A quick and easy appetizer bursting with bright, herbal flavor—the whole crowd is sure to love these tasty bites!
As someone who loves every aspect of hosting, from planning the menu all the way down to the finer details like how to fold the napkins, I’m guilty of sometimes overcomplicating things. For example, one time I hosted a dinner party with a seven-course tasting menu and an elaborate tablescape with handwritten place cards that I custom painted with gold leaf. Was it lovely? Yes. Was I stressed to the max? Also, yes. Since then, I’ve learned to chill out a bit about the table setting and lean on recipes that aren’t overly fussy but still feel elevated.
These appetizer bites fit that bill nicely. They’re chic in presentation, have incredible flavor, and are super simple to make. We’re talking 20 minutes tops. The secret is that this recipe takes a few shortcuts by using store-bought items, but guests would never know it because they look and taste like a gourmet version of crackers and cheese. The crackers offer a great crunchy bite, while the lemon hummus and goat cheese deliver a creamy contrast. In addition, the sun-dried tomatoes and pesto lend a nice pop of brightness to the whole dish.
If you’re looking for easy and effortless entertaining hacks, this is the sort of recipe that’s great to have on hand. It’s perfect for any occasion, from large-scale parties to last-minute gatherings and even after-school or post-work snacks.
Are These Lemon-Sun-Dried Tomato Hummus And Goat Cheese Pesto Bites Healthy?
As far as appetizers go, these cracker bites are fairly healthy. The hummus is a good source of plant-based protein and fiber while, the goat cheese has calcium. Sun-dried tomatoes also contain nutrients like lycopene and vitamin C. However, this recipe relies mostly on pre-packaged items from the store, which tend to be high in sodium. Therefore, this is a dish that’s best enjoyed in moderation. While the recipe is gluten-free, it’s also easy to make it dairy-free by using a plant-based substitute for goat cheese (many stores carry cashew-based cheeses made in a goat cheese style) and a dairy-free pesto.
Can I Make My Own Hummus And Pesto?
This recipe is a great hosting hack because it saves time by using store-bought items. However, if you have the extra time, you should definitely feel free to make your own hummus and pesto. And if you’re looking for recipes for either of these items, I highly recommend using The Best Homemade Hummus Recipe or making this Red Pepper Hummus. For pesto, you can’t go wrong with The Perfect Basil Pesto Recipe, or try this Basil-Spinach Pesto Recipe if you want to sneak a few extra greens into the dish. If you’re making a dairy-free version of these bites, consider trying this Dairy-Free Pesto.
Can I Prep This Ahead?
This dish is already pretty quick to make, but if you’d like to get a head start on party prep, you can make the hummus mixture ahead of time and store it in an airtight container in the fridge 1-2 days before you plan to serve it. Then when it’s time to serve, all you have to do is pipe or spoon the mixture onto the crackers and garnish. I wouldn’t recommend topping the crackers with the hummus more than an hour before you plan to serve, as the crackers are likely to get soggy.
Serving Suggestions
These bites are a tasty snack if you’re just making them for yourself, but if you’re serving them as an appetizer for a party, you’ll likely want to offer a smattering of other finger foods as well. I suggest serving these bites on a cheese and charcuterie platter featuring other edible delights like a Cheese Ball, Bacon-Onion Jam, and Crostini. If you’re looking to make similar bite-sized dishes, consider pairing them with these 5-Ingredient Pizza Bites, Healthy California Roll Sushi Bites, and Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Bites. As for beverages, they’d pair well with this White Sangria or Lemonade.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons pine nuts
- 1/2 cup goat cheese 4 ounces
- 1/2 cup lemon hummus
- Salt
- Pepper
- 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes plus additional for garnish, minced, not packed in oil
- 24 gluten-free rice crackers
- 2 tablespoons pesto
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F and place the pine nuts on a small baking sheet. Bake until lightly golden brown and toasted, about 5-10 minutes. Watch them closely, so they don't burn. Once toasted, finely chop them and set aside.
- Using an electric hand mixer, beat the goat cheese, lemon hummus, and a pinch of salt and pepper together in a large bowl, until smooth and creamy. You'll need to scrape down the sides of the bowl a few times.
- Stir the minced sun-dried tomatoes into the hummus mixture.
- Transfer the hummus into a piping bag and pipe it onto the crackers, dividing it evenly. You can also do this with a teaspoon.
- Top each cracker with 1/4 tsp of the pesto and a sprinkle of the chopped pine nuts. Garnish with an additional sun-dried tomato piece, if desired.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
I had a hard time finding lemon hummus in the winter for my holiday party so I had to order it online. But it was worth the hunt because my friends loved it at my holiday get together
So glad to hear it was worth it and that you all enjoyed this recipe. Thanks for reading!