I love Christmas cooking. This year we are providing predinner nibbles, so rather than a traditional cheese platter, we make up little bites of simple food and dress the plates in rosemary garlands. The presentation really elevates the dish, so it looks as good as they taste.

A family favourite is these Mini Roast Vegetable Tarts. They taste delicious and we can make everything in advance, which is a bonus on Christmas Day when you don’t want to be stuck in the kitchen. The other thing we love about this dish is the leftovers. We always make extra vegetables, as the leftovers can be mixed with goats cheese and rocket, and then dressed in balsamic. Secretly I like the resulting salad as much as the tarts! It is perfect with cold ham! Boxing Day is often my favourite eating day, with all the gourmet leftovers being enjoyed in such a lazy relaxed way.

Ingredients

• Savory Tartlet Cases or Puff Pastry Sheets*
• Two Garlic Cloves
• Olive Oil
• A hand full of Cherry Tomatoes
• Good quality Olives (Pits removed)
• Zucchini (one but I make extra for salads)
• Red Onion (one but I make extra for salads)
• Goats Cheese
• Sticky Balsamic
• Salt and Pepper
• Herbs for garnish. I have Basil int he garden however you can use Parsley or Chives

Christmas Eve Prep

Crush a few Cloves of Garlic into approx. three good lugs of Olive Oil and warm over a medium heat until it softens. This will give you a fragrant Garlic Oil. Let sit to cool

Slice your Zucchini lengthwise into strips approx. 1/2 centimeter thick

Brush each strip with the Garlic Oil and cook over medium-high heat in single rows on a ribbed skillet until charred (Approx. 3 minutes per side). Brush the second side with Garlic Oil before turning*.

Slice strips of Red Onion into 1-2 centimeter rounds. Try to keep the round together as you cook, as it’s much easier to flip. Repeat the cooking process above brushing again with Garlic Oil.

Cool and refrigerate in a sealed glass container

*The ribbed skillet gives a lovely pattern and allows the moisture to escape as they cook for a crisper finish, however you can use a flat skillet.

Christmas Day Assembly

Simply stack the ingredients to taste  – Sliced Red Onion, cuts of Zucchini, half a Cherry Tomato, an Olive (or half if you prefer a more subtle flavor)

Finish with crumbed Goats Cheese, a small splash of Sticky Balsamic, a sprinkle of Salt and Pepper, and Herbs.

Making the Cases

Optional to add to Christmas Eve Prep

*This dish is easiest and looks most professional if you prepurchase savory tartlet cases, however I prefer to make my own with Puff Pastry Sheets and our patty pan. If you have time, making your own pastry from scratch is always worth the effort, however at this time of year, it is just not an option for us.

We use a tuna tin as a guide to cut the Puff Pastry into shape. It is critical to weigh the Pastry down with pie weights, or you will end up with circular Pastry Puffs. I sometimes still have our ceramic weights being thrown off into the bottom of the oven.

Bake as per instructions on the pack and cool. Store for the next day in a sealed container.