Food World Cuisines Latin American Cuisines Mexican Cuisine 12 Recipes for Mexican Christmas Food From Enchiladas to Tamales Celebrate the holiday with flavors, dishes, and traditions from Mexico. By Kim Wehby Kim Wehby Kim Wehby is a copy editor with over a decade of experience in the food and beverage space, including a senior editorial role at Dotdash Meredith Food Studios. She's edited and developed content for Food & Wine, Southern Living, and Eating Well. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on December 5, 2024 Close Photo: Caitlin Bensel Mexican Christmas food spans enchiladas, pozole, tamales, and plenty of desserts. These are our favorite recipes for flavorful versions of those dishes from Mexican chefs, along with a few festive drinks. Start a tamale-making tradition, warm up with pozole, and enjoy saucy enchiladas. How Christmas Is Celebrated Around the World 01 of 12 Vegan Pozole Rojo Photo: HEAMI LEE / FOOD STYLING CHELSEA ZIMMER / PROP STYLING / CHRISTINE KEELY Traditional pozole typically contains chicken or pork, but this version from Edgar Castrejón subs in earthy oyster mushrooms for umami flavor and chew. Two types of chiles bring heat and vibrant color to the dish. Get the Recipe 02 of 12 Banana Leaf-Wrapped Lamb Shank Tamales with Morita Chile Salsa DYLAN + JENI Cooking writer and cook Paola Briseño González brings us these tamales filled with braised lamb and a cilantro-onion relish wrapped in aromatic banana leaves. Get the Recipe 03 of 12 Oyster Mushroom Tamales with Mole Encacahuatado DYLAN + JENI Paola Briseño González brings us this plant-forward tamale with roasted oyster mushrooms and a rich peanut mole, or mole encacahuatado. Get the Recipe 04 of 12 Guava Ponche with Sweet Vermouth DYLAN + JENI So many bright seasonal fruits go into this vermouth-centered take on the spiced tropical fruit punch Ponche Navideño. Hibiscus, guava, apples, and mint make for a gorgeous pink hue and a lovely floral, fruity flavor. Get the Recipe 05 of 12 Coconut Arroz con Leche Tamales DYLAN + JENI These dessert tamales from Paola Briseño González are filled with a slightly sweet coconut rice pudding. Cajeta or dulce de leche is drizzled over tamales for a buttery finish. Get the Recipe 06 of 12 Mezcal Negroni Victor Protasio Yana Volfson's riff on the classic gin cocktail features mezcal for a robust, smoky flavor. Notes of citrus, herbs, and spices come through in this festive drink. Get the Recipe 07 of 12 Mushroom-Chickpea Pozole Caitlin Bensel In chef Marcela Valladolid's vegetarian pozole, chickpeas stand in for the usual hominy and two types of mushrooms stand in for the meat. Get the Recipe 08 of 12 Cinnamon-Sugar Churros with Cajeta Greg Dupree Claudette Zepeda offers pro tips for perfect churros, a crowd-pleasing dessert for any celebration. Get the Recipe 09 of 12 No-Bake Vegetarian Enchiladas © Con Poulos These vegetarian enchiladas took inspiration from Josef Centeno's great-grandmother who raised 12 kids. It features a slow-cooked carrot sofrito, a smoky tomatillo salsa, and freshly fried tortillas. Get the Recipe 10 of 12 Pork and Chorizo Pozole © Fredrika Stjärne While traditional pozole is typically slow-cooked and elaborately prepared, this version from Chopped judge Aarón Sánchez calls upon pre-spiced fresh chorizo and pork cubes to cut back on prep and cook times. Get the Recipe 11 of 12 Vanilla-Orange Flan © Petrina Tinslay This citrusy flan from chef Jose Garces' mother is served with a delicate melon-citrus salad. Get the Recipe 12 of 12 Cheese Enchiladas with Red Chile Sauce © Fredrika Stjärne Chef Aarón Sánchez reaches for store-bought red chile sauce and few other ingredients for enchiladas made at home. This classic dish can be cooked in 35 minutes with just 10 minutes of active time. Get the Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit