Simple appetizers for Christmas

At Enrique Tomás, we want to make it easy for you! We know that as the Christmas holidays approach, we all think about organizing gift shopping, plans with family or friends, and of course, the meals and dinners that will take center stage during the festivities.

If you're one of those who have the task of being the host or hostess of one of these Christmas meals, we're here to help. We're sharing eight ideas for simple Christmas appetizers with you.

You'll be able to prepare them in no time and thus, dedicate yourself to enjoying your loved ones during this family-oriented time of the year!

8 Easy-to-Prepare Christmas Appetizer Ideas

Don't make it complicated! Choose easy-to-prepare appetizer recipes. What's the key to achieving exquisite results? Using high-quality delicatessen products from our cuisine, such as Iberian ham or cheese. And accompany the food with a good wine or cava pairing. You can find packs of these products in our Christmas hampers with ham.

Now, let's get to work! We'll tell you about the best appetizers for your guests to enjoy eating, and for you to cook easily and quickly.

1. Creams in "Zurito" Glasses

Reduced-format creams served in a glass or "zurito" are a very valid option for Christmas snacking or appetizers. It's a very light dish as it's made with vegetables. Having a dish like this on the table is appreciated, as it can be combined with other canapés or heartier recipes.

Here are some cream ideas for you to choose from.

Autumn Vegetable Cream
Asparagus Cream with Ham
Pumpkin Cream with Iberian Ham

Autumn Vegetable Cream I Autumn Vegetable Cream

Asparagus Cream with Ham

Pumpkin Cream

2. Iberian Ham Tartare

One of the standout dishes that we can currently find in most restaurants is tartare. Why not prepare it for your Christmas dinner? The most popular tartars in cuisine are "steak tartare" made from meat, or those with tuna or salmon when it comes to fish. But have you ever tried an Iberian ham tartare?

If you want to cook a different dish and also surprise your guests, this Christmas appetizer is ideal.

Step-by-step Iberian Ham Tartare.

Iberian Ham Tartare

3. Skewers

Skewers as canapés for Christmas appetizers are also a great idea. You have infinite options for ingredient combinations, but in this case, we give you two different ideas that are sure to be successful among your guests: one skewer with avocado, mango, ham cubes, cherry tomatoes, and goat cheese - an original and fresh combination.

We also offer you the option of the typical melon skewer with ham, a classic contrast that always works.

Melon and Ham Skewer
Cold Skewer for a Healthy Appetizer

Cold Skewer for Healthy Appetizer

Melon and Ham Skewers

4. Tomato Carpaccio with Iberian Ham

Although "carpaccios" are typical and originally from Italian cuisine, they are becoming more rooted in Spanish cuisine. Moreover, they come in all types and flavors: beef, cod, shrimp, tuna, etc. And when dressed with olive oil, they become absolutely exquisite.

Allow us to introduce our proposal for tomato carpaccio with ham and Parmesan cheese. A unique and original dish that will win over your guests.

Iberian Bellota Ham Carpaccio

5. Assorted Canapés

Canapés are typical of Christmas meals or dinners, so we couldn't forget about them in this post. They are easy to prepare, ready in no time, and yield excellent results. On one hand, we suggest the classic mini goat cheese salad. Each cook has their own proposal and ingredient combination to prepare this salad, which can include a variety of greens, nuts, goat cheese, Iberian ham, etc.

Another option is the mini plate of green asparagus with ham. Its preparation is simple and quick – you just need to wrap a slice of ham around each asparagus and sauté them for a few minutes.

And finally, the avocado toast with ham and cherry tomatoes. Every bite will be a delight! Check out the step-by-step preparation for each of these canapés in the following recipe: "Three Canapés for Snacking".

Three Canapés for Snacking

6. Avocado and Iberian Ham Uramakis

Avocado and Iberian ham uramakis are the perfect idea for your Christmas appetizers if you want to surprise your family and friends. An original and simple recipe that corresponds to the fusion between Japanese and Spanish cuisine.

Learn to prepare them step by step; you'll see that it's simpler than it seems.

Ingredients for Avocado and Iberian Ham Uramakis

Uramakis with Iberian Ham
Result of Avocado and Iberian Ham Uramakis

7. Boards of Ham, Cold Cuts, and Cheeses

One of the simplest Christmas appetizers that yields the best results is boards of Iberian ham or cold cuts and cheeses. If you're someone who receives a Christmas hamper with all these delicatessen products, there's no better way to enjoy them than by sharing them with family or friends during the holidays.

Put together your boards so that they look good on the table, and the rest is on us – you just have to savor the exquisite taste of these Iberian products.

Iberian Ham from Enrique Tomás

8. Slightly More Elaborate Traditional Christmas Appetizers

We present slightly more elaborate options in our post: 5 Iberian Ham Starters for Christmas. You'll find recipes with quintessential Christmas products such as shrimp, scallops, or traditional vol-au-vent pastries.