Christmas Canapés

Name: Christmas Canapés
Prep time: 30 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: Long loaf sandwich bread 5 slices; Cream cheese 2.5 oz; Anchovy paste 2 tsp; Anchovies in oil 8 fillets; Lemon peel to taste; Chives to taste; Cream cheese 2.5 oz; Smoked Salmon 2.8 oz; Ground pistachio 3 ½ tbsp; Chervil to taste; Mayonnaise ¼ cup; Tuna in oil drained 1.75 oz; Pickled vegetables drained 2.8 oz; Chives to taste; Mayonnaise 4 tbsp; Lumpfish roe (caviar substitute) 1.25 oz; Thyme to taste; Mayonnaise 4 tbsp; Shrimp paste precooked 16; Lime peel to taste

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Difficulty: Easy
Prep time: 30 min
Serving: 8
Cost: Low

PRESENTATION

Christmas tartines really bring that festive Italian vibe to your table, and you know, they look super cheerful by the tree. These bites are pretty much a holiday staple in Italy, perfect for Christmas Eve or any festive get-together. So... Here's the thing, you get everything from moist tuna with giardiniera to the classic combos like smoked salmon, shrimp, or anchovies with soft cream and a sprinkle of lemon zest. It's really really good. What's awesome is how these holiday tartine recipes are for everyone—kids, grandparents, picky eaters, or those who love trying something new. Mix and match toppings, and your spread really pops. Super tasty.

When family or friends drop by during the holidays, a tray of festive open-faced sandwiches just lights up the table and keeps everyone happy while waiting for the main course. Italians get creative—really creative—with these. And the sauce? Oh, they add flying fish roe for a pop of color or swap in vegan toppings, so there's something for everyone. Some folks go for jelly-based tartines or even caviar to make it extra fancy. It's a snack that lets you show off without breaking a sweat—honestly, you can whip up a batch in no time. And listen, what makes these shine is the mix of flavors and textures: crispy bread, tangy pickled veggies, and those rich, salty bites of fish or seafood.

Whether you’re planning an elegant Christmas lunch or just a casual game night, these Christmas tartines and other holiday tartine recipes offer plenty of ways to make your celebration easy and a bit classy. Put out a platter, watch them vanish, and you’ll see why this is a go-to tradition in many Italian homes during the holidays. For real, they're great.

INGREDIENTS

Ingredients for 40 canapés: Long loaf sandwich bread 5 slices

for anchovy canapés: Cream cheese 2.5 oz (70 g); Anchovy paste 2 tsp (10 g); Anchovies in oil 8 fillets; Lemon peel to taste; Chives to taste

for salmon canapés: Cream cheese 2.5 oz (70 g); Smoked Salmon 2.8 oz (80 g); Ground pistachio 3 ½ tbsp (20 g); Chervil to taste

for tuna and pickled vegetable canapés: Mayonnaise ¼ cup (60 g); Tuna in oil 1.75 oz (50 g) - drained; Pickled vegetables 2.8 oz (80 g) - drained; Chives to taste

for lumpfish roe canapés: Mayonnaise 4 tbsp (60 g); Lumpfish roe (caviar substitute) 1.25 oz (35 g); Thyme to taste

for shrimp canapés: Mayonnaise 4 tbsp (60 g); Shrimp paste 16 - precooked; Lime peel to taste

Preparation

How to prepare Christmas Canapés

To prepare the Christmas canapés, first, place the 5 slices of sandwich bread on a cutting board and use a sharp knife to cut out 4 rectangles lengthwise 1 2; then divide each rectangle in half 3.

This way, you will get 8 square canapés 4 from each slice of bread to fill with each flavor; for a total of 40 canapés. Start by assembling the first 8 tuna and pickled vegetable canapés. To do this, place the tuna in a bowl 5 and mash it with the back of a spoon 6.

Add the mayonnaise 7 and mix until you get a smooth and creamy sauce 8. Spread the mixture on each canapé 9.

Decorate by alternating pieces of pickled vegetables 10 for added color and crunch. Complete with a pinch of finely chopped chives 11. Set aside these 8 canapés and prepare the anchovy ones. Combine the anchovy paste with the spreadable cheese in a bowl 12.

Work the mixture with a spoon 13 until you get a uniform cream 14. With a spatula, spread the anchovy cream evenly over another 8 canapés. Place the drained anchovy fillets in the center 15.

Continue with a light grating of fresh lemon zest 16, which will give an aromatic and lively note. Complete with some leaves of chervil and set aside 17. Move on to the salmon canapés. Dice the slices of smoked salmon into small regular cubes 18.

Take another 8 pieces of bread and spread a thin layer of fresh cheese on each 19. Place a spoonful of salmon tartare in the center 19, then enrich with a sprinkle of chopped pistachios and some chive strands for an aromatic and refined touch 20. Set aside and move on to the shrimp canapés. Spread the mayonnaise on 8 squares of bread 21.

Place a couple of shrimp in the center of each canapé 22 and sprinkle with grated lime zest 23. These are ready too 34.

Assemble the last 8 canapés. First, spread the mayonnaise 25 then, with the help of a teaspoon, form a small quenelle of lumpfish roe and place it in the center of each canapé 26. Complete with some fresh thyme leaves 26, which will add a delicate yet elegant aroma. Your Christmas canapés are ready 27.

Storage

The assembled canapés can be stored in the refrigerator, well covered with plastic wrap, for a few hours. However, to maintain the best texture, it is preferable to prepare the creams (anchovies, tuna) in advance and store them in airtight containers in the fridge for 1 day. Sandwich bread tends to dry out quickly: to avoid this, keep it sealed in its packaging until ready to use. Fresh decorations like shrimp, chervil, or citrus zest should be added only at the moment of serving to preserve color and flavor.

Tip

To achieve even more elegant and balanced canapés, we suggest filling the bread just before serving: this way it will remain soft and won't absorb the moisture from the creams. Decorate each canapé with the main ingredient so they can be easily recognized. Cover the canapés with dampened and wrung-out kitchen paper to prevent the bread from drying out.

For the translation of some texts, artificial intelligence tools may have been used.

Christmas Canapés

PRESENTATION

INGREDIENTS

How to prepare Christmas Canapés

Storage

Tip

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