While hosting a gathering for family and friends during the holidays, food becomes a priority to look into and plan ahead of time. Having hors de ouvres that are warm, familiar, seasonal and elevated can keep everyone fed amidst the merry-making and socialising—focusing on simple ingredients and easy techniques that yield quick results. Usha’s Sandwich Griller enables the host to make fresh batches of an assortment of savoury as well as sweet bites while mingling and juggling hosting duties. Besides, miniature sandwiches are portable, making them food that people can hold while moving around the space. Innovate and experiment with various flavours and combinations to dole out some elegant but mouthwatering appetisers.
Truffle Grilled Cheese
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For a sophisticated holiday spread, make this four-ingredient sandwich by combining cheese, chilli flakes and a few drops of truffle oil to stuff into a delicious bread of choice. The fancy bite can be garnished with some chopped parsley and upgrade a nostalgic snack. Serve it hot off the grill or as part of a grazing board with a host of condiments like a creamy mushroom pate, berry preserve or even a homemade hot honey dip.
Christmas Roast Tartine
Unlike most closed sandwiches, a tartine is an open sandwich with toppings galore—much like this one loaded with shredded roast chicken, bacon jam and shredded lettuce. Opt to build the filling over a sturdy slice of bread such as rye or sourdough. Swap the chicken or turkey for shredded pork or even a tofu scramble. Spruce up the tartine with microgreens or cherry tomato halves to imbue a bit of festive colour into the canape.
Tuna Tartare Melt
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In a creative fusion of Japanese and American flavours, the tartare melt is a seafood lover’s treat. Toss fresh tuna bits with some soy sauce, wasabi and cheese before flash grilling it in some old-school milk bread. Perfect as it is, the sandwich bite is also delicious with a spicy aioli or pickled vegetables. The pungency of the wasabi is muted by the cheese but delivers flavour nevertheless.
Pizza Sliders
Some flavour combinations are always welcome and anything that tastes remotely like pizza is sure to be a hit. Add a smidge of tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese and some fresh basil to squares of toasted baguette before warming it up until the cheese is gooey. For extra spice, add a slice of pepperoni or drizzle of chilli crisp before grilling the bite-sized snacks. With the handheld satisfaction of an appetiser and the taste of pizza, make sure to have extras handy.
Ham And Cheese Toastie
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When one runs out of ideas, opt for the classic way that remains a timeless popular favourite across age groups. To give it a gourmet spin, innovate with various meat and cheese combinations such as prosciutto and Gruyere, glazed ham and provolone or even shredded pork and cheddar. What makes this bite extra delicious is to switch out the dipping sauce for a rich, savoury gravy.
S’mores Squares
A textural delight—the s’mores square is a deliciously decadent bite of a dark chocolate square, wheat cracker and marshmallow pressed into brioche bread. Take it a step further for seasonality by dipping it in a cinnamon-flavoured egg custard to give it the soft-crisp bite of French toast. The toasted marshmallow gives the bite a charred depth which contrasts the mellow bittersweetness of the chocolate and crunch from the cracker.