8 Easy Snacks for Your Christmas party

Some easy starters to rock your party this holiday season

While hosting Christmas party, it is better to ensure there are a variety of snacks to keep guests’ hunger pangs at bay. Here are a few recipes that should ensure your party is a surefire success.

1.Pineapple and cheese sticks 

 Ingredients

  • Cheddar cheese cut into ½ inch cubes
  • Tinned pineapple cut into ½ inch cubes

  Method

  • Place the cube of cheese on the pineapple piece and skewer with a toothpick.
  • The bite-size pieces can be arranged on a platter or stuck on a cabbage.

2.Sundried Tomato and Cream Cheese Canapes

 Ingredients

  • A bottle of sundried tomatoes in oil
  • A tub of cream cheese (250 gms)
  • Monaco biscuits

 Method

  • Arrange a slice of sun-dried tomato on each biscuit.
  • Top it with a tsp of cream cheese.
  • Garnish with a sprig of parsley or coriander.
  • Serve on a decorative platter.

3.Mayo, Tomato and Onion Toasties

 Ingredients

  • One loaf of bread
  • 3 chopped onions
  • 3 chopped tomatoes
  • 3 green chilies chopped
  • A bunch of coriander leaves chopped
  • A bottle of mayonnaise

 Method

  • Combine the chopped onions, tomatoes, green chili, coriander leaves and mayo in a bowl.
  • Season with salt and pepper.
  • Spread each slice of bread liberally with the mixture.
  • Bake at 180 degrees C for 15 mins or until golden brown.
  • Cut each slice into four pieces and serve hot.

4.Hummus Dip with Toasted Pita Bread

 Ingredients

  • 2 x 400g cans of chickpeas (reserve the liquid and a few chickpeas for decoration)
  • 4 tsp tahina (available in specialty stores )
  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (plus extra for drizzling)
  • 3½ tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • Paprika (optional)

 Method

  • Rinse the chickpeas in cold water and tip into the food processor.
  • Add the tahina, crushed garlic, salt, lemon juice and seven tablespoons of the reserved liquid from the cans.
  • Blend in the food processor and slowly pour in the oil.
  • When the mixture is fully combined and smooth, spoon into a serving bowl.
  • Drizzle with some more extra virgin olive oil and decorate with a few whole chickpeas.
  • Sprinkle with paprika and finely chopped coriander or parsley leaves, for color.
  • Serve with toasted pita bread triangles or bread bites.

5.Sausage Rolls

Ingredients

  • Pork or chicken sausages
  • Ready-made puff pastry

 Method

  • Preheat the oven to 180°C.
  • Lay each sausage on a piece of puff pastry.
  • Roll and fold the pastry around the sausage.
  • Brush the top with beaten egg yolk.
  • Using a fork, seal the edges and trim any excess pastry.
  • Place on a baking tray lined with greaseproof paper.
  • Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the pastry is puffed and golden brown.

Tip: If the sausages are big they can be cut into smaller pieces before rolling in the pastry.

6.Chicken cutlets

These cutlets are flavored with oriental spices.

 Ingredients

  • 400 gms chicken mince
  • Two bunches spring onions
  • Coriander leaves – a handful
  • 1 tsp cumin powder
  • 1 tsp coriander powder
  • 1 red chili seeded and chopped
  • 1 celery stalk finely chopped
  • 1 slice of bread crumbled fine.
  • Flour seasoned with salt and pepper
  • Oil for shallow frying

 Method

  • Finely chop the spring onion and the coriander. Mix in a bowl with the spices, chili, celery and the bread crumbs. Add the mince and mix well by hand.
  • Season with salt and pepper.
  • Cover with cling film and leave to rest for 20 minutes.
  • Shape the mixture into flat cakes
  • Shallow fry until golden brown and cooked through.

7.Fish Tempura with Garlic Dip

 Ingredients

 For the Fish Tempura

  • 500 gms firm white fish fillet
  • 180 gms plain flour
  • 80 gms corn flour
  • 350 ml soda water
  • Oil to deep fry

 For the dip

  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 garlic clove peeled and crushed
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

To serve, combine all ingredients.

 Method

  • Cut the fish into bite-size strips.
  • Add the flours to a bowl.
  • Stir in the soda water to make a light batter.
  • Heat oil in a deep pan. Dip the fish into the batter and deep fry until golden brown, for about 5 minutes.
  • Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.

Serve the fish tempura with the garlic dip.

8.Chilli Chicken Bites

 Ingredients  

  • ½ kg boneless chicken cut into bite-size pieces.
  • ½ cup curd
  • 4 tsp ginger garlic paste
  • 2 tbsp soya sauce
  • 1 tbsp vinegar
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • A few drops of red coloring (optional)
  • Salt to be added only if necessary
  • Finely chopped spring onion greens for decoration.

 Method

  • Chicken to be marinade for 2 hours with the above-mentioned ingredients.
  • Heat oil in a pan and sauté the chicken in it.
  • Cover with a lid and cook until done.
  • Serve the bite-size pieces of chicken skewered with toothpicks on a platter.
  • Garnish with some finely chopped spring onion greens.