If you’re having a dinner party or family get-together and want the food you serve to look professionally prepared, serve your food with decorative and delicious garnishes. Fancy garnishes add color and appeal to main dishes and desserts, and even simple dishes can be turned into edible works of art. Turn your simple dishes into delectable cuisine with the following easy garnishes. These garnishes are easy to make, and they will turn ordinary dishes into something appetizingly extraordinary.
Tomato Roses
Rose blooms made from tomatoes look too beautiful to eat, but they’re very easy garnishes to make. All you need are firm round tomatoes, a sharp vegetable knife, and wooden toothpicks.
You can create a beautiful rose by slicing a ¾ inch spiral from the flesh and peel of the tomato. Start cutting the tomato at the bottom end, and work your way to the top, spiraling all the way around. Form the rose by rolling the strip into an edible blooming flower, and secure the base with a toothpick.
Tomato rose garnishes look fantastic adorning the edge of a plate of sliced roast beef, chicken, or turkey. They can also be placed on cold relish trays. Place tomato rose garnishes on beds of fresh greenery such as romaine lettuce or spinach for additional appeal.
Pickle Fans
Pickle fans are very easy to make, and your homemade dishes will look professionally prepared when embellished with these attractive but simple garnishes. Choose dill or sweet pickles to compliment any cold side or main dish.
Simply cut a small whole pickle into ¼ inch slices that remain attached to the base. Spread out the slices to form a fan, and add garnishes to trays of deli meats, seafood, or cold salads.
Strawberry Fans
Strawberry fans are simple garnishes that add color and texture to desserts and fruit salads. They add a great amount of appeal to any fruit dish or dessert, and they are very easy to make.
Partially cut a whole strawberry into thin slices, starting at the top. Leave the slices attached to the stem, and carefully fan them out. Make several of these tasty garnishes, and place them in the center of a fruit salad, around the edges of a cheesecake, or with any other dish you choose.
Chocolate Slivers and Curls
Have you ever noticed perfect white or dark chocolate curls adorning the tops of elegant looking desserts? After a little practice you’ll be able to make chocolate garnishes that look just as good as those made by professionals.
Begin by setting out a block of chocolate or a large chocolate bar, and allow it to reach room temperature. Peel away curls of chocolate with a sharp vegetable peeler. Some will be perfectly formed curls of chocolate while others will come off in slivers. Use these sweet garnishes to top cheesecake, frosted cake, or any delicious dessert that will taste and look even more delicious when covered with slivers and curls of mouthwatering chocolate.
Carrot Blooms
Carrot blooms look like lovely orange flowers, and they’re extremely easy to make. All you need is a vegetable peeler, large firm carrots, and toothpicks.
Cut a large carrot in half lengthwise, and make a thin strip by cutting the flat side away with a vegetable peeler. Roll the thin strip so it resembles a bloom. Push a sharp wooden toothpick through the base to hold the carrot bloom together.
Place carrot blooms on deli or appetizer trays, or on salads. These garnishes look much more difficult to make than they really are, and everyone will be impressed by the professional presentation of the food you serve.
Crispy Bacon Curls
Crispy bacon curls look like interesting works of modern art, and they make fancy garnishes for egg dishes, green salads, and pasta. Best of all, crispy bacon curls are just as tasty as they are attractive, and they are easy to make.
Fry or microwave strips of bacon just until they start to cook but are still limp and pliable. After they are cool enough to handle, roll the strips, and fasten the base of each roll with a wooden toothpick. Set the curls on paper towels, and microwave them until they’re crisp. Carefully remove the toothpicks, and use them for garnishes on your favorite dishes that go well with crisp and tasty bacon.
Citrus Twist Bows
Citrus twist bows can be made with limes, lemons, or oranges, and they are by far one of the easiest garnishes that absolutely anyone can make. They add a great deal of color and appeal to any dessert, salad, or main dish. All you need are freshly washed citrus fruits, and a sharp knife.
To make citrus twists, slice peel-covered citrus fruit into thin discs. Make a single cut through one side of the peel to the center of each disc. Twist the partially sliced discs into beautiful bows, and place the garnishes on dishes of your choice.
