Our best savoury finger food recipes

Planning and presentation

To throw the perfect party, you need to be prepared. Follow these simple tips to ensure your party is stress free, and impressive:

• Consider how many hot and cold foods you want to serve. For example, for a party of 20 guests in the winter, aim for four hot and three cold savouries. In summer you can skip the hot and just have cold.
• As a general rule, allow 8 – 12 items per guest for a party lasting one or two hours.
• To really impress, take time to concentrate on presentation. Keep everything in equal, bite sized pieces and plate them up on white platters or trays. Clean up the plates for food smears and crumbs before passing them around to ensure they look as good as they taste.

Spring rolls

Either fresh or fried, these spring rolls can include a host of fillings. Pack them with glass noodles and fresh herbs and serve fresh with zesty dipping sauce, or make a spicy minced meat filling for the fried variety.

• Prawn Spring Rolls
• Chicken Spring Rolls
• Lumpia – Filipino Version of Spring Rolls

Devilled eggs

This is the ultimate retro finger food. Cut hard-boiled eggs in half, combine the yolk with a mix of mayonnaise and mustard, then scoop it back into the egg whites.

• Simple Curried Eggs

Party pies

Give this kids’ party favourite a homemade makeover and you are sure to impress. These little pies can be made well in advance and gently reheated just before serving to make things even easier.

• Easy Party Pies
• Mini Meat Pies
• Spinach and Ricotta Party Pies

Sausage rolls

No Aussie party would be complete without a tray of these perennial favourites. Try experimenting with the flavours, using pork or lamb mince instead of beef, and flavouring them with toasted spices and fresh herbs. For a twist, sprinkle them with black sesame seeds before popping them in the oven.

• Homemade Sausage Rolls
• Cottage Rolls
• Cheese and Basil Sausage Rolls
• Party Sauasge Rolls
• Spicy Chicken Rolls

Vol au vents

Buy these small hollow puff pastry cases ready made, then fill them with everything from mushrooms to prawns and cheese. This is a great make ahead option, as the filling can be made well in advance and the pastry cases filled moments before serving.

• Chicken and Mushroom Vol au Vents

Mini quiche

What party would be complete without a plate of mini quiche to serve the hungry crowd! This portable, easy to make finger food is loved by young and old alike.

• Mini Quiche
• Mini Pumpkin Quiches
• Spinach and Bacon Mini Quiche
  

  Dumplings

  Either pay a visit to your local Asian supermarket to stock up on frozen dumplings that are ready to be steamed, or try your hand at making your own. Try prawn and ginger, scallop and spring onion or barbecued pork for tasty fillings.

  • Pork and Shiitake Mushroom Potstickers with Sweet Chilli Dipping Sauce
  • Prawn and Snow Pea Steamed Dumplings
  • Xiao Long Bao Soup Dumplings

  Dips

  Pick a selection of dips to team up with cheese biscuits, wedges of flat breads and crackers. Opt for a diversity of flavours, and if you choose something spicy, make sure you also include something mild.

  • Seven Layer Dip
  • Cob Loaf

For more ideas, visit our Finger food and party recipes collection.