hors d'oeuvres anyone?

[ssanjinika]

Finger foods,Appetizers,hors d'oeuvres..
call them any how you like but these tasty bites are fast becoming the most popular party menu.Appetizers which were usually had in the begining of a meal are fast becoming the meal itself.There are restaurants which offer only such dishes.
I was researching on this topic since Im having a party at home next weekend and wanted to serve such food.I came up with the following..
Vegetable crudite platter with a variety of dips(can be home made and also store bought)
Chicken tandoori(the dry kind)
Vegetable samosas(mini)
Some flavored crackers with some kind of cheese dip & hummus
Cheese - a small platter.

What else can I add here ? Can anyone please suggest some easy to make party food please.I would be much obliged.
Thank you !
SS

[ayeshasadique]

spring rolls
nuggets
cutlets
pop corn
bhajiyas, vadas, stuffed bondas
tikkis
pakoras
roasted mixed nuts
assorted sandwiches cut into cute shapes
dry kebab varieties
mini pizzas

[ssanjinika]

thanks ayesha..I knew you'd have some ideas :thumbsup:
when ever you find the time,can you post some recipies?It would be of great help not only for me but for all those hubbers who love snacks.

[ayeshasadique]

puffs
kachories
corn on the cob
fruit salads
french fries
shrimp fritters
mini quiche
croquets
sugar glaced fruits
canapes



will post again, if i remember something more .... :)

[ayeshasadique]

sure... from tomorrow will post snack varieties in this thread..

[dsath]

You could combine them and make some tasty bites without any cooking or minimum cooking.

a)A small cube of cheese (i prefer mild cheddar) topped by a seeded olive and sun dried tomato. All these held together by a cocktail stick. Different textures work together well.

b)This is a Thai one. In a spring roll wrapper place a prawn and a bit of red chilli paste and wrap it with the tail peeking out.Tie it with a noodle. Deep fry the parcels. If you are a veggy, substitute prawns with paneer or tofu.

c)Dhoklas. These can be prepared in advance and reheated just before the party.

[solona]

[tscii:c770c78958]Mexican chicken wings

10 chicken wings
1/2 tablespoon cumin powder
1/2 tbs coriander (this is my Indian touch)
1 teaspoon of chilli powder
4 tbs of fresh cream
salt
2 tbs of olive oil


Mix all the above ingredients place in an greased oven tray and cook for 1/2 and hour and at the end grill it (oven grill position) for 5 minutes until crispy and brown.

Acras with dried fish

2 filets of Dry salted fish which you leave soaked in water for 24hrs(change water atleat 3 times)
1 onions
1 green chilli
1 teaspoon of spring onions
2 cups of flour (all purpose)
1 egg
milk to make the paste
1/2 teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate

Grind the fish, onion, chilli, spring onions to a paste, add flour and the rest make a thick paste with milk(no need to add salt because the fish is normally still salty. Heat oil for deep fry and add 1 tbs of the pastry and fry until brown. This is simply delicious
YOU CAN REPLACE FISH WITH VEGES OR SHRIMPS (IF VEGE GRATE THEM OR CUT INTO VERY SMALL PIECES INSTEAD OF GRINDING)

Vegetable gratin

Bechemal sauce

In a sauce pan add 25g of butter and 1 spoon of flour at once at very low heat. When the flour gets fried and goes a bit brown add a cup of milk. The sauce will thicken whatever qty of milk you add (max 1/2 cup each time after the 1st time) so make reqd qty of sauce (1//4 of the sauce pan for this receipe)

4 cups of any vegetable cut into rounds or pieces
1onion
1tomato
fresh cream 1 tbs(optional)
grated cheese (any)

Fry onions and tomatoes in a small qty of oil until oil seperates add veges fry a bit and then add the bechamel sauce, add salt. Turn the fire off after 3 minutes leave it aside.

Grease an oven tray add the vegetable mixture cover pout the freash cream and spread evenly over and then cover the entire mixture with grated cheese, and cook for 1/4 hour at 180° cut into small squares and serve.

You can replace veges with crab flesh, shrimps or fish.

Vege rolls

Fry vegetables with a bit of onion, salt and cumin powder keeps aside.

Beat 2 eggs with salt and 1 pinch of chilli powder and keep aside

Take a puffed pastry rolls and cut into small squares. Add small qty of veg filligs roll in small rolls and arrange in a greased tray coat each roll with beaten eggs. and cook for 1/4 hour at 140°

MYSORE BONDA

1/4kg of minced meat (optional)
3 onion cut
1 tbs of ginger garlic paste
1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder
1 tbs of garam masala powder
4 green chillies
coriander leaves /a bunch
5 cupswell cooked and mashed potatoes.

Baji maavu

Fry the minced mead apart until water evaporate and re grind and leave aside.
Add 3 cloves to the frying oil and then add cut onions and fry at low heat add small qty of water a make a sort of gravy with a bit of turmeric powder and garam masala powder, add green chillies, let the gravy form then add the meat and potatoes and make a thick paste (laving evaporate the water)add the finely cut coriander leaves.
Make balls with this filling dip in the baji maavu and deep fry until crispy

[/tscii:c770c78958]

[Badri]

b)This is a Thai one. In a spring roll wrapper place a prawn and a bit of red chilli paste and wrap it with the tail peeking out.Tie it with a noodle. Deep fry the parcels. If you are a veggy, substitute prawns with paneer or tofu.


Here's a vegetatian no-oil alternative to this.

1. Prepare the stuffing - Lightly fry shredded carrots, chopped onions, and blanced peanuts together with some chopped green chillies and salt to taste
2. Place a spring roll rice paper on a flat tray.
3. Pour hot water on the rice paper, and drain after 30 seconds.
4. Place a spoon of the stuffing on the paper and roll it into a parcel

You can serve these as is, without having to deep fry them. Can be prepared in minutes, esp when unexpected guests turn up. And not having to deep fry them makes it a healthy choice.

[ayeshasadique]

POTATO CROQUETTES

potatoes - 4, boiled and mashed without lumps
egg yolk - 1
butter - 2 tsp, softened
salt, pepper, chilli
seasoned plain flour
egg - 1, beaten and seasoned
bread crumbs
oil for deep frying

1. mix potato, egg yolk , butter and seasoning. form into cylindrical shapes.
2. roll in flour, dip in egg , coat with crumbs. (paneing)
3. fry in hot oil till golden brown. drain on a kitchen napkin.
4. serve hot with ketchup/ or a dip of ur choice.

[ayeshasadique]

to give it an indian touch, u can add garam masala, cumin, coriander leaves, green chilli, chopped onion etc to the potato mix.

[ayeshasadique]

BREAD BONDA

bread - any number of slices, with crust removed
seasoned flour, beaten egg, bread crumbs
oil

stuffing varieties:
scrambled eggs
boiled egg
potato mix (like for samosas)
mixed veggie
cheese
minced meat, etc

1. wet bread, press it in ur palm to squeeze out.
2. place the stuffing and roll into a ball tightly.
3. roll on flour, dip in egg, coat with crumbs.
4. deep fry and drain.
5. serve hot.

[ayeshasadique]

PUFFS

frozen puff pastry rolled out
any stuffing
beaten egg for wash

stuff the pastry squares and seal. place on a greased baking tray.
brush with beaten egg.
bake at 220 degrees C until brown n crisp (mosltly 20 minutes)

[ayeshasadique]

NAN KHATAI

plain flour - 125 gm
sugar - 125 gm, powdered
butter - 100 gm, unsalted, softened
baking soda - 1/4 tsp
sour curd - 1 tsp
cardamom powder - 1 to 2 tsp
salt - 2 pinches
sliced pista and badam

1. mix flour with baking powder and salt.
2. cream butter and sugar together. add cardamom powder and curd.( u can whip them together over a bowl of ice till creamy)
3. add flour and keep whipping/kneading.
4. form balls (can use a large tbsp) and place on greased baking tray.
5. give a wash with beaten white of egg; place sliced nuts on top of each.
6. Allow to rest for 1 hour.
7. bake at 150 degrees C for 20 to 25 minutes.
8. cool completely and serve.

[Alan]

YUMMY thread- What about kababs, tikkas, Paneer/fish Fingers etc? Don't u get ready-to-fry & serve snack pacets in the US, ssanjinika? Then why all this trouble?

[ssanjinika]

well..coz we cant buy everything rite Alan, afterall its our party and nothing like home cooked meal rite :wink:

Thanks for the recipies everyone.I'll decide on the final menu this weekend and post it..meanwhile please keep posting recipies of any snacks you can find in this thread :)

[sowmeia]

Hi ayesha,

I tried your Vegetable gratin recipe yesterday..I've seen the recipe for this in a few other places too but have never tasted it..u mentioned that the final product should be cut in squares..i was not able to do this :( ....after 30 mins in the oven, the dish was still a little soggy and was bubbling.. should i have kept it in longer for it to become harder? it did taste pretty good though...thanks!! and keep them coming :)

[ayeshasadique]

hi sowmeia
the recipe was posted by solona...
when egg yolk n a little bread crumbs are added, u will be able to cut it into squares...

ANYTHING AU GRATIN :)

basic sauce:
white sauce 300 ml (u can use soya milk here)
egg yolk 1
salt , pepper
grated cheese
bread crumbs
mix all the above together.

grease an oven proof dish, put in anything of ur choice, pour the sauce, add more grated cheese, bake.

that "anything" that can be used:
boiled potatoes
cauliflower
broccoli
mixed veggies
mushrooms
asparagus
carrots
corn
brussel sprouts
pasta
sweet potatoes
cabbage
brinjal
boiled eggs
seafood
chicken
meat


well, ...almost anything :)

[ayeshasadique]

SHAMMI KEBAB

bengal gram - 50 gm, soaked
boneless lean meat - 500 gms (remove all fat)
- cook the two together and grind.

onion - 1
green chilli - 3 to 4
ginger - a small piece
garlic - 8 pods
coriander leaves
- grind the above

turmeric, chilli powder, coriander powder, cumin powder, garam masala powder - all as needed
salt
egg - 1

1. combine everything together. form balls , flatten.
2. deep fry till golden brown.
3. serve garnished with chopped coriander accompanied with raw onion rounds and lemon.

[ayeshasadique]

RESHMI KEBAB

butter - 2 tbsp
besan flour - 2 tbsp
heat butter, add besan and fry till the raw smell goes, cool.

boneless chicken - 500 gm, ground
garlic paste - 2 tsp
ginger paste - 2 tsp
yogurt - 1 tbsp
cashew paste - 1 tbsp
almond paste - 1 tbsp
onion paste - 2 tbsp
garam masala
turmeric, chilli , coriander, cumin, black pepper
salt
egg 1

1. mix all together.
2. wrap on skewers, and grill till golden.
3. when done baste with butter and sprinkle lemon juice.

[ayeshasadique]

CAUCASIAN SHASHLIK

meat cubes - 500 gms
finely chopped onion - 2 no
garlic minced - 3 tsp
freshly ground pepper
salt
olive oil - 1/4 cup

marinade overnight.
skewer and grill till brown and done.

[ayeshasadique]

CHICKEN TIKKA

boneless chicken cubes - 500 gms
curd - 1/4 cup
onion - 2 , ground
garam masla - 2 tsp
green chilli paste - 2 tsp
ginger garlic paste - 2 tbsp
salt
chilli, cumin, fennel, powders
red colour
oil 3 tbsp

combine all together and marinate overnight.
skewer and grill.

[ayeshasadique]

MALAI KEBAB

chicken cubes - 500 gms
fresh double cream - 3 tbsp
ginger and garlic - 1 tbsp
white pepper powder - 1 tsp
green chilli paste - 1 tsp
paneer/ cheese paste - 3 tbsp
salt

marinade over night.
skewer and grill.

[sowmeia]

Thanks ayesha..I hope adding just bread crumbs will do the trick since i dont eat eggs

[solona]

Hi Sowmeia,

The consistancy of the gratin depends also on the type of vegetable used, if you use brinjals as u know the gratin will be much mor soggy than with potatoes. In that case u just have to make the bechamel sauce a bit thicker by leaving in a bit more on the low fire.


Rice flour 100 gms
Kadalai Maavu 150 gms
Chilli powder 1 spoon
Green Chillies 4 to 5 nos.
Curry leaves 1 sprig
Black pepper 1/2 spoon.
Jeera 1/2 spoon
Omam 2 pinches
Cashew nuts 10 nos
Ghee /oil 4 to 5 spoons
Soda Bi-Carb Quarter spoon
Chilli powder 3/4 spoon to 1 spoon
Salt to taste
Oil (groundnut) 250 ml
Water for dough a little




Mix rice and Bengal Gram flour along with salt, chilli powder, Jeera, Omam and coarsely pounded Black pepper. Add finelly shredded curry leaves and thinly sliced green chillies in round rings. Make a fine mix . Now take a wide mouth cup and make a mixture of Soda Bi Carb and Ghee/oil . agitate with spoon or fingers to make a milky frothy paste . Add this soda and ghee/ oil mix to the just mixed flour and once again mix thoroughly so that soda and ghee are mixed uniformly. Heat oil for frying in a kadai, till the oil gets hot, make five or six portions of dry flour mix and take individual portion and add just a little water so that it will bind the dough and No more.If you add more water, the dough will turn into batter.So be careful when you add water.Make small urundais of a large marble size.Insert small pieces (halves) of Cashew nuts in each pakoda urundai. dough will turn into batter. Fry the pakodas till golden brown to slightly darker brown shade.

Some people add chopped onion to Medhu pakodas also.
If you want , you may add onion too.Regular Medhu pakodas you get in Hotels donot have Omam in it.Instead it has Onion.So if you are using Omam, avoid Onions.

Keep a paper in a vessel and drop the fried Pakodas in it.

Kara kadalai

250 g of split green peas or channa dal
2 branches of karuvaepillai
3 pods of garlic roughly smashed
1 tbalespoon of chilli/turmeric powder
salt
oil

Soak channa for about 5 hours minimum. Drain and dry with a dry tissue. Heat oil for deep fry and fry little by little the channa until crispy (not hard) Absorb the oil with the help of an tissue paper.

In a thallipu pan fry the garlic and karuvaepillai add to the channa and then add salt and the spice powders mix well and serve.


Stuffed Capsicum

The filing should be similar to the mysore bonda one or you can simply use the potatoe stuffing you use for samosas or pooris.

Split the capsicum if possible with the tail emty and clean off the seeds and was well. Stuff the filling caot with bajji maavu a,d deep fry.

Finger fish

Boneless fish- 250 gms
Garlic paste- 1 tsp
Ginger paste- 1 tsp
Chilli powder- 1 tsp
Corn flour- 1tsp
Plain flour-1 tsp
Salt to taste
For the dip:
Bread crumbs- 1 cup
Beaten egg- 1
A pinch of salt
Procedure:
Cut the fish into finger shaped pieces and mix with the spices and leave for 1 hour. Then heat a kadai with oil for deep fry. Dip the pieces in the beaten egg, roll in the bread crumbs. Fry the pieces to a golden. You can do the same thing with paneer.

[ssanjinika]

Thank you all for your contributions.
This is the menu we have decided on..

Tortilla chips and spinach dip /salsa
Pita triangles with Humus
Chicken Tikka(thanks ayesha :) )
Mini Samosas
Mozzarella Cheese sticks with marinara sauce.


Does that sound appetizing?

[ayeshasadique]

EGGS STUFFED WITH TUNA

hard boiled eggs - 6 , cut into halves

remove the yolks carefully and mix well with the following
canned tuna - 3 tbsp, mashed
very finely chopped onion and capsicum - a tbsp each
mayonnaise
chilli powder
cumin powder
salt

spoon the mixture into the egg whites and sprinkle chopped parsley on top...
voila! a very easy appetiser... :)

[ayeshasadique]

salami and cheese toast

bread slices - 8 trimmed and cut into rounds

place a salami slice on each bread slice , top with cheese and grill till cheese melts and browns.
serve arranged on a platter.