This quick and easy canapé recipe is from Alex, also known as “French Guy Cooking” who is a home cook and filmmaker on YouTube. What we love about this recipe is that you can use up any veg in your fridge so nothing goes to waste and it is just so fresh and simple.

Ingredients:

• Thinly sliced veg or even fruit if you fancy it (carrot, red cabbage, cucumber, celery and mango is what we’ve used).
• Mint leaves
• Rice paper
• Cooked thin rice noodles
• Spicy sauce to serve on side

Method:

• Thinly slice the veg into strips. Briefly soak your sheet of rice paper in water and then place it in front of you on a chopping board.
• Layer the thinly sliced veg horizontally with some cooked rice noodles and fresh mint leaves. Be careful not to overload the paper with veg otherwise it won’t be easy to roll.
• Roll the rice paper tightly and gently to make one large vegetable roll.
• Slice the roll into small, bite-sized mini rolls and serve with a spicy sauce on the side.

A tasty gluten-free, veggie option.

You could use cocktail sticks but skewering canapés onto a fork is just so much easier. You can create the perfect bite on the fork already. Here are some ideas from one of our favourites, Jamie Oliver:

• Skewer a piece of prosciutto onto a fork followed by some wild rocket. Drizzle with a few drops of balsamic vinegar on top or even have a serving plate with some olive oil and balsamic vinegar that you can dip the fork into for that perfect bite.
• Put a piece of smoked salmon on the fork followed by a slice of pickled beetroot. Smear some horseradish on top and sprinkle with some fresh watercress. Squeeze a few drops of lemon juice on top to serve.
• Quarter a fig (or you could use a peach or some melon) and pinch a part some buffalo mozzarella. Wrap a slice of parma ham and a mint leaf around it and then skewer it all onto the fork. Drizzle either olive oil or balsamic vinegar over the top.

There are so many scrumptious combinations you can make from what is in your fridge.

This easy and delicious canapé recipe is again from Jamie Oliver.

Ingredients:

• Smoked salmon
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Crème fraîche or yogurt
• Horseradish
• Fresh watercress or capers
• Sliced ciabatta or baguette bread
• Lemon slices

Method:

• Slice your ciabatta or baguette bread a centimetre thick and toast it on a griddle plan or in the oven. Once toasted, drizzle a sprinkle of extra virgin olive oil onto the sliced toast.
• Layer the smoked salmon beautifully on top.
• In a small bowl, mix either crème fraîche or yogurt with some regular horseradish. Season with salt and pepper and squeeze some lemon juice into it. Taste to make sure it’s hot enough.
• Put a small spoonful of the horseradish mix on top of the salmon and top with some cut fresh watercress or alternatively you could top with capers.
• Finish with a sprinkle of olive oil and a squeeze of lemon.

Mix it up and spread the horseradish mix on the toast before you layer the smoked salmon if you prefer it that way. You could use oatcakes instead of bread too. There is no right or wrong way to make these delicious starters.

Inspired by Jamie Oliver’s crostini recipe above, you can make any type of crostini using up what you have in your fridge and cupboard. Here are some ideas below from Tasty.

Savoury Options:

• Brush a little olive oil on your toasted sliced bread. Spread any type of hummus over the bread slice and layer with olives and a drizzle of olive oil. Sprinkle some paprika over it all to serve.
• Spread some pesto over the toasted bread and layer sliced cherry tomatoes and mozzarella balls on top.
• Use goat cheese on your bread slice with some cucumber slices and fresh dill layered on top.

Sweet Options:

• Spread peanut butter on the bread and layer with sliced banana. Sprinkle with dark chocolate chips and a drizzle of honey.
• Sliced pears or apples with a drizzle of honey and a sprinkle of pistachios.
• Mix cream cheese with a sprinkle of sugar and spread it on the bread. Layer with berries and almonds and sprinkle a light dusting of sugar on top.