Andorran Families Embrace Pre-Prepared Christmas Meals

More Andorran families are turning to pre-prepared Christmas meals this holiday season, sparing themselves hours in the kitchen while still savouring traditional dishes.

Shops and delis across the principality report a steady rise in orders for ready-to-heat festive fare over recent years, with this trend accelerating in 2023. Families cite busy schedules and reluctance to spend long stretches cooking as key reasons for the shift, yet they remain attached to time-honoured recipes like escudella with meatballs, fricandó, and Sant Esteve canelons.

Specialist outlets prepare these meals using classic methods, delivering them fully cooked for simple reheating. "Pre-made Christmas dishes have been on the rise for a few years now," said a manager at Obach Andorra. He recalled how his godmother once spent 25 hours cooking over the holidays—a far cry from today's habits. "Families are busy and don't want to spend hours at the stove, but they still want to eat well—those dishes that remind them of home cooking."

Popular items this year include escudella and stewed meat, alongside canelons in varieties such as chicken, roast with mushrooms, or spinach. Obach has also seen strong demand for stuffed partridge with prunes, which customers simply slice and oven-warm before serving.

Business owners emphasise the appeal: authentic, homemade-style food without the hassle. "What we're doing is saving families hours of work," the Obach manager added. This convenience allows more time for gatherings around the table during Andorra's festive celebrations.