Tasty Nibbles to have with drinks (that aren’t crisp & dips!)

[lechatnoir]

I host a get together c. once a month with various girlfriends and it tends to be they bring drinks and I provide food. I’m fine with that (a couple of others host occasionally but generally all prefer coming to me) but I am getting really bored of trotting out the same selection plus it really adds up cost wise and I’m trying to lose weight so a complete disaster on that front & I have no self-restraint when it comes to snacks

A typical spread would be a few different dips some homemade some shop bought, crisps and crudités, mix cheese board with grapes, figs, chutney etc, hot and cold anti-pasta selection from the supermarket (feta parcels, falafel, stuffed peppers, cold meats etc) plus some fruit and a few chocolates.

Any ideas? We all like snacking vs a meal but I’m sure there must be some healthier slightly more interesting snacks I can offer. No allergies, 2-3 veggies and all happy eating veggie.

I'd probably go for something like fajitas or tacos with various salsas, guacamole and salads and tortilla chips although I may be biased as mexican food is my absolute favourite!
Tandoori chicken skewers or kofta with raita, mango chutney, mini naan and salads and various pakoras or bhajis.

inspiration?

https://www.bestrecipes.com.au/budget/galleries/party-finger-food-ideas-budget/0er6w9op

https://www.jamieoliver.com/inspiration/budget-friendly-party-food/

Tapas selection. Spanish omelette. Patatas bravas or papas arrugadas. A selection of vegetable dishes.

Or vaguely Asian inspired - fresh spring rolls (not the deep fried ones), steamed dumplings, lettuce wraps, a couple of spicy salads and some dips.

Tacos was a good idea too.

In general I think having a theme and going veg heavy within it helps. You could do the cookbook challenge and cook a selection of dishes (starters if that works better for you) from one cookbook to keep you in a theme.

This is quite tricky because whenever you serve lots of bits the cost quickly ramps up. A meal would almost certainly work out cheaper.
Perhaps you could serve things that are normally considered a meal but in a more snacks way.
For example a vegetable curry, a dhal, paneer tikka pieces but instead of serving with rice buy the mini popadoms and cut naan into fingers for people to load up and eat like canapés. Tandoori chicken breast pieces served on cocktail sticks. Roast some baby potatoes in cumin, coriander and Nigella seeds and again serve on sticks. Mango chutney, raita, some bite size pakoras or bhajis, jobs a good un!

I'd be inclined to try them with a vat of chilli now it's wet, cold and Autumnal (veggie or carne). Then let them build snackage around it with the dips, tortillas, rice salad, baby roast potatoes etc. Would probably save you lots of cash and be healthier too if that's what you're going for!

Often cheaper and healthier to make a meal, but I get if you don't want to.

Agree that a themed option is a good choice. Tapas always goes down well and additional suggestions beyond @WavesAndSmile could be a fried goats cheese - you fry the whole thing and drizzle with honey and then everyone can dip their bread etc. I have a recipe that makes lovely beetroot crisps to go with it. Chorizo in red wine. Maybe something with figs? Prawns in garlic and chilli oil. I recently had some roasted cauliflower with a romesco sauce at a Spanish restaurant - lovely instead of patatas bravas.

I've been to a couple of events where they've served "proper food" but in a sort of canape way. eg they'll do mini yorkshire puddings with a bit of roast beef on top (or mini toad in the holes using cocktail sausages), or deep fried fish but done in chunks and served on a sort of large chip/mini roast potato or chicken drumsticks that have been turned into little lollipops with dips. Admittedly, not sure how healthy these options are!

What about a main thing like mini pies or quiches, then a few dips or similar. eg I bake individual sized spanakopita and for something like this I'd make smaller ones or sort of cocktail versions then have some Tzatiki, some baba ganoush etc and maybe some garnishes of little salads.

Or a big tray of roasted sausages with piles of bread/baguettes and things they can just nibble and top with. Although that might be veering into more "real meal rather than snacky" territory.

Also on the "not so healthy, but v nice" front - whole baked camembert and a selection of pates, with some fruit and bread instead of the cheeseboard and chacuterie.

Thanks so much this is really helpful. I definitely think sharing type meal is the way forwards - tapas or mexican with sides where we all help ourselves but I can also fashion into a proper meal for a my family.I'll give it a whir next time and see how it does down.

Mozzarella, tomato and basil on skewers (anything on skewers really)

Sushi/sandwich selection from Costco.

Duck pancakes everyone can put together themselves with spring rolls.

Pizza and garlic bread (cheapest definitely).

Mini quiches or just a couple of big ones cut up.

Devilled eggs.

Ham joint or sliced roast chicken with crusty bread that people can cut themselves.

I think that sounds really expensive for you and really cheap for them. All they're paying for is the wine they're drinking anyway!

Can't they each bring something and you share the food?

@MounjaroUser it's my own fault no one asks for lavish spreads but now I've been doing them, people arrive expecting to graze all evening! Some do bring a bag of crisps or something for the table but not reliably so I still end up catering & it's definitely become much bigger over the past year. I feel I should give some sort of warning and maybe use this as an opportunity to suggest bringing something. Do you think it would be ok to send a message saying something like this:

Hi, I hope you don't mind but I'm changing things up next time & going to cook more of a meal to share rather than our usual nibbles. I was thinking I'll do a veg & a meat chilli plus rice & a few jackets and hoping you could each bring an accompaniment - guacamole, salsa, tortillas, etc. Hope that works for you all and can't wait to catch up in a few weeks LCN

Honestly, I think you should go further than that.

I'd say, "I'm afraid I can't afford to treat everyone to food this month - it's been costing me a fortune and Christmas is coming so I need to save my money. I thought maybe we could have tapas and everyone bring something with them. These are the things I thought we could have - if everyone chooses something off the list, that would be great!"

It's really unfair of everyone to have let you provide food for everyone every time. That would never happen with my friends!