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Friday, March 29, 2024

Serving a delectable Noche Buena feast

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With just a few more days before Christmas, people are clamoring to finish their holiday shopping in time. Aside from a list of presents, Filipinos also have to think about what to serve during Noche Buena (the Christmas Eve dinner). Since Christmas only comes once annually, they cook and feed their loved ones some of the best meals to celebrate the season.

There are no limitations to what people can serve during their Noche Buena feast, but over time, they’ve developed a menu based on tradition or preference. From appetizers to main courses to desserts, there’s something for everyone at the table.

Lumpiang Shanghai

If there’s one dish that shouldn’t be missing from a Filipino table, it’s lumpiang shanghai. Although it came from Chinese traders during the early centuries, it became a popular staple in Philippine cuisine and is present on nearly every holiday.

People love it for its crispy wrapping and flavorful filling, making it an ideal finger food or viand.

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On the other hand, it’s well-loved by cooks because it’s easy to make and versatile. It only needs two things—wrapper and filling. They can conveniently try different combinations to make the best recipe. A usual mix is pork and aromatics, but people can use other meats like beef or shrimp. Some even use vegetables as a healthier alternative.

Serve with sauce on the side to boost and bring the flavors together.

Pancit canton and pasta

Another staple dish on Filipino tables is pancit canton. It also has Chinese origins and made its way around the country with several variations. It’s stir-fried with other ingredients to create a cohesive flavor profile.

People can cook pancit canton depending on their tastes and preferences. They often mix vegetables and meat to add texture to the noodles. Some even add flair to their noodle dish by pouring a thick sauce to tickle the tastebuds further.

However, not all people prefer serving pancit canton alone on their dining tables. Others prefer making pasta-based dishes, which also follow similar principles. Staple pasta dishes often seen on dining tables include spaghetti (the sweet Filipino version with sliced hotdogs), cheesy baked macaroni, and lasagna, among other variations.

The possibilities are endless with noodles or pasta and other ingredients. And because of its popularity, grocery stores, supermarkets, and some convenience stores offer bundles to shoppers so they can make similar dishes for their Noche Buena.

Ham and other meats

One indicator of the holiday season is the proliferation of ham, often available in a medium-sized ball. Although ham is accessible via markets, groceries, and other food stores, Christmas ham tastes and hits differently when it’s out in the market.

Filipinos often serve their Christmas hams fried, with the sauce on top or the side. Others even add herbs or fruits around the dish to bring out its sweetness and savory flavor. People enjoy ham as is or with a serving of rice, another staple in Filipino cuisine.

Yet ham isn’t the only meat dish that could become the star of the Noche Buena table. Filipino viands, like liempo, lechon kawali, and lechon, also appear during the feast to satisfy growling stomachs.

Besides pork, other key ingredients include beef, chicken, or fish, which people cook in various ways. Roast chicken is also famous during Noche Buena feasts because of its accessibility. Everyone can find a store that sells the dish just down the street. However, those who want to make it more special can cook roast chicken from scratch.

Rice variants

While rice is already a staple in Filipino tables, there are other ways to spice it up and serve it besides simply steaming. For instance, people can choose to enhance the dining experience and the other dishes’ flavors by adding herbs or aromatics. Common variants include java and garlic rice.

Others who are up to the task of cooking a more elaborate can try making the Spanish dish Paella, which features seafood, or a similar version, Arroz Valenciana, which uses chicken instead.

Yet that’s not the only way Filipinos can serve rice. Some traditional rice dishes in the Philippines come sweet, like puto and biko. There’s also the seasonal puto bumbong to bring out the festivities at the dining table.

Since Noche Buena is about celebrating the season and bringing people together, people can serve as many rice-based dishes to spread joy to their guests.

Traditional and modern desserts

Noche Buena is also a time for people to indulge themselves. Aside from the savory dishes served on the dining table, people can also enjoy sweet treats to top off their dining experience for the season.

One usual dessert that never fails to make an appearance during the holidays and sometimes other events is a mango float. It’s sweet and filling because of the graham crackers and cream, and the mangoes add some acidity to balance the flavors.

There’s also leche flan, a traditional pudding-like dessert that everybody loves because it’s sweet and creamy.

Another option is a fruit cocktail, which uses a mixture of fruits, nata de coco, and cream. It’s slightly less sinful than other desserts, but could satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth. Groceries and food stores also offer the ingredients in bundles. While on the topic of desserts, who could forget the well-loved local treat buko salad or pandan salad made with pandan jelly and shredded coconut?

Some people also bake cakes or try trending dessert recipes to impress their guests.

Where to get meals for Noche Buena

Most people cook their meals for the Christmas feast because it shows their dedication to the holidays and how much spending time with their loved ones means a lot to them. However, not everyone has the time, but it doesn’t lessen their intentions to enjoy the season with good company and food.

Groceries, supermarkets, markets, and similar establishments offer a wide range of ingredients for Christmas. On the other hand, some local restaurants also operate on Christmas Eve to spread the holiday spirit.

Nonetheless, whether it’s a grand or simple feast, the most significant thing is that we Filipinos have food on the table and people we love by our side during the eve of the highly-anticipated annual holiday.

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