Canapé facts for kids
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Tray of canapés
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| Course | Hors d'oeuvre |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | France |
| Main ingredients | Base: one of crackers, bread, toast or puff pastry Topping: savoury butters, spreads, or pastes |
| Variations | Amuse-bouche, vol-au-vent |
A canapé is a small, tasty snack often served at parties or gatherings before a main meal. It's usually a tiny piece of bread, toast, or a cracker, topped with something delicious and savory. Canapés are designed to be eaten in one bite and are easy to hold with your fingers. They are a type of hors d'oeuvre, which is a fancy French word for a small dish served before the main course.
What's in a Name?
The word "canapé" comes from the French word for "sofa" or "couch". Think of it like this: the tasty topping sits on top of the bread base, just like people sit on a sofa!
Canapés at Parties
Canapés are often served at parties or social events. They are usually made to be a little salty or spicy. This can make guests feel a bit thirsty, which encourages them to enjoy more drinks.
Canapés are also known as finger food. However, not all finger foods are canapés. Canapés always have a base, like a cracker or a small piece of bread. This base is then topped with savory foods. These toppings can include meats, cheeses, fish, or even fancy ingredients like caviar.
Traditionally, canapés are made from thin slices of bread. This bread might be a bit old, but other bases like puff pastry or fresh vegetables can also be used. The bread is cut into fun shapes like circles, squares, or triangles. These bases are then often fried, sautéed, or toasted. After that, they are topped with colorful and delicious ingredients. These toppings are often arranged very neatly and beautifully.
Canapés are usually served on special serving trays called canapé salvers. Guests then pick them up and eat them from small canapé plates.
Making a Canapé
A canapé has four main parts:
- The base: This is the bottom part, like bread, crackers, or a small pancake.
- The spread: This is a layer on top of the base. It can be a special butter mixed with other flavors, like ham or lobster. It can also be a flavored cream cheese or a mayonnaise salad.
- The main item: This is the star of the canapé, placed on top of the spread. It could be meat, fish, cheese, or a vegetable purée.
- The garnish: This is a small, decorative touch that makes the canapé look pretty. It can be finely chopped vegetables, scallions, herbs, or even tiny amounts of caviar.
Canapés can be served either hot or cold. For example, bread triangles can be fried in bacon fat or browned in the oven. They can be spread with tasty pastes like anchovy or crab. You can also use mustard as a spread. Then, you can add toppings like chopped bacon, grated cheese, or chopped olives.
See also
In Spanish: Canapé (gastronomía) para niños
