Grazing boards are all the rage at the moment. These types of ‘platters’ were around since Adam was a boy but all it takes is something to go ‘viral’ these days on social media and every wants to get in on it. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that but if you’re trying to save money and you can’t afford to buy the ingredients for those types of grazing platters or, heaven forbid, pay someone to put one together for you, there are much better, economical alternatives out there.) Here are the best party food ideas on a budget for entertaining.
What you need to remember, always, is that food is food at the end of the day. You don’t need to follow food ‘trends’ to provide nice food to your guests. It can be the same things you buy and eat on a regular basis but presented or made up in different ways.
Here are a few budget ideas to help you.
Keep a can of reduced cream in the pantry
I used to keep a small can of reduced cream in the pantry at all times when I used to have a lot of parties or had people pop in unexpectedly for drinks.
I would add corned relish, gherkin pickles, a packet of French Onion soup mix (if I had it), diced ham/cheese/onion, avocado, smoked oysters or a small can of salmon and mix with the reduced cream.
Allow to set in the fridge for a quick dip if you’ve got a bit of time. Otherwise, spreadable cream cheese (which can be kept in the freezer), Greek yoghurt or sour cream can be used in the same way.
Another old fashioned dip my mother used to make for a party back in the 1970s was called Mock Chicken. It was basically cooked tomato, fresh breadcrumbs, egg and herbs and remarkably tastes like chicken (well sort of). You should have all of these ingredients in your pantry and fridge.
Alternatives for cracker biscuits or chips
If you don’t have cracker biscuits or chips, toast tortillas, bread rolls sliced and toasted, make Melba toast from sliced bread or if you have time, grissini sticks are easy to make from pantry staples.
Even the Greek yoghurt/flour pizza base recipe makes for a quick flat bread that can be cooked on the stove top in a pan.
Add vegetables to your dip platter
Add vegetables to your dip platter. Broccoli or cauliflower florets, carrot sticks, zucchini, celery, capsicum, asparagus, snow peas or any other vegetables you have will make a colourful platter.
Frozen puff pastry for the best party food
Puff pastry in the freezer is your best friend for any unexpected emergencies. Make cheese straws by cutting puff into strips, brush with beaten egg, top with grated cheese of any kind or seeds/nuts, twist and bake until golden brown.
Sausage rolls using any kind of filling, vol au vents, palmiers, pull aparts, pigs in blankets, samosas, curry puffs, the list is endless on what you can use puff pastry for when entertaining.
Remember to use whatever fillings you have.
Make your own budget grazing board or platter
Make a platter with whatever you have. Sliced ham or other cold meats, olives, gherkins, fruit, chutney/pickles, normal cheddar cheese, pesto, crackers or breads (as above), chocolates, nuts.
All you have to do is get a platter of some kind (it doesn’t have to be a block of wood) and start adding small piles of the food item. If you have sauces or wet ingredients, add them to small bowls and put them on the platter.
Party food on a stick
A toothpick or skewer is the perfect way to serve individual morsels of food at a party. There are so many creative people out there who have created a way to put just about anything on a stick.
Instead of the old kabana, cheese, pickled onion and gherkin I grew up with, you can make mini cheese balls coated in nuts/seeds, meatballs (everyone has mince in the freezer I’m sure), Caprese or Greek salad, crumbed fish/potato bites shaped into balls, bites of cheese with whatever, a prune or smoked oyster wrapped in bacon.
Basically, whatever can be poked with a toothpick or skewer can be served at a party. Food like this is also easy to prepare ahead of time so you have time to relax and enjoy the party.
Pinwheels for party food
Using pastry, the Greek yoghurt pizza dough recipe, tortillas, wraps, or sliced bread that has been flatted with a rolling pin, spread with anything like cream cheese or any kind of spread, add any filling (keeping it to a minimum), roll up, and refrigerate until required. Slice and serve when the party is starting.
Fruit as a savoury option
Any kind of melon is good to use as a savoury option. It pairs well with smoked meats and strong cheeses. Cube and serve on a toothpick.
You can also use a melon baller for a cute effect. Cubed watermelon and feta cheese on a stick drizzled with balsamic vinegar is also very on trend but only if you have it on hand. Remember, we’re trying to stick to a budget and use whatever you have.
Eggs are a great party food option
Who doesn’t love a devilled egg? I can remember in my first job, I was responsible for helping with the catering for our work Christmas party. I think I must’ve boiled about 10 dozen eggs, cut them all in half and made about 6 different fillings.
Some included canned crab meat, curry powder, crispy bacon, relishes, pickles etc. They were a huge success. (Mind you it was 1980 but I reckon they’d still be a big hit today.)
Everybody loves a sandwich
Never underestimate the humble sandwich. I’ve seen grown men demolish plates full of freshly made, plain sandwiches of ham, cheese and tomato, egg and lettuce, salmon & onion etc etc before any of the other food is eaten. Remember all we’re trying to do is to save money, give our guests nice tasting food and use what we’ve got.
Cucumber slices as the base
Use cucumber as the base for a delicious snack. Top with any of the dip combinations mentioned above and decorate with any contrasting chopped vegetables or herbs etc.
Always look at what you have before you run to the supermarket. The above is all made from common ingredients you would keep in your fridge, freezer or pantry and you’ll impress people with your ingenuity and good tasting food instead of trying to impress them with the latest trends plus you’ll save money.
Happy entertaining and saving money!
