The Very Finest Party Hedgehog

Post date: 2019-07-16 10:04:35

I have been tasked with creating the very finest of party hedgehogs and I'm looking for suggestions.

OK, so I suspect this concept might be mysterious to many US readers but I think most German, UK, and likely many other European people, will be aware of it as a somewhat kitsch/retro party buffet centrepiece.

The basic concept is thus:

Make a base by taking an appropriately sized and sturdy round/oval-ish fruit or vegatable and cutting it in half (large potato, dense cabbage/lettuce, a melon, one of the rounder types of squash/gourd, etc. This part likely isn't even going to get eaten so it doesn't really matter).

Wrap it in foil for a mix of structural/hygiene/presentation reasons.

Make your "spines" by adding small/cubed nibbles/snacks to cocktail skewers/toothpicks and sticking them all over your base. The most traditional is cubes of cheese and pineapple but variations are acceptable - cheese and olive, sweet versions with grapes or various berries, etc.

Optionally add features/decorations crafted either from more foil or more cleverly sliced fruit and veg.

Voila. A thrilling centrepiece sure to bring a touch of class to any cocktail party.

To be clear - the general form factor and aesthetics are important but sticking to the pure concept of a load of skewered cubes of whatever isn't necessarily (for example - I've seen some recipes online for hedgehog shaped bread which, while I'm not sure I really want to make bread unless it's quite interesting/special, would be conceptually appropriate at least).

Any interesting ideas welcome, the more unusual and the fancier (while still being edible) the better. Note that I consider myself a pretty competent home cook and have a pretty decently equipped and supplied kitchen.

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