Whether you’re serving rich and seductive dishes that make people exclaim, “Oh I shouldn’t but I will!” or healthy appetizers and side dishes to balance out the main meal, the holidays are all about festive culinary presentations. If you want to serve up healthy holiday hors d’oeuvres, you’ll want to put these beauties on the buffet table. They’re too pretty and enticing to pass up. And they’re the perfect but not too many bites of decadence.
Grape and Parmigiano Reggiano Cups – Buy festive-colored foil petit-four cups. Clean and cut red seedless grapes in half, lengthwise. Place two grape halves and one small chunk of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese into each cup. Place petit-four cups on a festive tray for serving.
Pea Crostini – Place 1 ½ cups thawed frozen peas into a food processor. Add in 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper; puree until coarse. Spread Montrachet goat cheese atop 30 crostini. Place a spoonful of pea puree atop cheese. Garnish with one piece of thinly sliced radish.
Shrimp and Hot Pepper Skewers – Place 30 tail-on, peeled, deveined shrimp in a bowl. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 tablespoon chili powder, salt, and pepper; mix. Thread 3 shrimp and 1 small hot pepper onto one skewer. Repeat. Oil a grill pan; heat. Place skewers on grill pan and cook shrimp and peppers for 2 minutes. Turn and cook an additional 2 minutes.
Apricot Canapes – Top 16 dried apricots with ½ teaspoon crumbled blue cheese. Sprinkle with shelled, chopped pistachios, and drizzle with honey. Season with freshly ground black pepper.
Make some delicious memories this holiday season with eye-appealing bites and pretty presentations.