Healthy Christmas Appetizers

Simple, rustic and timeless combinations make the perfect Christmas appetizers - that way you can create a few different things, and keep them ready-to-go in your refrigerator or freezer ahead of time. Healthy vegetable combos are great for most dietary needs, and add a beautiful fresh texture and flavour before sitting down to a heavy meal.

If you're the sort of person who loves to create beautiful, complicated looking food, but has very little time to do it in, then bruschetta or melba toasts are perfect Christmas appetizer for you! Get some beautiful sourdough bread, slice it thinly and toast under the grill until dry, but not burnt. Add a variety of toppings to make the platter look truly gourmet, and give people the elegance of choice:

 - Egg, fresh mayonnaise and chive
 - Cream cheese, smoked salmon and capers
 - Manchego, quince and rosemary
 - Cottage cheese, salami and sliced olives
 - Lemon cream cheese, prawn and dill
 - Goats cheese, sundried tomato and basil
 - Hummus, radish and parsley
 - White bean puree with tomato and alfalfa sprouts

Be as creative as you can, and try to stick with the 3 topping rule, as it appears more professional and tastes infinitely more exciting!

Quick Healthy Christmas Appetizers

Try out these easy to assemble snacks, that simply require you to add a few ingredients together to make a delicious mouthful.

♥ Melon wrapped in Parma Ham
♥ Asparagus wrapped in Prosciutto
♥ Boiled eggs with Caviar
♥ Cos lettuce boats with Coronation chicken
♥ Crudites and sour cream dip - using baby corn, sugar snap peas, radish, plum tomatoes, and zucchini

Better yet, for hot Christmas appetizers, that require a little more preparation, but can be frozen ahead of time, try:

Coconut Chicken with Red Pepper Dip

1. Cut 2 chicken breasts into small finger-sized strips, and marinate in pepper, paprika and oil for an hour in the fridge.
2. Dip the breasts into a bowl of flour, then a bowl of beaten egg, and then a bowl of dessicated coconut.
3. Shallow fry in coconut oil or ghee, til crisp. Drain on kitchen paper to remove excess fat. Or, place on greased and lined baking tray in the oven until golden.
4. Roast 2 halved and deseeded red peppers under a hot grill, so that they char slightly around the edges.
5. Place the peppers in a food processor along with some fresh chili, parsley and lime juice, and a little sour cream.
6. Serve with chicken in heaped stacks with a bowlful of sauce to dip into.

Mackerel Tartlets with Herb Mascarpone

1. Start with 1 batch of homemade pastry. Roll out on a floured work surface, until very thin, and cut out rings to fit a greased tart tray. Prebake for 5 minutes.
2. Mix together 4 eggs and 3/4 cup milk with a little salt and pepper.
3. Scatter a few pieces of smoked mackerel across the base of each tart, along with any other vegetables of your choice - tomato, zucchini, spinach, mushroom, onion.
4. Pour over the egg mixture, and sprinkle with fresh herbs.
5. Bake in the oven til golden on top, about 15-20 minutes.
6. Mix together mascarpone, salt, pepper and fresh herbs with a whisk until light. Serve each tart with a delicate spoonful of the mascarpone on top and a little sprig of thyme for effect.

Or do as the French do for Reveillon, and enjoy the classic combo of oysters with a glass of Champagne. Often the simpler the better - choose fresh ingredients, or in season produce to create your starting morsels to whet the appetite of your guests.

Whatever you choose, creating appetizers for your guests will ensure they have a truly well-rounded and memorable evening's entertainment. Make sure to serve your family and friends drinks alongside their amuse-bouches, so they can easily chat together and prepare themselves for the festive occasion.