New Year Party Ideas

Are you ready for 2022? New Year’s Eve parties are some of the most wildly anticipated gatherings of the year. For food, quick bites tend to be more popular for NYE parties — it avoids the big feast food coma, keeps the party going all the way till midnight, and gives your guests a free hand for drinks! 

As we countdown to a new year, here are 9 delicious and non-boring finger food recipes for that countdown gathering you’re planning. While small in size, they truly make up for it in flavour and deliciousness. 

– Savoury –

1. Five Spice Calamari with Wasabi Mayo  

The Netflix series Squid Game was HUGE in 2021, and in the same way, this recipe will certainly be a hit at your gathering. It has the intense flavours of the five-spice powder, not to mention a knockout wasabi mayo sauce. Combine that with the crispiness and you’ve got an addictive addition to your party menu. To achieve maximum crisp, fry in smaller batches and heat in the air-fryer before serving. 

Recipe: https://themeatmen.org/five-spice-calamari-with-wasabi-mayo/

Preparation Time: 15 minutes. Serves 4.

2. Deep Fried Oysters

Forget fish nuggets — take your NYE party to the next level with deep-fried, golden-brown oysters. With a basic deep-fry method using fresh (or frozen) oysters, an egg wash and panko breadcrumbs, you’ll get bite-sized goodness fit to welcome 2022. Serve hot with a squeeze of fresh lemon. 

Recipe: https://themeatmen.org/deep-fried-oysters/ 

Preparation Time: 5 minutes. Serves 4.

3. Air-fryer Stuffed YouTiao 

You may have tried our churro recipe over Christmas, but this “chinese churro” makes for a satisfying bite that will leave your guests wanting more. After all, what’s better than a combination of seafood paste, chunks of fresh prawns and piping hot you tiao? We’ve also included the recipe for a sambal mayo dip to go with this easy yet tantalising dish. 

Recipe: https://themeatmen.org/air-fryer-series-stuffed-youtiao/ 

Preparation Time: 30 minutes. Serves 3.

4. Easy Canapes

We take a break from the fried food to introduce not one, not two, but three canape recipes for your NYE party. Canapes often look like they belong in high-class settings, but they’re actually easy to prepare and will be adored both visually and in terms of flavour. Choose from grilled wagyu, seared scallops and portobello caprese — or do all three! 

Recipe: https://themeatmen.org/christmas-canapes-3x/ 

Preparation Time: 30 minutes. Serves 3.

5. Kueh Pie Tee 

A truly Singapore classic for gatherings, you can’t go wrong serving up Kueh Pie Tee at your NYE party. In fact, if you want to save on the preparation work, you can simply prepare the ingredients and set up a fun DIY station for your guests! Just be sure to make the shells and have toppings like egg, prawns and nuts ready to serve. 

Recipe: https://themeatmen.org/kueh-pie-tee/ 

Preparation Time: 1 hour 30 mins. Serves 30.

6. Belacan Fried Chicken 

For this family favourite, we combine the uniquely Asian spicy flavour with the crisp and juiciness of fried chicken wings and drumlets. With the sambal shrimp dip, it definitely one-ups the hot wings that you find off the shelf and will be the talk of the party. For an audible crunch, we recommend you double-fry the chicken and go all-out this New Year’s. 

Recipe: https://themeatmen.org/belacan-fried-chicken/ 

Preparation Time: 1 hour. Serves 4.

– Sweet –

7. Kueh Dadar

After savoury snacks, a sweet treat like Kueh Dadar will be most welcomed. We include this in this list for both its bite-sized simplicity and delicious pandan and gula melaka flavours. The pandan crepes are the star of the show, but don’t worry too much about getting them perfect! As long as it is not too thick, they’ll look picture perfect once rolled up. 

Check out more Peranakan recipes here

Recipe: https://themeatmen.org/kueh-dadar/ 

Preparation Time: 1 hour 30 mins. Serves 12.

8. Guinness Stout Brownies

What’s a NYE party without some alcohol-infused food? This one will be a favourite especially with the adults. Elevate your brownies with this special recipe that makes use of stout to balance out the rich chocolate, and top with powdered sugar or raspberries for an amazing pop of flavour. 

Recipe: https://themeatmen.org/guinness-stout-brownies/ 

Preparation Time: 30 mins. Serves 8-inch tray.

9. Osmanthus Jelly

This dessert looks almost too beautiful to eat — almost. A refreshing dessert option, using the osmanthus flowers has a light fragrance to complement the richness of the other food items on the menu. We also include wolfberries and water chestnuts to round out the dessert. It’s breathtakingly beautiful, fit for a party to usher in the new year. 

Or grab your favourite pre-made chrysanthemum tea drink and use this 4 ingredient recipe instead.

Recipe:https://themeatmen.org/osmanthus_jelly/ 

Preparation Time: 2 hours 10 mins. Serves 4.

Finger Food Ideas

Who said finger food has to be boring? Instead of just serving the usual cocktail sausage, try something new this year and impress anyone. Whether you’re going for a sweet or savoury item, these finger food ideas will steal the show. 

Share your NYE party creations and countdown moments on our Meatmen FB Cooking Community, and of course, comment if there are any recipes you’d like to see in 2022! 

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More recipes you might like: 

• Jjapaguri with Steak
• Siew Mai
• Chocolate Chip Cookies

P.S. We’ve got recipes for all your Singaporean and Asian favourites on our Youtube channel. Subscribe and share with your friends!

P.P.S. Can’t find a recipe you like? Drop us a comment or ping us on our socials. 

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