501 appetizer recipes

Eggplant relish with baked eggplant, hard-boiled egg, green pepper, and onion ground together with vinegar and garlic. A cold Eastern European-style spread for bread and crackers.

Pizza muffins top split English muffins with sauce, cheese, ham, and pineapple, then broil until bubbly. A 5-minute after-school snack or lazy-night dinner.

Homemade beef jerky from flank or top round, marinated in soy sauce and slow-dried in a low oven or smoker. Lean, chewy, and savory snack made simple in your own kitchen.

Crispy chicken flautas rolled in flour tortillas and fried golden in two minutes flat, served with homemade guacamole loaded with jalapeno, cilantro, and fresh lime juice.

Crispy fried won tons filled with chopped dates and walnuts. A sweet three-ingredient appetizer or dessert with a crunchy shell and sticky fruit-nut center.

Easy appetizer, and tastes very well too. Everyone loves it.

Fiery salsa: fresh pico de gallo with ten jalapenos, tomatoes, onion, cilantro, lime, and lemon. Made ahead and chilled overnight for the bold heat to develop fully.

Garlic broth made with two whole heads of garlic, saffron, curry powder, and sage. A pureed vegetarian soup with deep, aromatic flavor from simmered garlic and warm spices.

Crispy Chinese-American shrimp toast: golden-fried bread triangles topped with seasoned shrimp paste, fresh ginger, water chestnuts, and toasted sesame seeds. A classic dim sum starter.

Cucumbers in yogurt with fresh basil, mint, scallion, and garlic. Cool Mediterranean-style cucumber salad or dip for grilled meats and warm flatbreads.

Sauteed mushrooms with tarragon, garlic, and a splash of soy sauce. A simple vegetarian side dish or appetizer with just 5 ingredients and 10 minutes of active cooking.

Olive Profumate: oil-cured black olives marinated with fennel seeds, orange zest, and sliced garlic. A no-cook Italian appetizer that keeps for two weeks in the fridge.

Garlic marinated olives with lemon, bay leaves, thyme, peppercorns, and sherry. A make-ahead antipasto jar that gets better every day in the fridge.

Scandinavian raspberry soup blends puréed berries with chablis, orange juice, and lemon for a chilled Nordic fruit soup. Whole raspberries and a sour-cream swirl finish each bowl.

Asian-style stuffed mushrooms with crispy bacon, soy sauce, sesame seeds, and garlic in a savory bread crumb filling. Blanched caps keep their shape, and they're make-ahead friendly.

Microwave steamed lobster cooked in salted lemon water in just 12 minutes. A fast, no-fuss method for whole live lobster with tender, sweet meat.