5 Savory Pinoy Dishes to Add to Your Party Spread

When it comes to preparing for family gatherings, not all people have the time and the funds to pull out all the stops. Only those who are truly ma-diskarte can put together a wow-worthy menu without sacrificing flavor or spending too much.

Cooking to impress but bound by budget limitations? These five Pinoy dishes would make for a good addition to any party spread, and the best part is you don't have to worry about exceeding your budget. Here's how you can make them:

1 Oyster Glazed Fried Chicken

Instead of serving the usual fried chicken during your party, add some oomph to your recipe by coating the chicken with a sweet and garlicky sauce. If you're making this for your kid's party, keep it sweet and savory by forgoing the red chili. Go here for the recipe.

Makes 10 to 12 servings

1 kilogram chicken drumsticks

1 sachet Maggi Magic Sarap® (8g)

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 liter vegetable oil

For the glaze:

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 small onion, minced

1/2 thumb-sized ginger, minced

1 red chili, sliced (optional)

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 cup water

1/4 cup oyster sauce

1 tablespoon sesame seeds, toasted

2 tablespoons spring onion, minced

Total cost of the dish: P269

2 Pinoy Spaghetti

For your school or family reunion potluck, consider making this sweet-style pasta dish. It's a popular party food that both kids and adults will appreciate. Visit this link for the cooking instructions.

Makes 10 to 12 servings

4 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 head garlic, minced

1 large onion, minced

1/2 kilogram ground pork

1 1/2 cups tomato sauce

1 1/2 cups banana ketchup

1 cup hotdog, sliced

2 sachets Maggi Magic Sarap® (8g)

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 kilogram spaghetti

6 tablespoons grated cheese

Total cost of the dish: P352.86

3 Lumpiang Gulay

Something to consider when preparing party food for reunions: Healthier options. Skip the oil and frying by steaming this Pinoy-style fresh spring rolls. Make a generous serving of the peanut sauce, and serve it on the side. Get the complete recipe here.

Makes 8 to 10 servings

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1/4 kilogram lean ground pork

1/4 kilogram carrot, sliced into thin strips

1/4 kilogram sayote, sliced into thin strips

1/4 kilogram cabbage, shredded

1 sachet Maggi Magic Sarap® (8g)

12 pieces lumpia wrapper

1/2 cup peanuts, toasted and crushed

2 tablespoons spring onions, minced

2 tablespoons garlic, minced and toasted

For the peanut sauce:

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup water

1/2 sachet Maggi Magic Sarap® (8g)

1 tablespoon peanut butter

3 tablespoons oyster sauce

3 tablespoons brown sugar

1 tablespoon cornstarch

Total cost of the dish: P125

4 Rellenong Bangus

Put some variety in your spread with this classic Filipino dish. It may seem a little more complicated to do, but your family will appreciate all of your hard work once they taste this dish. See the complete cooking procedure here.

Makes 6 servings

1/2 kilogram bangus (milkfish)

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 calamansi, squeezed for the juice

For the filling:

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 small onion, diced into small pieces

1 tomato, seeded and diced into small pieces

1/4 kilogram ground pork

1/4 cup fresh green peas

1 sachet Maggi Magic Sarap® (8g)

1/8 teaspoon ground pepper

1/4 cup raisins, chopped coarsely (optional)

2 eggs, beaten

2 cups vegetable oil (for frying)

Total cost of the dish: P180

5 Sipo Egg

A popular Kapampangan dish, sipo egg is a creamy vegetable stew that you can make for your family dinner. The boiled quail eggs will be a hit with kids, too. The full recipe is available in this link.

Makes 6 servings

1/4 kilogram small shrimp, peeled and deveined

2 sachets Maggi Magic Sarap® (8g)

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

2 tablespoons butter

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 small onion, chopped

1/2 cup mushroom, sliced

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

2 cups water

1 cup carrots, diced

1 cup singkamas, diced

1 cup canned corn kernels, rinsed

1 cup green peas

18 quail eggs, boiled and peeled

1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1/4 cup all purpose-cream

Total cost of the dish: P282

Complete cost of all five dishes: P1,208.86

At the end of the day, what you want is a hearty spread that are equal parts delicious, filling, and budget-friendly.

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