Stuffed turkey
Stuffed turkey
Stuffed turkey is one of the star dishes on Christmas menus and it doesn't have to be expensive. To make it more economical you can the turkey in advance and freeze it or even substitute it for chicken. And on the other hand, fill it with pineapple or apple, two ingredients much cheaper than others that are usually used to stuff the turkey at Christmas.
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Baked bream
Baked bream
Fatty fish, like sea bream, last up to three months frozen. So you can do it earlier and have it stored in the freezer. Or substitute it for carp or hake, which, although they also go up in price around this time, they don't do it as much as sea bream.
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Roasted rack of lamb
Roasted rack of lamb
Rack of lamb is cheaper than other pieces of meat such as sirloin of beef, for example. If it is still too expensive for your budget, you can substitute it for ribs or pork loin and be like a queen with the same preparation.
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Prawns in cava
Prawns in cava
Seafood dishes always bring a touch of party and if you make them with frozen seafood, as in the recipe we propose, they can be quite well priced. Both prawns and prawns are some of the cheapest seafood on the market. And if you buy them in advance, much more still.
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If you think it is impossible to make a Christmas menu based on cheap recipes but without giving up exquisite dishes, read on. We are going to give you a real Christmas gift. In the photo gallery, you have four low cost party recipes with which you will look like a queen. And right here, a list of infallible tricks for you to come up with your own "pocket-proof" Christmas menus.
Better to advance than pay a fortune
Advancing purchases several weeks and freezing is one of the most effective strategies when it comes to saving on the Christmas menu. But beware, some establishments also anticipate price increases in view of these tactics.
To win the game, keep in mind that the fish stays in good frozen condition for an average of two months, more if it is fatty. And meat, in general, 6 months or more depending on the type. So you can go ahead a lot without fear.
Going for last minute bargains
Another option to prepare inexpensive recipes is to do the opposite. The trick is to wait until the very last moment (the day before the celebration and just when the establishment is about to close, for example) and see what is on offer. As they prefer to sell than stay with gender, they tend to lower prices and make very good offers.
The inconvenient. That you have to put up with your nerves until the last moment and improvise the menu by assembling it with what they have or offer you. As an antidote, you can keep an ace up your sleeve: have an alternative joker menu in case you do not find anything or are not convinced. But it must be recognized that it is a tactic only suitable for people who are sooooo but sooo relaxed.
Search and compare before
This maxim always works and at Christmas, much more. Before that, take a tour of the establishments you usually go to and compare the price of the food you are looking for. The differences can be abysmal in many cases. According to consumer organizations, differences of up to 55% have been detected. So it is worth taking the walk.
Main ingredient or side?
To make your recipes cheaper, a lifelong trick is to choose where you are going to save: if in the main ingredient or in the side. You can go for a more expensive main ingredient, with a cheaper side and filling, for example. Or quite the opposite, that the main ingredient is more discreet and dress it up for a party with sauces, toppings, accompaniments and luxury fillings. This way you save in one of the two games, but without losing glamor.
