If you’re looking to wow your family this holiday season, these global dishes will bring exciting, unforgettable flavors to your table. With recipes from all over the world, this roundup delivers unique dishes that go far beyond the usual holiday fare. Whether it's vibrant sides or standout mains, these meals are sure to impress. Step outside the traditional and serve a holiday feast your family won’t stop talking about.

Classic White Fish in White Wine Sauce

This classic white fish in white wine sauce brings the delicate flavors of white fish together with a rich, wine-infused sauce. It’s the perfect dish for impressing guests at your holiday table with a light and flavorful main that feels both elegant and international. After serving this, no one will miss the typical heavy holiday mains. A simple yet standout choice that adds refinement to any global feast.
Get the Recipe: Classic White Fish in White Wine Sauce
Mediterranean White Bean Salad with Feta

This Mediterranean White Bean Salad brings the fresh, vibrant flavors of the Mediterranean to your holiday table in just 10 minutes. With creamy white beans, fresh tomatoes, and crumbled feta, this refreshing dish will have your family wondering why they ever stuck to boring American salads. It's a light and flavorful side that instantly elevates the meal. After tasting this, iceberg lettuce will feel like an afterthought.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean White Bean Salad with Feta
Smoky Baba Ghanoush Without Tahini

Smoky Baba Ghanoush Without Tahini delivers rich roasted eggplant flavor in just 20 minutes, making it the perfect appetizer for impressing holiday guests. This Middle Eastern dip pairs beautifully with fresh pita or vegetables, leaving typical party dips far behind. Your guests will be transported to the streets of the Middle East with every bite. Once this hits the table, chips and dip won't stand a chance.
Get the Recipe: Smoky Baba Ghanoush Without Tahini
Pomegranate Glazed Whole Salmon

This Pomegranate Glazed Whole Salmon is a true holiday showstopper, offering an unforgettable blend of sweet and savory flavors. With pomegranate molasses and date honey glazing the fish to perfection in 40 minutes, this main dish will wow your family with its Middle Eastern flair. No one will want plain salmon again after trying this. It’s an elegant centerpiece for any holiday feast.
Get the Recipe: Pomegranate Glazed Whole Salmon
Best Roasted Eggplant and Tomato Dip Recipe (Zaalouk)

This Moroccan Zaalouk blends roasted eggplant with tomatoes and spices, delivering a flavorful dip that brings a taste of North Africa to your holiday gathering. Ready in 30 minutes, it adds vibrant contrast to typical party dips and brings something new to the table. After tasting this, even the best guacamole will pale in comparison. Guests will love the bold, rich flavors this dip brings to the spread.
Get the Recipe: Best Roasted Eggplant and Tomato Dip Recipe (Zaalouk)
Goat Cheese Salad

This Goat Cheese Salad is a fresh and tangy option for adding a Mediterranean twist to your holiday feast. The combination of arugula, Lebanese cucumbers, grapes, and tangy goat cheese creates a salad that’s far from ordinary. Topped with a lemony vinaigrette, this dish will make your family rethink their usual salad choices. It’s a light, vibrant addition that balances the richness of the main dishes.
Get the Recipe: Goat Cheese Salad
Air Fryer Lumpia

Air Fryer Lumpia brings the crunch of Filipino spring rolls with a lighter twist, making it a perfect appetizer for your holiday party. With its crispy shell and savory filling, this dish will have your family wondering why American appetizers feel so bland in comparison. Ready in just 25 minutes, these lumpia are sure to be a hit, and once tasted, American spring rolls will be quickly forgotten.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Lumpia
Greek Vegetarian Moussaka

Greek Vegetarian Moussaka layers zucchini, eggplant, and rich tomato sauce to bring Mediterranean comfort food to your holiday table. In 45 minutes, this creamy and flavorful dish will make American casseroles seem less exciting. After tasting this hearty dish, everyone will be dreaming of a holiday meal on a Greek island. A perfect dish for impressing guests who crave something different.
Get the Recipe: Greek Vegetarian Moussaka
Roasted Carrots with Hazelnuts

These Roasted Carrots with Hazelnuts bring a unique twist to holiday sides, combining fresh thyme and date syrup for a Middle Eastern-inspired flavor. The caramelized carrots and crunchy hazelnuts will make traditional roasted veggies feel ordinary. Perfect for guests who appreciate an elevated side, this dish adds flair and warmth to the table. No one will look at plain carrots the same way again.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Carrots with Hazelnuts
Hot and Sour Shredded Napa Cabbage Salad

This Hot and Sour Shredded Napa Cabbage Salad adds bold Asian flavors to your holiday menu in just 15 minutes. The tangy, spicy marinade transforms a simple salad into a vibrant side that will leave your guests wanting more. It’s a crunchy, refreshing dish that brings excitement to the meal. After this, American vinaigrettes will seem dull and uninspired.
Get the Recipe: Hot and Sour Shredded Napa Cabbage Salad
Eggplant Shakshuka

Eggplant Shakshuka offers a bold Middle Eastern-inspired brunch option for your holiday gathering. Poached eggs nestled in a spiced tomato and eggplant sauce make every bite flavorful and comforting. Ready in 40 minutes, this dish will make American egg dishes feel lackluster. Perfect for a holiday brunch that leaves a lasting impression.
Get the Recipe: Eggplant Shakshuka
Green Shakshuka

Green Shakshuka brings Mediterranean flavors to your breakfast or brunch table in just 30 minutes. Poached eggs, spinach, and kale create a fresh and vibrant option that your guests will love. It’s a light and flavorful alternative to traditional egg dishes, perfect for a holiday gathering that’s all about variety. After this, your guests won’t want to return to basic egg dishes.
Get the Recipe: Green Shakshuka
Teriyaki Glazed Salmon Risotto

Teriyaki Glazed Salmon Risotto blends the richness of risotto with savory teriyaki-glazed salmon, offering an unforgettable main dish for your holiday feast. This fusion of Japanese and Italian flavors, ready in 45 minutes, makes for a unique and memorable meal. Plain salmon and rice will never feel the same again. It's a sophisticated dish that leaves a lasting impression.
Get the Recipe: Teriyaki Glazed Salmon Risotto
Korean Beef and Broccoli

Korean Beef and Broccoli is a 25-minute dish that brings bold flavors to the holiday table with its sweet and spicy sauce. This stir-fry will outshine typical American versions, making it a fun and flavorful addition to your global feast. After this, American stir-fries will feel a bit too simple. Your guests will love the bold contrast of flavors in this dish.
Get the Recipe: Korean Beef and Broccoli
Fried Marinated Tofu

Fried Marinated Tofu brings a crispy, flavorful plant-based option to the table, ready in 30 minutes. The Asian-inspired marinade makes this dish a standout at your holiday dinner. It’s a dish that proves tofu can be the star of the show, offering something different and delicious. Once served, no one will miss the meat.
Get the Recipe: Fried Marinated Tofu
Vegan Eggplant Parmesan Stacks

Vegan Eggplant Parmesan Stacks deliver the rich flavors of Italy in just 30 minutes, offering a satisfying plant-based dish for your holiday party. Crispy eggplant and vegan cheese create a stack that will have your guests rethinking their favorite Italian dishes. After one bite, everyone will see why this dish is a crowd-pleaser.
Get the Recipe: Vegan Eggplant Parmesan Stacks
Baked Feta Dip with Honey, Dates, and Hazelnuts

Baked Feta Dip with Honey, Dates, and Hazelnuts adds Mediterranean luxury to your holiday table in just 25 minutes. Creamy feta, sweet dates, and crunchy hazelnuts create a dish that elevates the typical appetizer. Serve this, and no one will want to go back to plain dips. This one is sure to impress.
Get the Recipe: Baked Feta Dip with Honey, Dates, and Hazelnuts
Fried Ripe Sweet Plantains

Fried Ripe Sweet Plantains bring the taste of the Caribbean to your holiday party in just 15 minutes. Their caramelized edges and soft center create a side dish that feels far more exciting than traditional holiday sides. One bite of these plantains, and your guests will be dreaming of sun-soaked beaches instead of mashed potatoes.
Get the Recipe: Fried Ripe Sweet Plantains
Baked Brie with Peaches, Pecans, Herbs, and Honey

Baked Brie with Peaches, Pecans, Herbs, and Honey offers a gooey, luxurious appetizer that will have your guests hooked from the first bite. The combination of creamy brie, sweet peaches, and crunchy pecans is irresistible and perfect for a global-inspired holiday feast. After serving this, cheese boards will feel like a thing of the past.
Get the Recipe: Baked Brie with Peaches, Pecans, Herbs, and Honey
M says
If I could get rid of the ads that keep popping up I would enjoy your website. Unfortunately, they distract me to the point I end up closing the website in frustration. Good recipes with good ingredients, though.
kseniaprints says
Hi M, so normally I don't approve comments like this but I wanted to take this chance to comment. Ads are what enables creators like me to keep providing recipes for free to people like you. Are they annoying? Yes. Do they all have a close button? Mostly. I do keep viewer experience in mind so try to keep them to a minimum, but the reality is that I also need to make it possible to earn enough money for my family to eat dinner, rather than just write about it ;P