Quick New Year’s Eve Appetizers

Appetizers are a great warm-up for the main course of a meal but sometimes can take just as long to make. Time doesn’t always equal better taste, and these quick appetizers prove exactly that. So, if you’re hosting a New Year’s Eve dinner this year – shop NetCost Market’s Weekly Specials for the ingredients and try making one of these simply delicious yet convenient dishes!

Goat’s Cheese Bruschetta

You Will Need:

(Serves 4)

2 oz Soft Goat’s Cheese

1 cup Walnuts

10g Butter

2 Tbsp Honey + a little extra to serve

4 Slices Crusty Bread

2 Tbsp Olive Oil

½ Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar

½ Tbsp Fresh Rosemary chopped

Pinch of Sea Salt

Pinch of Pepper

1. Line a baking sheet with parchment and set it to one side.
2. In a nonstick skillet melt 10g butter, add 2 tbsp honey and walnuts then combine.
3. Stir the mixture for about 5 minutes until the walnuts are evenly coated and toasted.
4. Spread onto the parchment and leave to cool.
5. In a small bowl whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, rosemary, pepper, and sea salt.
6. Toast your slices of bread, then drizzle half of the dressing over them.
7. Spread a generous helping of goat’s cheese onto each toast piece, top with the cool honey coated walnuts, share out the remaining dressing over and finish with a final drizzle of honey.

Baked Brie with Sun-Dried Tomatoes

You Will Need:

(Serves 2-4)

13 oz Brie Wheel

2 Tbsp Fresh Parsley chopped

4 oz Sun Dried Tomatoes, chopped

3 Cloves Garlic chopped

1 Tsp Olive Oil

1. Preheat your oven to 350F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
2. In a bowl combine the olive oil, 1 tbsp parsley, garlic and sun dried tomatoes.
3. Set the brie wheel onto the baking sheet and top with tomato mixture. Bake in the oven for around 7-10 minutes, you want the cheese to be nice and soft. If the middle begins to melt out of the cheese rind remove it from the oven.
4. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 tbsp parsley and serve with your favorite bread or crackers.

Honey Ginger Meatballs

You Will Need:

(Makes approx 15)

½  lb Ground Beef

1 Medium Egg

2 Cloves Garlic chopped

¼  Cup onion, finely chopped

15g Dried Breadcrumbs

Pinch of Salt & Pepper

For the sauce:

1 Tbsp  Soy Sauce

½ Cup Honey

½ Spring Onion, sliced

1 Tsp Sesame Oil

2 Tsp Coconut Oil

1 Tsp Grated Ginger, fresh

1 Tbsp Sesame Seeds

½ Tsp ground garlic

½ Tsp coarse salt

½ Tsp black pepper

1. Preheat oven to 400F and grease a baking sheet or line with foil.
2. In a bowl combine the onion, garlic, egg, salt, and pepper.
3. Add in the ground beef and carefully bring it together. Add 10g of breadcrumbs, if too sticky add the remaining 5g.
4. Pat into 15 ball shapes and place them on the baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes until cooked thrown and browned.
5. Just before your meatballs are due to come out of the oven, place a saucepan over low to medium heat.
6. Into the pan put coconut oil and as it begins to melt add in the honey and soy sauce. Mix together then add ginger, garlic, salt, pepper, and sesame oil. Heat the mixture through.
7. Remove the meatballs from the oven, separate them into individual portions or place them on a serving dish. Pour the hot honey-ginger sauce over and sprinkle with sesame seeds and sliced spring onions to finish.

Spanish Style Garlic Shrimps

You Will Need:

(Serves 4)

1lb Shrimp, peeled and deveined

¼ Tsp Baking Soda

½ Cup Olive Oil

3 Tbsp Lemon Juice

1 Tsp Chilli, dried

1 Tsp Paprika

2 Tbsp Fresh Parsley chopped

6 Cloves Garlic, finely chopped

½ Tsp Sea Salt

1. In a small bowl combine baking soda, salt, chili, and paprika.
2. Pour mix onto the shrimp along with 3 Tbsp olive oil and the garlic then mix together.
3. Place a skillet over medium heat and pour in the remaining olive oil. Transfer coated shrimp to pan and spread into one layer, cook for about 2 minutes until they begin to turn pink.
4. Add the lemon juice to the pan and cook until the shrimp become opaque and are cooked through, approx 1 minute.
5. Remove from the heat, stir through the chopped parsley and serve!