Admittedly we are not doing a lot of entertaining right now, but that does not mean that we do not still love and crave appetizer style foods. We have been known to plan an entire meal of appetizers, and in these crazy times, sometimes that is the joy your family needs!
Here are some great ideas for appetizers that we have created and tested at Summer Fresh. They are based on the foundation of our brand to create food that you can feel good about eating every day. A little bit healthy, a little bit indulgent a lot of delicious taste, and all have been developed to be easy on your pocketbook!
- Cauliflower Wings. Cauliflower is very much on trend right now, it is low carb, full of Vitamin C and fibre, and is a great source of antioxidants, how many appetizers worthy of a Super Bowl party can own that!? So simple, prep your cauliflower into medium sized florets. Take a tub of hummus add 1 Tbsp of hot sauce (less if you want them mild!) 1 Tbsp of water, mix it well, and then toss the florets into this mixture until the florets are well coated. Then mix your florets in Panko crumbs (best to do 1-2 at a time). Now drop them onto a greased baking sheet and bake at 450°F (230°C) for 12 minutes until golden brown. If you have an air fryer these are perfect at 360°F for 8-9 minutes.
- Stuffed Baby Cucumbers. Easy and delicious, are even better if you can put the hummus in to a lunch bag, snip a small hole in the corner and ‘pipe’ the hummus onto the cucumber! Start with mini cucumbers cut in half lengthwise, take a small spoon and run down the center, scooping out a bit of the cucumber flesh to make a channel that you will fill with hummus. Now top these mini cucumber boats with hummus, we suggest Summer Fresh Original Hummus, but any hummus flavour will work!
- Hummus Crostini with Burrata. Carb lovers unite as we share our love for a bite of good bread! Start with a baguette and slice into 12-1 inch rounds. Lay slices on baking tray brush with olive oil, place in oven on broil for 1-2 minutes just to crisp up slightly. Let cool, once cooled spread on Summer Fresh Original Hummus. Top the hummus with baby burrata cheese and cherry tomatoes both sliced in half. Now return your crostini to the oven and bake until cheese is soft (Approx. 2-3 minutes) Remove from oven and finish with pine nuts, basil and cracked black pepper to taste. Serve and Enjoy!
- Roasted Kale & Purple Cabbage Chips & Dip. The healthy part of the appetizer comes from the gorgeous and vibrantly colour vegetable chips you make, the indulgence comes from serving it with your favourite Summer Fresh Dip, the perfect balance! Start by preheating your oven to 350F. In a large mixing bowl using your hands, massage the chip size pieces of kale and cabbage with a generous glug of olive oil and Lay out kale and cabbage pieces in a single layer on a parchment-lined cookie sheet and bake for 15 minutes. If still soft, continue baking and check every 5 minutes until crispy. Take out of oven and cool for 5 minutes, serve with Summer Fresh Aged Cheddar Chipotle!
These four delicious appetizers work well together. They deliver a gorgeous table of colour and texture, with some healthy choices and enough indulgence to ensure that you feel good about calling these appetizers. Can you wait for the weekend to up your appetizer game, or does this need to happen today? We always love to see what you are up to when you are cooking with Summer Fresh so be sure to share your creations on Instagram at #summerfreshisfresh.