Make your next get-together even more special by serving up flavor with some new, fresh appetizer ideas! From Mini Cheeseburger Bites to Loaded Waffle Fries, you can still serve up tasty treats while making sure they are full of healthy ingredients. Adding fresh greenhouse grown vegetables, means that you can flavor up your apps any time of the year!
Weather it’s for Sunday afternoon football, girls’ night in or movie marathons with the kid crew, sometimes the most memorable thing from get-togethers is the food. While party appetizers are sometimes synonymous with fried chicken wings, creamy dips, or cheesy nachos, there are still loads of fun foods that you can serve while sticking to your health goals. While it is ok to indulge in these foods occasionally, it’s much better to have a game plan. We have put together some healthy, flavorful options that we think your guests will love.
PEPPER SPINACH PINWHEELS
Pinwheels are mini-sandwiches that are typically made with a large flour tortilla as the base, with a spread and some fillings, that are then rolled up into a log and cut into slices. The slices resemble the colorful spinning child’s toy, which is how it got its name. They are an extremely versatile finger food and can be filled with practically any flavor combos you wish.
This recipe for Pepper Spinach Pinwheels is the perfect finger food for any gathering! Packed with rainbow-colored veggies, like Aurora Bites Mini Sweet Peppers, makes them not only nutritious, but delicious too.
The best part is that they are super easy to make! In a medium-sized bowl, whip the cream cheese to soften it. Add your seasonings and mix it well. Once the seasonings are mixed in, add in pepper slices, shredded carrots, and cabbage. Mix to coat the veggies and set aside.
Lay the tortillas on a flat surface and spread a large spoonful of the filling mixture over the whole tortilla. Carefully roll them into tubes. You may need to use some of the mixture to help seal the edges closed. Cut the rolls into one-inch slices and top them with extra peppers before serving.
SWEET PEPPER TIKKA
Tikka is an Indian dish that has small pieces of meat, vegetables, and paneer that are marinated in a mixture of spices, and then skewered on a stick to be cooked. There are so many variations and flavor combinations that can be created with tikka. From full out carnivore to 100% vegan, tikka is very versatile and customizable to tastes, preferences, and dietary needs.
Prashi Srivastava shared her favorite Sweet Pepper Tikka recipe which is the perfect, unique appetizer to add to your next menu. Using Sweet Bell Peppers and a special blend of spices for the marinade, this authentic Indian snack will be memorable for sure!
With only ten minutes of preparation, this recipe can be prepared ahead of time and then cooked just before you’re ready to serve it.
First you make the marinade and then add the peppers, paneer, and onions. Stir to coat them well, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow it to marinate for at least 30 minutes.
When you’re ready to cook your tikka, preheat the oven to 425° F. Skewer the cubes of paneer alternating with peppers and onions. Place the skewers on a rack in the center of a baking sheet and bake them for 15 minutes, turning once halfway. After 15 minutes, switch your oven to broil for 2 to 3 minutes until the paneer has a slight char. Arrange the skewers on a serving platter and top with cilantro and lime juice. You can serve them with a spicy coriander dip and sliced onions on the side.
TOMATO & SAUSAGE POPOVERS
Popovers are the American version of the British Yorkshire pudding. They are a light, buttery pastry made from a thin batter that puffs up, or “pops over” the top of the pan while they bake. They can be sweet or savory, it’s all up to you and what ingredients you add to them!
This recipe for Tomato & Sausage Popovers bite-sized and flavorful, using RedRoyals® Sweet Cherry Tomatoes On-the-Vine and paired with spicy pork sausage and a hint of gruyere cheese for the perfect balance of sweet and savory.
To get started with Abigail’s recipe, you’ll preheat the oven to 425° F and grease a mini muffin tin with butter. Then, over medium heat, add olive oil, sausage, tomatoes, and herbs to a pan. Cook everything until the sausage has browned and blended with the tomatoes, about 5 to 7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, then let it cool.
Next, prepare the batter for the popovers. Place milk in a bowl and microwave it for about 40 seconds to warm it up. Whisk in the eggs, butter, flour, and salt until it’s smooth. Heat up the empty muffin tin in the oven for 2 to 3 minutes. Working quickly, add the batter to fill each mini muffin cup three quarters of the way full, then add a spoonful of the sausage and tomato mixture to each cup. Top each mini muffin cup with more batter until the cup is full, but not overflowing. Sprinkle cheese over each and bake in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes, or until they are golden brown and puffed up over the sides. Serve immediately.
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A PLAN
When planning for any gathering that involves food, you should always have a menu and a strategy of when food is to be served. You could start with something simple, like veggies and dip, that guests can munch on and that you can keep replenishing throughout the afternoon and evening. Snacking veggies like super tasty, and extra crunchy, Mini Cucumbers, to premium Cloud 9® Bite-Sized Fruity Tomatoes are perfect for these occasions – all you need to do is add dip! Time your other appetizers to be served through the rest of the time you’re together. Planning ahead assures that you can prep accordingly and still get to enjoy the celebrations yourself!
