You can pick up “mini pizzas” for parties pretty easily at most supermarkets these days but here’s a slightly different and more interesting alternative which can be made quickly and easily.

The recipe I found was based on a left-over meat version but you could of course substitute vegetables or open up a can of fish.  I’m thinking of using roast sweet peppers and onion; chicken and sweetcorn, tuna and olives; prawn; and I’ve even thought that it might be a good dish for using up a bit of your leftover turkey if you’re having a Boxing Day buffet!

I’d also thought about using a different sauce – chicken/turkey with a mild curry sauce or perhaps even a barbecue or sweet and sour?  If you’re having duck or pheasant you could always try a hoi-sin sauce, or what about a little bit of satay (if you’re not allergic to peanuts!).  They’re all things that I’d have hanging around in my store cupboard (I love having a range of ready made stir fry sauces) and, as for cheese … my fridge is usually overflowing with different varieties so I may change the cheddar for a bit of mozzarella or halloumi or (if you’re from the UK) I quite fancy Red Leicester!

The recipe is for 25 “pizzas” but as these are “rough and ready” snacks it’s not an exact science so it’s perfect if you’ve been hitting the wine and the sherry – you just need to scatter a few odds and sods around willy-nilly!!

Ingredients

5 tablespoon pizza sauce

1 ¾ oz leftover cooked meat (such as ham, sausage, salami, pepperoni, frankfurters, sliced thinly)

1 ¾ oz Cheddar cheese, cut into small chunks

6 oz (or thereabouts) Tortilla chips

Method

Preheat the grill.

Top large whole corn chips with teaspoons of pizza or pasta sauce, thin slices of sausage and small pieces of Cheddar cheese.

Arrange on a baking tray and grill (broil) until the cheese just starts to soften.

Arrange on serving plates and eat while they’re warm.  You can always reheat them if they get cold but each time you reheat them just check the chips don’t eventually come to burning point!

Another alternative for your tortilla chips is to top them with grated cheese, salsa, jalapeno peppers and guacamole or even a spoonful of chilli with a side dish of sour cream.