Want to impress your guests without spending a fortune? Don't know what else to invent for your upcoming feast to please friends and family? We're sharing 20 of the most delicious and affordable recipes to prepare for your festive table!
1. Festive Lavash Roll with Mushrooms
Sliced thinly, this roll looks very beautiful and elegant.
You will need: 3 lavash breads, 200 g mayonnaise, a bunch of cilantro, 700 g mushrooms, 350 g cheese, butter.
Preparation: Sauté sliced mushrooms in butter and season to taste. Spread each lavash sheet with mayonnaise, sprinkle with coarsely chopped herbs, and layer with mushrooms. Add grated cheese, roll tightly, wrap in cling film, and refrigerate for an hour.
2. Chicken Drumsticks for the Holiday
Minimum fuss and maximum pleasure – what more could you want for a festive table!
You will need: 4 chicken drumsticks, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 100 ml white wine, 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 onion, 2 bell peppers, 4 tomatoes, half a zucchini, 10 cloves garlic, a handful of olives, spices, a pinch of sugar.
Preparation: Wash and pat dry all vegetables, chop them coarsely. Remove skin from drumsticks and place everything together in a large baking dish. Sprinkle with spices, sugar, drizzle with soy sauce, wine, and oil. Bake at 180 degrees Celsius for about an hour.
3. Meatloaf
An excellent, inexpensive, and delicious alternative to cold cuts.
You will need: 250 g chicken fillet, 350 g pork, 1 tsp mustard, 3 tsp paprika, 1 tsp each of turmeric, oregano, and marjoram, 2 tsp dried garlic, 50 ml broth.
Preparation: Separately mince chicken and pork, add salt, dried garlic, and broth to each. Add paprika to the pork, and refrigerate both covered with film for 6 hours.
It's convenient to use edible collagen film for baking. Cut sheets, lightly moisten with water, and sprinkle with spices. Place pork mince on one, then a second sheet, then chicken mince.
Roll everything tightly into a log and bake in the oven at 50 degrees Celsius, increasing the temperature every 15 minutes. Gradually reach 180 degrees Celsius, and the meatloaf will bake for about 2 hours.
4. Orange Semolina Cake (Mannik)
Festive desserts can be very simple, yet still elegant and beautiful.
You will need: 1 cup kefir, 2 eggs, 1 cup semolina, 11 g baking powder, 5 tbsp flour, 1 orange, 3/4 cup sugar.
Preparation: Pour kefir over semolina and let it swell for half an hour. Whisk eggs with sugar and pour the mixture into the semolina, add finely grated zest, orange juice, and pulp. Finally, add baking powder and flour, mix gently, and bake for 35 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius.
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5. Festive Herring "Sushi"
An impressive presentation will elevate even the simplest appetizer!
You will need: 0.5 cup rice, 2 herring fillets, 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar, 1 tsp sugar, spices, and herbs.
Preparation: Cook the rice (mixed rice looks nice), slightly overcooking it so it's sticky. Add sugar, balsamic vinegar, and spices, then mix. Line a mold with cling film, tightly layer the herring, then the rice on top, and smooth it out. Cover the edges with film and press down with a weight for 4 hours. Remove the appetizer before serving and cut into neat squares.
6. Hearty "Festive" Salad
If you want to feed your guests generously – try this recipe.
You will need: 300 g boiled or smoked chicken, 250 g ham, 4 pickled cucumbers, 2 tomatoes, 3 eggs, 70 g cheese, herbs, mayonnaise.
Preparation: Boil eggs, cut all ingredients into strips, and grate the cheese on a coarse grater. Mix the salad, dress with mayonnaise, and garnish with herbs or nuts to taste.
7. Festive Potato Side Dish
Even ordinary potatoes can be served in a way that will adorn any festive table.
You will need: 3 potatoes, 100 g mozzarella, 25 g butter, 1 tsp dried garlic and thyme, 0.5 tsp salt and chili.
Preparation: Slice potatoes thinly, mix them with spices, melted butter, and grated cheese. Arrange the potato stacks in muffin tins and bake for half an hour at 180 degrees Celsius.
8. Festive Potato Roll
Another very simple and hearty potato dish that is suitable for a celebration.
You will need: 600 g potatoes, 250 g mushrooms, 3 tbsp starch, 1 onion, 1 carrot, 1 tbsp semolina, salt, spices, herbs.
Preparation: Boil potatoes, mash them into a puree, and mix with starch. Grate the carrot, finely chop mushrooms and onion, sauté all vegetables together, and finally add semolina. Spread the puree on parchment paper in a 1 cm layer, sprinkle with spices, add the filling, and sprinkle with herbs. Using the parchment paper, form a roll and bake for 20 minutes at 200 degrees Celsius.
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9. Fish in Wine Batter
Bighead carp works well, but you can use any other fish you like.
You will need: 750 g fish, 100 ml dry white wine, 2 eggs, 1 tbsp vegetable oil, 130 g flour, salt, and spices.
Preparation: Clean the fish, cut into pieces, and coat in spices and salt. Whisk the egg with wine, add flour, and bring the batter to the consistency of thick sour cream. Coat the fish and fry on both sides over medium heat until golden brown.
10. Festive Tuna Salad
A can of canned tuna is quite inexpensive, and the salad will surely surprise your guests.
You will need: 1 can tuna, 1 apple, 1 carrot, 2 eggs, 100 g processed cheese, mayonnaise.
Preparation: Boil eggs and carrots, peel the apple, and cut everything into uniform cubes. Mash the tuna with a fork, mix the ingredients, add grated processed cheese, and dress with mayonnaise.
11. Beautiful "Little Red Riding Hood" Salad
This layered salad is not only delicious but also very impressive.
You will need: 250 g beef, 150 g cheese, 2 eggs, 1 carrot, half an onion, a handful of walnuts, 150 g mayonnaise, pomegranate seeds, 1 tsp sugar, 1 tsp vinegar, a pinch of salt.
Preparation: Slice the onion into half-rings and marinate it in a mixture of vinegar, salt, sugar, and boiling water. Grate cheese, raw carrot, and boiled eggs on a coarse grater, and cut boiled beef into cubes. Layer the ingredients: beef, onion, mayonnaise, chopped walnuts, eggs, mayonnaise, carrot, mayonnaise, cheese, mayonnaise, and pomegranate seeds.
12. Light Festive Salad
A diet-friendly recipe for those who watch their figure and diet even during holidays.
You will need: 1 chicken fillet, 1 apple, 200 g cheese, 3 eggs, 7 tbsp yogurt, 1 tbsp Dijon mustard, 1 clove garlic, a handful of nuts.
Preparation: Boil or bake chicken fillet, boil eggs, and mix yogurt with mustard and crushed garlic. Layer chopped chicken breast, spread with sauce. Then – grated apple, sauce, cheese, sauce, egg yolk, sauce, egg white, sauce, and nuts.
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13. Elegant Cottage Cheese Roll
This beautiful multi-colored roll will delight children and adults alike.
You will need: 6 eggs, 6 tbsp vegetable oil, 6 tbsp flour, 3 tbsp 20% cream, 2 tsp baking powder, 3 tbsp chopped spinach, 2 tbsp paprika, 3 tbsp grated cheese, 400 g cream cheese, 1 tsp dried garlic.
Preparation: Whisk egg whites until stiff peaks form, and divide the yolks into three bowls. Add cream, flour, and baking powder to each bowl. To one, add spinach; to another, paprika; and to the third, cheese. Fold in the egg whites and mix.
Spread the dough in strips on parchment paper and bake for 12 minutes at 200 degrees Celsius. When the cake cools slightly, spread the cream cheese and garlic filling over it, roll it up with cling film, and refrigerate for an hour. Before serving, simply slice it.
14. Festive Muffins in Coconut Flakes
Here's another recipe for a simple festive dessert that even beginners can handle!
You will need: 125 g butter, 125 ml milk, 150 g sugar, 2 eggs, 225 g flour, a pinch of salt, vanilla, 85 g marmalade, 250 ml boiling water, 125 g ice, 185 g coconut flakes, 125 g whipped cream.
Preparation: Beat butter with sugar and vanilla, add eggs and milk, and slowly incorporate flour with salt. Spoon the batter into muffin molds and bake for 25 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius.
Melt marmalade in boiling water, add crushed ice, and refrigerate for 10 minutes. Dip each muffin into this glaze, roll in coconut flakes, and let sit for 15 minutes. Then cut each in half, drizzle with whipped cream, and join the halves.
15. Festive Pork for the Table
We've already covered chicken and fish, but pork will be just as good!
You will need: 2 kg pork neck, 10 cloves garlic, 1 rosemary sprig, salt and pepper, 1 tbsp olive oil.
Preparation: Stud the meat with garlic, season with salt and pepper, and rub with olive oil. Place a rosemary sprig on top, wrap the meat in foil, and bake for an hour at 180 degrees Celsius. Then slightly unwrap the foil and continue baking the pork for another hour, periodically basting it with its own juices.
16. Festive Cabbage Salad
The salad turns out very colorful and vibrant!
You will need: 225 g red cabbage, 350 g white cabbage, 225 g carrots, 1 leek, 150 ml yogurt, 50 g each of dried apricots and dried cranberries, 1 orange, 0.5 tsp curry, herbs, and spices.
Preparation: Grate carrots on a coarse grater, finely chop leek, and finely shred both cabbages. Mix the ingredients, add dried apricots and cranberries. Separately mix yogurt, spices, herbs, orange juice, and half the zest, then dress the salad.
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17. Festive Mexican-Style Salad
If you want more spicy and pungent flavor – add chili and spices.
You will need: 400 g chicken, 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 can each of canned red beans and corn, 100 g salsa sauce, 280 g green salad, 1 tomato, green onions, spices.
Preparation: Cut chicken, coat in spices, and fry until cooked through over medium heat. Mix beans, corn, salsa, chopped tomato, herbs, and green onions. Add chicken and remaining spices, garnish with nuts if desired.
18. Chicken Balls in Cream Sauce
Another very interesting and inexpensive recipe for what to cook for a festive table!
You will need: 500 g chicken, 1 onion, 3 cloves garlic, 1 egg, 200 ml cream, 150 g cheese.
Preparation: Pound and finely chop chicken, mix with minced onion, spices, and beaten egg. Grease a baking dish with cream, form meat into balls, arrange them, and bake for 10 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius. Mix grated cheese with cream, pour over the chicken balls, and return to the oven for another 15 minutes.
19. No-Bake Berry Pie
If baking isn't your forte, but you need a dessert for the festive table – here it is!
You will need: 60 g butter, 150 g cookies, 1 tbsp gelatin, 500 ml berry yogurt, 0.5 cup sugar, 500 g frozen berries.
Preparation: Crush cookies into crumbs, mix with butter, and press into a thin crust in a springform pan. Refrigerate. Meanwhile, thaw berries and drain excess juice. Dissolve gelatin in the juice, heat until dissolved. Lightly blend berries with sugar, mix with yogurt, add gelatin, pour over the crust, and refrigerate until set.
20. Beef with Peaches
Although the dish looks like an excellent delicacy, it is very simple and accessible.
You will need: 600 g beef, 500 g canned peaches, 0.5 cup apricot juice, 1 onion, 1 carrot, a bunch of herbs, 2 tbsp mixed peppers, 1 tsp starch, 4 tbsp orange juice, spices.
Preparation: Pour boiling water over beef, add coarsely chopped onion and carrot, and dry spices. After boiling, simmer for 1.5 hours. Heat apricot juice in a pan, add orange juice, herbs, and mixed peppers, and later – a spoonful of starch. Cut beef into pieces, and peaches into wedges, and add everything to the pan when the sauce thickens. Serve with a side dish or on lettuce leaves.