Winter’s cold weather and early sunsets invite families to come together indoors and share meaningful moments of connection. For those hosting an au pair, one of the best ways to deepen your family’s bonds and begin new seasonal traditions is to gather in the kitchen to cook some winter comfort foods from your au pair’s home country. Parents, children, and au pairs can unite on cold winter evenings to brighten up the season, engage in meaningful moments of cultural exchange, and have fun as one big family. Whether or not you’re hosting an au pair from one of these 15 countries or regions of the world, these family-friendly international recipes are sure to bring some joy to the season of comfort foods!
From hearty stews to sweet and spiced desserts, explore these 15 winter cultural recipes for families!
1. Brazil: Feijoada
Feijoada is the national dish of Brazil and a perfect winter comfort food. This hearty Brazilian stew is made with pork, beef, black beans, onions, garlic, cilantro, and served with rice, fried greens, and orange slices. This traditional Brazilian stew is a great option for families hosting a Brazilian au pair or for anyone who just wants to add a little extra flavor and warmth to their mealtimes. As a slow-cooked dish, it’s an excellent choice for those long winter nights when the whole family is stuck indoors.
2. Central Europe: Spätzle
Have a picky eater and an au pair from Central Europe? Ask your au pair about Spätzle! Spätzle comes from Southern Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Hungary, where it was popularized by medieval peasants due toits simple ingredients and delectable taste. Spätzle is a simple egg pasta made from small clumps of glutinous dough that’s boiled in water. Not only is it easy to make, it’s effortlessly customizable too! Serve Spätzle with a range of sauces or gravies, as a side, or just top it with some oil, butter, or cheese to appease even the choosiest eater. Talk about an easy win!
3. China, Japan, & Korea: Rice Porridge
Want more easy winter comfort food recipes that are sure to please everybody? Rice porridge, a traditional breakfast food that can be enjoyed any time of day, is a popular dish in much of East Asia, including China, South Korea, and Japan. While recipes may vary somewhat by country, the premise is the same—it’s made by slow-cooking rice in a large amount of water. As it cooks, the rice releases its starch, creating a thick, creamy porridge that’s perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Plus, it’s an awesome recipe for sick children and those long winter nights when you want to enjoy an easy, comforting dish with your children and au pair.
4. France: Crepes
The crepe is one of France’s best-known dishes, but did you know it’s also strongly tied to mid-winter holiday traditions? La Chandeleur, also called Candlemas or Le Jour des Crêpes (literally “Crepe Day”), is a French holiday that falls on February 2. This holiday has origins in both pagan and Catholic traditions and marks midwinter and the day that baby Jesus was presented at the Temple.
Whether you celebrate these holidays or not, mid-winter is an excellent excuse to get the children and au pair together to make crepes! Plus, these paper-thin pancakes can be served and stuffed however you like. They can be made savory with ham, cheese, eggs, mushrooms, and as a delicious dessert or sweet breakfast with sliced strawberries, Nutella, powdered sugar, or lemon and sugar. Talk about something for everyone!
5. Italy: Lasagna al Forno
Cooking a traditional Lasagna is a great way to bring a little extra culture and flavor into your home this time of year. Lasagna al forno is a traditional type of Italian beef lasagna that calls for a white Béchamel sauce rather than the American ricotta cheese substitution (but if you don’t want to go through the trouble, ricotta cheese is fine, too!). Perfect for the holiday season, this recipe truly brings families together. Even the youngest children can help out—afterthe egg noodles and sauce are prepared, they can have a hand in layering the ingredients in the baking dish. Bonus points if you’re hosting an Italian au pair who can teach your family how their “nonna” (grandmother) made it!
6. Latin America & Spain: Arroz con leche
Want to bring the Hispanic world into your kitchen this winter or make your au pair from Latin America or Spain feel more at home? Arroz con leche is a perfect winter comfort food. Originating in Spain, this dish has long been popular in Mexico, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, and other Latin American countries. It’s a creamy and sweet rice pudding that makes for the perfect snack after a long day at school. Made from just water, white rice, sweet condensed milk, evaporated milk, whole milk, and cinnamon, this dish can be enjoyed as a cozy holiday treat and all winter long.
7. Mexico: Mexican Hot Chocolate
What child (and adult) doesn’t love a nice cup of hot cocoa during the winter? This winter comfort recipe adds a twist of holiday spice and cultural flavor to a cold-weather classic. Mexican hot chocolate has its roots in ancient Mayan and Aztec traditions, where cacao was heated and mixed with local spices, milk, and sugar to create the Mexican staple enjoyed by people around the world today. To make the perfect cup of Mexican hot chocolate, we recommend adding dark chocolate, sugar, and milk to a mixture of cinnamon, cloves, vanilla, nutmeg, allspice, cayenne (be cautious, cayenne really brings the heat!), and ancho chili powder (to taste). Perfect to warm your family and au pair up after a cold winter’s day!
8. Mozambique: Matapa
Interested in African cultural recipes for families? This green stew hails from Mozambique and is made from cassava leaves, peanuts, shrimp, and coconut leaves. If you have children who don’t like seafood, feel free to leave the shrimp out—matapa is delicious either way! For families who are hosting an au pair from Mozambique, this is a fantastic opportunity for parents and children to learn more about their culture, while enjoying a unique dish.
To tack on an extra adventure, take your children and au pair to your local African or international food store to find the right ingredients, and watch as your children discover a whole host of new produce, spices, and culinary possibilities among the aisles of the store. Plus, being among ingredients from their home country might just give your au pair ideas for more dishes you can make together!
9. Panama & Dominican Republic: Sancocho
Sancocho is another winter comfort food that was brought to Latin America by the Spanish. Today, it’s enjoyed throughout the region, particularly in Panama and the Dominican Republic—if your au pair hails from either country, they’resure to recognize it! Sancocho is a type of meat stew made with hearty vegetables such as pumpkins, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and corn. Children who love big hunks of meat and warm soups will particularly enjoy this stew. Plus, you can use whichever meat and vegetables your family likes best.
10. Poland: Pierogi
What’s better than a soft steaming pierogi, stuffed with cheesy, creamy mashed potatoes and drizzled with a hot butter sauce? If you’re drooling at the mouth at the thought of this delectable meal, we promise your children will be, too! Some say Marco Polo brought the idea of dumplings over from China, where it was reinvented in Central Europe. While the exact origins of the pierogi aren’t certain, one thing is—these delicious treats are hard to resist! Also, as a national dish of Poland, this is perfect for host families with a Polish au pair or any families who want to try their hands at a new cultural cuisine this winter season.
11. Russia & Ukraine: Pyraniki
If you’re looking for a fun international holiday recipe, look no further than the Pyraniki, a honey spice cookie from Ukraine and Russia. The earliest form of this cookie dates back to the 9th century, long before sugar was brought to Russia; hence, the use of honey! Add anise, nutmeg, and allspice to your recipe to sprinkle in some extra holiday flavor. After an afternoon or evening of baking these sugary delights, sit down with your au pair and family for a hot cup of tea and a storybook to really ramp up the cozy atmosphere!
12. U.K. & Ireland: Shepherd’s Pie
Shepherd’s pie is a staple of British and Irish cuisine that was created as a way for the working class to use leftover meat combined with simple household ingredients. It’s a casserole made from minced lamb (or beef for a more British cottage pie), cooked vegetables, rich gravy, and topped with mashed potatoes—all baked together until golden brown. It’s the perfect dish for a family to work on together; for example, the youngest child and dad can handle the mashed potatoes, while your au pair and older child do the lamb and vegetables, and finally mom can cover the gravy (and provide some oversight as needed)—talk about a team effort!
13. Sweden: Swedish Meatballs
Are you hosting a Swedish au pair or have a child who just can’t eat enough meatballs? Swedish meatballs may be the perfect international holiday recipe for your family. The recipe is thought to date back to the 18th century, when King Charles XII introduced meatballs to Sweden after returning from the Ottoman Empire (modern-day Turkey). Swedish meatball recipes generally feature a mixture of beef and pork, milk, breadcrumbs, eggs, onion, and ground allspice, in addition to a brown gravy made from butter, wheat flour, cream, and meat stock. You sure can trust the Swedes when it comes to making food that’s designed to get you through long and harsh winters.
14. South Africa: Malva Pudding
Malva pudding is an excellent cold-weather comfort food and classic South African dessert with Cape Dutch origins reaching back to the 17th century. It’s perfect for those winter days when the family wants to spend some time indoors, and it’s fantastic as a special treat for birthdays or holidays. Malva pudding is a sweet, spongy cake made with apricot jam, eggs, and flour, and is covered with a hot, creamy brown sugar sauce, often served with ice cream or custard. If you’re looking for real cold-weather comfort food from abroad, you can’t go wrong with this hot and sugary dessert from the Rainbow Nation.
15. Thailand: Massaman Curry
When the winter weather hits and the days grow short, nothing drives the cold weather and winter blues away quite like a hot bowl of massaman curry. Gather around the kitchen with your au pair and your family to prepare this Thaiclassic, heavily influenced by the Malay Muslims, Thailand’s neighbor to the south. Whether you want to make your massaman curry from scratch or find a store-bought curry paste, this international recipe is relatively straightforwardand often features chicken or tofu, potatoes, palm sugar, onions, and is served over jasmine rice.
Make the winter season warm and full of flavor for the whole family—host an au pair with Au Pair in America!
After an evening spent cooking, sharing stories, and enjoying these comforting dishes, your family and au pair may find that the winter chill feels a little less cold, and the connection between you is stronger than ever. Hosting an au pair isn’t just about receiving flexible, dependable childcare; it’s about so much more. As Au Pair in America host families know, an au pair brings warmth, connection, and a whole lot of flavor to everyday family life, especially during the winter season.
