🔗 Share this article

What types of canapes can I prepare for New Year’s Eve using my Christmas leftovers that will still feel special?

Finger food doesn't have to be elaborate, so New Year's presents a perfect chance to clear the decks. The key rule is to stick to items to just one bite—guests don't want to handle a fork. People are looking for a comforting taste of comfort food with a luxurious touch.

If you have a bit of cured fish left, place it on mini pancakes and crown it with lumpfish caviar. Small patties are also an ideal choice: If you have remaining fish or flaked salmon, mix it through creamy potatoes, blend with dill, citrus, and caramelized onions, then coat in Japanese breadcrumbs and fry until golden.

You could also have a ball with Spanish croquettes. Prepare the white sauce a few days ahead, then use leftover ham, poultry, or foraged fungi for the interior. Blitz old bread into breadcrumbs to coat them, then cook until crisp. Sausage roll fillings are another natural home for those breadcrumbs, or use them as a coating for chicken pieces. For flavour, just add a bit of lemon zest and thyme, and they'll sing so much more. As an aside, buttery pastries make excellent coatings, too.

One beloved treat at this time of year is a post-holiday sandwich, and that can continue after Boxing Day. Get some ham and turkey in an sealed tub and freeze. While you're at it, set aside some cranberry sauce and honey ham glaze in the fridge. When needed, defrost the meat, then pop it in a hot oven with the reserved glaze for a brief period. Cool and slice thinly, then lay on top of some sourdough and assemble mini sandwiches with lots of tangy sauce. Cut into bite-sized pieces for a winner.

Remaining poultry, meanwhile, could be transformed into a spicy, crisp salad. You often have a bit of dark meat left over, and it's ideal for something punchy. Shred the meat, then crisp it slowly in a pan, and mix with remaining sauce thinned with lime juice, a dash of soy sauce and a little spicy oil. Finish with fresh herbs and some sliced spring onion, and serve in little gem leaves.

Revamping Leftover Vegetables

Veg, meanwhile, can be scrubbed up and ready to party with a big batch of fried potato cake. Mix all your leftover veg with fresh herbs, then season and add flour. Stamp out portions to about the size of blinis, then store in the freezer. Refresh in a preheated oven for a few minutes and top with whatever you like—perhaps roast beef and grated horseradish. A word to the wise, though: set some aside for brunch the next day.