Last-Minute Hosting? These Elegant Summer Snacks Need Just 15 Minutes And Zero Panic
In the summer, hosting a party seems like a good idea—until the oven rises in temperature for the whole kitchen, people show up early, and your drink station feels more like a juice bar at rush hour. In your haste to perfect the cocktails (ice ratios, glassware, garnishes), the munchies take a back seat. When dishes become clumsy and presentation becomes whatever isn't burnt, mayhem ensues.
The meals and beverages are not the issue. Multitasking is the key. Juggling muddled mint, chilling glasses, and making flaky phyllo bits can be easy with planning. Here are a few snacks and hacks to make a well-suited pairing for the cocktail served.
Summer Snacks In Just 15 Minutes
Grilled Peach And Burrata Toasts
For a quick snack, try these grilled peach and burrata toasts. They sound fancy, but they're really quite easy to make. Without using an oven or any fuss, begin by slicing sourdough bread and quickly crisping the edges in a pan. Meanwhile, use a grill pan to cook sliced ripe peaches rapidly. Cooking time is reduced for ripe fruit, and grill marks become visible in less than three minutes. Remove from the stove and set aside to assemble.
Cocktail Suggestion For The Right Pairing:
Make a strawberry rhubarb gin cocktail to go with it. The blend of creamy, fruity, and tangy flavours in this snack and drink makes it well-balanced.
- A cocktail made of 15 ml of dry gin, 10 ml of fresh strawberry juice, 15 ml of rhubarb syrup, and 15 ml of lime juice. Garnish with a coupe glass and shake with ice.
- Use a strawberry skewer or rhubarb ribbon as a garnish.
Zucchini Corn Fritters With Lemon Yogurt Dip
The phrase "low-effort, high-reward" best describes these zucchini corn fritters. No peeling is required; just grate the zucchini, drain excess water, and combine with corn, flour, and spices. Drop spoonfuls into a nonstick pan with oil and cook for approximately 2 minutes on each side. As they cook, make a simple lemon yoghurt dip with plain yoghurt, lemon juice, and salt.
Cocktail Suggestion For The Right Pairing:
Serve it alongside an elderflower and cucumber cooler. In contrast to the flowery cucumber elderflower cocktail, the fritters are crunchy, slightly sweet, and made with fresh ingredients. The earthy fritters balance off the frothy drink with the zesty lemon dip.
- Mix 15 ml of dry gin, 15 ml of cucumber juice, 15 ml of elderflower cordial, and 10 ml of lime juice.
- Pour into a highball glass after shaking with ice.
Spicy Mango Chilli Cups
Snack cups like these are robust in taste. Dice ripe mangoes (the juicier, the better), and combine with chilli flakes, lime juice, and a bit of salt. Divide among individual cups and garnish with crumbled tortilla chips or puffy rice for crunchiness. Save time by using pre-cut mango or even chunks that have been frozen and thawed. If you're going for drama, sprinkle with tamarind or spicy syrup.
Cocktail Suggestion For The Right Pairing:
Then try it with a spritz of mint and lime. The drink maintains its fizz, while the mango-chilli cup is rich and textural.
- Whisk together 15 ml of white rum, 30 ml of carbonated water, 15 ml of lime juice, and 10 ml of mint syrup.
- Combine all ingredients in a large drink with ice.
- Top with mint leaves for garnish.
Mini Pita Pizzas With Herby Cheese
Gather several small pitas and quickly apply some herbed cream cheese on top. Add half of a cherry tomato and thinly sliced bell peppers. You may use store-bought herbed cream cheese or make your own by blending parsley, chives, and lemon zest. Bake or cook in an air fryer for 5 to 6 minutes, or until they start to turn a little golden. To save time, use pre-cut vegetables and cheese spread instead of making your own.
Cocktail Suggestion For The Right Pairing:
Goes well with a grapefruit fizz with basil.
- Shake together 15 ml of dry gin, 15 ml of grapefruit juice, and 10 ml of basil syrup, and then add 10 ml of soda water.
- Shake well and pour into an ice-filled rocks glass.
- Place a basil leaf on top.
Paneer Skewers With Coriander Chutney
If you're short on time but yet want to make a rich snack, here's a recipe that will do the trick. Cube the paneer and combine it with the yoghurt, coriander powder, and chilli flakes. Toss to combine. Skewer the mixture and cook it for 7 to 8 minutes, turning once, on a pan grill or in an air fryer. Combine fresh coriander, green chilli, garlic, and lime juice, or use pre-made coriander chutney. Paneer doesn't require extended periods of heat and absorbs flavours as it cooks, so there's no need to marinate it for hours.
Cocktail Suggestion For The Right Pairing:
- To complement, try a coriander lime gimlet. Blend together 15 ml of dry gin, 10 ml of lime juice, and 15 ml of coriander syrup in a shaker filled with ice.
- Pour into a coupe glass and top with a wheel of lime.
5 Bonus Hacks To Last-Minute Hosting
Double-Duty Garnishes
When you give garnishes many purposes, they become more than just an addition to your drink. Consider garnishing your mojito cocktail with a sprig of mint and serving it on a cheese platter for a presentation. Why limit garnishes to just one dish when they can steal the show in so many? If you want to save a tonne of time and avoid having to make separate garnishes for your snacks and beverages, use the same one. For example, lemon twists add a zest to cocktails and snack platters, balancing the flavours.
Layer Snacks In Mini Cups Or Jars
Snacks served in little jars and cups are a nice idea for any gathering. Already portioned and presented food is a time-saver, isn't it? An alternative that is both functional and presentable is to stack snacks in little cups or jars, from fruit salads and yoghurt parfaits to chips and dips. Not only does serving food in individual cups or jars keep dishes clean, but it also makes it easy for recipients to take what they want. On top of that, they are photogenic.
Use Similar Syrups
Without any effort, syrups can make your nibbles and cocktails seem more balanced. The single use of syrup in both your beverages and snacks creates cohesion. When you drizzle citrus syrup over roasted nuts after mixing it with a cocktail, for instance, all the flavours, when served together, become layered. Whether it’s berry, citrus, or even floral, picking one syrup to fulfil the dual job of drink and snack keeps your prep time short. One bottle of syrup is all you need, eliminating the need to have a plethora of open bottles and the associated clutter.
Air-fry Instead Of Deep-Frying
The days of fretting about making a greasy mess by drenching your food with oil are over. Without the mess or time commitment of traditional deep-frying, you can get the same golden, crispy taste with an air fryer. Plus, what's great? Fries, onion rings, and samosas may be made quickly and easily with little oil and no mess at all. Anyone looking for a more convenient way to get the crispy texture of deep-fried food will find air-frying to be a well-suited alternative. You may simply throw your goodies into the air fryer and walk away while serving a cocktail. Most air fryers are automatic with a timer that lets you multitask.
Baking Before The Event
Never again will you have to dash around the kitchen in a panic to finish cooking in time for your visitors' arrival. You may put more effort into the drinks, the ambience, and the event when you make the snacks in advance. When baked, snacks have more time to set into their textures, which enhances their flavour when served. Before your next get-together, what kinds of food are you planning to bake?
Planning ahead of time makes sure everything is considered, which lessens anxiety and prevents chaos at the last minute. When you have a well-defined plan, you confidently and precisely carry out your duties as a host.
Also Read: Hosting An After-Match Party: 5 Cocktail And Snack Pairings To Mark The Game
Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.
