Outré entrées

If Jamie’s Christmas Special doesn’t provide you with enough novel ideas for a Christmas feast, you could try some of these interesting ones from around the world.

LUTEFISK

A common Christmas delicacy in Sweden and Norway is fish that has been soaked in lye until it becomes jelly-like and is less of a food and more of a chemical weapon. Those Vikings must have been damn near starving to have invented this. I don’t know where you’d get lye fish in this country if you’re brave enough to try it.

DRESSED HERRING

This East European dish is comprised of pickled herring covered by layers of boiled vegetables and mayonnaise.

Not the grossest-sounding thing I’ve found – but who the heck wants salad for a Christmas meal?

WHITE CASTLE STUFFING

Just when you think American excess can’t get any more, well, excessive, you find this. Burger chain White Castle started selling its mini-burgers for use as turkey stuffing. Stuffing a turkey with burgers? Seriously, America?

GERMAN FIRE PUNCH

Here’s a booze idea for those of you who like to get legless on Christmas. Feuerzangenbowle, or German fire punch, is made of mulled wine over which cubes of rum-soaked sugar are set on skewers then set alight to melt into the wine. Sounds good. I might even try it.

SMALAHOVE

Also from the Nordic countries is this lovely Christmas dinner consisting of half a sheep’s head initially salted and dried and then steamed for hours before serving. Sounds a bit like a smiley.

Illustration: 123rf.com