If you’re inviting friends and family over for Christmas drinks, the emphasis should be on spending time talking to them, not slaving away in the kitchen listening to how much fun everyone is having in the next room.
The good news is all the ingredients for these simple but stunning festive canapes are available at Aldi. What’s more, they can be prepared up to two days ahead, and assembled a few minutes before your guests walk in the door, so you can just sit back and enjoy the compliments.
You can double, triple or halve the quantities as needed, and even put the uncooked pasties in the freezer and pull them out when unexpected visitors arrive – they’ll just need an extra 10 minutes in the oven.
Blue cheese pate with candied walnuts on rosemary crackers
For the walnuts
100g walnut pieces
25 butter
1 tbsp caster sugar
For the cheese pate
400g full fat soft cheese
350g Caledonian blue cheese, crumbled
Ground black pepper
To serve
Rosemary crackers
Serves 8
Method
First, candy the walnut pieces. In a heavy, non-stick frying pan, melt the butter, then add the sugar and walnuts, stirring continuously until the sugar has melted and coated the nuts and turning golden. Transfer to a baking tray lined with parchment, then set aside to cool.
To make the pate, whip the cream cheese with an electric whisk until fluffy and smooth, then add in the blue cheese, mixing until incorporated but still with a few chunks of cheese. Season with some black pepper, then chill in the fridge until you need it.
To serve, roughly chop half the candied walnuts, then stir through the cheese mix. Put a large spoonful on a cracker, then top with a couple of the reserved walnut pieces. Repeat with the rest of the crackers and mixture or, alternatively, put the blue cheese and walnut mix in a bowl and top with the remaining walnuts, with a pile of crackers on the side for people to serve themselves.
Mini crab, leek and dill pasties
2 small potatoes, cubed
1 tbsp butter
1 leek, diced
2 tbsp creme fraiche
1 tsp dijon mustard
1 dressed crab, defrosted, meat picked - try Aldi Specially Selected Whole Cooked Crab, 500g, £3.99
½ bunch dill, finely chopped
Salt and black pepper
375g ready-made shortcrust pastry
1 egg, beaten
Serves 8-10
Method
First, cook the potatoes in boiling salted water for around 5 minutes, until tender, then drain.
Melt the butter in a non-stick frying pan, then add the leek and cook over a medium heat for around 10 minutes, until softened, then add the potato cubes. Remove from the heat, then stir in the creme fraiche, mustard, crab and dill with plenty of seasoning. Allow to cool.
Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/gas mark 4, then roll out the pastry to around ½ cm thick, then cut 8-10 circles, roughly 10cm in diameter. Put a spoonful of the filling in the centre of each, then damp the edges of the circle with water and fold one half of the pastry over the other to form a half moon shape, pinching together to close around the filling.
Brush each with a little beaten egg, then put on a tray lined with baking paper and cook for 30-35 minutes, until crisp and golden. Serve immediately, or allow to cool and keep in an airtight container until ready to eat later that day.
For the crab pasties, include product info “Specially Selected Whole Cooked Crab” £3.99 500g (in store now)
Parmesan wafers with sun-dried mozzarella and parma ham
150g parmesan, grated
Ground black pepper
8 sun-dried tomatoes, halved
125g mozzarella, cubed
8 strips of parma ham, halved lengthways - try Aldi Specially Selected 24 Month Matured Parma Ham Platter, 150g, £2.99 (on sale from 19 December)
Makes 16
Method
Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/gas mark 4. Line a large baking tray with baking paper, then using an 8cm biscuit cutter to keep the circles neat, scatter a tablespoon or so of cheese inside the cutter, then scatter over a little black pepper.
Repeat until the tray is full, leaving 2cm space between each crisp; you’ll most likely have to cook these in batches. Put in the oven for 5 minutes, until the cheese is bubbling and golden, turning browner at the edges. Remove from the oven and allow to cool and crisp up. At this stage, they will keep well in an airtight container for a couple of days.
When you are ready to serve, top each crisp with half a sundried tomato, a cube of mozzarella and a strip of parma ham.
Perfect wine matches
The Exquisite Collection Clare Valley Riesling 2014 is upbeat and invigorating white wine. Excellent with lighter nibbles and shellfish, such as prawns with sweet chilli sauce, Thai chicken baskets, mini soufflés or quiche.
The Exquisite Collection Malbec 2014 offers great value for money and a real depth of flavour. This appealing red wine is perfect with richer meatier nibbles, like duck straws in filo pastry or British pies.
Philippe Michel Crémant du Jura 2012 is a top-notch bottle of fizz buzzing with brightness. Made in the same way as champagne, but available at a far more palatable price, it’s outstanding with lighter nibbles; refreshing without being sharp as well as offering a tiny smoky touch.
Read Aldi’s tips and tricks for planning the perfect festive party.
