Elegant, Impressive, and Delicious – Table365’s Go-To Appetizers
Whether you have family and friends just stopping by, or staying for a full holiday meal, here are some easy appetizer ideas and recipes to have on hand. Stock your pantry with these items, and you can put these together without too much effort for tasty holiday treats.
- Skewers – these include anything you can serve on a stick, whether it be a small bamboo skewer or a toothpick. The possibilities are endless. These require more assembly time, but they are easy to serve and easy for your guests to enjoy since all the work has been done for them.
- A caprese skewer: cherry tomatoes, mini mozzarella balls, basil leaves. Lay these out on a platter, sprinkle with a little salt, and drizzle with a quality balsamic vinegar.
- A classic pairing of a slice of salami folded over and speared with the skewer, along with a cube of cheese.
- Cantaloupe balls wrapped in prosciutto, then speared with a toothpick.
- Crostini – another versatile option since you can top a thinly sliced piece of baguette, or other great “bases,” with delicious combinations. There are lots of jarred spreads that make assembling crostini a piece of cake, like sundried tomato paste or olive tapenades. Other than spreads like these, simple toppings you can quickly put together will yield elegant results.
- Chopped up marinated artichoke hearts topped with grated parmesan
- Spread on honey mustard, then a soft goat cheese on top. Broil for just a few minutes until the goat cheese begins to brown in places.
- Simple sauté of mushrooms.
- A surprising – and gluten-free – alternative to using a slice of bread is a slice of unpeeled sweet potato (about ½-inch thick) roasted on a lightly oiled baking sheet for about 30 minutes in a 400 degree oven. When browned, top with spicy black beans, crumbled cheese (we like cotija cheese), and chopped cilantro.
- Dips – a classic item to serve as an appetizer, some dip recipes are definitely more beloved and retro, but there are also some delicious updates.
- The Cheese/Charcuterie Plate – this is one of the easiest appetizers to put together quickly. A cheese and/or charcuterie plate always looks great. A good combination:
- Different Cheeses – if you don’t already have favorites, ask for recommendations at the cheese counter. We have found some delicious cheeses we now love this way. Choose cheeses with different milks: for example, have a goat’s milk cheese, a cow’s milk cheese, and a sheep’s milk cheese.
- Fruit (fresh and dried)– apple slices, grapes, mandarin orange segments are all good choices. Dried fruits, apricots, dates, cranberries, and cherries go especially well with creamy cheeses.
- Savory – great accompaniments for a cheese plate are olives, cornichon pickles, marinated sun-dried tomatoes.
- Meats – a charcuterie plate, or a platter of preserved meats, can be served alongside the cheeses. Get sliced meats like salami, prosciutto, bresaola from the deli counter.
- Crackers or thinly sliced breads can hold the cheese and salami for mini sandwiches or little bites.
Good Tidings to you and yours!
