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These eye-catching cucumber and goat cheese bites are just right for snacking or sharing with friends. Every cucumber slice gets a cool and creamy avocado goat cheese topping, finished with a sprinkle of fresh herbs and some sun-dried tomato strips. They're seriously easy to throw together, light, full of flavor, and great if you're looking for gluten-free, keto, or vegetarian options.
Perks of Fresh Party Snacks
These snazzy cucumber bites mix creamy, tangy, and crisp all in one. Pull them together in no time. If you want something tasty with a healthy twist that looks impressive, you can't go wrong. They're easy on carbs, gluten-free, and perfect for folks watching what they eat—but no one will notice they're the healthy pick.
Ingredient Check List
- Sea salt: Fine texture, 1/4 teaspoon (1.5g), adds flavor to taste.
- Black pepper: Fresh ground, 1/8 teaspoon (0.5g), a bit rough—not too fine.
- Fresh parsley: Flat-leaf style, 1/2 cup (30g), leaves crisp and bright, stems off, chop them into 1-2 inch pieces.
- Sun-dried tomatoes: 1/4 cup (40g), oil-packed, cut into skinny little sticks about 1/4-inch thick and an inch long, vibrant red.
- Lemon juice: 2 tablespoons (30ml), squeeze it yourself and strain out seeds and pulp.
- Tabasco sauce: 2-3 drops (or more if you like), classic red, make sure it's fresh and lively in color.
- Fresh goat cheese: 8 oz (226g), creamy (not the crumbly stuff), let it warm up to room temp (65-70°F), it should look bright white.
- Ripe avocado: 2 medium (200-250g each), Hass is best, ripe but not mushy—just soft when you press gently, inside should look clean and green.
- English cucumber: 2 big ones (each about 12-14 inches long, 1.5 inches wide), dark and smooth skin with no soft spots, heavy feels better than light.
Easygoing Step-by-Step Instructions
- Finishing Touches
- Space out your finished bites on a platter, giving each about half an inch so they don't bump into each other. If you want them to look and taste their best, let them hang out at room temp for 10-15 minutes. Throw a few parsley sprigs around the edges if you feel fancy.
- Top It Off
- Move your avocado-goat cheese mix into a piping bag with a 1/2-inch star nozzle. Swirl about 1.5-2 tablespoons (25-30g) of the filling on each cucumber piece, working from the edge toward the middle. Aim for a little mountain, about an inch high. Pop one strip of sun-dried tomato on top along with a parsley bit (about an inch long) for color.
- Smooth Avocado Mix
- Grab a medium bowl and squash the avocados until they're totally smooth. Pitch in the goat cheese (make sure it's not cold), Tabasco, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Whip it up until it feels airy and creamy—think whipped cream cheese. Give yourself about 2-3 minutes for this.
- Getting the Cucumbers Ready
- With a sharp knife, chop cucumbers into thick circles (1.5 inches each—about 15-18 a cucumber). Pat each one dry with some towels. Lay them out on a plate lined with towels so they stay dry until you’re ready.
- Prep Work
- Let the goat cheese warm to room temp (should take 30-45 minutes, aim for 65-70°F). Rinse and dry the cucumbers. Make sure your avocado feels slightly soft when you squeeze. Pull out everything you need: cutting board, knife, spatula, piping bag (star tip 1/2-inch), medium bowl, and paper towels.
Winning Plating Secrets
If you want your snacks to look next-level, grab a piping bag with a big star tip and swirl the mix onto each cucumber slice, outer edge first then circle toward the center. It's the easiest trick for even and good-looking results every time.
Simple Tricks for Success
Really dry off those cucumbers before you start stacking on the toppings—otherwise they'll get slippery. When you're whipping the avocado and goat cheese, mix well so your piping bag doesn't clog up. Always check the texture before filling the whole bag.
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Chill-Out and Storing Tips
Put your finished bites in a container with a lid and stash them in the fridge—they'll keep up to three days. Lemon juice inside helps the avocado stay fresh and green. Making them a day ahead is best. When it's time to serve, just let them rest at room temperature for about 15 minutes.
Common Questions
- → How far ahead can I prep these snacks?
You'll get the crispiest cucumbers and greenest avocado if you put them together no more than a couple hours before everyone eats.
- → Is it ok to swap in other cucumbers?
Go for it, but English cucumbers work best since they're crunchy and don't have a ton of seeds, so the toppings stay put.
- → Do I need any piping tools for this?
No fancy gear required. If you've got a spoon, that'll do just fine for putting the cheese mix on your cucumber rounds.
- → Any tricks to stop the avocado from going brown?
A splash of lemon juice does the trick. Keep them under wraps in the fridge till it’s party time.
- → Can I whip up the cheese and avocado mix earlier in the day?
Sure thing! Store it in a closed container, cover the top right with plastic wrap, and it'll keep until you need it.