162 appetizer recipes

Escargot baked in mushroom caps with garlic butter, sauteed onion, and a squeeze of lemon. An elegant French appetizer using canned snails.

Easy cold clam dip with cream cheese, Worcestershire, garlic, and a splash of hot sauce. Just blend, chill, and serve with chips or crackers for your next party spread.

Crispy sesame-crusted cheese crackers made with just 3 ingredients: cheddar spread, Bisquick, and toasted sesame seeds. Slice-and-bake snacking at its easiest.

Italian oil-packed tuna blitzed with mascarpone, kalamata olives, capers, anchovy paste, and lemon zest into a luxurious tapenade spread. Pile it on grilled crostini for a cocktail party appetizer that disappears fast.

A show-stopping caviar mold set in a tangy blend of sour cream, mayonnaise, lemon juice, and unflavored gelatin. Unmold, crown with sour cream and caviar, and serve as a retro-elegant party centerpiece.

A stunning layered terrine of baked eggplant, ripe tomato wedges, and buffalo mozzarella set in a light tomato gelatin. Chilled, pressed, and sliced for an elegant appetizer.

Treat your guests with this delicious cheese ball that's simple to make, and goes well with any kind of snack!

A layered vegetable terrine with golden carrot-cauliflower and earthy spinach-mushroom layers baked in a water bath, chilled, and sliced for an elegant appetizer.

Vegetarian party pate made from pinto beans, TVP, and shiitake mushrooms with mirin and mace, baked in a water bath and served cold on crackers.

Tender squid braised in red wine, vinegar, and warm spices like cinnamon and cloves, Cyprus style. A Mediterranean appetizer that's equally stunning served warm or at room temperature.

Armenian garlic cheese ball with farmer's cheese, walnuts, fresh dill and parsley, blended smooth and rolled in crunchy walnut pieces. A no-cook appetizer served with toasted pita.

Andouille was a great favorite in nineteenth-century New Orleans. This thick Cajun sausage is made with lean pork and pork fat and lots of garlic. Sliced about 1/2 inch thick and greilled, it makes a delightful appetizer. It is also used in a superb oyster and andouille gumbo poplular in Laplace, a Cajun town about 30 miles fromNew Orleans that calls itself the Andouille Capital of the World.

Note: In lieu of fresh trout, 1/2 lb cooked and flaked fish may be used. Make smaller protions and serve as an appetizer. Oatcakes that have been gently warmed in the oven go well with this dish.

Classic Jewish-style chopped liver made with schmaltz, sautéed onions, hard-boiled eggs, and saltine crackers, seasoned with paprika and a pinch of sugar. Smooth, rich, and ready for the appetizer table.

Shredded Spam and sharp cheddar rolled into a zesty cheeseball with horseradish, Worcestershire, and chili powder, then coated in crunchy chopped nuts. A retro appetizer that keeps the cracker crowd coming back.

Smoky roasted eggplant mashed with fresh tomato, garlic, and a splash of red wine vinegar. This Odessa-style eggplant caviar is a rustic Russian appetizer that's just as good spread on pita as it is on dark rye bread.