5 Vegetarian Christmas Canapés

A sponsored post for Woolworths

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Christmas time usually means one thing food wise and that’s an ode to all things MEAT. Whether it’s on Christmas Day, on the lead up with various family functions and drinks parties, there always seems to be so much meat. Which is great for a pork lover like me, someone who adores some turkey on the big day, don’t get me started on the ham situation on toast and endless prawn sambos but I do think the old veggo seems to get forgotten in the Christmas season.

I’ve got some suggestions for you for vegetarian canapés which you could use on Christmas day, or perhaps at a drinks party in the crazy lead up. All of the ideas use simple and seasonal flavours that will tickle your tastebuds and give you a break from all that heavy food. I’ve also highlighted a couple of the Created with Jamie dips from his new Christmas range that are amazing on their own or tweaked into something a little different and substantial.

1. Created with Jamie dips with home made (cheat) crisps

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These two dips are some great flavour combinations: green pea & quinoa and Beetroot, tahini and pomegranate and how festive are these colours together? They are great just by themselves but instead of whacking some crackers on the platter why not whip up these cheat crisps instead?

Cheat Crisps

Lebanese bread
Olive oil
Garlic Salt
Dried herbs
Pepper

1. Into a bowl rip up a couple of pieces of Lebanese bread

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2. Drizzle over olive oil, garlic salt, pepper and toss before transferring onto a baking tray, spreading out and placing into a hot 200 degree oven for 8-10 mins or until golden brown

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3. Serve with the dips on a board or platter with some herbs on the side for greenery. Adding some herbs will give it an extra boost and instantly make the platter seem more home made and generous looking.

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2. Goats cheese & thyme tarts

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I love the punch of flavour that you get from goats cheese – it’s perfect for a mouthful with a drink and these little tarts are a little lighter using filo pastry instead of shortcrust. Combined with thyme it’s an explosion of flavour!

Goats cheese & thyme filo tarts (makes around 36)

1 packet goats cheese
½ cup cream
2 eggs
Salt & pepper
Handful of thyme (leaves stripped)

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1. Into a mixing bowl add in the packet of goats cheese, eggs, cream, salt and pepper and the thyme leaves. Mix with a fork breaking up the cheese as much as you can then whisking to combine with the eggs and cream

2. Grab 2 sheets of filo pastry and cut into small rectangles about 5x6cm. You can lightly butter them together and then place into a mini quiche dish (rustic is the look…not messy!)

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3. Spoon in the mixture into each pastry case (a teaspoon is the easiest way to get the filling in) then add a little sprig of thyme to the top of each tart

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4. Place into a hot 200 degree oven for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown on top

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3. Mango & Chilli salsa on pineapple wafers

One of my favourite flavour combinations in summertime is chilli and mango…boom! What a combo! I’ve tried to bring those flavours into a simple canapé that is served on the best wafer ever…pineapple! A tropical burst perfect with a summer cocktail.

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Mango & Chilli salsa on pineapple wafers

1 Mango finely diced
1 red chilli finely diced
1/2 pineapple (thinly sliced)
Handful of coriander fined chopped
2-3 shallots finely diced
1 tablespoon fish sauce
4-5 drops sesame oil

1. Finely dice the mango. It’s best to use Calypso if you can find them as they hold their shape better and have a lot of flesh on them. Cut the cheeks off, then cut thin vertical slices into each cheek and use a dessert spoon to scoop out the cut flesh going as close to the skin as you can. From there you can cut them into thin batons and cube as small as you can.

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2. Cut the shallots into batons, then slice in half and half again and then into small cubes

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3. Do the same with the chilli (de-seed) and finely cube as well as finely slice the coriander and whack it all into a bowl and combine together. Add in the fish sauce and sesame oil and taste for flavour. You want a salty contrast to all that sweetness and of course want a punch of heat from the chilli.

4. Cut the pineapple into thin slices (the thinner the better but thick enough to hold a spoonful of salsa on them).

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5. Cut the pineapple into small cracker sizes (you could be fancy and use a scone cutter for perfect discs) but I went a little rustic here and spoon the salsa onto each pineapple shape. Serve with some coriander on the side of your platter or serving board.

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4. Haloumi and mint bites

Another fabulous flavour combination here in perfect bite size portions. The saltiness of the cheese with the fresh mint and a drizzle of lemon is the perfect taste with a crisp glass of something.

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Haloumi & Mint Bites

Packet haloumi
Handful mint leaves (roughly torn)
Lemon cheek

1. Cut the haloumi into 1 cm thick pieces and then into smaller rectangles from that and add into a hot dry pan

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2. Wait for all the liquid evaporates and then turn them over so they have a nice golden colour on each side

3. Place onto a serving board or platter with a roughly torn mint leaf on top, some more mint leaves on the side and a lemon cheek (drizzle some lemon juice over the top as well)

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5. Mini jacket potatoes with various fillings

Using new potatoes is a really cool way of creating a mini version of the delicious baked potato. You can also use it as a vehicle for ANY kind of topping. Sour cream and chive, bacon and chive or in this instance using those 2 Created with Jamie dips for a great fresh flavour hit.

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Mini Jacket potatoes

1 kilo new potatoes (use as many as you need to make for numbers)
Olive oil
Salt & pepper
Fillings (whatever you like!)

1. Into a bowl add in some olive oil, salt & pepper and throw the whole new potatoes in and coat well. Place onto a baking tray and place into a hot 200 degree oven for 1 hour.

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2. When the potatoes have cooled down place them on your board and cut a small cross pattern on the top so they open slightly

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3. Scoop on whatever flavours you like: sour cream and chive or the Garden Pea & Quinoa drip or Beetroot & Pomegranate dip topped with a chive

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These look so pretty (and Christmassy) and will be a wonderful vegetarian addition that slightly more substantial than the other canapés.

Using a couple of pre-made options that are full of flavour and can stand on their own for freshness and quality as well as some other home made options you can host a seriously good drinks party or use this as starters on the big day without having to rely on any meat at all! I guarantee you won’t miss them either!

You can see the whole Created with Jamie range from Woolworths here.

Do you use combos of store bought and home made when entertaining?
Got any other great festive vegetarian treats to share with us?

Comments

  1. just fabulous! … i’ll be there beth!
    “tutti a tavola a mangiare!” Lydia bastianich
    couldn’t help myself! … do you watch her?
    love m:)X

  2. Get these in my belly!! Love these – Thanks Beth – I love that these are so simple, I tend to over think what to take – simple easy and delicious.

    Thank you for coming into my life BabyMac

  3. The baby jacket potatoes are GENIUS! Why have I never thought of them before? Adorable and delicious, going to give them a try.

  4. Love these ideas, Beth! The mini potatoes are so cute and the pineapple wafers look delish! I’m totally a mix of store bought and homemade, and more store bought 😉 I put those dips in a small ramekin and pretend I made them!

  5. Love the look of these. I am doing Christmas at my house this year so I am pinning all the things. 🙂

  6. These look great! Please, can you tell what size the packet of goat cheese is? here in the US you can buy mini filo cups. So easy.

  7. Hi Beth,
    quick question – you don’t actually list pineapple in the pineapple recipe…it’s like the elephant in the room that no one mentions. Do you use a whole pineapple, or is half enough?

  8. Julie Hodson says

    Thanks Beth, these ideas are fabulous!

    I have been stalking your blog for years now, but have never commented before. Just wanted to let you know that I love your writing and your “take” on the world. I’m from Sydney with a gorgeous teen daughter and lovely partner. Growing up in Wollongong, I know your little piece of highlands region well, and always dream of having my own sweet sanctuary near the mountains and the sea myself one day.

    Your posts motiviate, delight, inspire and add cheer along with wise counsel about us girls not being too hard on ourselves :).

    Best wishes to you and your’s always,
    Julie xx

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