As the cold winter begins to slowly dissipate and the summer months emerge, so do opportunities for outdoor social gatherings consisting of picnics and laughter shared amongst friends. Our hospitality experts at COLUMBIA signature share some of their favourite, easy-to-make, finger food recipes for you to try as we step into this Spring season.
Sweet Potato and Feta Honey Bites
This healthy appetizer makes for the perfect finger food to share amongst friends. Despite its small portion size, it provides a cocktail of nutrients. Containing a variety of vitamins and calcium, this artisan-inspired treat satisfies not only the tastebuds, but the body also.
Ingredients: butter-roasted sweet potato, feta cheese, honey, crackers
Instructions:
- Wrap the sweet potatoes in foil and cook in the oven for 40 minutes at 200 degrees Celsius.
- Once cooled, scoop a spoonful of potato onto your cracker and crumble feta on top.
- Drizzle with honey to finish.
Individual 7-layer Dips
Sharing nachos amongst friends can be a messy endeavour, but these individual portions containing several layers of dip ensure a much cleaner outcome. Nachos are considered a staple dish with origins that can be traced all the way back to the Indigenous people of Mexico, who were making corn tortillas as early as 3000 BCE. In this recipe, individual portions of dip are prepared in tumblers, and then tortilla chips are served on the side for scooping the dip.
Ingredients: Refried beans, guacamole, sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, diced tomatoes, black olives, diced green olives, cream cheese, taco seasoning, tortilla chips
Instructions:
- Stir the refried beans, cream cheese and taco seasoning together and then place a spoonful of this into your plastic or glass tumbler to form the base.
- Begin to layer the guacamole and sour cream.
- Add the shredded cheese, diced onion and tomatoes.
- Sprinkle some chopped black olives to the top of the plastic tumbler and your dip is complete.
Smoked Salmon Bites
This classic culinary pairing of salmon and cream cheese can be enjoyed in a variety of ways, with its versatility nearly unmatched. Whilst it is often enjoyed on a bagel, this twist allows for a much lighter after-feeling. The blend of cream cheese and rich salmon presents a delightful palate sensation.
Ingredients: 250g cream cheese, ½ cup sour cream, ¾ tsp garlic powder, 1 lemon, ½ tsp salt, 370g smoked salmon (slices), soft flour tortilla or soft flatbread , butter.
Instructions:
- Mix the cream cheese, sour cream, garlic powder and salt together. Then, once this is combined, slice and squeeze the lemon. You do not have to use the whole fruit.
- Spread some of this evenly onto a soft flour tortilla or flatbread and place smoked salmon on the top.
- Butter another slice of flatbread and place this on the other side. Push these together.
- Repeat this with the remaining spread and two other tortillas or flatbreads.
- Layer these before compacting them together on a flat surface. Once you have done this, place them in the fridge overnight.
- Using a sharp knife, cut into small even squares.
- Place about 2-3 pieces onto a long cocktail stick for aesthetic purposes.
