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A Night In Bethlehem Dinner

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Start a meaningful new Christmas tradition with a Bethlehem dinner! Discover the foods Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds might have eaten as you celebrate the birth of Christ with your family this holiday season.

$22.60 per recipe / $3.76 per serving

Wood plate with bread, falafel, chickpeas, nuts, and vegetables, next to glass jar with nativity on it.

Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and reflect on the incredible gift of His life and love.

In the midst of the holiday hustle, it can be easy to lose sight of the true reason for the season.

Hosting a Bethlehem dinner is a beautiful way to bring Christ back into focus during your Christmas celebrations whether you’re doing a night in Bethlehem dinner at your church or a simple celebration at home with family.

By sharing a meal inspired by the foods Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds might have eaten, you can create a meaningful tradition that centers your family on the story of Christ’s birth and reminds everyone of the humble beginnings of our Savior.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Line a small baking sheet with parchment paper and place 15 ounces of rinsed and drained chickpeas on the sheet. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and then sprinkle on 1 tablespoon za’atar seasoning. Mix with your hands to make sure everything is coated.

On another sheet (or the same one if you have room) place the falafal.

Bake the chickpeas and falafel for 25-30 minutes until crispy and warmed through.

While the food is in the oven, rinse 2 bunches of grapes, tear 2 pieces of naan, slice sunflower honey bread, peel and slice 2 large carrots, slice 1 English cucumber, separate the arils from 1/2 pomegranate, spoon hummus and fig jam into small bowls.

When the chickpeas and falafel are done cooking, arrange all of the foods on a cutting board including cashews, dried apricots, and figs.

Serve with grape juice.

Recipe Tips and Substitutions

Various food laid out on wood board including bread, dried, fruits, nuts, and fresh vegetables.

I loved using the Shepherd’s Dinner from Faithful Plateful as an starting point for this dinner. Here are additional ideas you can incorporate:

  • Lentil soup or stew
  • Greek salad
  • Shepherd’s pie
  • Tabbouleh
  • Roasted vegetables
  • Za’atar tofu
  • Olives
  • Seeds
  • Dates
  • Peppers
  • Tomatoes
  • Baklava
  • Dates
  • Mint tea
  • Water with lemon

This dinner can be customized to include whatever you have on hand or what your family enjoys; use sourdough intead of naan; use almonds or walnuts instead of cashews; if you can’t find figs use dates or apricots.

If you like this dinner, consider making a Jerusalem dinner for Holy Week!

For more ways to keep Christ in Christmas, check out this post.

Recipe Costs

Bread with jam, chickpeas, cucumbers, and falafel on wood plate.

This dinner costs $22.60 to make which is $3.76 per serving! You can save money by making your own falafel and bread.

  • Chickpeas – $1.00
  • Olive oil – $0.20
  • Za’atar seasoning – $0.44
  • Falafel – $4.49
  • Black grapes – $2.25
  • Naan – $2.33
  • Sunflower seed bread – $1.12
  • Carrots – $0.60
  • Cucumber – $2.99
  • Pomegranate – $0.50
  • Hummus – $0.35
  • Fig jam – $1.33
  • Cashews – $0.57 (buy these snack packs from Costco to save money!)
  • Dried figs – $2.15
  • Dried apricots – $2.28

FAQs

Hummus in small bowl with spoon next to grapes, cucumbers, breads, and dried fruits.
How can I make the dinner feel more meaningful?


Set the scene with candles or oil lamps to create a rustic atmosphere, and consider reading the Christmas story from the Bible before or during the meal. You can also incorporate prayer or discussion about the significance of Christ’s birth.

How can I involve guests in the experience?


Invite guests to bring a dish that fits the theme or encourage them to share their favorite scripture or reflection about Christ’s birth during the meal. This adds a communal and spiritual element to the dinner.

Wood plate with bread, falafel, chickpeas, nuts, and vegetables, next to glass jar with nativity on it.

A Night in Bethlehem Dinner

The Ashcroft Family Table
Start a meaningful new Christmas tradition with a Bethlehem dinner! Discover the foods Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds might have eaten as you celebrate the birth of Christ with your family this holiday season.
5 from 1 vote
$22.60 per recipe / $3.76 per serving
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Dinner
Cuisine American, Mediterranean
Servings 6 servings
Calories 673 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 15 ounce chickpeas, rinsed and dried
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 Tablespoon za'atar seasoning
  • 12 ounces frozen, cooked falafel, I like the Trader Joe's brand
  • 2 bunches black grapes
  • 2 pieces naan
  • 6 slices honey sunflower seed bread
  • 2 large carrots
  • 1 English cucumber
  • ½ pomegranate
  • cup hummus
  • cup fig jam
  • 1.6 ounces cashews, about 1/3 cup
  • cup dried figs
  • cup dried apricots
  • grape juice

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Line a small baking sheet with parchment paper and place chickpeas on the sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and then sprinkle on za'atar seasoning. Mix with your hands to make sure everything is coated.
  • On another sheet (or the same one if you have room) place the falafal.
  • Bake the chickpeas and falafel for 25-30 minutes until crispy and warmed through.
  • While the food is in the oven, rinse grapes, tear naan, slice sunflower honey bread, peel and slice carrots, slice cucumber, separate the arils from the pomegranate, spoon hummus and fig jam into small bowls.
  • When the chickpeas and falafel are done cooking, arrange all of the foods on a cutting board including cashews, dried apricots, and figs.
  • Serve with grape juice.

Notes

Here are some other ideas of foods you can incorporate into your dinner:
  • Lentil soup or stew
  • Greek salad
  • Shepherd’s pie
  • Tabbouleh
  • Roasted vegetables
  • Olives
  • Seeds
  • Dates
  • Peppers
  • Tomatoes
  • Baklava
  • Dates
  • Mint tea
    Water with lemon
      •  

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 673kcal | Carbohydrates: 99g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 494mg | Potassium: 677mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin A: 3760IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 154mg | Iron: 5mg
Keyword bethlehem dinner, christmas dinner, night in bethlehem dinner
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5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)
Recipe Rating