There is no one "traditional Italian Christmas dinner" as it varies widely according to region and town, but you can feel free to mix and match your favorites from each region to create your own Pan-Italian holiday feast!
1. Vin Brule' - Italian-Style Mulled Wine
It's great to have a big pot of this ready, kept warm over the lowest heat possible, so that you can dispense steaming mugs of it to holiday guests as they arrive -- and it makes your kitchen smell wonderfully festive! More »
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2. Filled Pasta in Broth
Start off the meal with small, filled pasta dumplings in broth (either cappelletti or tortellini) -- a part of a traditional Christmas or New Year's meal in many parts of Italy. More »
3. Spinach and Ricotta Cannelloni
I love to make this baked, stuffed pasta dish for Christmas -- they're delicious, quick and simple to make -- and the red, white, and green colors go well with both the Christmas season -- and the Italian spirit! More »
4. Bolognese-Style Lasagna (Lasagne alla bolognese)
Another wonderful baked pasta dish, this type of lasagna is made with a tomato-based meat sauce (ragu'), besciamella (a simple white sauce), and plenty of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. More »
5. Stuffed Turkey-Breast Roulade
Turkey is a traditional part of Christmas dinner in many parts of Northern Italy. These rolls of turkey breast, stuffed with ham and mushrooms, make an attractive -- but also quick and easy -- Christmas dinner main dish. More »
6. Spicy Broccoli Raab (Rape Nfucate)
A traditional Christmas contorno (vegetable side dish) from the Puglia region. More »
7. Italian Yule-Log Cake (Tronchetto di Natale)
This is a real showstopper dessert that is actually not as difficult to make as it is impressive to look at. You can use whatever type of filling you like, and add extra decorations (such as meringue "mushrooms") for added effect. More »
8. Classic Christmas Cake from Milan (Panettone)
The most well-known of all Italian Christmas treats, Panettone, a light, fluffy yeasted cake studded with candied fruit, hails from Milan but by now is ubiquitous throughout Italy and Italy communities around the world. If you have any leftover -- it makes a great breakfast, lightly toasted and buttered, or even prepared as French toast! More »
9. Riciarelli - Soft Almonds Cookies from Siena
These delicate almond cookies from the Tuscan town of Siena are popular during the holidays and a great lighter dessert option for your Christmas table. More »
10. Struffoli, Fried Neapolitan Christmas Sweets
These tiny, crisp-fried morsels of dough are covered in honey and colorful sprinkles and they're an essential part of a traditional Naples-style Christmas feast. More »