If you’re the cook in the family, Christmas can be a stressful time. While the others are busy budget-planning for gifts or sprucing up the house with decorations, you’re researching recipes and scouring the supermarkets.
It’s not just time and effort that makes holiday cooking hard. Whipping up a festive noche buena feast within budget is like rocket science, especially with the TRAIN law sending food and beverage prices through the roof.
But if you’re like me whose love language is food, you know you’ll rise to the occasion and give your family a delicious, memorable meal. In case you get overwhelmed or get lost in supermarket aisles, here’s a budget guide for you:
Intimate Noche Buena for P2,000
Whether you’re spending the holidays alone, with your significant other, or one or two family members, a P2,000 budget will go a long way. Tip: save the gift basket given by your employer and use the items as ingredients for your noche buena meal.
Keep your menu simple, with two main dishes, one dessert, sides, and some drinks. Take out your finest plates and cutlery, scented candles, and other Christmas accessories for a more festive and enticing set-up. Here’s a sample menu:
Pasta (Aglio olio)
500g linguine – P87
250ml olive oil – P148
227g parmesan cheese – P158
50g crushed pepper flakes – P37
50g fresh parsley or basil – P50
Other ingredients (garlic, pepper, salt, optional herbs) – P50
Total: P530
Here’s the recipe.
Main: Pan-Seared Rib Eye Steak
½ kilo beef rib eye steak – P400
100g salted butter – P58
Fresh rosemary – P50-P70
1 whole garlic – P5
Steak sauce (check out these recipes) – P50
Total: P583
Here’s how to cook a proper steak a la Gordon Ramsay.
Dessert: No-Bake Blueberry Cheesecake
250g Philadelphia cream cheese – P159
250 ml Nestle all-purpose cream – P55
200g crushed graham crackers (2 packs) – P70
100g salted butter – P58
24g unflavored gelatin – P17
21oz canned blueberry filling – P200
500g sugar – Php 65
20ml vanilla extract – P44
Total: P668
Check out the recipe here.
Beverage
Anything worth, get creative – P219
Corporate goodies served on the side – Free
- A bottle of wine, if you have a generous employer
- Queso de bola
- Ham
- Crackers
Total: P2,000
With just P2000, you can have a simple but fancy meal this Christmas.
Pinoy Fiesta-Inspired Noche Buena for P4,000
If your family has a discerning palate and want to nosh to their heart’s content, you can’t go wrong with classic Filipino dishes. Here’s what you can do for P4,000:
Asian-style Grilled Ribs
1kg pork ribs – P375
Scallions – P50
Asian-style marinade (soy sauce, oyster sauce, garlic, chili powder, honey, lime, salt, pepper, sesame oil) – P200
Total: P625
Lumpiang Shanghai
1kg ground pork – P140
60 pcs lumpia wrapper – P90
2 carrots – P34
Other ingredients (egg, seasoning, cooking oil, dip) – P150
Total: P414
1 kilo spaghetti – P140
250ml olive oil – P148
227g parmesan cheese – P158
50g fresh parsley or basil – P50
500g bacon – P320
250 ml Nestle all-purpose cream (2) – P110
400g shiitake mushroom – P161
100g salted butter – P58
Total: 1,145
1 kilo pork liempo – P300
Homemade barbecue sauce + dip – P200
Total: P500
Grilled Squid
540g squid – P340
1 lemon/lime – P25
Marinade (soy sauce, lime, garlic, vinegar) – P50
Total: P415
Mango Float
250 ml Nestle all-purpose cream (2) – P110
200g crushed graham crackers (2 packs) – P70
200g graham crackers (2 packs) – P70
500ml sweetened condensed milk – P114
2 big ripe mangoes – P80
Total: P444
Leche Flan
20ml vanilla extract – P44
1 dozen eggs – P100
500g sugar – P65
Total: P209
Beverage
There’s nothing more Filipino than ending a big meal with beer. Get six bottles of local pale ale for P248.
Total: P4,000
A Christmas Buffet for P7,000
Inviting some friends and relatives over? Showcase your culinary skills with an affordable but party-inspired feast. With a small budget and loads of creativity, you can impress your guests and give them a good time. Set up a buffet table with a mix of main dishes, appetizers, cold cuts and cheeses, fruit, salad, and dessert to keep it festive.
Try these simple but impressive recipes to make sure your Christmas party goes with a bang:
Antipasti Platter
100g Salami di Milano – P320
150g Prosciutto di Parma – P200
3pcs pork sausage – P200
Assorted cheeses – P400
Baguette/ciabatta – P60
Grapes or berries – P150
Total: P1350
Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus
200g smoked and cured bacon, thinly sliced – P150
500g fresh asparagus – P250
Total: P400
Spaghetti Bolognese (Serves 7-10)
1 kilo spaghetti – P140
250ml olive oil – P148
227g parmesan cheese – P158
50g crushed pepper flakes – P37
50g Fresh parsley or basil – P50
½ kilo ground beef – P140
½ kilo ground pork – P100
200g bacon – P150
2 carrots – P34
500g fresh, ripe tomatoes – P100
70g tomato paste – P15
2pc fresh red bell peppers – P60
500g tomato and basil sauce – P149
Total: P1,315
Other ingredients (garlic, pepper, salt, optional herbs) – P50
Total: P530
Here’s the recipe.
Homemade Pizza Supreme (Serves 7-10)
250 g store-bought pizza crust (3pcs) – P360
Homemade pizza dough (4 batches) – P350
200g shredded Mozzarella cheese – P257
200g white cheddar cheese – P170
2 large white onions – P50
330g pitted black olives – P94
400g Norma eggplant sauce – P200
2 large green bell peppers – P80
400g shiitake mushroom – P161
½ kilo cooked ground beef – P140
Total: P1,512
No-Bake Key Lime Cheesecake
250g Philadelphia cream cheese (2) – P318
250 ml Nestle all-purpose cream (2) – P110
200g crushed graham crackers (2 packs) – P70
300ml sweetened condensed milk – P57
100g salted butter – P58
24g unflavored gelatin – P17
2pcs key lime – P60
500g sugar – P65
20ml vanilla extract – P44
Total: P799
Check out the recipe here.
Your favorite Christmas kakanin – P300
Have a nostalgic holiday feast with an assortment of kakanin. Here’s a list of where to buy the treats.
Rotisserie chicken (2pcs) – P450
Drinks
Two bottles of wine – P700
Fresh lemonade to cleanse the palate – P200
Total: P7126
You’ll save a lot more and make noche buena more special if you cook the dishes yourself, but if you’re pressed for time, don’t beat yourself up for ordering or even eating out.
No matter your budget, you can whip up show-stealing dishes if you know where to find good ingredients for less. For fresh fruit, herbs, vegetables, and seafood, I’d suggest buying at Farmer’s Market, Cubao. Buy deli meats and cheeses in small portions for more variety. Prepare a list along with the detailed recipes to make sure you get everything you need without going over budget. And more importantly, plan and prepare, get help in the kitchen, and have fun.
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