What better way to warm up the winter than sharing aperitivo moments with friends or family? But beware — all too often, snack time means extra calories. Between alcohol and indulgent bites, the pleasure of aperitivo can quickly lead to a strict diet come spring. Here are a few healthy winter aperitivo ideas to enjoy without the guilt.
Recipe no1 for a healthy aperitivo: beetroot crisps
Crisps are a classic aperitivo staple… but they’re loaded with fat from frying. The idea here is to lighten things up and make the most of a winter ingredient: beetroot. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 2 raw beetroots
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- A handful of sesame seeds
- A pinch of salt
Preparation is incredibly simple:
- peel the beetroots and slice them thinly using a mandoline;
- lay them flat on a large plate lined with kitchen paper, making sure they don’t overlap;
- brush them lightly with olive oil and season with salt;
- microwave them for approximately 3 rounds of 2 minutes, to ensure they are fully dehydrated;
- sprinkle with a little sesame and enjoy!
Recipe no2: Tuna lettuce wraps
Spring rolls and bricks are undeniably delicious, but they’re fried and therefore high in saturated fats. For a similar idea with a healthy twist, here’s a salad-based alternative. For 4 people, you’ll need:
- 1 large can of tuna in water
- 1 spring onion
- 2 carrots
- 1 lettuce
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- for the sauce: 1 tbsp honey, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tbsp soy sauce, a little fresh ginger, finely chopped
Preparation requires minimal effort:
mix all the sauce ingredients together and set aside;
in a bowl, combine the drained tuna with the olive oil and finely sliced spring onion;
peel the carrots and cut them into thin sticks;
wash the lettuce, dry it and set aside the nicest leaves;
fill each leaf with tuna and carrot sticks;
roll up the filled lettuce leaves and secure them with cocktail sticks;
serve with the sauce;
pro tip: we use carrots, but you can also use cucumber, red cabbage, or any other fresh and easy-to-digest vegetable.
Recipe no3: Mini bulgur and vegetable fritters
Here’s another recipe for a healthy aperitivo that vegetarians and vegans will love! Full of flavour, it’s perfect for a wholesome and indulgent aperitivo dinner! To make 12 fritters, you’ll need:
- 80 g bulgur wheat
- 2 carrots
- 1 small courgette
- 2 eggs
- 50 g wholemeal flour
- Spices of your choice, such as cumin, turmeric, curry, paprika…
- 50 g feta
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper
To prepare the aperitivo fritters:
- cook the bulgur in salted water according to the recommended time, then drain and leave to cool;
- wash the courgette, peel the carrots and grate the vegetables;
- place them in a colander and press firmly to remove as much water as possible;
- in a mixing bowl, combine the bulgur, spices, flour and vegetables, then add the crumbled feta, a little salt and pepper, and the eggs beaten as an omelette;
- heat olive oil in a frying pan and drop small spoonfuls of the mixture to form little fritters;
- cook for 3 minutes on each side until nicely golden;
- serve as they are or with a light fromage blanc and fresh herb dip.
Recipe no4: Smoked salmon rolls
A healthy aperitivo classic that should never be overlooked! Fresh, light, easy to digest and wonderfully elegant — it’s always a crowd-pleaser! To prepare it, you’ll need:
- 4 wholegrain wraps or corn tortillas, depending on your preference
- 100 g cream cheese such as St Môret
- A pinch of Espelette pepper
- 4 slices of smoked salmon or smoked trout
- A few rocket leaves
Preparation is quick and easy:
- in a bowl, mix the cream cheese with the Espelette pepper;
- take a wrap and spread the cheese mixture over the entire surface;
- lay the smoked fish on top, then add a few rocket leaves;
- roll the wrap into a tight log and cut it into rounds, which you can secure with wooden cocktail sticks;
- repeat with the three remaining wraps.
These 4 recipes pair beautifully with healthy drinks. For a lighter aperitivo, why not go for alcohol-free cocktails? Mocktails, or virgin cocktails, are just as delicious as the originals — and far kinder to your body. Vegetable juices are also a great alternative to make the most of your winter aperitivo.