What’s on the Holiday Table in NY and NJ?

New York and New Jersey are known for their diversity, and that diversity is reflected clearly at the holiday table. Across the region, families celebrate different traditions, cultures, and histories, but one thing remains consistent. Food plays a central role.

This blog looks at the most common homemade holiday dishes prepared across NY and NJ, focusing on Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Diwali. These meals are not about trends or restaurants. They are about family, culture, and shared experiences at home.

Christmas Traditions in NY and NJ

For many households, Christmas meals center around a large shared main dish with familiar sides.

Common Christmas Main Dishes

Surveys and regional reporting show that baked ham is the most common Christmas main dish in New Jersey, followed closely by roast beef, prime rib, and turkey. Prime rib, in particular, has become a popular alternative to turkey as a more celebratory centerpiece.

These mains are often chosen because they feed large groups and create leftovers that last beyond the holiday.

Italian American Christmas Eve

In Italian American households, Christmas Eve is often marked by the Feast of the Seven Fishes. This tradition includes multiple seafood dishes served throughout the evening.

Common dishes include:

• Pasta with clams

• Fried calamari

• Baccalà

• Shrimp dishes

• Seafood stew

This tradition remains especially strong in NY and NJ due to the region’s large Italian American population.

Christmas Side Dishes and Desserts

Christmas tables in NY and NJ are known for abundance. Popular side dishes include mashed potatoes, stuffing, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, and baked pasta. Lasagna and baked ziti are particularly common in New Jersey.

Desserts are usually homemade and often include cookie trays, gingerbread, sugar cookies, yule log cakes, panettone, cannoli, and struffoli.

Hanukkah Traditions

Hanukkah meals traditionally feature foods fried in oil to commemorate the holiday’s historical significance.

Common Hanukkah Foods

• Potato latkes served with applesauce or sour cream

• Sufganiyot, which are jelly-filled doughnuts

• Brisket or roasted meats

• Kugel, both noodle and potato varieties

• Challah bread

These dishes are widely prepared in NY and NJ homes and are often shared during family gatherings and community celebrations.

Kwanzaa Traditions

Kwanzaa celebrations focus on heritage, unity, and shared values. Meals prepared during Kwanzaa often reflect African, Caribbean, and African American culinary traditions.

Common Kwanzaa Dishes

• Collard greens

• Black-eyed peas or red beans

• Fried catfish or fried chicken

• Jollof rice or other rice-based dishes

• Cornbread and candied yams

Desserts often include sweet potato pie, peach cobbler, or bread pudding. These meals are commonly prepared at home and shared with extended family or community members.

Diwali Traditions

Diwali meals in NY and NJ households are centered around homemade Indian dishes that balance sweet and savory flavors.

Common Diwali Foods

• Samosas and pakoras

• Chaat-style snacks

• Lentil dishes such as dal

• Chicken or lamb curry

• Biryani or rice pilaf

• Naan or roti

Diwali sweets, known as mithai, are also essential. These include laddoos, barfi, gulab jamun, kheer, and halwa. These foods are often prepared over several days and shared with family, friends, and neighbors.

Modern Additions Across Holidays

While tradition remains important, many households now include modern additions. Regional surveys show growing interest in lighter soups, herb-seasoned roasts, vegetarian center dishes, and fusion-inspired sides.

These updates allow families to honor tradition while adjusting to changing preferences and dietary needs.

Final Thoughts

Holiday meals in New York and New Jersey reflect the people who live here. They are shaped by culture, tradition, and family routines passed down over generations. Whether it is a Christmas roast, a plate of latkes, a Kwanzaa feast, or a Diwali spread, food remains central to how families come together and celebrate.

Preparing these meals can be time-consuming and stressful, especially when balancing multiple traditions or hosting large gatherings. If you need help planning, cooking, or managing dietary needs during the holidays, Brianna’s Nutrition Kitchen offers in-home personal chef services to support you through the process.

Menus are customized to your preferences and dietary needs, with grocery shopping, meal preparation, and clean-up handled for you. This allows you to focus on spending time with your guests and enjoying the moments that matter most.