Beef Morcon
Go big with this luxe menu! Apart from increasing the number of mains to five in total, I've made sure to include a wide variety of proteins - chicken, beef, fish, you name it! It's also time to upgrade your plain white rice to Fried Rice to add style and flavor to your spread. Each dish might require more ingredients to make and a longer time to cook, but that's alright. Your blood, sweat and tears will be worth it when you see your loved ones enjoying the food you've prepared for them.
Pair your Lumpiang Shanghai with some good old Chicken Wings as appetizers. Wings are so versatile, you can serve them in any style and with any sauce you prefer. Don't forget to save some room for your entrées which include a wholesome Lasagna, a Filipino stuffed milkfish known as Rellenong Bangus, a showstopping Beef Morcon stuffed with eggs and vegetables, a fancy Chicken Cordon Bleu complete with ranch dressing and cheese sauce, and (here's a special treat for you adventurous eaters) Lengua - otherwise known as ox tongue cooked in creamy mushroom sauce.
Luckily, we have a separate stomach just for desserts 'cause you definitely don't want to miss out on the Leche Flan and icy Buko Pandan - this Filipino dessert consists of fresh young coconut served with sweetened milk or cream along with green agar jelly that has been flavored with pandan extract. A refreshingly cool treat to soothe your belly after a heartwarming meal.
Related: 12 Festive Dishes for a Merry Christmas Feast
A few useful tips to help you get through the holiday preparation - make sure to come up with a grocery list intended only for the Christmas evening. This helps prevent impulse buying while you're at a grocery store. It is also equally important to take note of the number of people you plan to share this with so that you could carefully plan out your portions. And lastly, cook with love. The spirit of Christmas is never really just about the food on the table, it's also about the warmth that we get when we share it with people we truly care for. Stay safe everyone and Merry Christmas.
Anton Amoncio is a Filipino chef and restaurateur. Back in 2016, he won then Asian Food Channel's Food Hero Competition. Follow his culinary adventures on all socials @antonamoncio.
For more delicious recommendations and recipes for Christmas, see our Festive Feasts page.