FINGER FOOD FOR PARTY
It’s the holiday season! December’s my favourite month of the year, because I get the opportunity to meet up with tons of family and friends over heaps of food and feel the warmth of community.
For all the end-of-year parties and potlucks, we’ve got you 10 easy finger food recipes that would be welcomed at any celebration. And we promise they’re all so good, your guests would be licking their fingers after. (Can I mention that for an embarrassingly long period of my life, I thought this was the reason why finger food was named finger food?)
1. AIR FRYER LOADED BAKED POTATOES
‘Tis the season (or rather, when will it not be the season?) for some Air Fryer Loaded Baked Potatoes. With crispy bacon, sour cream, and a medley of cheeses lying atop a fluffy baked potato bed, this recipe is sure to impress both family and friends.
Recipe: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CxIP8_7B6hO
Preparation Time: 30 mins. Serves 3 to 4 pax.
2. Shrimp Toast
If you’re looking to snack on something that only takes 15 minutes to make, we present you with our iconic Shrimp Toast recipe! We employed a little hack of using store-bought prawn paste to shorten preparation time, ensuring you get to spend less time in the kitchen and more with your loved ones.
Have leftover prawn paste? Try chucking them in the freezer and bringing them back during Chinese New Year. Everyone knows prawn paste is a hotpot favourite.
Recipe: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CslIXgmvwkR
Preparation Time: 15 mins. Serves 1 to 2 pax.
3. Air Fryer Otah
This banana-leaf-wrapped parcel is a gift to our taste buds. Spicy, tender fish meat with a hint of coconut milk, our Air Fryer Otah is a favourite across all ages.
Otah’s not your typical finger food, so you may have been surprised it made the list. But it does fit all the finger food criteria: it’s bite-sized, and there’s no plates, no mess. (You’ll just need a dustbin on hand to throw the leaves away later.)
Plus, remember the prawn paste from earlier? You can also use that to substitute the prawns used in this recipe for an extra speedy prep.
Recipe: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CsatLfIuO_y
Preparation Time: 30 mins. Serves 3 to 4 pax.
4. Chicken or Vegan Satay
Picture this: Succulent chicken grilled to perfection on a stick, covered in a thick layer of rich, nutty sauce. In this version, our Chicken Satay is now made easy in an air fryer.
And because every feast deserves to cater to diverse tastes, we’ve also crafted a vegan-friendly rendition using Tau Kwa, ensuring everyone around the table gets a taste of our iconic Singaporean dish.
Love skewers? We’ve also got a recipe for Yakitori below — keep scrolling!
Recipe: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CrQJIvoN9dT/
Preparation Time: 45 mins. Serves 3 to 4 pax.
5. Spanakopita Parcels
Charlotte’s version of Spanakopita Parcels are fun little packages of spinach and feta cheese neatly packed into a little flower-shaped pastry! Each bite of flaky goodness brings the earthiness of the spinach together with the creamy, tangy notes of feta.
These cute little Greek bakes are also packed with nutrition, so if you’re looking for a healthier finger food alternative, Spanakopita is the recipe to try this season.
Recipe: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cob1qN8rGak
Preparation Time: 50 mins. Serves 4 to 5 pax.
6. Homemade Chicken Nuggets
It’s the season of giving, and what’s a better way to share joy than a huge plate of Homemade Chicken Nuggets?
With Chef Shen’s recipe, we’ve got you the ultimate hack for a quick and tasty snack — in under 5 minutes! How? We used frozen French fries in our recipe, that not only saves time but also adds a crispy kick that takes your nugget game to the next level.
Recipe: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CoJuEtbB_mN
Preparation Time: 5 mins. Serves 4 to 5 pax.
7. Macaroni Carbonara Arancini
Yes, pasta can be considered finger food too! Our Macaroni Carbonara Arancini is the perfect crowd-pleaser for all ages. Rather than your usual plate of spaghetti, this pasta dish is encased by a golden, crispy exterior, which gives way to the creamy macaroni within, and nestled in the centre is a bunch of gooey mozzarella cheese.
It’s definitely not the healthiest snack, but we can promise you that every single bite is worth the calories. Besides, it’s the holiday season, which gives me an excuse to stuff myself first and then think later.
Recipe: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CmOTTfdhxoZ
Preparation Time: 30 mins. Serves 3 to 4 pax.
8. Almond Sandwich Cookie
End off your Christmas dinner with this sweet treat — the Almond Sandwich Cookie. What I love most about these cookies is how versatile they are — you can fill them with any filling! If you’re short on time, feel free to just bake the cookies, and then leave open jars of various spreads so the guests can choose the filling that suits their fancy.
My favourite fillings are pistachio cream or a berry compote, but even jars of Nutella, peanut butter or Lotus Biscoff spreads will do the trick!
Recipe: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CmLfedJhFEJ
Preparation Time: 1 hour. Serves 4 to 5 pax.
9. Kung Bak Pau
Kung Bak Pau, or a mini braised pork bun, is one of my favourite foods of all time. Tender pork belly wrapped by soft, fluffy buns, and with each bite you can taste the aromatic braise sauce oozing out.
For me, assembling the Pau is also part of what makes eating Kung Bak Pau fun. Trying to kiap a piece of pork belly out of the braise pot and placing it in between the buns without dripping the sauce, and then choosing from the selection of toppings to make my Pau complete. Now that’s what I call messy, yet satisfying, hands-on indulgence.
Recipe: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ckp4iFfBTds
Preparation Time: 30 mins. Serves 3 to 4 pax.
10. Yakitori
What if we told you that you can make Izakaya from home in just 15 minutes?
Our Air-Fried Chicken Yakitori tastes just as good as those made on the grill. These Japanese skewers are slightly charred on the outside and juicy and tender on the inside, with the umami marinade coming through with each bite.
So if you’re ready to create a lively, laid-back party matching the mood of an Izakaya, it’s time to start skewering!
Recipe: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CazFf-YB2UV
Preparation Time: 15 mins. Serves 4 to 5 pax.
Easy party recipes
As the year draws to a close, it’s a great time to look back and appreciate what 2023 has brought our way. Let’s embrace the season by sharing good food and quality time with our family and friends.
At The Meatmen, we extend warm wishes for a joyful holiday season, whether you’re celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, or simply cherishing the end of 2023 with your loved ones. We hope these recipes will elevate your end-of-year celebrations, and add a special touch to your year-end festivities.
May your December be filled with delightful feasts, laughter, and heartwarming conversations around the table. And may these cherished moments become enduring memories that linger far beyond the last bite.
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