Three simple appetisers for your summer lunches and dinners

1. Fig skewers

We're starting with a fresh and very Mediterranean appetiser also suitable for vegetarians. Our star ingredient, the fig, is a very popular fruit during the warmer months of the year. Figs are a great source of energy, thanks to their sugar content. They also are rich in other nutrients such as fibre, potassium and iron, to name a few. How about incorporating them into our snacks and giving them a different twist?

We suggest something tasty and different like a skewer. Just cut the figs into small pieces (in halves or quarters is fine depending on the size) and pair it with some cubes of cheese. It works well with almost any kind of cheese! Blue cheese, goat cheese (amazing with an extra drizzle of honey, for those with a sweet tooth), queso fresco…

Try whichever one you fancy and in just a few minutes you'll have mouthwatering skewers. Serve them on a nice board or plate and bon appétit!  

2. Sausage and vegetable kebabs  

This next suggestion, despite being more hearty, can work perfectly as another appetiser for lunch or dinner. Is there anything more delicious than a simple BBQ kebab? We think it's a classic and a sure-fire way to make your meals on the terrace a success.

For this idea, our skewer is made up of: cherry tomatoes, cheese cubes, small slices of corn, green pepper and sausages. Want to give it a try? If you want to make it vegetarian, you can always use vegetable sausages, like those we sell in our Swedish Food Market.

Did you know that our vegetable sausages are renowned for their sustainable quality and nutritional value? They are also vegan friendly! So, if we take out the cheese (or use a vegan cheese) we can make a delicious, environmentally friendly appetiser that is suitable for everyone.  

3. Salad sandwich 

When it gets warm and the weather is good, we always fancy something fresh and light, right? That's why this next appetiser, a tasty salad sandwich, will become one of the best tools in your arsenal.

It is very easy to prepare and the results will make you look like a professional chef. Since we are now more interested in preparing individual portions for health reasons, this appetiser will do just this with style.

It's basically a mini salad, but in layers. And there are lots of different combinations you can try! We've opted for a rye bread base, a thin layer of grated natural tomato, some lettuce leaves, a bit of cheese, some radish slices, a bit of lamb's lettuce and – the secret – a few drops of lemon juice to give it extra freshness. Remember, you can add whatever you want: some slices of smoked salmon, a bit of cream cheese… Whatever comes to mind! 

4. Refreshing drinks to accompany your dishes

Now that you've been inspired by these quick appetiser recipes, it doesn't hurt to get some ideas for a few cool drinks to finish off the meal.

Whether it's to accompany the appetisers or to drink alone, your guests are bound to love the taste of delicious and colourful drinks like these.  

You can fill a beautiful beverage dispenser with some home-made lemonade, so each guest can pour their own glass. Add a few extra slices of lemon or lime for an even more intense flavour.

And if you don't have a dispenser like this one, you can always use an everyday jug, like in the second photo. In this idea, we've made a tasty cranberry drink by diluting some cranberry syrup in cold water. Like before, if you add some berries to complement it, even better!