Want a delicious, budget-friendly Christmas dinner? MasterChef Australia chef reveals her exclusive tips!
- Replies 0
Christmas is just around the corner, and while for some, it’s the most wonderful time of the year, for others, it can be a stressful time of money woes and food panic.
Luckily, we don't have to be held back by our tight budget or lack of cooking prowess; we can still produce a delicious and impressive Christmas feast without breaking the bank.
And who better to turn to for guidance than MasterChef Australia star and established food aficionado Marion Grasby? We’re so lucky to have caught up with her to get an exclusive tutorial on cheap and delicious dishes to fill your festive table!
Marion's dishes are perfect for an Aussie summer Christmas or any festive event in the holiday season. According to her, Crying Tiger Lamb dish is perfect for when you want something cheap, plentiful and flavourful.
‘Lamb rump steak in particular is a really great cut because you can slice it really thin and then you can fan it out so it gives you that beautiful look of abundance, but you don't have to buy as much as you would think,' she said.
Boosting your Christmas budget and creating an extravagant-looking meal couldn't be easier. Simply dice up some herbs and lettuce and fork out some condiments like a spicy sambal belacan, or use the base of the dish–chunks of lamb rump steak–to make a classic salad nicoise. There are a variety of possibilities to get the most out of the meal.
For an even more budget-friendly option, Marion recommends her Thai-Style Panang Grilled Lamb Cutlets, her 'ultimate hosting dish'.
‘It's a very easy cut of meat to grill. It's got some nice fat to it and can cook really quickly so you're not waiting a long time,’ she says.
These cutlets pair nicely with a variety of salads to mix up the flavours while still using the same base ingredients. Plus, there’s a nice atmosphere when you can do the ‘grilling’ outside with friends waiting with margaritas in hand.
You just need to create a panang paste, a curry sauce, and grill your marinated lamb. You can also add herb and pineapple salad. For the full recipe, you may click here.
But, if you’d like to treat your family and friends to something sweet after all that food you're serving, here's a bonus dessert beaut from Chrissie Swan–a quick and easy chocolate ripple cake.
Chrissie's chocolate cake is made with just three ingredients–500ml thickened cream, one generous squirt of Queen vanilla paste and one 250g packet of Arnott's Choc Ripple biscuits.
Not only is it a great go-to dessert for when you need last-minute party food, but it also looks festive with some decorations like a crushed Peppermint Crisp chocolate bar or some Christmas ornaments.
Have we got you all curious? You can view the rest of Chrissie’s recipe here!
Who knew budget-friendly Christmas feasting could be so fun and so delicious? So, what will you be putting on the table this festive season? Let us know in the comments below!
Luckily, we don't have to be held back by our tight budget or lack of cooking prowess; we can still produce a delicious and impressive Christmas feast without breaking the bank.
And who better to turn to for guidance than MasterChef Australia star and established food aficionado Marion Grasby? We’re so lucky to have caught up with her to get an exclusive tutorial on cheap and delicious dishes to fill your festive table!
Marion's dishes are perfect for an Aussie summer Christmas or any festive event in the holiday season. According to her, Crying Tiger Lamb dish is perfect for when you want something cheap, plentiful and flavourful.
Chef Marion Grasby shares affordable recipes for Christmas dinner! Image: Instagram / @Marion Grasby
‘Lamb rump steak in particular is a really great cut because you can slice it really thin and then you can fan it out so it gives you that beautiful look of abundance, but you don't have to buy as much as you would think,' she said.
Boosting your Christmas budget and creating an extravagant-looking meal couldn't be easier. Simply dice up some herbs and lettuce and fork out some condiments like a spicy sambal belacan, or use the base of the dish–chunks of lamb rump steak–to make a classic salad nicoise. There are a variety of possibilities to get the most out of the meal.
For an even more budget-friendly option, Marion recommends her Thai-Style Panang Grilled Lamb Cutlets, her 'ultimate hosting dish'.
‘It's a very easy cut of meat to grill. It's got some nice fat to it and can cook really quickly so you're not waiting a long time,’ she says.
Chef Grasby’s Crying Tiger Lamb dish as an affordable and delicious option. Image: Youtube / @Marion’s Kitchen
These cutlets pair nicely with a variety of salads to mix up the flavours while still using the same base ingredients. Plus, there’s a nice atmosphere when you can do the ‘grilling’ outside with friends waiting with margaritas in hand.
You just need to create a panang paste, a curry sauce, and grill your marinated lamb. You can also add herb and pineapple salad. For the full recipe, you may click here.
But, if you’d like to treat your family and friends to something sweet after all that food you're serving, here's a bonus dessert beaut from Chrissie Swan–a quick and easy chocolate ripple cake.
Chrissie's chocolate cake is made with just three ingredients–500ml thickened cream, one generous squirt of Queen vanilla paste and one 250g packet of Arnott's Choc Ripple biscuits.
Not only is it a great go-to dessert for when you need last-minute party food, but it also looks festive with some decorations like a crushed Peppermint Crisp chocolate bar or some Christmas ornaments.
Have we got you all curious? You can view the rest of Chrissie’s recipe here!
Who knew budget-friendly Christmas feasting could be so fun and so delicious? So, what will you be putting on the table this festive season? Let us know in the comments below!
