These appetizer skewers are perfect for your holiday parties, all the way from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve. They pair well with red wine or a bourbon-based drink for a fantastic cocktail hour treat.
My personal favorite of these two skewers is a sweet and nutty flavor combination. You first get a taste of roasted sweet potato, followed by warm apple, with a deeply nutty chestnut finish.
The other skewer is savory and sweet. A roasted Brussels sprout with lightly caramelized edges leads into rosemary-roasted, earthy mushrooms. Shallots add a little bite, and a sweet-tart drizzle of balsamic vinegar ties it all together.
Apple, Sweet Potato and Chestnut Skewers
2013-11-18 11:36:29
A sweet and nutty mix of roasted apples, sweet potatoes and chestnuts make a delicious appetizer for the holidays.
Ingredients
- 1 apple, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
- 1 sweet potato or yam, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
- 12 chestnuts
- 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- wooden skewers for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Prepare the chestnuts: Make an "x" shape in the skin of chestnut. Roast in a small baking dish for 25 minutes, shaking the pan every 5 minutes or so. Let cool for a few minutes, then peel the chestnuts while still warm. Break or cut the chestnuts in half.
- Toss the sweet potatoes with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, add salt and pepper to your taste. Place in a large baking dish and roast the sweet potatoes in the oven at the same time as the chestnuts. Stir them every 5 minutes or so. Cook until tender all the way through; this should take about 25 minutes.
- When the sweet potatoes are almost done, add the apples, rosemary and remaining tablespoon of olive oil to the pan with the sweet potatoes. Roast the apples for 5-8 minutes, or until they are warm but still slightly firm. You don't want them to be so soft that they get mushy, and you need to be able to thread a skewer through them.
- Assemble your skewers: Carefully thread a chestnut piece onto a wooden skewer, sliding it about an inch up from the bottom. Add an apple piece, then spear a cube of sweet potato so that the skewer can stand on its own.
Notes
- You could make these ahead of time and rewarm them for a few minutes in a 300 degree oven. Don't forget about them though, or you could end up with some toasted wooden skewers!
Alyssa and Carla https://www.alyssaandcarla.com/
Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Mushroom and Shallot Skewers
2013-11-18 11:47:19
A savory skewer with a touch or rosemary and a sweet drizzle of balsamic vinegar is a delicious addition to any holiday table.
Ingredients
- 12 Brussels sprouts, halved
- 12 small mushrooms (like button or shiitake), wiped clean with a damp cloth
- 3 shallots, peeled and sliced into 1/2 inch pieces (try to keep the layers together)
- 1 teaspoon rosemary
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon high-quality balsamic vinegar (see note)
- wooden skewers for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Toss the Brussels sprouts with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Add salt and pepper to your taste and place in a large baking dish. Roast for about 20 minutes or until fork-tender, stirring every 5 minutes.
- Toss the mushrooms and shallots with the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and the rosemary. Add salt and pepper to your taste. Add to the baking pan with the Brussels sprouts for the last 10 minutes of cooking. Stir gently about 5 minutes after adding to the oven (gently so you don't separate the shallots, the goal is to be able to spear a whole piece of them at the end).
- Assemble the skewers: thread a shallot piece and a mushroom onto the skewer, then spear a Brussels sprout so that the skewer will stand on its own. Drizzle some balsamic vinegar over the spears.
Notes
- If you can't find syrupy, high quality balsamic, then you can make a balsamic reduction. Just simmer a 1/2 cup of balsamic vinegar in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Once the liquid has reduced by half (about 5-10 minutes), remove it from the heat and use.
- These can be assembled ahead of time and warmed in a 300 degree oven for a few minutes. But don't forget about them, or you'll end up with toasted wooden skewers!
Alyssa and Carla https://www.alyssaandcarla.com/
