5 easiest ever Christmas nibbles

Super easy festive nibbles to serve with drinks

We don’t often bother with a starter on Christmas Day but it’s nice to have a few nibbles with a glass of fizz before the final push to get dinner on the table. My sister usually takes charge of this and does a very fine job too, so I thought I’d share a selection of her easiest ideas. They are all no cook so just require assembling. If you’re making dinner then I’d definitely delegate this to someone else!

These nibbles are also nice at other times too, of course, for drinks with friends or instead of a starter.

1. Figs with goats cheese and Parma ham

Take a dried fig (halve if very large) with an equal sized piece of goat’s cheese and wrap the whole thing up like a parcel in Parma ham.

2. Cucumber and tapenade

Cut the cucumber into discs and top each one with a little dollop of tapenade. Garnish with slivers of radish.

3. Beetroot hummus on crostini

Top little shop bought crostini with beetroot hummus (I would buy ready cooked natural beetroot for ease here but you could roast or boil your own if you feel so inclined)

4. Smoked salmon blinis

Top shop bought blinis with smoked salmon, a blob of creme fraiche and snip over some chives. A little squeeze of lemon and a twist of black pepper wouldn’t go amiss either.

5. Marinated olives

Take a jar of whole green olives, drain and rinse well. Squash a few cloves of garlic a bit with the flat side of a knife. Put the olives, garlic and a couple of sprigs of rosemary in a bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Mix gently and leave the flavours to mingle. You could also add some sliced red chilli (or dried red chilli flakes) if you fancy a bit of heat.


And if you have a little more time and/or motivation... this fennel and chilli shortbread is amazing. They keep well for a few days in an airtight container so can be made well ahead of time.