Cold snacks / canapés with goodies
Delicious Tartines: A Refined Choice for a Festive Evening
When it comes to special occasions like New Year's Eve, every detail matters. Last year, I decided to skip the traditional heavy dishes and opt for a lighter, yet equally impressive menu. So, I prepared a platter of tartines with various flavors, accompanied by fine cheeses and a bottle of Lanson champagne, which truly stole the show of the evening. In this guide, I will share my recipe for delicious tartines that are not only tasty but also very elegant.
Preparation Time
- Preparation time: 30 minutes
- Chilling time for champagne: 1 day in the fridge + 20 minutes in the freezer
- Total time: 30 minutes
- Number of servings: 8-10
Ingredients
To prepare these delicious and refined tartines, you will need the following ingredients:
Cheeses:
- 100 g Camembert
- 100 g Roquefort
- 100 g Goat Brie
- 100 g Sheep Telemea
- 100 g Burduf cheese (ideally from Napolact)
Tartines:
- 1 fresh baguette or toasted bread (preferably whole grain)
- 100 g sea salt butter
Delicious toppings:
- 100 g black caviar
- 100 g pink caviar
- 100 g smoked salmon
- 100 g smoked raw ham
- 100 g duck mousse
- 100 g anchovy fillet
- 100 g crab sticks
Garnish and flavors:
- 4 quail eggs (boiled)
- 1 bunch of fresh dill
- 1 bunch of chives
- 1 bunch of basil
- 1 bunch of arugula
Preparation
1. Preparing the cheeses: Start by slicing the cheeses into pieces or cubes, depending on your preference. Arrange them on a platter, taking care to separate the stronger flavored cheeses (like Roquefort) from the milder ones (like Goat Brie).
2. Preparing the bread: Slice the baguette into thin rounds (about 1 cm thick) or, if you prefer, cut the toasted bread into triangles. Melt the sea salt butter in a pan over low heat and spread a thin layer of butter on each piece of bread. You can toast the bread in the pan for a crunchy texture or serve it fresh.
3. Assembling the tartines: Now comes the fun part!
- Caviar tartines: On some rounds of bread, add black or pink caviar, and top with a few slices of smoked salmon. Garnish with fresh dill and a slice of boiled quail egg.
- Duck mousse tartines: On other rounds of bread, spread the duck mousse and garnish with finely chopped chives and arugula.
- Ham tartines: A slice of smoked raw ham over the salted butter will provide a perfect flavor. You can add black caviar for an extra touch of elegance.
- Crab tartines: Spread crab sticks on the bread and garnish with fresh basil.
4. Serving: Arrange the tartines on a large platter, alongside cheeses and olives. Make sure to have a glass of well-chilled champagne at hand. As I learned, champagne should be properly chilled to savor its delicate aroma.
Practical Tips
- Champagne: A bottle of champagne should be kept in the fridge a day before serving. Adding it for 20 minutes in the freezer will achieve ideal temperatures.
- Cheeses: Choose quality cheeses, preferably artisanal, to provide a richer culinary experience.
- Decoration: Give the tartines an attractive decoration using fresh herbs. They not only enhance the appearance but also add extra flavor.
- Variations: You can experiment with different types of fish or meat, such as tuna or smoked chicken, and add fresh vegetables to provide diverse textures.
Nutritional Benefits
These tartines are not only delicious but also packed with nutrients. Cheeses are an excellent source of calcium and protein, while smoked salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for heart health. Quail eggs provide a high amount of vitamins and minerals, making them an excellent choice for a healthy appetizer.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I use other types of bread? Absolutely! Whole grain bread or even crackers are excellent options.
- What can I serve alongside the tartines? A fresh green salad or a platter of raw vegetables would be extremely suitable to balance the richness of the tartines.
- Can I prepare the tartines in advance? It is recommended to assemble them a few hours before serving to maintain the freshness of the ingredients.
In conclusion, delicious tartines are an elegant and delightful choice for any festive occasion. Combining varied flavors and diverse textures, they are not only a pleasure for the taste buds but also a true delight for the eyes. So, in the coming year, I wish you festive meals filled with joy and delicious flavors! Enjoy!
I simply cut the cheeses and arranged them on a platter with olives, served at the end with slices of bread. The toasts were made either from sliced baguette or from triangles of toasted bread. Some were made with salted butter and ham or black caviar, others with pink caviar, smoked salmon, and a decoration of black caviar and dill. Other toasts were made with duck mousse and decorated with finely chopped chives and arugula, others with sea salt butter and smoked raw ham or with butter, salmon, and black caviar. On some of them, I placed slices of boiled quail eggs that decorated very nicely and added an extra taste. The salamis were made into a separate platter. The triangles of bread were decorated in the same way as the slices with caviar and salmon, with butter and dried raw ham and with black caviar. I promise to return with salads, two in number, one with green salad, sorrel, avocado, and smoked salmon, and the other with smoked salmon, quail eggs, green salad, cherry tomatoes, and arugula. In the end, it may convince you that the meal I proposed, although light, was still festive and sufficient, even for a New Year's Eve. Wishing you a healthy and fulfilling 2011.
Ingredients: Cheeses: camembert, roquefort, goat cheese, sheep telemea, and Romanian burduf cheese from Napolact. Quail eggs, black caviar, caviar mousse, anchovy fillets, sea salt butter, smoked salmon, smoked raw ham, a few varieties of salami, duck mousse, crab sticks, herbs: dill, chives, basil, arugula (which I was very proud to find).
