Canapés

We like a canapé or six here at Appetite HQ, so, in the spirit of sharing the joy of bite-sized hors d’oeuvres, we’ve whipped up some easy recipes to help you through every festive social situation

It’s Christmas, so none of this tearing open a bag of crisps and throwing them at your guests with their pre-dinner can of Special Brew. At this time of year, the very least you can do is rustle up a few Ritz crackers topped with cream cheese and an olive.

Actually, the humble Ritz makes for a very acceptable canapé base, as does a mini oatcake or a lump of Gruyère. The trick is to keep the number of ingredients per canapé down to five or less, use only things you can get out of a packet, and make everything look professional with the liberal application of fresh herbs or a sprinkle of edible glitter. Put a little thought into flavour and texture and remember, a tub of cream cheese and a packet of smoked salmon goes a very long way!

 

Cheesy does it

Wrap prosciutto slices around a chunk of smoked Gouda or Gruyère. Thread a canapé skewer with a slim chunk of cheese and an olive or dwarf cherry tomato and stick elegantly in your cheese/proscuitto base. Delicious!

 

Green party

Cut a sourdough baguette into 1cm discs, brush with olive oil and bake at 180C/Gas 4 for 8 mins. Cool and top with cream cheese, avocado slices, defrosted frozen peas and Greek (little leaf) basil, brush with lemon juice and season generously with sea salt and black pepper.

 

Scandi soirée

Spread discs of rye bread with a little English or Dijon mustard and top with a fine disc of white onion, a thin slice of tomato, a piece of salted herring fillet or well-drained roll mop herring, and chopped chives. Secure with a canapé stick.

 

Super stack

Slice uniform 1cm discs from a fresh French baguette. Spread each with Swedish dill sauce and top with a disc of cooked waxy potato, cucumber, well-drained roll mop herring, and a cherry tomato. Secure with a stick.

 

Free the brie

Top chunks of creamy brie with a grape or a rolled slice of salami and a gherkin slice. Secure with a skewer.

 

Crowd pleaser

Top discs of black bread with avocado crushed with Tabasco, lemon juice, finely diced spring onion and salt. Top with smoked salmon and dill and season with freshly ground black pepper.

 

Strawberry cheese stakes

Mild blue cheese, strawberries and fizz go beautifully together. So, serve Champagne, cava or prosecco with canapé skewers threaded with a couple of strawberries and a chunk of Danish blue or aged Gorgonzola.


Easy canape bases
Storecupboard canapé bases: Chicory leaves, bought mini tart cases, mini oatcakes, Ritz crackers, silver spoons, shot glasses with egg spoons.
Black bread: Cut rye bread or pumpernickel into bite-size squares and use as a base for big flavours. Scrummy with salt beef and mustard or a dollop of prawn cocktail.
Baguette: Cut a sourdough baguette into slices about 1cm thick. Place on a baking sheet, brush with oil and bake for 7-8 mins at 180C/Gas 4. Top with cream cheese, a fig slice and a little balsamic vinegar, or stack with a disc of cooked potato, salami and an olive held together with a canapé skewer
Hard cheese: A flavoursome smoked hard cheese – Gruyère, Parmesan or brie – makes a good base when skewered with a canapé stick threaded with a couple of other treats such as olives, grapes, meat or fish.
Blinis: Put 100g flour in a bowl, make a well in the centre, add 1 egg yolk and 75ml milk, whisk until smooth. Gradually add another 75ml milk, 25g melted butter and a bunch of fresh chives, chopped. In a separate bowl, whisk 1 egg white until starting to stiffen and fold into the batter. Lightly grease a frying pan, drop in spoonfuls of batter and cook for 2-3 mins each side until golden, flipping when bubbling. Set aside until needed. Or just buy some!


Festive fridge canapé essentials
It sounds impossibly Margot from BBC TV’s The Good Life, but we recommend keeping a stash of essentials in the fridge throughout the festive season. These should include:
• Shop-bought blinis, Ritz crackers, sourdough baguette
• Smoked salmon, salt or roll mop herrings, prawns
• Parma ham, prosciutto, salami
• Cream cheese, brie, gruyère
• Avocado, frozen peas, olives, dwarf cherry tomatoes
• Fresh basil, dill, chives

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