Holiday Feasts Minus the Fuss: 7 Easy Noche Buena Recipes to Try this Christmas

Food has always been a big part of what makes a Filipino celebration, and this coming Noche Buena is no exception!   

But if your holiday sched calls for a little less time in the kitchen, don’t worry. From classic menu items to trendier options, here are easy recipes for delicious Christmas dishes that are sure to be a big hit in any holiday gathering! And to make things even easier, you can find all the ingredients at your nearest SM hypermarket and SM Supermarket. 

Embutido   

Prep time: 1 hour and 15 minutes  

A well-known dish for the holidays, embutido is a Filipino-style meatloaf best enjoyed with warm white rice and sweet banana ketchup.   

What you’ll need:  

2 pounds ground pork  

12 pieces vienna sausage or 6 pieces hotdogs - cut in half lengthwise  

3 hard boiled eggs - sliced  

½ cup sweet pickle relish   

½ cup tomato sauce  

2 eggs  

2 cups cheddar cheese - grated  

1 cup red bell pepper - minced  

1 cup green bell pepper - minced  

1 ½ cup raisins  

1 cup carrots - minced  

1 cup onion - minced  

Salt and pepper   

1 to 1 ½ cups bread crumbs   

How to prepare:  

1. In a large container, place the ground pork, bread crumbs, and raw eggs. Mix well.  
2. Add the carrots, bell pepper (red and green), onion, pickle relish, and cheddar cheese. Mix well.   
3. Add the raisins, tomato sauce, salt, and pepper. Mix well.   
4. Flatten the meat mixture on a sheet of aluminum foil.   
5. Place the sliced vienna sausage and boiled eggs alternately on the flattened meat mixture.   
6. Roll the foil to form a cylinder, and lock the edges.  
7. Steam for an hour.   
8. Place inside the refrigerator until cold.   
9. Slice, and serve!  

Paella 

Prep time: 1 hour   

Got a penchant for Spanish food? Wow your friends and family at your next holiday gathering with authentic homemade paella!   

What you’ll need (serves 2):  

2 fillets tuna - cubed and seasoned with sea salt and black pepper  

20 green bets - cut into 2-inch pieces  

4 cloves garlic - minced  

¼ cup extra virgin oil  

1 tomato - grated  

½ cup cooked large lima beans - canned or frozen  

½ teaspoon sweet smoked paprika   

2 ¼ cups water  

½ teaspoon saffron threads  

1 sprig fresh rosemary  

1 cup round rice  

Pinch of sea salt  

Pinch of black pepper  

1 lemon  

How to prepare:  

1. Heat a fry pan with a medium-high heat, and add a ¼ cup of extra virgin oil.  
2. Add the cubes of tuna after 2 minutes, and move around with the oil until the cubes turn brown. Remove from the pan, and set aside.  
3. Add the green beans to the pan, and mix around with the oil. After 3 minutes, make a well in the middle for the 4 cloves of minced garlic.   
4. Mix around for 1 minute, then add the grated tomato, lima beans, sweet smoked paprika, and sea salt. Mix well.   
5. Add 2 ¼ cups of cold water into the pan.   
6. Add ½ teaspoon of saffron threads, then season again with sea salt.   
7. Add 1 sprig of rosemary, and gently mix until everything is evenly distributed.   
8. After approximately 6 minutes, add the tuna back to the paella.   
9. After 2-3 more minutes, lower the fire to a low-medium heat, and let it simmer for 3-4 minutes.   
10. Once ready, remove the pan from the heat, and cover with a dish cloth.   
11. After 5 minutes, garnish the paella with lemon wedges to serve!   

Charcuterie Board

Prep time: 15-30 mins  

Charcuterie boards aren’t just aesthetic; they taste amazing too. The best part? They are incredibly easy to assemble and require no cooking whatsoever! 

What you’ll need:  

A variety of soft and hard cheese  

Meats - prosciutto, salami, ham, cured chorizo, capricola, soppressata, summer sausage  

Savory accompaniments - nuts, cold cut vegetables, savory dips and spreads   

Sweet accompaniments - fresh fruit and berries, dried fruit, sweet spreads, chocolate  

Crackers  

Mini toasts or sliced baguette 

How to prepare: 

1. On your chosen board, add the cheese. Working in odd numbers, add 3, 5, or 7 types of cheese around the board depending on the size of your party.  

1 cup red bell pepper - minced  

1 cup green bell pepper - minced  

1 ½ cup raisins  

1 cup carrots - minced  

1 cup onion - minced  

Salt and pepper   

1 to 1 ½ cups bread crumbs   

How to prepare:  

1. In a large container, place the ground pork, bread crumbs, and raw eggs. Mix well.  
2. Add the carrots, bell pepper (red and green), onion, pickle relish, and cheddar cheese. Mix well.   
3. Add the raisins, tomato sauce, salt, and pepper. Mix well.   
4. Flatten the meat mixture on a sheet of aluminum foil.   
5. Place the sliced vienna sausage and boiled eggs alternately on the flattened meat mixture.   
6. Roll the foil to form a cylinder, and lock the edges.  
7. Steam for an hour.   
8. Place inside the refrigerator until cold.   
9. Slice, and serve!  

Tteokbokki   

Prep time: 30 mins  

K-culture is all the rave nowadays! Bring a taste of Korea to your Christmas celebrations with tteokbokki, which are chewy rice cakes soaked in spicy, addictive broth.   

What you’ll need:   

1 pound tteokbokki (about 24 3-inch long rice cake pieces)  

1-2 fish cake sheets  

4 ounces green cabbage   

1-2 scallions   

1 tablespoon minced garlic   

3 cups water  

3 tablespoons gochujang   

1-3 teaspoons gochugaru  

1 tablespoon soy sauce  

2 tablespoons sugar  

1 tablespoon corn syrup   

How to prepare:  

1. Soak the rice cakes for about 20 minutes.   
2. Cut the fish cake, cabbage, and scallions into 2-inch long pieces.   
3. In a large pan, add 3 cups of water. Bring it to a boil over medium high heat.  
4. Add gochujang, gochugaru, soy sauce, sugar, and corn syrup. Stir to dissolve the gochujang or red chili pepper paste.   
5. Add the rice cakes. Boil for 8-10 minutes or until the rice cakes become soft. Stir frequently to make sure the rice cakes don’t stick to the bottom of the pan!  
6. Add in the vegetables, garlic, and fish cakes. Continue to boil, stirring occasionally for an additional 4-6 minutes.   
7. Add the scallions. Cook for 2-3 more minutes.   
8. Serve hot!   

Christmas hamon  

Prep time: 45 minutes   

Hamon or “hamonado” is a Filipino sweet ham popularly served during the holidays. Thankfully, you can easily find frozen Christmas ham in stores to avoid having to make it from scratch!   

What you’ll need:  

Store-bought Christmas ham  

How to prepare:  

1. If frozen, defrost Christmas ham.   
2. Submerge Christmas ham in ½ inch of water.   
3. Bake at 325 for 30-40 minutes.   
4. Brush with remaining juice.   
5. Slice, and serve!   

Buffalo cauliflower bites  

Prep time: 50 minutes  

Looking for a vegetarian option? These buffalo cauliflower bites offer the same kick as your traditional buffalo wings, but with a healthy twist!  

What you’ll need:  

1 large head of cauliflower - cut into florets  

½ cup all purpose flour  

½ cup water  

2 teaspoons garlic powder  

1 teaspoon paprika   

½ teaspoon salt  

¼ teaspoon black pepper   

cooking spray  

½ cup hot sauce  

2 tablespoons butter - melted  

½ tablespoon lemon juice  

blue cheese or ranch dressing  

How to prepare:  

1. Preheat the oven to 450°F. Grease a baking sheet with cooking spray or line it with parchment paper.   
2. In a large bowl, whisk flour, water, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper until the batter is smooth.   
3. Add cauliflower to the batter and toss.  
4. Spread cauliflower onto the prepared baking sheet in a single layer with enough space between each piece. Bake in the preheated oven until lightly brown (20-25 minutes), flipping each piece halfway through.   
5. In a small bowl, combine the hot sauce, melted butter, and lemon juice. Mix well.   
6. Brush the buffalo sauce mixture on the cauliflower.   
7. Return to the oven, and bake until they start to brown (about 15 minutes).  
8. Serve hot with your choice of dressing!  

Leche flan  

Prep time: 55 minutes 

There’s always room for dessert, especially when it’s leche flan: a sweet treat made up of eggs, milk, and a caramel glaze on top.   

What you’ll need:  

10 eggs  

1 can condensed milk   

1 cup fresh milk or evaporated milk   

1 cup granulated sugar  

1 teaspoon vanilla extract  

How to prepare:  

1. Using all eggs, separate the yolk from the egg white.   
2. Place all the egg yolks in a big bowl, then beat them using a fork or an egg beater.  
3. Added the condensed milk. Mix well.  
4. Pour in the fresh milk and vanilla. Mix well.  
5. Heat the mold or “llanera” on the stove, and heat it on low fire.   
6. Add the granulated sugar into the mold, and mix thoroughly until the solid sugar turns into liquid with a light brown color.   
7. Spread the liquid sugar or caramel evenly on the flat side of the mold.  
8. Wait for 5 minutes before pouring in the egg yolk and milk mixture.   
9. Cover the top of the mold with aluminum foil.   
10. Steam the mold with egg and milk mixture for 30-35 minutes.  
11. Let the temperature of the mold cool.   
12. Refrigerate.  
13. Serve for dessert!  

SM Markets Christmas Baskets  

Still in a time crunch? Make your Christmas dinner prep even easier with SM Supermalls’ Christmas Baskets! From noodles and sauce to fruit cocktails and imported snacks, these curated baskets feature essentials for a fuss-free Noche Buena.   

Make this Christmas season one to remember with the most delicious meals and the most exciting deals for you and your loved ones! To check cooking and baking ingredients that fit your budget, click here.  

Don’t forget to follow SM Supermalls on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and X to stay updated on this year’s festivities!