I love all the rich, traditional holiday foods this time of year—the butter cookies, fried latkes, cheese-y dips, and more. But I also know that food doesn’t have to be heavy and rich to be festive and satisfying. In fact, I have noticed that party fare which offers a fresher, lighter counterpoint is often what everyone craves most and devours first. These three recipes are a few of my go-tos for when I am hosting a holiday gathering or asked to bring a dish. They are healthful, easy to make and sure crowd-pleasers. I bet they’ll become your go-tos as well.
Wishing you a joyful and healthy holiday season!
Tapas-Style Turkey Meatballs
Photo by Tom McCorkle and food styling by Bonnie S. Benwick for The Washington Post
These Spanish-style mini-meatballs in a smoky, tangy tomato sauce are toothpick friendly so they make for a perfect party food, but they are also a satisfying meal served in a bowl with a simple side salad and a hunk of crusty bread. Using a mix of white and dark meat turkey keeps these meatballs lean and well in the healthy zone, but insures they are also quite moist and tender.
Holiday Vegetable Platter with Herbed Avocado Dip
Photo by Goran Kosanovic and food styling by Bonnie S. Benwick; for The Washington Post
This party platter is my go-to dish to bring to a holiday pot luck. It is a stunning assortment of green and red vegetables arranged decoratively around a bowl of herb-flecked avocado dip so the whole thing looks like a holiday centerpiece. It’s as compellingly delicious as it is beautiful. It always thrills me to watch it get gobbled up so fast.
Figs with Goat Cheese, Pistachios, and Mint
Photo by Tom McCorkle and food styling by Marie Ostrosky; for The Washington Post
This is the festive nibble everyone will be talking about. It’s so easy to make too. Plump dried figs are halved, then molded a bit to form bite-size cups, then each is filled with a dollop of soft goat cheese (or you could use ricotta) and a jewel-like pistachio. The filled figs then get a glistening drizzle of honey seasoned with orange essence, and a shower of fresh mint leaves. The presentation is fun and elegant, and each mouthful is a sensation of sweet, earthy, fresh, chewy and creamy.
Hi Ellie - I'd really like to pin a few of these recipes, but the Pin function is missing.