(BPT) – Holiday parties are a great excuse to get everyone together and celebrate each other and the season. As much fun as they are, hosting a gathering can be a lot of work when you have to plan a menu, decorate and clean.
Time in the kitchen doesn’t have to be stressful. You and your family can work together to make the following homemade appetizers that will elevate your holiday season get-togethers.
1. Spring rolls
Spring rolls are a delicious appetizer to serve your guests as they settle in. Stocking frozen spring rolls to heat up at home eliminates the need to run to a restaurant and makes preparation quick and easy. SeaPak’s Shrimp Spring Rolls are a great choice because they can be made in the oven, on the stove or in an air-fryer. Consider brushing some barbeque sauce over them before serving or giving your guests an assortment of condiments and dipping sauces so they can enjoy the flavors of shrimp and crispy vegetables any way they like.
2. Bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers
If you’re looking for a savory food with a bit of heat, try making bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers. These cream-cheese-filled, bite-sized delights are always a party favorite, easy to make and craveable. If you want to decrease the heat, try a more mild pepper like poblano.
3. Cheese and garlic pull-apart bread
Cheese and garlic pull-apart bread is simple to make and serve. It’s as easy as taking a loaf of bread, scoring the top half with cross sections much like a tic-tac-toe board, and adding as much cheese and garlic as you like. Then, bake it to melt the cheese, and serve it on a platter for your guests to rip apart and devour. You can even experiment with different types of cheeses and breads. Because of its simplicity, this appetizer is easily customizable.
4. Caprese bites
This refreshing appetizer only requires three ingredients: fresh mozzarella balls, cherry tomatoes and basil leaves. You can either cut up the components and stack them on top of each other or use toothpicks or skewers to make it easy for friends and family to snack and chat while mingling around your living room. If you want to spruce it up, add a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar reduction over the bites along with a sprinkle of Italian seasoning.
5. Coconut shrimp dippers
Coconut shrimp is easy to find at most supermarkets and is a fun finger food you can serve at your holiday party. Once baked, you can set them on a plate along with bowls of orange marmalade sauce and coconut curry for your guests to dip into and enjoy!
Below is a recipe for Thai coconut curry shrimp dippers that takes as little as 20 minutes to make. Even if you’re short on time, you can quickly make this appetizer in a pinch and enjoy the compliments you’ll receive for this sweet and savory treat.
Thai coconut curry shrimp dippers
Prep time: 10 minutes; Cook time: 10 minutes; Makes 5 servings
Ingredients
1 10-ounce package SeaPak Jumbo Coconut Shrimp
1/2 cup Thai coconut milk
1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter
1 tablespoon fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
1 teaspoon Madras curry powder
1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce (if desired)
1 packet orange marmalade sauce (included in package)
Directions
Prepare the shrimp according to package directions.
Heat the milk, peanut butter, cilantro, curry powder and hot pepper sauce in a 1-quart saucepan over low heat.
Cook and stir until the ingredients are mixed. Do not boil or the mixture will curdle.
Pour coconut curry sauce into a small bowl for serving.
Empty orange marmalade sauce packet into a separate small bowl for serving.
Serve the shrimp with sauces for dipping.
To find this and other recipes for your next holiday get-together, visit seapak.com.