Amaze Guests with Great Grape Appetizers
Along with the delicious food, gift giving and cheer of the holiday season, getting together with friends and family is also cherished. Whether it’s a cozy weekend dinner with friends or time for festive merrymaking, you can enhance any gathering with unique small plates and appetizers.
Make the season special with California grapes, which are abundant into January, as an ingredient in your favorite dishes or by decorating with them for colorful pops of red, green and black. If time is of the essence, they also offer an easy, fresh, healthy snack or side dish that adds color and flavor to your table.
As a versatile ingredient that adds taste and visual appeal, grapes can help you create memorable appetizers that will surprise and delight friends and family. For easy and delightful hors d’oeuvres, turn to Tricolor Grape Pizza with Goat Cheese and Thyme or Smoked Chicken and Grape Bruschetta, each offering simple yet flavorful ways to please a crowd.
Send guests home with Easy Grape Compote, or give it as a fun host or hostess gift for friends and family, so they can enjoy a little taste of the holidays even after all the excitement winds down.
Find more tasty appetizers, meals, desserts and more at grapesfromcalifornia.com.
Tricolor Grape Pizza with Goat Cheese and Thyme
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Servings: 6
1 pound prepared pizza dough flour
2 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 cups halved green, red and black California grapes 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
1/4 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
2 ounces fresh goat cheese, crumbled
2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
freshly ground pepper, to taste
Position rack in bottom of oven and place inverted baking sheet on top of rack; heat oven to 500 F.
On lightly floured surface, press pizza dough into 10-inch round circle and cover with towel while preparing toppings.
Sprinkle large baking sheet lightly with flour. Stretch pizza dough into oval, about 14-by-10 inches, and place on sheet. Drizzle with oil. Sprinkle with grapes, thyme and walnuts. Place baking sheet on top of sheet already in oven and bake until crust is bubbling and golden, 8-10 minutes.
Remove pizza from oven. Sprinkle with goat cheese and Parmesan. Season with pepper, to taste. Transfer pizza to board, cut into pieces and serve warm.
Nutritional analysis per serving: 350 calories; 10 g protein; 47 g carbohydrates; 14 g fat (36% calories from fat); 2.5 g saturated fat (6% calories from saturated fat); 5 mg cholesterol; 580 mg sodium;
1 g fiber.