Handaang Pinoy: 5 Timeless Noche Buena Favorites
When you think of Christmas in the Philippines, you think of kids singing Christmas carols everywhere, houses decked with lanterns and Christmas lights, early morning masses or simbang gabi, and most importantly, food. Food is one of the things that makes Christmas in the Philippines special. From puto bumbong, bibingka, and other kakanin sold on the streets to sumptuous dishes like kare-kare, mechado, and caldereta. And thus, not gaining weight during the holiday season is pretty much impossible.
The best part of eating good food during Christmas, however, is sharing it with friends and family. That’s also why the traditional Noche Buena never fails to give us that cozy and warm feeling. Of course, a special Christmas dinner requires special food. Here are some of our Filipino Noche Buena favorites:
- Lechon Baboy
A Filipino feast won’t be complete without a lechon baboy or roasted pig. Whether it’s festivals, birthdays, or holidays, you can count on a lechon sighting wherever you are in the Philippines. Lechon is a Spanish term that means roasted suckling pig. The coating and the several hours spent in slowly roasting the pig makes the skin so crunchy and delicious, making it the most delectable part of the dish.
- Hamon de Bola
Hamon de Bola is basically a round ham that’s usually glazed with honey. It’s a staple in every Noche Buena table. The perfect mix of its sweet and salty taste is probably the reason why Filipinos love it so much. Hamon de Bola is also a common company Christmas giveaway. Maybe that’s the reason why a lot of households have one during the holiday season.
- Quezo de Bola
The other round thing that you’ll probably see in every table on Noche Buena is the Quezo de Bola. Also known as Edam cheese in other countries, this flavorful, tangy cheese ball is wrapped in red paraffin wax to preserve its milky and creamy taste. You can use it for cooking other dishes or eat it as it is. Most Filipinos see the spherical appearance and red color of the Quezo de Bola as a symbol of good fortune.
- Fruit Salad
What’s a Noche Buena without dessert? Chocolates, fruit cakes, or apple pies sure sound delicious, but fruit salad is the king of desserts during the Christmas season here in the Philippines. It’s basically a mix of different kinds of fruits like pineapple, banana, grapes, peach, strawberry, and shredded young coconut combined with condensed milk and all-purpose cream. There’s really no restrictions on what fruits to use and the other ingredients are not that expensive. This is the reason why most Filipino families can afford to prepare one for Noche Buena.
- Spaghetti
Similar to lechon baboy, you know it’s a special occasion if they are serving spaghetti. The Filipino spaghetti is different, though, than the spaghetti of other countries. Its taste is sweet and a bit sour. It’s also topped with minced hotdogs and ground beef. The Pinoy spaghetti sometimes serves as the substitute of rice during special occasions.
