir until it thickens.

PREPARATION METHOD

1 » For the filling, peel and dice the apples, and do the same with the onion. Sauté in olive oil for about 10 minutes.
2 » Meanwhile, chop the walnuts and one sprig of rosemary. Add to the apples and onions and cook the mixture until it is lightly caramelized. Then, season with salt and pepper and remove from the heat to cool.
3 » With a sharp knife, open the pork loin along its length, like a book. Flatten it out and season with salt and pepper to taste.
4 » Place the filling along one end and roll it up. Tie the entire roll with cotton thread to prevent it from opening during roasting.
5 » Heat a bit of oil in a pan and, over high heat, brown the entire piece of meat.
6 » Place the roll in a roasting pan, add the wine and the remaining sprigs of rosemary. Season again and cover with butter, cut into cubes. Place in a preheated oven at 180°C for 45 minutes.
7 » Remove from the oven and remove the thread.

ORANGE TURKEY BREAST

INGREDIENTS

» 1 turkey breast
» 2 cups of orange juice
» 1/2 cup of soy sauce
» 1/4 cup of whisky
» 80 g of butter at room temperature
» 2 tablespoons of honey
» 3 eggs
» 2 teaspoons of paprika
» Salt to taste
» Freshly ground black pepper

PREPARATION METHOD

1 » Place the turkey breast in a dish and season it well with salt and pepper.
2 » In a bowl, mix the orange juice, soy sauce, pepper, and whisky. Pour this mixture over the turkey and let it marinate, ideally for more than one night.
3 » In another container, place the butter at room temperature, and mix it with honey and paprika until it has a creamy texture.
4 » Coat the surface of the turkey with the butter mixture, cover with aluminum foil, and bake at 180°C for 60 minutes.
5 » Remove the aluminum foil, baste the turkey with the juice from the pan, and repaint with the butter mixture. Bake at 200°C for another 30 to 40 minutes.
6 » Every 10 minutes, baste the turkey with the pan juices. Cook until the turkey breast is golden brown.
7 » Once the turkey is cooked, turn off the oven and let it rest for 10 minutes. Then, slice and serve with your preferred side dish.

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