5 ways to turn snacks into a top-notch meal
The grazing board—remember that? During the coronavirus lockdowns, this was one of life’s joys for us, because it meant we had a board piled high with delicious things within reach all day long, helping us get through the day somewhat comforted. All well and good, but let’s make this form of ‘haute snacking’ even more versatile: by turning it into a whole meal.
For once, all that grazing and snacking shouldn’t merely serve as an ‘extra’ before you eventually end up back at the stove to eat ‘properly’. You can also make a complete meal out of snacks and bites.
Forget the stove
And be honest: if you’ve eaten three-quarters of a cheese board, nine bitterballen and half a bowl of hummus by 6 p.m., you’re often not really hungry afterward anyway, are you? Well, that’s the principle we’re going to work with! Here are some tips for turning a snack or drinks bite into a meal. Less time in the kitchen, more time to open another bottle: that already sounds like summer music to our ears.
Cooking forbidden
Okay, toasting or finishing off some bread in the oven is still allowed. But otherwise, the stove is off-limits, and the whole point is that there shouldn’t be a hint of cooking involved. That doesn’t mean you can’t do anything: for example, you can marinate some cubes of feta (have you tried Willicroft’s plant-based ‘feta’ yet?) in a mixture of olive oil, jalapeños from a jar plus a generous splash of their brine, a few sprigs of thyme or other green herbs, and some chili flakes or coarsely crushed peppercorns. Leave it to sit for an hour or so, then serve it with good bread. Add some crudités and a bottle of delicious rosé, and you’re in for a fantastic evening.
Keep it going
The best and least wasteful approach is to use your snacks and bites as part of your meal the next day too. In fromage fort, for example! This mixture of all the leftovers from the cheese board is delicious on toast, with a glass of chilled white wine on the side. Or turn leftover cheese-board bits into special toasties the next day, like this one with Gruyère and caramelized red onion!
Upgrade popcorn and chips
We are crazy about popcorn (what kind of popcorn eater are you?), and with a little inventiveness, you can give those humble popped corn kernels a makeover that will make you see them in a whole new light. The same goes for the simplest plain potato chips! They’ll steal the show, especially if you also take the advice below to heart.
But first, the popcorn and chips; this does involve a small pan, but the result is worth it. Try sprinkling something special over your popcorn, such as brown butter and crispy fried sage (the ravioli treatment, so to speak), or furikake. Or grind dried mushrooms (you’ll find all kinds at Asian grocery stores) into a powder and sprinkle it over the popcorn after tossing it with melted butter and salt.
You can upgrade chips too: with some good olive oil and finely chopped rosemary, for example. Or choose an exotic spice blend such as za’atar, warm it over low heat in a little olive oil, and drizzle it over the chips. Instant success!
Feel free to pop the bubbles
Why wait for the ‘perfect’ moment to open that bottle of champagne? Champagne is delicious with plain potato chips! And with burgers and fries too, by the way, but that’s beside the point. Just celebrate the fact that you know how to enjoy life, and pop that bottle.
Cans are your friend
Canned fish is an ultra-easy way to serve a quick snack as a meal. In some restaurants, special tins containing, for example, sardines are served straight to the table as a bite, often with some homemade pickles and bread. You can do that at home too! Decorate with some gherkins or pickled Turkish peppers, cut some bread into pieces, and perhaps you have some aioli left over? It’s absolutely delicious with this!
Take a little detour
Another recommendation: visit a international supermarket for your next snack/meal session. You’ll generally find wonderfully fun and often unfamiliar bites that you can simply put on the table, or perhaps steam until cooked beforehand. Frozen dim sum, for example: I can’t live without it. You’ll find pierogi at Polish supermarkets; they’re fantastic too. Dolmas are always a hit on the board, and be sure to try all those exciting varieties of pickles and jarred grilled peppers. Spreads, dips, figs, cheeses and delicious flatbread: you can really go all out for a snack meal at a more exotic supermarket.
Also read:
- FavorFlav guide: Italian charcuterie
- 4 best tips for perfect loaded nachos
- Cheap-ass snacks that still make an impression
