The simple appetizer shaped like a Christmas tree is spectacular and impressive, easy to prepare and no-cook. Keep your preferred winter ingredients (fruit, fish, cheese, cured meats, vegetables) handy and let your creativity run wild to create an enticing appetizer to amaze your guests.
Winter VEGETABLES (that are eaten raw): #carrots #daikon #turnips #celery
Winter FRUITS (that do not brown in air): #oranges #avocado #vanilla persimmon #carob #citron #strawberry tree fruit #clementines #kiwi #kumquat #tangerines #pomegranate #grapefruit
APPETIZERS for Christmas Eve and holidays
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Medium
- Preparation time: 20 Minutes
- Portions: 6
- Cooking methods: No-cook
- Cuisine: International
- Seasonality: Christmas
- Energy 157.00 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 9.35 (g) of which sugars 2.67 (g)
- Proteins 8.21 (g)
- Fat 10.12 (g) of which saturated 3.79 (g)of which unsaturated 5.37 (g)
- Fibers 1.43 (g)
- Sodium 328.67 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 2 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Quick and Simple Appetizer
- sprigs rosemary (or salty sticks)
- 12 crackers (light)
- 0.88 oz black olives (or green)
- 1.76 oz Parmigiano Reggiano DOP
- 1.23 oz cheese (semi-hard)
- 2.12 oz salami (thin, stick)
- 0.88 oz almonds (or hazelnuts, walnuts)
- 1 carrot
- 1 fresh clementine
- 1 kiwi
- 1 tbsp pomegranate seeds
Tools
- Cutting Board
- Parchment Paper
Simple Appetizer – Christmas Tree
Choose a cutting board (or a rectangular plate) to assemble the Christmas tree appetizer, I recommend placing a piece of parchment paper on the wood to prevent it from getting dirty.
Arrange the triangular shape of the tree with sprigs of rosemary (or breadsticks).
Prepare all the ingredients you want to place within the rosemary frame.
Cut cheese stars with a cookie cutter, or make a paper star template to cut the cheese around.
For the trunk, use crackers, croutons, taralli, salty sticks, or a piece of carob.
Fill the shape according to personal taste.
Finally, sprinkle with pomegranate seeds, cranberries, pine nuts, small rosemary or thyme sprigs, or cheese stars (made with a cookie cutter).
CHEESE: compact cheese cubes, smoked scamorza, diced Parmigiano or spicy gorgonzola.
FRUIT (only those that do not oxidize): clementine wedges, tangerines, orange or grapefruit slices, avocado rounds, apple persimmon, citron or kiwi, chestnuts, strawberry tree fruit, kumquat, carob pieces, nuts (peanuts, almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, pistachios) or dried fruits (apricots, dried figs, cranberries). Out of season or non-local: grape berries, pineapple cubes, berries, cashews, dates.
FISH: smoked salmon, trout, or swordfish.
DELI MEATS: sliced meats, thin salami, diced cooked ham or mortadella.
VEGETABLES: carrot sticks, daikon or fennel pieces, celery stalks, turnip slices or Jerusalem artichoke, pitted black or green olives, pickles (gherkins, pearl onions) or in oil (artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes). Out of season: cherry tomatoes.
IMPORTANT: it is best to place ingredients that may stain in small bowls.
STORAGE
The Christmas Tree Appetizer can be stored for up to half a day; it is recommended to prepare it the same day and keep it in the fridge covered with cling film until ready to serve.
