No meetup between friends is complete without a good set of snacks, but it can be hard to figure out what to serve. Here are 6 delicious snack recipes for your next get-together.
1. SPAM Fries.
Our first snack recipe is a dead-simple recipe making use of SPAM. These can be served with a variety of condiments and seasoned to your liking. SPAM is also dirt-cheap and will last a long time. Another upside of this recipe is that the fries can be made even without an air fryer, but the option is there. Once you’ve made these fries you can experiment with other fried meats or foods.
- Ingredients:
- 1 (12-ounce) can SPAM® Classic
- Peanut oil, for frying
- Sriracha Mayo, HOUSE OF TSANG® General Tsao Stir Fry Sauce or Sriracha Ketchup, for dipping
- Seasonings or spices to taste.
- Directions:
- Heat about 4 inches of oil in a heavy pan or fryer to 350°F.
- Cut SPAM® Classic into 6 slices. Cut each slice into 4 thick matchsticks.
- In small batches, place the fries in the hot oil. Fry 3 minutes or until golden brown and crisp. Drain on paper towels.
- Serve the warm fries with dipping sauces.
2. Thai Style Corn Fritters.
Our second snack recipe is a bit more complex, as it requires the use of a food processor. Otherwise these fritters are a great sweet and spicy snack when served warm, and pair well with a variety of toppings. Recipes like this one are a great way to expand your culinary horizons in a way that your guests will appreciate.
- Ingredients:
- 2 large eggs
- 2/3 cup (100g) plain flour
- 2 garlic cloves, chopped
- 1 teaspoon caster sugar
- 1 tablespoon Thai fish sauce
- 270g can corn kernels, drained
- 2 spring onions, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons sunflower oil
- 2 tablespoons sweet chilli sauce, to serve
- Directions:
- Place the eggs, flour, garlic, caster sugar, fish sauce, half the corn kernels and half a teaspoon each of sea salt and freshly ground black pepper in a food processor. Process to a puree.
- Add the chopped spring onions and the remaining corn kernels and stir well to combine. Heat the oil in a non-stick frypan over medium-high heat.
- Working in batches, drop tablespoons of corn batter into the pan and cook for 1-2 minutes on each side until golden. Keep warm while you make the remaining fritters.
- Stack the fritters on plates and drizzle with sweet chilli sauce, or serve sweet chilli sauce in a bowl for dipping.
3. Fried Mac and Cheese Balls.
Snack Recipe number three is yet another fried one. This is is something of a theme for snacks in general, I suppose. These delicious morsels are proof that almost everything can be fried, and it will work. This recipe also makes 12 servings and is a great choice for a sports party or other gathering.
- Ingredients:
- 3 cups macaroni and cheese, homemade or store-bought
- 2 cups vegetable oil, or more, as needed
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1 ½ cups Panko
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
- Directions:
Place macaroni and cheese into the refrigerator until firm, about 3-4 hours.
Heat vegetable oil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium high heat.
Using a small cookie scoop, roll macaroni and cheese into 1 1/4-to-1 1/2-inch balls, forming about 12.
Working one at a time, dip balls into eggs, then dredge in Panko, pressing to coat.
Working in batches, add balls to the Dutch oven and cook until evenly golden and crispy, about 3-4 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
Serve immediately, garnished with chives, if desired.
4. Sweet Potato Fries.
Our fourth snack recipe is a classic alternative to the first entry on this list. As someone whose parents would make this recipe semi-regularly, I have a lot of fond memories of this dish. It goes great with a variety of condiments, including aioli, and can be seasoned to suit your individual tastes. Unlike the spam recipe, this one doesn’t even require frying!
- Ingredients:
- 4 sweet potatoes, cut into large French fries
- 1 tablespoon water
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper
- 1 pinch salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
- Place the cut sweet potatoes into a microwave-safe dish with the water. Cook in the microwave for 5 minutes on full power. Drain off liquid, and toss with Italian seasoning, lemon pepper, salt, pepper, and olive oil. Arrange the fries on a baking sheet in a single layer.
- Bake for 30 minutes, turning once, or until fries are crispy on the outside.
5. Pigs in a Blanket.
Snack recipe number five is a classic of classics. This breaded hot dog recipe works well with many sauces and is generally a solid pick, especially in the summer or winter. This may be one of the more complicated recipes on the list, but it’s absolutely worth the efforts.
- Ingredients:
- One 8-ounce can original crescent dough
- 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
- 20 mini hot dogs or cocktail franks
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- Poppy seeds or sesame seeds
- Ingredients (Sauce):
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon whole-grain mustard
- Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Cut each triangle of crescent roll dough into thirds lengthwise, making 3 small strips from each roll.
- Brush the dough strips lightly with Dijon mustard. Put the mini hot dogs on 1 end of the dough and roll up.
- Arrange them, seam side down, on a greased cookie sheet. Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with poppy seeds or sesame seeds. Bake until golden brown, about 12 to 15 minutes. Serve warm with the dipping sauce.
- Directions (Sauce):
- Mix all of the ingredients in a bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until serving. Can be made a day ahead.
6. Kale Chips.
The final snack recipe needs little introduction, as Kale Chips are still quite popular as an easy, affordable, and somewhat healthy snack. Enjoy.
- Ingredients:
- 1 bunch kale
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350˚F (180˚C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Remove the kale leaves from the thick stems, then chop into bite-size pieces. In a medium bowl, top the kale with the olive oil. Mix the seasonings and add to the kale. Toss until fully coated.
- Arrange seasoned kale on a baking sheet, ensuring the chips don’t overlap. Bake for 10-15 minutes, until the edges are brown, but not burnt. Let cool to room temperature.
- Enjoy!
Are there any delicious snack recipes you’d like to share with us? Feel free to get in touch!
Featured Image Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/group-of-friends-watching-sport-together-6759134/
