Badnik's dinner, Christmas Eve dinner, is lean but rich, and sweet and savory dishes should be placed on the table. According to the beliefs, the rich table means that the year will be rich. Traditionally, there should be beans, lean sarma, pitulici, pogacha, dried fruits etc.
 

OLD RECIPE FOR CHRISTMAS BREAD (BADNIKOVA POGACHA)

This pogacha is very tasty, and it is lean. It is usually prepared for Badnik and we insert a coin inside, then divide it in the family. It is believed that the one that gets the coin will have luck in the following year.

LEAN SARMA WITH SOUR CABBAGE AND RICE

This sarma is ideal to prepare in fasting period when we eat lean food or for Orthodox feasts when lean food is served (like the feast of Sveti Nikola). The method of preparation of this sarma is the same as sarma with minced meat and rice, it's a little easier since we don't prepare the meat. Also, this sarma is better for your stomach and for digestion. I suggest you to make your sarma pieces smaller, they look cuter and prepare better.

TAVCHE GRAVCHE (BAKED BEANS)

Baked beans or tavche gravche is a traditional Macedonian dish which is made in a traditional earthenware. It's one of the most famous Macedonian dishes, healthy and easy to prepare.

TRADITIONAL PITULICI PIE 

This is a traditional Macedonian pie prepared from special kind of crepes which we call "pitulici". It is usually prepared with white cheese or with garlic combined with walnuts. I used to have a grandma who would wake at 6 am and bake these pitulici for hours and when we visited her, she always served us this pie.
First you'll need to prepare pitulici (crepes) and then bake them again with the filling. Or just buy crepes from the store, apply the filling and put to bake.

BAKED PUMPKIN 

Usually served at the end.

KADAIF 

Kadaif is a delicacy that is made of special thin noodles, usually mixed with almonds, pistachios, hazelnuts or walnuts and always topped with sherbet (syrup). Although the roots of this dessert come from Palestine, thanks to the Turkish occupation, it spread in the Balkans and became one of the most favorite sweet treats. We usually prepare kadaif during fasting periods.
You can prepare baklava instead of kadaif of course.

RICE IN A PAN 

You can make baked potatoes or rice in a pan. If you make lean sarm with rice, skip this.

GARLIC

Garlic has a special symbolism; in the past, even magical significance for better health was given to garlic, which is why it is an inevitable part of the table.

 

DRIED FRUITS AND NUTS

Put raisins or other dried fruits, walnuts, hazelnuts...