So you have a party coming up and you need to sort out some food. Are you overwhelmed by the thought? Confused about what to make and the quantities you need? Do you have guests who have allergies and are you worried about possibly making them unwell?
It doesn’t matter if you use soft or hard cheese. The most important thing is that they should taste delicious. Add seasonings such as pepper, garlic, herbs and spices to make them more interesting.
This is one of the easiest ways to serve appetisers. All you need to do is to place vegetables on plates. The choice of vegetable depends on the occasion.
For example, if you are having a picnic, you can choose carrots, broccoli, peas, sweet potatoes, lettuce, cauliflower. In contrast, a nice winter idea is roasted root vegetables serves with a salsa verde.
Everyone loves crudities, so get that veg out and get slicing.
This mix plate consists of a variety of ingredients that people can mix and match as the mood takes them. Examples include corn chips, peanuts, jicama, pickles, pretzels, pita bread, tortilla chips, popcorn, nachos, pizza crust, waffle dough and simple salads.
Talking of nachos and tortilla chips, have you thought of giving your food a theme – like Mexican? Check out our Mexican Foods Catering Ideas.
5- Fruit Salad Platter
A fruit salad platter may sound dull, but far from it. There are so many variations that you can rustle up.
One option is to go tropical with mangoes, pineapple, bananas, papaya and exotic dragonfruit. Or you could present jewelled bowls of different berries, like blueberries, strawberries and raspberries.
Our top tip is to go with whatever is in season.
6- Sushi Rice Bowl
If you plan a sushi dinner, you can create a unique rice bowl using the same ingredients used to make sushi rolls. Then, you can sprinkle sesame seeds over the top of it.
This is one of the simplest dishes to make, but the results are excellent.
To create the perfect dip, you must remember that the yoghurt needs to be at room temperature before you start mixing it together with other ingredients.
Some ingredients that go well with yoghurt dip are sliced bell peppers, carrot, onion, celery, mushrooms, sunflower seeds and pistachio nuts.
Sunflower seeds are an important ingredient in the healthy eaters favourite addition to smoothies and breakfast bowls, LSA. You can read more about LSA here.
These cheesy bites are a great finger food idea. If you are looking for something simple, try this recipe.
Just take two types of cheese (eg. cheddar and cheshire), spread them onto bread or crackers, bake them until golden brown, and then cut them into bite-sized pieces.
Mini meatballs are another of our best finger food platter ideas.
You can use chicken, beef, lamb, pork, turkey, veal, seafood, ground sausage, or even tofu.
Would you like to serve food warm at your event? Well, it’s easy to keep meatballs or anything else hot with these elegant ALPHA LIVING Chafing Dishes
A few suggestions for you to consider are to cover them with a matching sauce – tomato, marinara, barbecue, chilli , honey mustard, tartar, curry, pesto, ranch dressing, teriyaki, spicy peanut. The choice is almost endless.
Deviled eggs are a classic retro appetiser that are really making a comeback. And no wonder. They are easy to prepare, extremely versatile and, most importantly, delicious.
Messy, but fun, chicken wings always go down well at a party. Just make sure you offer your guest napkins for their greasy fingers and somewhere to leave any bones.
Serve with any additional sauces, such as sweet and/or hot pepper sauce.
13- Cream Cheese Puff Pastry
This is one of the easiest ways to enjoy finger foods. Simply line a baking dish with puff pastry dough.
Top it with cream cheese filling, then bake until golden brown. Garnish each serving with fresh fruit and serve immediately.
Ribbon sandwiches are one of the classic finger food platter ideas for multiple reasons.
Firstly, they are easy to make. Just prepare a round of sandwiches, cut the crusts off (save them to my your own breadcrumbs) and slice them into neat rectangles.
Secondly, they are incredibly adaptable. You can go with whatever filling you like – my current favourite is chopped poached chicken with mayo, herbs, capers and lemon zest. Yum! What’s more, you can even vary your choice of bread – white, wholemeal, sourdough, rye, gluten-free, seeded. There are so many options.
Thirdly, unless you are knocking out lobster and caviar sangas, sandwiches are be fabulously budget-friendly.
These garlic breadsticks are quick and easy finger food. Cut off thin slices of bread, dip them in melted butter, sprinkle them with freshly minced garlic, and dust them with Parmesan cheese.
Then bake them at 350 degrees F for about 10 minutes.
Take a large pot and fill it with water. Boil pretzels over high heat for about 5 minutes.
Affordable and practical, these DOWAN 9.5″ Serving Bowls look great and hold plenty of food – from Thanksgiving sides to chips and pretzels at a party.
Drain them and toss with oil. Sprinkle it with salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes.
Alternatively, dip them in chocolate for a sweet treat.
American cuisine has some great finger food platter ideas. Corn dogs are really popular state-side and we pretty sure they could catch on here in Australia as well. Especially at a kid’s Birthday Party.
18- French Toast Sticks
The best way to eat these finger foods is to use a fork. Dip them in maple syrup, cinnamon sugar, powdered sugar, or sprinkles, then toast them under your broiler or grill.
French toast is often considered a breakfast food. If you’re wanting some nutritious ideas to start your day, see our Healthy Breakfast Bowls.
19 – Carrots And Hummus
Carrots and hummus are a flavour combination that will make you smile. These two ingredients work well together, but then hummus is wonderful in lots of other pairings as well. Some of our go-tos are celery sticks, rice cakes, pita bread, capsicum strips and cauliflower florets.
Peanut butter bars were once considered the “poor man’s dessert.” Well not anymore.
Just make sure that no one has a peanut allergy better you launch into baking a batch.
Tips For Hiring A Catering Team
There are several things you need to consider before hiring a catering team. Here are some tips that will help ensure the success of your event:
Firstly, ensure you check reviews online for previous clients who may have had an unsatisfactory experience with your chosen caterer. It is essential to know what their service was like before deciding which one to use.
Also, read as much information about them as possible. The more you know about the company, the better decisions you will make regarding hiring them. You could also ask friends and family members who have used similar companies.
They might even recommend other caterers if they have been satisfied with their past experiences.
Secondly, make sure you research how long they have been operating. If the company hasn’t been around for very long, this would suggest that they aren’t fully established yet or perhaps don’t have enough skills or resources to provide excellent service.
Additionally, it will probably be harder for them to find new customers since they are unfamiliar with most people. Therefore, if they are new to the business, they may lack confidence, so choose a reputable company.
The next thing you should look into is their menu. Look at each item individually to see if it sounds appealing. If a dish doesn’t sound good, it probably isn’t going to taste good either.
Choose dishes that are popular and likely to go over well with guests. Try to avoid items that are too expensive or complicated. This would mean fewer orders and therefore less money for you.
Finally, make sure you discuss their budget with them beforehand. It is best to stick within the same price range as others to keep costs down. For example, a low-cost option usually includes basic food, whereas a higher-priced option would offer more elaborate meals.
You will want to strike a balance between these options to maximise profits without breaking the bank.
Conclusion
To conclude, finger food platters aren’t challenging to make. The most important thing here is to create exciting plates that people will want to eat. Remember that you may not be able to prepare a gourmet meal when hosting a small party.
However, if you provide tasty finger foods, guests will be happy to come back and visit again. So, don’t worry about having too many options; just focus on creating delicious dishes that everyone will love.
When it comes to great places to eat in Australia, the list really is endless. There are so many different restaurants, cafés, and chains to try that you really are spoiled for choice. From Italian food, to Japanese food, to a good ‘ole rump steak, the food options are endless.
This is why I decided to set up my blog, Eatability, to share the best food and drink spots in Australia with as many people as possible. Hi, my name is Dylan Cole, and I moved to Australia five years ago from England, UK.
Through this blog, I will be sharing and recommending some of my favorite places you need to visit, such as where to find the best pizza in Adelaide, and the best bakery in Brisbane. Whatever food you are fancying, I have got you covered!
