Duck confit crispy spring rolls

Tags

appetizer, Duck, duck confit, Foie Gras, hors d'œuvres, nems, spring rolls

Serves 8

Ingredients:

6 sheets of filo pastry
2 legs of duck confit meat, off the bone and shredded
2 slices of cooked foie gras (optional), cut into small cubes
2 tablespoons smooth apricot jam
1/2 teaspoon hot sauce such as Tabasco or sriracha (to taste)
1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
1 tablespoon water or orange juice
1 teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon Chinese 5 spice powder
1 tablespoon finely diced shallot
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
1 tablespoon toasted, chopped almonds
1 tablespoon butter, melted
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 210C / 420F
Mix the jam, hot sauce and the vinegar, add a bit of water (or orange juice) and set aside
Place the meat, ginger, Chinese 5 spice powder, shallot, parsley and almonds in a bowl
Season to taste and mix well
Delicately stir in the foie gras
Cut each sheet of filo into four
Place a spoonful of the mixture at one end of a filo rectangle, in the centre
Roll the filo around the filling until halfway along the filo sheet, then fold each side of unfilled pastry into the centre
Resist the urge to over stuff
Continue rolling into a cylinder and brush with the butter to seal
Place on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and brush with butter
Repeat with the remaining pastry sheets
Bake for about 10 to 15 minutes until golden and crisp
Serve hot with sweet chilli sauce
Enjoy!

Smoked salmon and shrimp parcels

Tags

appetizer, hors d'œuvres, lunch, salad, salmon, shrimp, smoked salmon

These delicious flavor packed parcels are so easy to make and perfect for serving as a starter or light snack at a party.

Serves 6

Ingredients:

• 225 g / 8 oz cooked peeled prawns
• 3 tbsp mayonnaise
• 3 tbsp Greek yogurt
• 1 tbsp dill, finely chopped
• freshly ground black pepper
• 6 slices smoked salmon, finely sliced
• 12 chives
• slices lemons, to garnish
• sprig dill, to garnish

Preparation:

Mix together the prawns, mayonnaise, yoghurt and dill
Season with freshly ground pepper
Spread the salmon strips out on a work surface
Divide the prawn mixture into 6 and put a portion of prawns in the centre of each salmon strip
Fold the salmon strip over the filling to wrap it up
Tie each parcel up with a chive
Garnish with lemon slices and dill sprigs and serve
Enjoy!

Avocado, pea and yoghurt dip

Tags

Appetizers, avocado, dips, hors d'œuvres, peas, yoghurt

It tastes great, and just like traditional guacamole, you can keep it on the healthy side by serving this smooth and tangy dip with fresh, crunchy crudités such as radishes, carrot sticks and sugar snap peas.

Serves about 12

Ingredients:

2 avocados, peeled
100g / 4oz Greek yoghurt
50g / 2oz crème fraîche
1 garlic clove, crushed
100g / 4oz frozen peas, defrosted
1 tablespoon fresh mint, chopped
Juice of 1 lime
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preparation:

Place all the above ingredients, except salt and pepper, in a bowl and mix
Using a hand blender, whizz until smooth
Season to taste
Serve with pita bread, crudités or tortilla chips
Enjoy!