I’ve mentioned before how much I enjoy pulling inspiration from cruises. Well, I’m back to share some of the latest ideas to cross my radar. As expected, you’ll see a non-trivial number of canapés, finger foods, small bites, and appetizers. But don’t worry, there’s plenty of other tasty ideas from the starter, entrée, and dessert categories too. Check them out!
Hors d’Oeuvres and Small Bites
Easy Bites
These are some simple combinations of ingredients that can be quick to put together.
For low carb, try swapping out your rolls or buns or bread. Or try these combinations on skewers or in lettuce wraps. For the chicken and tuna salads, you can use these cute little serving cups and spoons.
Mini Buffalo Mozzarella and Tomato Sandwich
Mini Ham, Lettuce, and Mayo Sandwich
Mini Salami and Cucumber Croissant
Mini Tuna Salad and Tomato Sandwich
Mini Roast Beef, Lemon, and Mayo Sandwich
Mini Chicken Salad Sandwich
Mini Salmon Baguette
Cucumber Finger Sandwich
Pineapple Finger Sandwich
Sweet Bites
Mini Chocolate Eclair
Mini Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting and Chocolate Crumbles
For a low carb version, check out my Easy Keto Carrot Cake and bake it in these mini muffin pans.
Mini Cheesecake with Blueberries
Mini Tarts
Need a low carb, dairy free tart shell? You can use these tartlet shells as they are for savory bites. For a sweet version, skip the salt and garlic powder and add 2 tablespoons powdered erythritol instead.
Mini Strawberry Tart
Mini Lemon Tart
Mini Fruit Tart
A Bit More Involved
Some Amuse Bouche Ideas (if you’re feeling fancy)
Don’t be intimidated by these ideas. The beauty of them is that they are a single bite and can often be composed of things you find in the store. (i.e. The croquette is awesome, but you can do something much easier than deep frying and it will still look elegant.) Plating is the name of the game on these.
Salmon Mousse
Iberico Ham & Manchego Cheese Croquette on a Chili Aioli
Burrata Foam with Tomato Pieces and Pesto Olive Oil
Entrées
You’ll see a lot of fish in my cruise ship foods. First of all, that’s because there are some great varied options. Second, I love the simplicity of the dish that is “fancified” by sauces and plating. You can take it from a less than 30 minute weeknight meal to an elegant plated dinner party in a snap.
Fennel-Crusted Grilled Lamb Loin with Carrot Purée, Haricots Verts, Natural Jus
You could make this one as a minor riff on my Lamb Lollipops.
Grilled Salmon with Sweet Corn Purée, Roasted Red Pepper Coulis
As with most fish, the key on the salmon is “do no harm.” Lightly season it and cook in a hot pan with avocado oil. For a filet this size, 4 minutes on each side. For low carb, swap the sweet corn purée with something like turnip or cauliflower purée.
Butternut & Swiss Chard Lasagna with Gruyere Béchamel, Sage, Pumpkin Crumble
Want a low carb version? Start with my Easy Low Carb Lasagna. Use pumpkin purée instead of butternut squash.
Pan-Roasted Halibut with Curry Cauliflower Purée, Swiss Chard, Bacon, Eggplant Beignet
Roasted Turbot with Fennel Croquette, Pernod Velouté, Leeks
Seared Branzino with Eggplant Caponata, Lemon Confit, Basil Vinaigrette
Starters and Sides
Ah . . . soups, salads, and some other really interesting dishes. I find it easy to forget just how interesting salads can be. Again, they don’t need to be complicated. However, if you vary the textures of the ingredients a bit and either pick the right dressing or cheese, you’re set. One last plug: salads are usually really easy to adapt to dietary restrictions.
Borscht Soup with Beef Short Rib, Beets, Cabbage, Sour Cream, Dill
Jerusalem Artichoke Soup with Prosciutto, Trumpet Mushrooms, Mascarpone, Sourdough Crouton
Broiled Feta Salad Arugula, Asparagus, Fresh Peas, Minted Pesto
Pig’s Foot Carpaccio with Truffle, Toasted Pine Nuts, and Porcini Mushroom Emulsion
Bibb Lettuce Salad with Radish, Avocado, Buttermilk Dressing, Pine Nuts, and Pecorino
Slow-Poached Lobster with Two-textured Cauliflower and Lobster Beurre Blanc
Tea Cured Salmon with Celery-Green Apple Salad, Black Garlic Emulsion, and Horseradish Marshmallow
Johnny Cake
There will be more to come on this one or something akin to it after I work through some baking experiments that are on my list.
Caribbean Potato Salad
I have to make a keto version of this. It’s on my list for this summer. Who’d have thought that I’d actually like something with peas in it?
Desserts
Hazelnut Cake with Dulce de Leche, Fernet-Branca, and Mint Gelato
Red Wine Poached Pear with Cassis Sorbet
Coffee Panna Cotta with Baily’s Cream
Carrot Celebration with Spiced Sponge Cake, Sweet Cream Cheese, and Chocolate Crumble
Almond Cake with Grape Confit, Mascarpone, Fig, and Buttermilk Ice Cream
If I were me and I wanted to make this keto and coconut free, I’d start with this amazing Almond Flour Cake from All Day I Dream About Food.
Mini Scone with Whipped Cream and Strawberry Jam
Drinks
Aspen Coffee made with Espresso, Kahlúa, and Bailey’s
Shaman Cocktail made with Zacapa 23 Rum, Maraschino Cherry, Apricot Liqueur, Dry Vermouth, Dried Sage
Pea Cocktail made with Hendrick’s Gin, Basil Soup, Tito Pepe Sherry, Lime Juice, Blanched Spring Peas, Virgin Olive Oil, Aquafaba
Menu Diving
Just in case you’re one of those weird people like me who loves to menu dive, here is a link to the various menus on the ship.
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