Passion. Enthusiasm. Camaraderie. Junk food. Huh? Put like that, the average Super Bowl spread doesn’t fit the occasion. This year, banish the goopy nachos and greasy chicken wings, and treat friends and family to something worthy of a Super Bowl celebration. Prepared with health and pleasure in mind, these easy-to-make finger foods and snacks may generate as much excitement as the game itself.
Chicken Satay with Spicy Peanut Dip
Serves 4 / A simpler satay, with an abbreviated ingredient list and process. Even without the delicious sauce, the grilled chicken is excellent! Ingredient tips: Red curry paste and Sriracha sauce, also called rooster sauce (for the logo on its bright red bottle), are available in the Asian section of most markets. View recipe.
Fava Bean, Pea, and Edamame Mash with Oven-Dried Pita Crisps
Makes 6 cups / The dip can be made less spicy by omitting the green chili, although the ginger and curry provide a bite. Prep tip: If you can’t find frozen fava, substitute frozen lima beans. Prep tip: Also makes a great dip for vegetable crudités, such as carrots, jicama, and celery. View recipe.
Quick Spinach Quesadillas
Serves 6 / Prep tip: These are ideally cooked in a “tawa,” an Indian concave pan used to make chapatis. A large wok is second best, followed by a nonstick pan roughly the diameter of the tortillas. View recipe.
Turkey-Chipotle Meatballs
Makes about 40 / Not that you should expect to have any leftovers, but if you do, these make a terrific meatball sandwich. Look for canned chipotles in adobo in the Mexican section of most markets. Serving tip: During the party, keep these warm in a slow cooker; provide little forks or cocktail sticks for spearing. View recipe.
Almond-Hazelnut Dip
Makes 2 1/2 cups / This fabulous dip is a healthy alternative to sour-cream-laden options. It’s great on pita bread, blue corn chips, or raw vegetables, such as celery and carrot sticks. f you can’t find blanched (skinless) almonds, combine them with the hazelnuts when covering with boiling water; when cool, skins will slip right off. View recipe.
Chocolate Fondue
Serves 8 / In this healthier version of classic chocolate fondue, cream is replaced by water and omega-3-rich flaxseed oil. Grand Marnier supplies a hint of orange, and is backed up by a little cayenne for an extra kick. Serving tips: Serve with your favorite seasonal fruits, such as bananas, pineapple, and oranges. Don’t worry if you don’t own a fondue pot; any heatproof dish or slow cooker will do. If you have leftover sauce, it’s also delicious poured over vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt. View recipe.
Store-bought snacks to round out your spread
- Hummus and whole-wheat pita bread or baked pita chips
- Stuffed grape leaves, served with plain yogurt mixed with chili powder and cumin
- Olives—a mixture of kalamata, Sicilian, picholine, Niçoise, and oil-cured
- Jicama sticks sprinkled with fresh lime juice, salt, and red chili powder
- Goat cheese with pimentos and sliced scallions, mashed together and served with rice crackers
