Festive party pleasers ready in 10 mins or less

Add these festive party pleasers to your seasonal spread this month! 

If there’s one thing we’re often short of during the festive season, it’s time. Whether you’re dashing to a Christmas party, frantically wrapping presents for the little ones or stuck in holiday-induced traffic, there never seems to be enough time to carve out a picture perfect, stress-free festive season, like we see in the movies. 

But, if you’re hosting a Christmas gathering this month, or are planning ahead for a sparkling New Year’s spread, ensure that time is one thing you don’t need to worry about with our quick and easy recipes. Read on for our speedy party pleasers that will wow your guests and be ready in no time at all. 

Smoked Salmon Blinis

A popular canapé often seen circulating at parties at this time of year, these traditional Russian pancakes are the perfect bitesize accompaniment to any festive occasion. Though often shop bought and finished with a selection of toppings, blinis are so simple and quick to make that they can be on your serving platter before you’ve even had a chance to get to the store. 

Ingredients:
Self-raising flour 1 cup

Egg 1 piece

Milk 1 cup

Crème fraiche (fresh cream) 200ml

Smoked salmon 100g

Fresh dill 15g

Lemon 1 piece

Salt & pepper to taste

Method:
Begin by adding the self raising flour to a large mixing bowl. Form a well in the centre of the flour and crack the egg directly into it.

Gradually add the milk to the mixture, and use a hand whisk to combine the ingredients. (TIP: The batter needs to have a relatively loose consistency but not be too fluid. Only add enough milk to get to this consistency.) Add the mixture to a squeezy bottle or piping bag. (TIP: If you have neither of these to hand, use a tablespoon.)

Heat a large non-stick frying pan to medium-high heat. Once hot, add the mixture in circular shapes. (TIP: Ideally, blinis should measure around 3cm in diameter, which is slightly larger than a dirham coin. When the blinis hit the pan, you want to see tiny bubbles rising from the mixture immediately to know that the pan is at the right temperature and the blinis are cooking.)

Once the surface of each blini shows lots of bubbles and has risen, flip and cook until golden brown.

Finish with a small dollop of crème fraiche, smoked salmon, dill and a squeeze of lemon. Place on a large platter and season to serve.

Watch: Quick Blinis – Festive Cooking with Hello Chef

Chocolate Orange Mousse

This decadent but daringly easy dessert is Olivia’s go-to festive treat every year. Deliciously light and flavoured with a hint of orange, it’s the perfect party pleaser to round off an evening of festivities with loved ones. The best news? It requires just 3 ingredients!

Ingredients
Egg 6 pieces

Dark chocolate with orange 180 grams

Sea salt flakes

Method
Melt the chocolate in the microwave by placing it in for 20-second intervals, stirring after each. It should take around 60 seconds in total. 

Separate the egg yolks and whites into two large bowls. Add a sprinkle of salt to the egg whites. Whisk until they form stiff peaks.

Whisk the melted chocolate into the egg yolks. In batches, fold the mixture into the egg whites, being careful not to overwork it (which would deflate the mousse!) Once mixed, pour into ramekins or small bowls and set overnight in the fridge before serving. 

Watch: Chocolate Orange Mousse – Festive Cooking with Hello Chef

Read more: Easy festive side dishes to try at home | Top rated Hello Chef recipes in 2021