Showing posts with label appetizer recipes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label appetizer recipes. Show all posts

Sunday, April 13, 2025

Baked Salmon Potato Croquettes

Crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside, these tasty baked salmon potato croquettes are served with tangy lemon garlic mayo. Great as a main or appetizer.

Food Lust People Love: Crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside, these tasty baked salmon potato croquettes are served with tangy lemon garlic mayo. Great as a main or appetizer.

Whenever I have leftover mashed potatoes, I like to make some form of croquette. Sometimes I add a protein like chopped ham or fish and sometimes, I just add a little cheese and egg to make potatoes patties. 

Leftover mashed potatoes are so versatile and go with just about anything. I’ve even been known to add them to quiche filling! These salmon potato croquettes are probably my favorite.

Baked Salmon Potato Croquettes

These can be made with any cooked fish, even canned tuna, preferably albacore tuna in water. Just drain it well! 

Ingredients for about 30 croquettes
For the salmon potato croquettes:
1 fresh salmon fillet, 10 oz or 284g
Fine sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Olive oil
2 red chili peppers
6 green onion tops
1 1/2 lbs or 700g leftover mashed potatoes
2 eggs
Zest 1 lemon
1 - 1 1/2 cups or 70-105g panko 

For the lemon garlic mayo:
3/4 cup or 160g mayonnaise
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon cayenne, optional

Method
Use a sharp knife to remove the skin from the salmon fillet. Season the fillet well with fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. 


Add a drizzle of olive oil to your skillet and pan-fry the salmon for about two minutes each side over a high heat. 


Cover the pan, turn the stove off and leave the salmon to finish cooking for another 4-5 minutes. Ideally, your fish should reach 140°F or 60°C internally, on an instant read thermometer. 


Remove from the pan and set aside to cool. 

Meanwhile, mince the red chili peppers and green onion tops.


Use two forks to flake the salmon. 


In a large mixing bowl, mix the leftover mashed potatoes, eggs, flaked salmon, minced chili peppers and green onion tops, along with the zest of 1 lemon.


Preheat your oven to 400°F or 200°C and prepare your baking pan by greasing it with a little olive oil and/or lining it with a silicone liner. 

To make the lemon garlic mayo, mix together the mayonnaise, garlic and lemon. Stir well to combine. 


Add the cayenne and stir again. 


Set aside while you make the croquettes. 

Put 1 cup or 70g of the panko in a large mixing bowl. Use a small scoop or a soup spoon to scoop out small golf ball sized portions of the potato croquette mixture into the panko. 


Coat the pieces with panko and use your hands to form round balls. 


Remove the croquettes to your prepared baking pan. 


Continue the process with the rest of the mixture, until all of the croquettes are ready to bake, adding more panko to your bowl, if necessary. 

Since it was only two of us at home that day, I baked just nine to eat for dinner, with a garden salad. I baked the rest the next day to take them up to my mother-in-law’s. Cover any you aren’t baking right away with cling film and refrigerate until ready to bake. Ditto with the lemon garlic mayo.


Bake the croquettes for 15-17 minutes in your preheated oven, or until golden on the outside and hot in the middle. You can turn on broil the last couple of minutes for more color, if desired. 

Food Lust People Love: Crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside, these tasty baked salmon potato croquettes are served with tangy lemon garlic mayo. Great as a main or appetizer.

Serve with the lemon garlic mayo.

Food Lust People Love: Crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside, these tasty baked salmon potato croquettes are served with tangy lemon garlic mayo. Great as a main or appetizer.

Enjoy! 

It’s Sunday FunDay and today my blogger friends are sharing recipes made with seafood. Many thanks to our host, Sneha of Sneha’s Recipe. Check out the links below. 

 
We are a group of food bloggers who believe that Sunday should be a family fun day, so every Sunday we share recipes that will help you to enjoy your day. If you're a blogger interested in joining us, just visit our Facebook group and request to join.



Pin these Baked Salmon Potato Croquettes!

Food Lust People Love: Crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside, these tasty baked salmon potato croquettes are served with tangy lemon garlic mayo. Great as a main or appetizer.

.

Wednesday, April 9, 2025

Smoked Herring Spread

This smoked herring spread is lovely on crackers but I’ve also been known to pile it on a piece of soft bread, fold it in half and call it a sandwich. Its strong flavors stand up well to whatever you want to spread it on or dip into it. (Like carrots, celery or cucumber!)

Food Lust People Love: This smoked herring spread is lovely on crackers but I’ve also been known to pile it on a piece of soft bread, fold it in half and call it a sandwich. Its strong flavors stand up well to whatever you want to spread it on or dip into it. (Like carrots, celery or cucumber!)

In the UK, they call smoked herring kippers. They are a beloved breakfast item, either on their own with eggs or in kedgeree, a rice dish of Indian origin. 

Just last summer we were in London staying at a friend’s club and kippers were on the breakfast menu. I did not partake but another table ordered some. How did I know what another table well across the dining room ordered? Because the fishy smell traveled!

As we finished our breakfast and left the room, we passed by those very diners who were tucking in to their kippers, eggs and hot buttered toast. Big smiles all round! These were clearly quality smoked kippers and not from a tin. You are either a fan of fish or you are not. I am one!

Here in the States, we consider ourselves lucky to get the tinned ones at a nearby gourmet store.  Why they are called "snacks" is beyond me. 


Smoked Herring Spread

For the hot sauce, we like Louisiana Hot Sauce, the habanero version, but truly your favorite will work. I put just a few drops because I wanted to share this with my mother-in-law and she can’t handle pepper heat. Just for us, I’d have used more so you do you. The smoked herring flavor can absolutely stand up to more spicy heat. 

Ingredients
3.54 oz or 100g can smoked herring aka kippers
1-2 green onions
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
3 tablespoons (42g) cream cheese, softened
Zest of half a lemon
freshly ground black pepper
Dash Worcestershire sauce
Lemon juice to taste
Optional but recommended: Several drops hot sauce or to taste

Method
Chop the green onions finely. Set aside a little of the green part for garnish. 


Drain the smoked herring and flake with a fork in a mixing bowl. 


Add in the chopped green onion, mayonnaise and cream cheese, mixing well. 


Add a couple of grinds of black, lemon zest, Worcestershire sauce and a generous squeeze of lemon juice. Stir well to combine.


Add hot sauce, if desired.  


Spoon the spread into a ramekin or small bowl. Top with reserved green onions. 


Cover with cling film and refrigerate for at least four hours or if you have the time, overnight. 

Food Lust People Love: This smoked herring spread is lovely on crackers but I’ve also been known to pile it on a piece of soft bread, fold it in half and call it a sandwich. Its strong flavors stand up well to whatever you want to spread it on or dip into it. (Like carrots, celery or cucumber!)

Serve with crackers or crudités. 

Food Lust People Love: This smoked herring spread is lovely on crackers but I’ve also been known to pile it on a piece of soft bread, fold it in half and call it a sandwich. Its strong flavors stand up well to whatever you want to spread it on or dip into it. (Like carrots, celery or cucumber!)

Enjoy! 

Welcome to the 8th edition of Alphabet Challenge 2025, brought to you by the letter H. Many thanks to Wendy from A Day in the Life on the Farm for organizing and creating the challenge. Check out all the H recipes below:




Pin this Smoked Herring Spread!

Food Lust People Love: This smoked herring spread is lovely on crackers but I’ve also been known to pile it on a piece of soft bread, fold it in half and call it a sandwich. Its strong flavors stand up well to whatever you want to spread it on or dip into it. (Like carrots, celery or cucumber!)

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Sunday, March 2, 2025

Fresh Tuna Meatballs with Creamy Avocado Dip

These fresh tuna meatballs are easy to make, delicious and healthy! Serve them with the creamy avocado dip for an extra special appetizer. 

Food Lust People Love: These fresh tuna meatballs are easy to make, delicious and healthy! Serve them with the creamy avocado dip for an extra special appetizer.

While I love canned tuna fish, it is a completely different ingredient from fresh tuna steaks. Fresh tuna shouldn’t smell fishy at all. Like all fresh fish, it should have a nice clean smell and a nice clean taste. If you aren’t a fan of the canned stuff, consider giving fresh tuna a chance. 

If you are willing, look for bright pink flesh and choose the tuna steak with the least amount of white filaments running through it. Sushi grade tuna has none or almost none but who can find/afford that? 

We have a couple of ways we like eating fresh tuna. Most often, we like it sliced relatively thinly as sashimi. (Pop it in the freezer till it's almost firm and easier to slice.) A little wasabi and soy sauce for dipping purposes is all you need to make that fresh tuna a meal. But it’s also great packed with spices and seared on the outside, still a lovely pink on the inside. I serve it on a bed of greens. Delightful. 

The third way is in meatballs! 

Fresh Tuna Meatballs with Creamy Avocado Dip

These are really meaty so you can simmer them in a rich tomato sauce after baking to serve over pasta but they also make a great appetizer as below. This makes about 20 meatballs. 

Ingredients
For the fresh tuna meatballs:
1 1/4 lb or 560 fresh tuna fillets
1 large egg
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
½ teaspoon fine sea salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Zest 1 lemon
Olive oil for brushing on the meatballs before baking

For the creamy avocado sauce:
1 ripe avocado
1 clove garlic
2 tablespoons Greek yogurt
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Water (to thin, if needed)

Method
Preheat your oven to 400°F or 200°C and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone liner. 

Cut the tuna into small chunks.


In a food processor, pulse about 2/3 of the tuna along with the egg, minced garlic, parsley, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper, and lemon zest until the tuna is finely chopped but not pureed.


Add in the reserved tuna and pulse again briefly.


You want to have some nice pink bits still showing. 


Take about 1 tablespoon of the mixture and form it into a patty.


 Pan fry until just cooked through and taste it for salt and pepper. 


Add more and mix through thoroughly, if needed. 

With damp hands, form the mixture into small meatballs (about 1 inch in diameter) and place them on the prepared baking sheet. I use a small scoop to measure them out, then use my damp hands to roll them in to smoother balls. Brush with a little olive oil. 


Bake in your preheated oven for about 10-12 minutes, or until cooked through and slightly golden on the outside. You can use the broiler to add a little extra color if you’d like but you don’t want to overcook them or the tuna meatballs can become dry. 


While the meatballs are baking, combine the avocado, garlic, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, salt and pepper in a food processor. 


Blend until smooth. Add water a little at a time to reach your desired dipping consistency.


Serve the baked fresh tuna meatballs with the creamy avocado dip and some toothpicks to facilitate dipping. 

Food Lust People Love: These fresh tuna meatballs are easy to make, delicious and healthy! Serve them with the creamy avocado dip for an extra special appetizer.

Enjoy! 

It’s Sunday FunDay and today we are all sharing meatball recipes. Many thanks to our host, Wendy of A Day in the Life on the Farm. Check out our WELL-ROUNDED (get it? I do crack myself up) list below.

 
We are a group of food bloggers who believe that Sunday should be a family fun day, so every Sunday we share recipes that will help you to enjoy your day. If you're a blogger interested in joining us, just visit our Facebook group and request to join.



Pin these Fresh Tuna Meatballs
 with Creamy Avocado Dip!Food Lust People Love: These fresh tuna meatballs are easy to make, delicious and healthy! Serve them with the creamy avocado dip for an extra special appetizer.

.

Sunday, January 5, 2025

Olive Cream Cheese Stuffed Celery

This olive cream cheese stuffed celery is a throwback recipe from the Sixties but it’s still just as deliciously tasty today. Savory, creamy AND crunchy. Mix, fill and munch! 

Food Lust People Love: This olive cream cheese stuffed celery is a throwback recipe from the Sixties but it’s still just as deliciously tasty today. Savory, creamy AND crunchy. Mix, fill and munch!

Not too long back, a friend of mine celebrated her 60th birthday by throwing a Sixties theme party. Guests were asked to contribute a dish from that decade and come dressed in Sixties attire. 

The fun food included salmon mousse made in a fish mold, deviled eggs, several Jello desserts, a spiky cheeseball shaped like a hedgehog, a multi-layered savory sandwich “cake” and pistachio marshmallow fluff, just to name a few. 

It was a super fun party and a delight to see what everyone brought and wore. At first I thought I didn’t have anything to wear that was Sixties worthy but then I remembered, I own a caftan! We need to bring those back. It is the most comfortable outfit ever for a party.

Olive Cream Cheese Stuffed Celery

This recipe makes a bunch of filling! My pictures show just half of the stuffed celery I made. Feel free to halve the quantities if you don’t need that many. I used the already cut celery stalks one can buy in a bag. 

Ingredients
2 lbs or 900g celery stalks, washed and cut into 3 sections each
2 packages (8 oz or 225g each) cream cheese, at room temperature
¾ cup, chopped, or 120g pimento-stuffed green olives
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
A few generous grinds of black pepper

Method
Thoroughly dry each piece of celery with paper towels. 

Mix the  chopped olives and garlic together in a large bowl.


Add in the cream cheese and black pepper in and mix until completely homogenous.


Use a plastic bag with a corner cut off or a piping bag to put a generous amount of cream cheese filling down the center indentation of each celery piece. 

Food Lust People Love: This olive cream cheese stuffed celery is a throwback recipe from the Sixties but it’s still just as deliciously tasty today. Savory, creamy AND crunchy. Mix, fill and munch!

Serve immediately or cover with cling film and refrigerate till ready to serve.

Enjoy! 

Food Lust People Love: This olive cream cheese stuffed celery is a throwback recipe from the Sixties but it’s still just as deliciously tasty today. Savory, creamy AND crunchy. Mix, fill and munch!

It’s Sunday FunDay and today my blogger friends and I are sharing nutritious nibbles. Many thanks to our host, Wendy of A Day in the Life on a Farm. Check out the links below. 

 
We are a group of food bloggers who believe that Sunday should be a family fun day, so every Sunday we share recipes that will help you to enjoy your day. If you're a blogger interested in joining us, just visit our Facebook group and request to join.



Pin this olive cream cheese stuffed celery! 

Food Lust People Love: This olive cream cheese stuffed celery is a throwback recipe from the Sixties but it’s still just as deliciously tasty today. Savory, creamy AND crunchy. Mix, fill and munch!

.