After the Noche Buena feast, many Pinoys eagerly anticipate the Media Noche just a week later. Like the former, the New Year\s Eve dinner is all about pigging out on delicious food. And if you are the one in charge of preparing the feast, here are the best Media Noche recipes to add to your menu.
Media Noche recipe no. 1: Pancit Malabon
Pancit is arguably one of the must-have dishes for the feast, as it symbolizes a long and prosperous life for Filipinos. While there is a large variety you can make, pancit Malabon is always a popular choice. The dish features a mix of meat, vegetables, and seafood, giving you a hearty meal.
Ingredients
- 1 pound thick rice noodles
- ½ pound pork belly, boiled and sliced
- ½ cup pork chicharon, pounded
- ½ pound shrimp, shelled and cooked
- 1/4 pound adobong pusit
- ¾ cup tinapa flakes
- ¾ cup shrimp juice
- 1 cup pechay Baguio, chopped and blanched
- 1 onion, minced
- 1 lemon, quartered
- 1 tablespoon fresh garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons toasted garlic
- 1 tablespoon parsley
- 3 hard-boiled eggs, sliced
- ½ cup annatto seeds diluted in ½ cup water
- 3 tablespoons patis
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Steps
- Cook the noodles according to the package instructions.
- For the sauce, saute the minced garlic and onion, Add the pork and cook for 3 minutes.
- Add the patis and pepper, then stir.
- Pour in the shrimp juice and annatto water and let boil. Add the chicharon and simmer for 2-3 minutes, then turn off the heat.
- Place the noodles in a large bowl and pour the cooked sauce. Mix well.
- Top with tinapa flakes, eggs, garlic, parsley, and pechay.
- Serve with calamansi.
Media Noche recipe no. 2 Pinoy-style barbecue
With all the activities going around during the New Year celebrations, you can’t expect guests to just sit down to eat. This Pinoy-style barbecue recipe is a nice inclusion since they can just grab it right off the grill and eat while walking. They can also pair it with other dishes.
Ingredients
- 1 kilo pork kasim, cut into 1-inch cures
- 1 cup banana ketchup
- ⅔ cup soy sauce
- 1 garlic, minced
- ¼ cup calamansi juice
- ½ cup lemon lime soda (7-Up or Spr5ite)
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon seasoning pack
- ½ teaspoon hot sauce
- Black pepper
Steps
- To make the marinade, mix the banana ketchup, soy sauce, seasoning pack, calamansi juice, garlic, pepper, soda, and hot sauce in a bowl.
- Thread the pork into wooden barbecue sticks. Arrange the skewers into 2 layers in a wide container. Set aside 1 cup of the marinade and pour the rest over the meat.
- Place the meat overnight in the refrigerator to marinate.
- Mix the reserved marinade with oil to make a basting sauce.
- Cooke the barbecue over a preheated grill. Brush with the marinade-oil mix often. Grill until the meat is done on both sides.
Media Noche recipe no. 3: Biko
Desserts made from glutinous rice, or malagkit, are also common Media Noche recipes. Pinoys believe that serving such desserts will bring in tighter family bonds for the New Year. Biko is a popular one you can serve. These are often chopped into bite-sized pieces for easier eating.
Ingredients
- 2 cups malagkit, wash and drained
- 2 cups coconut milk
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup fresh coconut cream
- 1 teaspoon salt
Steps
- Combine the drained malagkit and coconut milk in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat for 15-20 minutes until dry.
- Take the pan off the heat and stir in sugar and salt. Reheat and continue cooking for 5 minutes.
- Transfer the cooked malagkit to a baking pan lined up with banana leaves. Press lightly with a wooden spoon to level the top.
- For the topping, combine coconut milk and sugar. Pour on top of the malagkit.
- Broil in an oven until it is golden brown.
Media Noche recipe no. 4: Lumpiang shanghai
Lumpiang shanghai is another perennial Media Noche recipe. It is often served as finger foods guests can grab anytime. There are many variations of the recipe and you can serve it with either ketchup or hot sauce. Here is a basic one you can prepare quickly.
Ingredients
- ½ kilo ground pork
- ½ kilo ground beef
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 carrot, grated
- 1 pack of lumpia wrappers
- ⅛ cup soy sauce
- 2 ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 ½ tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 ½ tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped scallions
- 1 ½ cups Canola oil
Steps
- Combine the pork, beef, onion, scallions, carrots, and sugar in a large bowl. Use your hands to mix and knead it thoroughly.
- Gradually blend in soy sauce, pepper, garlic powder, and salt and make sure everything is evenly mixed.
- Put 2 tablespoons of filling in a line at the center of a wrapper. Keep the line as thick as your thumb to help it cook at the same time as the wrapper.
- Fold the top and bottom edges of the wrapper towards the center. Do the same for the left and right sides.
- Moisten the last edge with water and seal. Repeat until you have filled all wrappers.
- Heat the oil in a pan to 190 degrees Celsius. Fry the lumpia for 3-4 minutes, turning once. The lumpia are cooked when they start to float and the wrapper is golden brown.
Celebrate the New Year with these great-tasting recipes
These dishes are just some of the great-tasting Media Noche recipes you can prepare to welcome 2020. Try them out and put your spin for a unique feast. Enjoy and have a happy New Year.