Christmas banquets are a sure-fire way to blast your holiday bonus.

Instead, here are five ideas to help you stretch your Rand a little further while still putting on a spread worthy of the Christmas tabel:

Minty peas and homemade fish fingers (https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/fish-recipes/kerryann-s-homemade-fish-fingers-minty-smashed-peas/)

Jamie Oliver kicks off our list, taking a new spin on traditional fish fingers and finishing with something better than boiled peas.

Even better, this recipe won’t break the bank.

Pork tenderloin (https://www.recipetineats.com/pork-tenderloin-with-honey-garlic-sauce/)

Spending money on a pork roast can be expensive, so why not use other cuts of meat, such as tenderloin, which is a versatile piece of meat?

Serve with mashed potatoes or the minty peas mentioned above.

Crockpot spaghetti (https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a19660462/easy-crockpot-spaghetti-recipe/)

This simple tomato sauce recipe isn’t limited to spaghetti and meatballs; use it in a variety of dishes.

Using a crockpot allows you to focus on something else while it cooks.

Cider, garlic and thyme roasted chicken (https://www.nzherald.co.nz/eatwell/recipes/cider-garlic-and-thyme-roasted-chicken/GO4NCJROXTBZ3DEZX6M5ZZ4FDA/)

The only real cost of this dish is 330ml of cider, which isn’t much to pay for in exchange for a tasty roast bird.

When you use the leftovers from a roast chicken, you have a winner.

Meringue-topped sweet potato casserole (https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/250175/meringue-topped-sweet-potato-casserole/)

We love this recipe because it makes use of sweet potatoes, but we also love this recipe because it’s super festive.

The addition of meringue and pineapple make for a decadent finish to the meal.