11 replies to this topic

[Emily_R]

Hi all --

I'm having a dinner party for vegetarian friends tomorrow night, and am trying to figure out the menu. At the same time, I've got a glut of fresh eggs, so I thought I might make a tortilla espanola as an starter to drink with wine on the patio. But I'm trying to think of what other nibbles would be good to serve with it that are vegetarian. I figured a bowl of olives, but what else? Ideally it would be some type of finger food, but I guess I could do a salad...

Any thoughts?

Em

[weinoo]

Roasted peppers, marcona almonds, artichoke hearts, chickpeas, etc.

[Lisa Shock]

Warm items could include:
stuffed mushroom caps
stuffed mini veggies like tiny eggplants or tiny peppers
falafel
roasted halves of new potatoes that have been hollowed out a bit on one end to hold a filling and flattened on the other to stay upright filled with veggie curry

[annachan]

Thinking in terms of other tapas: garlic mushroom, tomato bread, manchego cheese with fixings, vegetarian croquette, maybe some soup shooters

[Panaderia Canadiense]

My initial reaction on seeing the thread title was Papitas a lo Pobre (new potatoes poached in olive oil with garlic, red onion and green pepper). I've got no idea how to make that hors d'ouvre-y, though.... Maybe the individual papitas on picks with a bit of the other veggie?

[SylviaLovegren]

Roasted red pepper strips with chopped garlic and olive oil -- delicious served on crackers or grilled bread. Homemade salted toasted almonds -- you can also spice them up with chili powders, etc.

[Emily_R]

Hey All --

Thanks for the suggestions! I picked up some marcona almonds, a big hunk of Manchego, and a bowl full of mixed olives. Figure I'll serve some fresh sugar snap peas and some radishes along side...

Emily

[weinoo]

I always salt the radishes an hour or two ahead of time - takes some of the bite out, and makes them a little pickly.

And a quick heat-up on a hot griddle will make your sugar snaps even more delicious.

[baroness]

Sugar snap peas are prettier and tastier after a 2-3 minute bath in boiling water, then tossed in ice water. They look like jewels!

[Emily_R]

Salt the radishes? Will do! As for blanching / lightly cooking the sugar snaps, that I don't know... I'm not sure I want anything that would diminish their crunch. But maybe I'll blanch a few for myself to taste test!

[weinoo]

Salt the radishes? Will do! As for blanching / lightly cooking the sugar snaps, that I don't know... I'm not sure I want anything that would diminish their crunch. But maybe I'll blanch a few for myself to taste test!

Yes, salt! Usually I cut the radishes in half, but whole will work. Just toss them with a tablespoon or so of kosher salt, and let them sit. Them rinse and dry before serving.

You'd be surprised that a proper blanching (or even griddling) will actually bring out the crunch.

[ruthcooks]

Sugar snap peas are prettier and tastier after a 2-3 minute bath in boiling water, then tossed in ice water. They look like jewels!

I have found that if you tip and tail sugar snap or snow peas AFTER this treatment, they do not absorb so much (or any?) water.