The holidays are all about gathering around a meal and making memories — and what better way to celebrate the season than with a special feast from the heart? Christmas dinners are a time for families to go all out with flavorful dishes, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be healthy too!

As our gift to you this December, we’re bringing you Holiday Healthy recipes that will help you share the cheer with the whole family! From fresh pastas to nourishing mains that hit the spot, these dishes will help you make memories to look back on for many years to come! Let’s Eat Well and Live Well to make this season healthy, bright, and delicious!

Vegan Meatball One-Pot Pasta

Wanna make sure everyone is happy while also keeping your to-do list short? This one-pot wonder is perfect for the busy holiday cook, while providing a healthy, plant-based pair to the usual hearty mains.

Steps to Make:

Mix cauliflower, kangkong, tofu, garlic, AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning, salt, and flour in a bowl. Scoop a tablespoon of the mixture and mold it into balls. Pan-fry the vegan meatballs in hot oil until golden brown, then drain and set aside.

In the same pot, sauté garlic and onion in additional oil until fragrant. Add tomatoes and tomato paste, then cook until soft. Pour in water and bring to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook until al dente.

Once the pasta is cooked, season with AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning, salt, black pepper, and brown sugar. Add the fried vegan meatballs and mix well. Transfer to a serving plate, garnish with parsley and Parmesan if desired, and serve!

Malunggay Pesto Pasta

This bright and healthy dish will bring a pop of greens to your table – something to cut through all those heavy dishes!

Steps to Make:

Blend malunggay leaves, basil, garlic, peanuts, Parmesan, olive oil, AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning, and pepper until smooth.

Toss the cooked pasta with the malunggay pesto until well coated.

Transfer to a serving plate, serve, and enjoy!

Lemongrass Chicken with Garlic Tamarind Sauce

This warm and aromatic main course combines the fresh scent of lemongrass with tender chicken; a perfect centerpiece around to build your meal, made with ingredients with good amounts of Vitamin B6 and protein!

Steps to Make:

Combine lemongrass, garlic, AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning, calamansi, black pepper, coco sugar, and chicken in a bowl. Mix well and let it marinate in the fridge for at least 15 minutes.

In a saucepan, combine tamarind, garlic, coconut milk, water, AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning, and coco sugar. Simmer for about 15 minutes until the sauce thickens, then set aside.

Heat oil in a griddle pan and grill the marinated chicken for 5 minutes on each side or until cooked through.

Serve the grilled chicken with the sauce on the side.

Chicken Cajun Pasta

A spicy surprise to heat up the cooler season, this balanced and bold pasta dish is the perfect way to spice up your holiday menu. It’s a guaranteed hit for any guests who love a little kick.

Steps to Make:

Heat oil and butter in a pot, then add chicken and cook until golden brown. Add onions and sauté until translucent, then stir in tomatoes and French beans. Cook for 3 minutes.

Add penne pasta, cream cheese, Cajun spice mix (smoked paprika, oregano, thyme, AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning, and cayenne powder), and mix well. Cook for 3-5 minutes.

Transfer to a serving platter, garnish with spring onions if desired, and serve.

Creamy Salmon Garlic

Pairing fresh and tender salmon with a creamy garlic sauce, this showstopper is great for any festive gathering. Show some holiday spirit to your family and friends with this blast of flavors!

Steps to Make:

Heat oil and butter in a pot, then add chicken and cook until golden brown. Add onions and sauté until translucent, then stir in tomatoes and French beans. Cook for 3 minutes.

Add penne pasta, cream cheese, Cajun spice mix (smoked paprika, oregano, thyme, AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning, and cayenne powder), and mix well. Cook for 3-5 minutes.

Transfer to a serving platter, garnish with spring onions, and serve.

Holidays are best celebrated with food that brings everyone together, and these recipes are great ways to make your gatherings extra special. Each nutritious dish is crafted to fill your home with warmth, flavor, and joy, creating moments and memories worth savoring.

As you prepare your holiday feast, remember that the best ingredient is always the time spent with family and friends. Let these recipes inspire meals that keep the family healthy, happy, and full.

Happy Holidays, Ka-Cookmunity!

Visit Cookmunity by Ajinomoto Philippines for more festive recipe ideas. You may also connect with us through Facebook and Tiktok for more updates.

Sustainability is everybody’s business. Mother Earth is our home and we need to pull together to take care of it.

One concrete step we can take is to reduce our plastic waste. Plastic is a major pollutant and cutting down on it makes a difference. Iya Villania Arellano understands this problem and advocates responsible earth-friendly consumption, “We cannot go through a single day without having an impact on the environment.  Let’s be part of the solution by being responsible consumers.  One small step at a time can make a big difference.”

Iya is very strict about bringing reusable bags and containers to minimize her dependence on disposable plastic. She has even opted to put purchases or groceries in her purse or backpack if it means one less bag gets used!

Another important thing that Iya does to integrate sustainability into her daily life is to teach her children about it. She says that with her kids it’s, “Monkey see, monkey do!” So she is mindful of how they view waste.

Every day she is providing a good example of how her children should care for the planet. Instead of buying water when they’re out, Iya and her family do their best to bring reusable water bottles they can refill. At home, they take the time to separate their trash for proper recycling. These might seem like small steps, but more people building good habits like these can make a big impact on our landfills.

Not only does she make sure her kids grow up with sustainable habits, but she also supports companies like Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation (APC) that are doing their part reducing its environment impact.

Iya shared, “I am glad that other than making delicious and healthy food for my family, I am also contributing to the reduction of plastic waste with AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning in paper packaging.”  

  AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning 45g paper packaging is made from a natural and renewable paper material that can be planted, grown, harvested, and replanted. The paper packaging is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), a leader in sustainable forestry. As a company, Ajinomoto is taking responsibility for its product and is innovating with the planet in mind. This shift to paper packaging provides consumers with an alternative to plastic.

Filipinos are known to celebrate the longest and grandest holiday season. More often than not, this comes at an economic and environmental expense, having to spend more on food and gifts - but it doesn’t always have to be like that. Having an affordable and sustainable celebration can be an option and a great way for families to bond together.

Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation (APC Group) shares a few tips on how Filipinos can have a meaningful holiday season- the budget-friendly and eco-friendly way. APC Group General Manager of Corporate Planning and Public Relations Roann Co said, “We, at Ajinomoto, believe that there is no small contribution when it comes to caring for the environment. Through our tips below, we hope to empower Filipinos in giving the gift of sustainability this holiday season.”

Here are some eco-friendly and meaningful ways to celebrate the holidays:

1.Recycled gift wraps and Do-It-Yourself gifts

Using old magazines and newspapers as an alternative gift wrapper isn’t a new practice to Filipinos. But, it is definitely something that we should further encourage among our families and friends. Not only does it help the environment, it is also easy on the pocket too!

Moreover, if you’re still wondering what gifts you should give, you can check some of the winning DIY projects during the online contest for Ilabas ang SustainAbilidad campaign such as the apron made from the wrappers of used Ajinomoto products and a DIY toy kitchen set for kids who want to learn to cook. You can also try re-inventing some of the projects to make it more creative and more heart-felt.

2.Solar-powered string lights

Christmas decorations are incomplete without bright lights at home and on streets. Retire your vintage decors by using solar-powered lights which give you the same merry evenings with less electricity consumption and environmental impact. And since these solar-powered decors don’t add to your electricity bill, you may also consider maintaining this type of ambient lights on your garden and terraces.

Beyond homes, Ajinomoto has also introduced solar energy to its Bulacan factory and it is projected to offset around 865 metric tons of carbon dioxide which is equivalent to reducing 2,352,456 miles in vehicle travel per year.

3.Prepare delicious, nutritious, and eco-friendly holiday meals

What makes Filipino holidays special is the variety of food options planned and prepared by home cooks. Bring out the flavor of your favorite handaan dishes like Pinoy spaghetti, lumpiang shanghai, adobo, kaldereta, and more with the new AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning 45g paper pack. The new packaging is made from a natural paper material that can be planted, grown, harvested, and then replanted which means you’re not only preparing delicious food for the family but also helping the environment.

Here are some holiday recipe ideas you may try:

Pasta Chips

Instead of buying salty potato chips as an appetizer for your guests this Christmas, why not try making your own chips at home? These Pasta Chips recipe can turn your typical soft pasta into a crispy delight that’s also less sodium, thanks to AJI-NO-MOTO®!

Just deep-fry sliced and cooked lasagna sheets in a pan with oil. Drain excess oil using a strainer. While hot, immediately sprinkle some grated parmesan cheese and AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning for that added umami-goodness.

Chicken Cajun Pasta

New pasta dish to impress! Savor the delicious kick from Cajun and the savory goodness of AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning.

Heat oil and melt butter in a pot. Add the chicken pieces then cook until golden brown. Chicken breast is a great source of lean Protein to help build strong muscles. Add the onions, tomatoes, French beans then cook for 3 minutes. Toss together the cooked penne pasta. To ensure an al dente texture or slightly firm pasta, cook pasta one minute less than the package instructions. Drain then you may opt to drizzle a little bit of olive oil to avoid the pasta from sticking together.

Season with cream cheese and your homemade Cajun spice mix – smoked paprika powder, dried oregano, dried thyme, AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning, and cayenne powder. Mix and cook for 3-5 minutes. Transfer to a plate then garnish with spring onions. This is another pasta dish that is complete with Go, Grow, and Glow Foods!

APC Group’s campaign for sustainability is part of its Ajinomoto Group creating shared value (ASV) framework which directs the company to realize greater wellness for people around the world through thoughtful business activities focusing on health and the environment.

“This holiday season, may we have more food to share and gifts to give. And more importantly, may the spirit of giving extend towards caring for the environment,” Co said.

Take a more proactive step towards sustainability and learn more about APC Group’s sustainability initiatives at ajinomoto.com.ph