Easy Recipes For Party Finger Food
Healthy Make-in Minutes Dips and Tips for Serving Ideas
Delicious and healthy dips with a hummus base, these recipes are so easy to make ahead of time. Great ideas for presentation and what to serve with them too.
Party finger food means
- small pieces
- nothing too sloppy that could drip or run down your shirt
- tasty, tasty, tasty
Try these easy recipes for finger-licking flavour filled party dips which are variations on the basic hummus theme. Your vegetarian friends will be enchanted and the carnivores won’t miss the meat at all.
They can all be made 3 or 4 days in advance and stored in glass jars in the fridge. Take them out of the fridge for a couple of hours before serving as they really do taste best at room temperature.
Basic Hummus RecipeThis is the basic recipe for homemade hummus, but the quantities can be altered to suit individual taste. More lemon juice or garlic can be added after blending. If a different consistency is wanted, try adding a little less or more water, a teaspoonful at a time.
Ingredients
- 200g or 7oz can or jar of chickpeas (Dried chickpeas can be used if soaked overnight)
- 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 crushed or finely chopped garlic cloves
- Generous tbsp tahini (sesame seed paste)
- 4 tbsp water
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Pinch of paprika
Method
1. Drain the chickpeas and rinse.
2. In a food processor, combine the chickpeas, lemon juice, garlic, tahini, and water and blend until smooth.
3. Add more lemon juice to taste.
4. Spoon into a bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with paprika.
Now create variations:
Healthy Herb Hummus
- After blending, when the hummus is smooth, add half a cup of finely chopped mint, half a cup of chopped parsley and 2 heaped teaspoons of green pesto.
- Whiz for a few seconds to mix evenly.
- Spoon into a bowl and sprinkle chopped parsley over it. Place on a small tray covered with tin foil. Heap raw carrot sticks, chunky cucumber slices and celery in neat piles around the bowl.
Avocado Hummus
- Before blending, add 1 ripe mashed avocado, 1/4 cup of finely chopped onion and pinch of salt.
- Serve with hot garlic bread cut into small slices for easy dipping.
Spicy Hummus
- Before blending, add 1 tbsp finely chopped spring onion, 1 finely chopped sun-dried tomato, 1 finely chopped dried red chilli (Add more or less depending on preference. Remember that the seeds are the hottest part, and always wash your hands immediately after chopping as chillies can irritate the skin and will burn the eyes if you then touch them.)
- Serve in a bowl or shallow dish surrounded with small wedges of tomato. Fill a breadbasket with warm pitta bread or triangles of toast to offer for dipping.
Cheesy Hummus
- After blending, add 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese, 1 tsp cumin and a pinch of salt.
- Serve in a rinsed and dried lettuce leaf placed inside a bowl. Sprinkle finely chopped spring onions over the top and serve with potato chips or tortilla chips.
Here is another easy recipe for a delicious Baked Rice dish.
