Gourmet crackers
“Why pay a fortune for fancy crackers when you can make your own? These crisp, twice-baked treats are simple, customisable and delicious. The apricot and nut flavourings are a personal favourite — sweet, nutty and irresistible!” - Anna Cameron
Puff pastry pizza pinwheels
“Busy little monkeys will love this tasty, crispy snack on the run. (Just don’t mention that they’re packed with vegetables!)” - Nabula El Mourid
BBQ duck bao
“Using store-bought buns and Chinese BBQ duck make these fast to rustle. If you don’t live near a BBQ shop, cook duck breasts instead, which is easier than you might think. You can prep all the recipe components ahead of time — just keep the steamed buns covered with a damp tea towel to stop them drying out. For easy entertaining, set everything up buffet-style and let your guests build their own — it's fun that way!”
Easy aperitivo platter
“Aperitivo isn’t just a pre-dinner snack; it’s a whole laid-back moment. Think lazy afternoons, golden hour light, and that magical sweet spot where you’re not quite hungry but definitely ready for something to nibble. This platter is your ticket to Med-style snacking without any fuss: briny olives, crunchy almonds, salty crisps, and buttery Manchego — all anchored by a smoky, creamy pepper dip for those crisps…”
Mexican-style prawn cocktail
A prawn cocktail is always a fun dish to serve and eat, but this Mexi version brings along everything but the mariachi band. How many recipes do you know that give you the option of adding mezcal? (And really. “If you want to add some?” Of course we bloody do!) In Mexico, this is a classic beachside snack…
Pimped hummus with lamb and pomegranate
When time’s short, we pimp like crazy. And nothing begs pimping more than a tub of hummus… and look, you could make your own for this recipe if you liked. But we’re cheating like hell here because we’re all out of time this week and we’re rooting for Team Easy. You just grab a half kilo of lamb (or beef) mince, give it a hard sear, amp it up with spices, a slosh of pomegranate molasses and…
Wings with ponzu and yuzu dressing
“This recipe makes wings similar to the type you find at izakaya and kushikatsu (fried skewers) restaurants. After being fried, the wings are dipped into a sauce, which, naturally enough, slightly softens the crispness. The wings are at their absolute best eaten within 10 minutes of being fried and dipped but are delicious…
Kakiage tempura fritters
These delectable crunch-parcels are one of the most popular toppings for udon and soba in Japan, and it’s easy to understand why. They start off crunchy and sweet, and over time the batter absorbs the broth to make for fabulously juicy mouthfuls…
Chicken poppers with instant noodle coating
I came up with the idea for this dish after listening to two friends talk about instant noodles – a subject that is dear to my stomach. Peter reminisced about eating instant noodles, sprinkled with the seasoning mix, straight out of the packet, without cooking them first. Carol said that she hadn’t ever tasted one of my favourite instant noodles, Nongshim Shin Ramyun…
Fritter away! Zucchini and feta fritters
Are they Greek? Are they Turkish? We’re not going to step into that particularly messy fray, but let’s just say we’ve eaten our fair share of these babies on Turkish soil as part of mezze spreads. Called mücver, we’ve yet to meet anyone who dislikes these fritters…
Coconut fish cakes
These Javanese-style fish cakes are simple to prepare, easy to cook and packed with flavour. Any white-fleshed fish will work and, while we’ve gone for snapper, by all means substitute with what’s freshest, sustainable and well-priced at your fishmonger or supermarket. No chilli required here – just whip up a batch of cucumber pickles and you’re away!…