Flavoured grape canapés

Makes 24 (enough for 6pax)
Prep time 30 minutes

250g cream cheese, softened
30ml Cognac
Pinch freshly ground black pepper
30g chopped cooked bacon
10g chopped chives
juice of 1 lime
1 teaspoon Indian lime pickle
24 fresh green table grapes, washed and removed from stalks
30g chopped roasted walnuts
15g black sesame seeds
10g chopped fresh parsley
5g smoked paprika powder
15g brown mustard seeds
15g sunflower seeds

• Divide the cream cheese into approximately 3 equal portions and place each portion in a separate bowl.
• To the first bowl, add the cognac & black pepper. To the second bowl, add the bacon bits and chopped chives. To the third bowl, add the lime juice and lime pickle. Mix each bowl of flavoured cream cheese separately to achieve a smooth consistency and evenly distributed flavouring in each of them.
• Take 8 grapes and one by one, coat the outer skin with the cognac and pepper flavoured cream cheese, applying it like plaster in order to create a protective layer around the grape.
• Place all 8 grapes on a plate. Roll 4 of them in the chopped walnuts and the other 4 in the black sesame seeds. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Repeat this process with the remaining grapes in order to produce the following combinations: Bacon & chive cream cheese grapes rolled in parsley and smoked paprika. Lime juice & lime pickle cream cheese grapes rolled in mustard and sunflower seeds.
• Chill all grapes for 30 minutes before serving. These can also be made the day before and kept chilled until serving. Serve a variety of all flavours on the same platter for a more visually enticing effect.

Hansen says: “These hors d’oeurves—flavoured cream cheese with six different coatings—have a surprise grape centre inside, and make good conversation starters.”

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