Snacks for the holiday table

On the eve of the holidays and the gathering of family and friends around one big table, housewives begin to think about what unusual things they can treat and surprise their guests with. And to simplify this task, below are the most delicious, but at the same time delicious and inexpensive snacks that can easily diversify any feast: garlic balls, bruschettas, canapés, tartlets with all kinds of fillings and much more.

Cheese balls with garlic

Having such a simple set of products on hand, consisting of cheese, garlic, eggs and walnuts, we prepare an original and light snack that will please everyone who has time to try it. It will “have time”, because such dishes “fly off” from the table first.

1. 
   How to prepare a simple and tasty appetizer for the holiday table? For speed of action, we lay out all the necessary products on the work surface.
2. 
   Boil three chicken eggs until fully cooked, cool in ice water and peel.
3. 
   Grind the boiled eggs using a grater with the smallest holes.
4. 
   Grind the cheese in a similar way and mix with eggs.
5. 
   Also add cold butter, grated on a coarse grater, to the cheese and egg mass and add a little mayonnaise.
6. 
   Season the crushed ingredients with salt, black pepper and garlic, which must first be finely chopped or passed through a press.
7. 
   Mix the ingredients thoroughly and start molding: take a little mass, make a flat cake, put one half of a nut in the center and roll it into a ball.
8. 
   We repeat the manipulation until all the ingredients turn into a snack. To prevent food from sticking to your hands, it is recommended to lightly wet your hands with water.
9. 
   Finely chop a bunch of fresh dill and roll each ball in the resulting crumbs. Afterwards, remove the dish for 20 minutes in the cold.
10. 
    Place the chilled garlic rounds on a flat dish and decorate with lettuce leaves, which you can simply cover the bottom of the plate with. Bon appetit!

Festive appetizer with red fish

Any red fish is very popular, and it is prepared in different ways: fried, baked and, of course, various snacks are prepared. But if you are tired of banal sandwiches with butter and fish slices, we are preparing an interesting dish made from puff pastry and incredibly tasty filling.

Cooking time – 40 min.

Cooking time - 20 minutes.

Portions – 28 pcs.

Ingredients:

• Smoked trout – 300 gr.
• Yeast puff pastry – 500 gr.
• Curd cheese – 140 gr.
• Olives – 28 pcs.
• Egg yolk – 1 pc.
• Sesame seeds - to taste.
• Lettuce - to taste.

Cooking process:

Step 1. Pre-defrost the dough at room temperature and then, lightly dusting the layers with flour, roll them out using a rolling pin, but not very thin.

Step 2. Using a glass with a diameter of about 7 centimeters, cut out mugs from a wheat base.

Step 3. Place the resulting pieces on a baking sheet, brush with beaten yolk and sprinkle with sesame seeds - bake for about 10 minutes at 200 degrees.

Step 4. By the time the dough acquires a beautiful golden brown color, remove it from the oven and let it cool for a little while.

Step 5. We cut the appetizing “shells” from the side with a sharp knife, but do not cut it all the way so that a cavity is formed inside.

Step 6. Coat the bottom of the pieces with a thin layer of curd cheese (can be replaced with feta or feta cheese).

Step 7. Place a small leaf of lettuce, two slices of red fish and an olive cut in half on top of the cheese layer.

Step 8. We immediately serve the festive “shells” with trout and begin tasting. Bon appetit!

Quick and easy shrimp appetizer recipe

Just once, having prepared juicy and aromatic bruschetta with ruddy shrimp, you will return to this recipe again and again, which is not at all surprising. This dish is ideal for serving at a holiday table, as well as for an aesthetic breakfast or a full snack.

Cooking time – 25 min.

Cooking time - 15 minutes.

Portions – 3.

Ingredients:

• White bread - 3 slices.
• Chilled peeled shrimp – 350 gr.
• Arugula – 2 handfuls.
• Oranges – 1 pc.
• Lemons – 1 pc.
• Garlic – 2 teeth.
• Red chili pepper – ½ pc.
• Parsley – 1 sprig.
• Basil – 1 sprig.
• Olive oil – 5 tbsp.
• Balsamic vinegar – 1 tsp.
• Ground black pepper – ¼ tsp.
• Salt – ¼ tsp.

Cooking process:

Step 1. Spray slices of fresh bread on both sides with high-quality olive oil and brown them in a grill pan.

Step 2. Cut the juicy orange into two parts and squeeze out the juice.

Step 3. Peel the garlic cloves and finely chop them.

Step 4. Grind the hot chili pepper in a similar way.Step 5. In a deep bowl, marinate the shrimp in orange juice, pieces of garlic and pepper, also add a tablespoon of oil, salt and ground pepper.

Step 6. Remove the zest from the lemon, being careful not to touch the white fibers. Squeeze the juice from half a citrus fruit.

Step 7. In a large plate with high sides, mix arugula, basil, parsley, lemon zest and juice, season with salt and pepper.

Step 8. Fry seafood soaked in spices until cooked and an appetizing crust forms.

Step 9. Place greens and shrimp on golden brown bread, sprinkle with balsamic vinegar and the remaining aromatic oil. Bon appetit!

Canapes on skewers with mozzarella cheese and cherry tomatoes

Juicy and ripe tomatoes, young light cheese and fresh basil - this is an incredible combination that has long been associated with the vastness of Italy. By combining the previously mentioned products into one snack, we get a combination of amazing flavors and aromas that pair perfectly with wine.

Cooking time - 10 min.

Cooking time - 10 min.

Portions – 12 pcs.

Ingredients:

• Cherry tomatoes – 12 pcs.
• Mozzarella balls – 12 pcs.
• Basil – 12 leaves.
• Balsamic sauce - to taste.

Cooking process:

Step 1.Thoroughly rinse vegetables and herbs under water and dry with paper towels. Remove the cheese balls from the brine and place on a sieve, allowing excess liquid to drain.

Step 2. Cut the ripe tomatoes into two equal parts.

Step 3. First of all, thread half a tomato onto a wooden skewer, cut side down, followed by a basil leaf.

Step 4. After the greens, add a ball of cheese.

Step 5. We finish the canapé with the second half of the tomato, only with the cut towards the mozzarella.

Step 6. Sprinkle the appetizer with sauce and enjoy. Bon appetit!

Stuffed eggs with crab sticks

Stuffed eggs are a very elegant and tasty dish that many people love. However, preparing such a dish, as a rule, takes quite a lot of time, because the fillings from mushrooms, fish and meat are not prepared at all quickly, but the aromatic filling of surimi and garlic with cheese easily solves this problem!

Cooking time - 30 min.

Cooking time - 10 min.

Portions – 4.

Ingredients:

• Eggs – 4 pcs.
• Crab sticks – 2-3 pcs.
• Cheese – 40 gr.
• Garlic – 1 tooth.
• Greens – 20 gr.
• Salt - to taste.
• Mayonnaise - to taste.

Cooking process:

Step 1. Boil the eggs in salted water for 10 minutes after boiling. Next, pour cold water over the eggs and let them cool a little, then remove the shells.Step 2. Cut the peeled eggs into two equal parts.

Step 3. Carefully remove the yolks and grind them until smooth, after mixing with grated cheese.

Step 4. Grind the crab sticks using a grater and combine them with the cheese and egg mixture.

Step 5. Fill the filling with mayonnaise, season with peeled garlic, passed through a press and salt - mix.Step 6.We fill the voids left by the yolks tightly with surimi filling, decorate with fresh or dried herbs and start tasting. Bon appetit!

Ham rolls with cheese and garlic

Do you want to prepare a delicious and original snack without spending a lot of time and effort? Easily! Juicy meat rolls with a delicious filling of cheese and garlic mixture are exactly the dish for which all your guests, without exception, will ask you for the recipe.

Cooking time - 30 min.

Cooking time - 15 minutes.

Portions – 4.

Ingredients:

• Ham (cut into slices) – 300 gr.
• Processed cheese – 2 pcs.
• Boiled eggs – 3 pcs.
• Garlic – 2 teeth.
• Mayonnaise - to taste.
• Greens - to taste.
• Ground black pepper - to taste.

Cooking process:

Step 1. Prepare the components: peel the boiled eggs, separate the whites from the yolks and rub into different containers, rinse the greens thoroughly under water and finely chop.

Step 2. Grind the cheeses on a grater and mix with eggs, herbs and peeled garlic passed through a press, season with ground black pepper. Season the ingredients with mayonnaise and knead.

Step 3. Place a tablespoon of filling on the edge of a thin slice of ham.

Step 4. Roll the meat base into a tight roll so that the cheese and egg mass remains inside.

Step 5. Serve immediately or cool in the refrigerator for about half an hour and only then start the meal. Bon appetit!

Tartlets with tuna and cream cheese

Curd puffed cheese seems to be created to be combined with lightly salted and canned fish; it perfectly dilutes the rich taste of seafood, but does not interrupt it, but complements and highlights it; tuna is no exception, and by combining these products in shortbread tartlets, we get an incredibly tasty and festive appetizer .

Cooking time - 20 minutes.

Cooking time - 10 min.

Portions – 5.

Ingredients:

• Sand tartlets – 5 pcs.
• Curd cheese – 2 tbsp.
• Canned tuna (in its own juice) – 60 gr.
• Tomatoes – 1 pc.
• Caviar – 2 tbsp.

Cooking process:

Step 1. For speed of action and our own convenience, lay out all the components indicated in the list on the work surface.

Step 2. Rinse the ripe tomato with water, dry it with paper napkins and cut into small cubes. Lightly squeeze the juice out of the canned fish and mash thoroughly with a fork until it is almost homogeneous.Step 3. Armed with a teaspoon, put a small amount of chopped tomato into the tartlets.

Step 4. Tamp the tuna with the next layer so that it completely fills the voids.

Step 5. Cover the fish layer with curd cheese, making a fairly thick layer.

Step 6. Decorate the tartlets with red caviar and surprise the guests. Bon appetit!

A simple and tasty appetizer of herring tartlets

Well, what holiday table would be complete without salads and appetizers with herring? Instead of the usual “herring under a fur coat,” we suggest preparing an interesting, but at the same time simple-to-make appetizer – shortbread tartlets filled with salted fish, vegetables and herbs.

Cooking time - 20 minutes.

Cooking time - 15 minutes.

Portions - 10 pieces.

Ingredients:

• Herring fillet – 150 gr.
• Potatoes (boiled) – 2 pcs.
• Red onion – ½ pc.
• Mayonnaise – 1 tbsp.
• French mustard (beans) – 1 tsp.
• Tartlets – 10 pcs.
• Dill – ½ bunch.
• Salt - to taste.
• Ground black pepper - to taste.

Cooking process:

Step 1. Peel half the onion and finely chop it.

Step 2. Grind the fish fillet in a similar way, trying to remove everything, even the smallest bones.

Step 3. Cut the boiled potatoes into cubes.

Step 4. Combine all the chopped ingredients in a salad bowl, add chopped herbs and season with mayonnaise and grain mustard.

Step 5. Mix the filling thoroughly, taste and, if necessary, sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Step 6. Place the shortbread tartlets on a flat dish.

Step 7. Fill the base with herring filling with vegetables and decorate to your liking. Bon appetit!

Jellied chicken and pork feet

In order to prepare stable and transparent jellied meat, it is not at all necessary to use gelatin, you just need to choose the right meat ingredients and pork legs do an excellent job with this task, the broth from which turns out to be very rich and aromatic.

Cooking time – 16 hours

Cooking time - 30 min.

Portions – 12.

Ingredients:

• Pork legs – 2 pcs.
• Pork tails – 2 pcs.
• Chicken – ½ carcass.
• Onion – 1 pc.
• Carrot – 1 pc.
• Garlic – ½ tooth.
• Salt - to taste.

Cooking process:

Step 1. We thoroughly wash the pork parts under running water and scrape with a sharp knife along the entire perimeter of the skin, getting rid of dirt. We cut off the hooves along the joint or chop them off with a kitchen hatchet.Step 2. Cut the legs into two halves, making cuts lengthwise.

Step 3. Place the legs, tails and chicken in a deep bowl - fill with cold water and leave for several hours, or better yet, overnight.When the water becomes cloudy, replace it with clean water.

Step 4. Transfer the legs, tails and chicken into a pan of a suitable size and fill with water so that the liquid is 3-4 centimeters above the food. Bring to a boil over high heat, skim off the foam with a slotted spoon and continue cooking over low heat for 4 hours.

Step 5. After the time has passed, add coarsely chopped carrots and onions, cut in half, to the broth - cook for about two more hours. It’s easy to check if it’s ready – the flesh should easily come away from the bones. After finishing cooking, leave the jellied meat under the lid for about half an hour.

Step 6. In 30 minutes, excess fat will accumulate on the surface - remove it and throw it away.

Step 7. We catch meat and vegetables from the rich broth and place them in a bowl with high sides.

Step 8. Strain the slightly cooled broth through several layers of gauze and add finely chopped garlic cloves and salt. It is necessary to salt so that the liquid is slightly salted, since pork and chicken will absorb some of the chloride.

Step 9. Separate the meat from the bones and cartilage, disassemble it into fibers or cut it into pieces, place it on deep plates or containers and fill it with rich broth. We send the jellied meat to a cool place and after it has cooled completely, cover it with lids and put it in the refrigerator. We close the lids tightly only after hardening. Bon appetit!

Chicken liver pate with carrots and onions

Just once, having prepared chicken pate at home, you will forever forget about buying this product in the store. In addition, a homemade dish is much healthier, contains a great variety of vitamins and minerals, and is prepared very simply and quickly.

Cooking time - 30 min.

Cooking time - 15 minutes.

Portions – 5.

Ingredients:

• Chicken liver – 300 gr.
• Onion – 1 pc.
• Carrot – 1 pc.
• Butter – 30 gr.
• Vegetable oil – 2 tbsp.
• Laurel leaf – 1 pc.
• Salt – 1 pinch.
• Water – 200 ml.

Cooking process:

Step 1. We thoroughly rinse the offal under running water and remove the bile ducts and fat inclusions.

Step 2. Peel the vegetables and cut the carrots into rings and the onion into half rings.

Step 3. Sauté the onion in sunflower oil.

Step 4. When the vegetable becomes translucent, add carrots and liver to a heat-resistant bowl.Step 5. Fill the contents of the frying pan with 200 milliliters of water, add salt and add a bay leaf.

Step 6. Cover the food with a lid and simmer until the water has completely evaporated (about 20 minutes).

Step 7. Place the hot liver and vegetables into a blender bowl and blend until a homogeneous consistency is obtained.

Step 8. Add pieces of butter to the almost finished pate for aroma and richness of taste.

Step 9. Grind again with a blender.

Step 10. Transfer the finished liver spread into a glass container with a lid and store in the refrigerator for 3 days. Bon appetit!