2 hearty appetizer recipes

These simple recipes are great to have on hand when you want to entertain, but are short on time. They also have enough substance to be eaten as a snack or light lunch.

Fresh, light Asian flavours taste incredible paired with the bold taste of beef. To keep this elegant appetizer simple to prepare, we use prepared teriyaki sauce. Chopped fresh cilantro and toasted sesame seeds add intoxicating aromas and crunch.

Preparation time 15 minutes 

Cooking time 20 minutes 

Serves 4

• 8 asparagus stalks, trimmed and cut into 7.5 cm (3 in) lengths
• 8 thin slices (110 to 125 g/4 to 4.5 oz) sirloin steak
• 4 scallions, trimmed and cut into 7.5 cm (3 in) lengths
• 10 ml (2 tsp) vegetable oil
• 45 ml (3 tbsp) bottled teriyaki sauce
• 15 g (1 tbsp) toasted sesame seeds
• 15 g (1 tbsp) chopped cilantro

1. Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Blanch the asparagus in the water for one min­ute, then drain. Meanwhile, pound the steak slices to three millimitre (1/8 inch) thickness.
2. Place two pieces of asparagus and one piece of scallion near one end of a beef strip. Roll the beef around the vegetables. Repeat to form eight bundles.
3. In a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, heat the oil. Add the beef rolls. Brown for two minutes, turning frequently. Add teriyaki sauce, lower the heat to medium and simmer for three minutes.
4. Transfer the rolls to a serving platter. Sprinkle with the sesame seeds and cilantro.

Tired of plain old beef burgers? Ground lamb mixed with onions and grated carrots tastes anything but ordinary. An orange-raspberry relish stands in for ketchup and brightens the flavours even further. Serve with a green or mixed salad.

Preparation time 20 minutes 

Cooking time 10 min

Serves 4

Burgers

• 450 g (1 lb) lean ground lamb
• 1 carrot, peeled and grated
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 125 ml (1/2 c) fresh whole wheat bread crumbs
• Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
• 10 g (2 tsp) fresh thyme leaves or 5 g (1 tsp) dried thyme
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 30 ml (2 tsp) olive oil
• 4 whole wheat English muffins
• Shredded lettuceRelish
• 1 orange
• 125 g (1/2 c) fresh or thawed frozen raspberries
• 10 ml (2 tsp) sugar

1. Preheat a grill or oven broiler.
2. For burgers, put the lamb into a large bowl. Add the carrot, onion, bread crumbs, nutmeg and thyme, and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Mix well. Add the egg and use your hands to mix the ingredients together thoroughly.
3. Divide the mixture into four patties. Brush both sides of the burgers with oil, then put them in the grill pan. Cook for four to five minutes on each side, depending on thickness.
4. For the relish, cut the peel and pith from the orange with a sharp knife and, holding it over a medium bowl to catch the juice, cut between the membrane to release the segments. Roughly chop the segments and add them to the juice. Add the raspberries and sugar, lightly crushing the fruit with a fork to mix it together.
5. Split the English muffins and toast lightly. Put a lamb burger on each muffin, then add some lettuce and a generous spoonful of relish. Serve with the remaining relish.

--------------------

Discover the smarter way to save time and money

Ready to start saving more on your groceries and pharmacy purchases? Download the FREE YP Grocery app today! It lets you create shareable shopping lists, automatically finds all the best deals and coupons, then delivers them right to you. No more manually scrolling through hundreds of flyers to find what you’re looking for!

Download the YP Grocery app now!