Looks can be deceiving. Especially when it comes to the NERGI®fruit berry.
While scanning over the vibrant array of fruit at the greengrocer I wouldn’t have given this fruit a second glance. Surely, with their deep green skins they must be as sour as vinegar! When they are soft to the touch, they are ripe and when you halve them they look like baby kiwis. Although it’s a berry fruit and not part of the kiwi family, there are some similarities in flavour. One marked difference between this berry and the kiwi is that the former isn’t nearly as acidic as the latter, which in my books makes it the more pleasant fruit.
NERGI® is sustainably farmed, handpicked and there’s no need to peel them. A quick rinse under the tap will do. They can be enjoyed any time and anywhere but they are particularly ideal for kids’ lunch boxes and healthy snacking. Apparently, you can cook them too but for me, as with most fruit, NERGI® is best enjoyed in their prime simply on their own, unsullied by other flavours.
On that note, here is another easy way to enjoy them – with cheese and nuts. In this case, goat’s cheese was used but blue cheese, albeit in smaller amounts, would work too. My 5 year old daughter loved preparing these little balls with me and skewering them with the fruit afterwards.
Whizz up the pecan nuts into little pieces that they resemble fine gravel. Finely chop a handful of chives and mix in with the nuts. If you’re wondering why the goat’s cheese has a slight grey tinge to it, I used goat’s cheese logs that had special ash rind and blended them coarsely. Roll little balls, about 3cm (just over 1 inch) in diameter, with the cheese and then dunk them in the nut mixture to cover.
By the way, speaking of nuts, you should also try my peanut butter coconut balls recipe.
For an extra splash of colour, I alternated the kiwi berries with sweet piquanté peppers, which worked really well. Grapes can be used too with the cheese balls.
These canapés are excellent to serve at a cocktail party but whatever you do, don’t forget Aperol Spritz!
Looking for more finger food inspiration? Check out these Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes!
Books on Small Bites
- Canapés
- Party-perfect Bites
- The Party Food Bible
- Make Mine a Martini
- The Ritz London Book of Drinks & Cocktails
NERGI® with Pecan and Goat’s Cheeseballs
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 20 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 300g (10oz) goat’s cheese
- 100g (3oz) pecan nuts, crushed
- handful of chives, finely sliced
- 10 Nergi/kiwiberries, halved
Instructions
- Mix the pecans and chives together and flatten out on a plate.
- Crumble the goat’s cheese.
- Roll the goat’s cheese into 3cm balls then cover them with the pecan mixture.
- Thread half a kiwi berry onto a cocktail stick, then add the cheese ball.
- Repeat the process until all ingredients are used up.
- Category: Starter
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Calories: 73
- Sugar: Sugars
- Sodium: 71 mg
- Fat: 6.9 g
- Carbohydrates: 0.7 g
- Fiber: Dietary Fiber
- Cholesterol: 11 mg
Tracey Peach says
I don’t eat canapés but yours look delicious
iain maciver says
salmon, cheese and pickle
pete c says
cream cheese and salmon
pete c says
cream cheese and salmon
Angela McDonald says
Sun-dried tomato and rosemary palmiers (Lorraine Pascale’s recipe!)
★★★★
Tracy K Nixon says
I enjoy Mini jacket potatoes with a range of fillngs or dips, including my favourite, cheese and chives! I just think they are so cute and tasty!
★★★★★
kellyjo walters says
usually olives and halloumi
Lizzy Cooper says
Im not sure as I havent tried them, but would like too 😀
Emily Knight says
Fine Cheese Company’s gruyere and pistachio mini biscuits are great with a G&T!
C Kennedy says
Baked camembert and cranberry sauce on little pieces of french baguette, yum!
C Kennedy says
Baked camembert and cranberry sauce on little pieces of french baguette, yum!
Claire Davies says
Smoked Mackerel, Horseradish and Beetroot Canapes.
Darren Harrower says
goats cheese and caramelised onion swirls
Charlene Price says
Salmon and cream cheese blinis
Denise Humfress says
Pineapple and cheese – still a child!
Ashleigh Allan says
Mini goats cheese and carmelised onion tarts – I love goats cheese!
Ruth Harwood says
Cheese with pickle x
Mike Salisbury says
Cheese and apricot, always reminds me of the first holiday with my wife …. happy days then and 20 years later 🙂
★★★★★
Maxine G says
Cheese beignets – I love anything cheesy and these are so tasty, such a treat!
Jade Hewlett says
I don’t think I’ve tried a canapé but they look lovely
Angie Hoggett says
You can’t beat some retro cheese and pineapple on cocktail sticks when you want to bring back thise memories! I’m also subscribed
Angie Hoggett says
You can’t beat some retro cheese and pineapple on cocktail sticks when you want to bring back thise memories! I’m also subscribed
Kristy Brown says
I’m not sure what my favourite canape is – i do like mini mozarella and pesto bites though.
tasha hamilton says
anything with goats cheese
Victoria Prince says
Smoked Salmon because I absolutely love it 🙂
Victoria Prince says
Smoked Salmon because I absolutely love it 🙂
Kim M says
Love anything with smoked salmon
Caroline Bourne says
Smoked Salmon blini
Caroline Bourne says
Smoked Salmon blini
Sue Dorking says
Goat’s cheese and tomato crostini , love these, easy to prepare but so delicious!
Janine Atkin says
ive never eaten any!
Janine Atkin says
ive never eaten any!
Sheri Darby says
Mini samosas
donna l jones says
smoked salmon blinis
Helen says
cheese and pineapple
Martina Evans says
Smoked Salmon blini! X
Deborah Bird says
baked camembert and cranberry sauce x
Deborah Bird says
baked camembert and cranberry sauce x
Deborah Bird says
baked camembert and cranberry sauce x
Clare B. says
Anything with cheese, especially halloumi as I love the saltiness and texture.
Trevor Linvell says
Anything with halloumi as its my favourite kind of cheese
Martina Evans says
I also like olives and halloumi.
Martina Evans says
I also like olives and halloumi.
Stephanie Whitehouse says
Sesame prawn toasts – they are just scrummy, and the perfect mix of textures
Vickie Jackson says
It’s all about mini potatoes with cheese and bacon 🙂
Vickie Jackson says
It’s all about mini potatoes with cheese and bacon 🙂
cat says
can’t resist smoked salmon blinis
Sarah Parker says
smoked salmon bites
Sarah Parker says
smoked salmon bites
Barbara Handley says
I like Mini jacket potatoes, topped with soured cream and chives
★★★★
Andrew Grange says
Mini Yorkshires, with pink beef and horseradish sauce.
I love them, because they are sooooo delicious! Nom nom
Barri Dhillon says
I would have to say that my favourite Canapé is Wasabi Shrimp With Avocado On Rice Cracker
★★★★★
Keith Hunt says
Smoked Salmon On Mustard-Chive And Dill Butter Toasts like we had in a posh hotel
Keith Hunt says
Smoked Salmon On Mustard-Chive And Dill Butter Toasts like we had in a posh hotel
Aaron Milne says
Love Roll Mops
Lyndsey Jones says
I like a caramelised red onion and goats cheese tartlet
Lyndsey Jones says
I like a caramelised red onion and goats cheese tartlet
Catherine Gregory says
I love cream cheese and salmon, a classic mix
Catherine Gregory says
I love cream cheese and salmon, a classic mix
sallyann johnston says
I would say I like anything cheesy is my favourite x
LEE HARDY says
Cheese & pickle because its so simple.
Natalie Crossan says
I like roll mops x
Helen Craigs says
Sticky barbeque mini sausages on sticks
Renil M. George says
Aha goat’s cheese-ball. Yum yum.
★★★★★