MINGLING WITH APPETIZERS…Colourful Veggie Hors’Doeuvres!
Oven Baked Potato Cheese Breaded Bites 
Am sending these colourful appetizers off to sunny California to Mansi @ Fun & Food, from more than sunny India. The first one is an “Oven Baked Potato Cheese Breaded Bites’ appetizer which I put together with potatoes… 
Oven Baked Potato Cheese Breaded Bites
Ingredients:
Potatoes – 2 large / boiled & grated
Cheddar – 1/2 cup / grated
Coriander – 1 small handful / chopped fine
Green chili – 1-2 / deseeded & chopped fine
Breadcrumbs – 1/2 cup
Mozzarella – 50 gms (approximately)
Fresh mint leaves & chopped tomatoes
Method:
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Mix the grated cheddar + coriander + green chilies into the warm grated potatoes & mix till smooth. Season as desired.
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Make small bite sized balls out of the mixture, placing a tiny bit of mozzarella inside each. Roll firmly & chill for 30 minutes.
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Prior to serving, drizzle them with some oil, gently rolling them around so they are evenly coated. Then take each ball, roll in breadcrumbs & place on a lightly greased baking tray.
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Bake at 180 degrees for 15-25 minutes, turning once to ensure they are well browned all around. Top with fresh mint leaves & small bits & tomatoes secured with cocktail sticks. Can be served with a dip.
…& the second one is adapted from an appetizer which left me totally refreshed by just looking at it at Nicisme’s blog @ Cherrapeno… Boursin, Tomato and Cucumber Nibbles. This second one is also en route to Ruth @ Ruth’s Kitchen Experiments for her ongoing ‘Bookmarked event’.
I made my cucumber nibbles with Cheddar, cream cheese, cottage cheese & topped them with mint, coriander & bell peppers, but would have loved to try Nic’s version had I laid my hands on some Boursin! If wishes were horses… 
…these nibbles would sail!!
Cream Cheese, Bell Pepper and Cucumber Nibbles…as adapted from Cherrapeno
(Amounts are approximate because it depends on the size of the cucumber. Nic used Boursin cheese, but you can use any cream cheese – she says one with herbs would be good. I agree…)
Ingredients:
Cucumber – 1 small; about 10-12 ” long, halved in length
Cream cheese – 1 small tub
Cheddar – 1/2 cup / grated
Cottage cheese – 1/4 cup grated
Coriander leaves – Small handful / chopped fine
Garlic – 1 clove / minced fine
Fresh mint & coriander leaves
Red & yellow bell pepper tossed in olive oil, (or even half a cherry tomato)
Method:
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Cut the cucumber in half length-ways and slice a little off the bottom to make it sit flat on the plate. Peel as desired. I left a small strip on the top edges.
- Scoop out the seeds and discard them.
- Mix the cheeses + chopped coriander + garlic. Taste & adjust seasoning if required.
- Fill the hollow of the cucumber with the cream cheese mixture, push in well & smooth top with a knife.
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Cut the cucumber into bite sized pieces and top each one with mint leaf , bell pepper bit & fresh coriander, securing the leaf & pepper with a cocktail stick.
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Drizzle with some of the olive oil from the peppers.
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Chill until ready to serve.
I am trying include a bit of yellow in each post in support of the Click ‘YELLOW for Bri‘ !
Deeba @ PAB
About me: I am a freelance food writer, recipe developer and photographer. Food is my passion - baking, cooking, developing recipes, making recipes healthier, using fresh seasonal produce and local products, keeping a check on my carbon footprint and being a responsible foodie! I enjoy food styling, food photography, recipe development and product reviews. I express this through my food photographs which I style and the recipes I blog. My strength lies in 'Doing Food From Scratch'; it must taste as good as it looks, and be healthy too. Baking in India, often my biggest challenge is the non-availability of baking ingredients, and this has now become a platform to get creative on. I enjoy cooking immensely as well.
25 Comments
Happy cook
Wow i am comming over to have this.
So elegand for a party.
Purnima
The pictures look gorgeous! Loved the baked appetisers n cucumber nibbles! U hv the patience to go into minute detailing! loved the coriander n bell peppers, cut to perfection! Lovely droolofying entries for both events!
Manggy
So cute!! The cucumbers look like little boats! 🙂 I’d love to have some of the potato-cheese balls! I’d probably deep-fry them here at home (how unhealthy of me, heh)! 😀
toontz
Those are so pretty! It would be very hard to resist those at a party. Great recipes to have on hand because the ingredients are not exotic and could be put together at the last minute if need be. Great job!
Pearlsofeast
Great Deeba, looks so colourful and wonderful presentation.
Passionate baker...& beyond
Happy to have you over HC!
Thanks Purnima…I love garnishing & adding colour!
Hey Manggy…& here I’m DESPERATELY trying to introduce healthy living…Doc, you gotta do better than deep frying!!LOL!!
You’re absolutely right Toontz…exactly my thoughts, esp when I saw the nibbles at Nics’!
Hi there POE…glad to see you again. Things must be better in Beijing now! :0)
Passionate baker...& beyond
Happy to have you over HC!
Thanks Purnima…I love garnishing & adding colour!
Hey Manggy…& here I’m DESPERATELY trying to introduce healthy living…Doc, you gotta do better than deep frying!!LOL!!
You’re absolutely right Toontz…exactly my thoughts, esp when I saw the nibbles at Nics’!
Hi there POE…glad to see you again. Things must be better in Beijing now! :0)
Bellini Valli
I rememeber seeing the cucumber bites over at Nic’s blog. Excellent work there girl…what time is the party:D
Mansi Desai
These look so pretty and tasty Deeba! and its precisely what I wanted ppl to do for this event! both recipes sound wonderful, and thanks so much for sharing them with us at MM!:)
Hetal
Watta lovely presentation….and wonderful recipes…
nicisme
Oooooh – what time’s the party? I’m coming over!!
I love the way you put peppers on the cuc nibbles, thanks for trying them!
Great colourful photos…. AGAIN!!!
maninas
wow Deeba you’re so talented! very creative! 🙂
familiabencomo
Oh yumm! My day is just starting over here & I could go for some d-lish little nibbles. Every time I see your beautiful, serene photos I imagine the chaos of a house with 2 kids home for the summer…. How do you do it?!?! Are they tied up some where? Great post, gorgeous photos (always!).
Tanti baci, my friend,
Amy
Mike of Mike's Table
Those look great and very inviting! I could see these disappearing very quickly. Also, with regard to boursin, cream cheese isn’t a perfect substitute, but I think it’s pretty close with the addition of a few herbs. *shrugs*
Lisa
Those little potato cheese balls I could gobble up in no time. I’m liking that you baked them.
Dwiana P
Debra, they are so inviting and very pretty too!!
it is very nice of you to bring the color yellow to support Bri.
btw, how do you keep up on your posting? I am trying to post every week but lately I am so behind:(
d
these are just perfect! once again, i am so thrilled i found your blog. i havent made these yet – but intend to asap!
d
chriesi
These are so pretty!
Ivy
Deeba they look wonderful, so colourful and refreshing for a hot summer day. You Rock girl. I have an award for you.
Bharti Khemani
Hello..I’m a first timer on ur blog..these appetizers are sooooo gorgeous!
Dhanggit
great entry for monthly mingle!! love all this finger food 🙂
Rosie
Just wonderful Deeba – perfection on a plate 🙂
Rosie x
Kalai
Simply stunning, Deeba!! These look amazing! 🙂
Nags
i missed out on so many lovely recipes on ur blog!! this one is definitely my fave! where do u get such fresh ingredients in gurgaon??
Meeta
Deeba, I’ve been missing out on a few posts – but this looks lovely a true treat for any party. Lovely!