Appetizer recipe collection

Authentic Vietnamese shrimp paste molded around sugar cane sticks, broiled until bright orange, and wrapped in rice paper with fresh mint, cilantro, and cucumber. Dipped in tangy nuoc cham sauce, these are a Southeast Asian street food classic.

Light, puffy cheese toast made with ricotta and cream cheese on raisin bread. A quick toaster oven snack that bakes up golden in just 5 minutes. Weight Watchers friendly!

A quick microwave cherry sauce made with dark sweet cherries, cornstarch, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Spoon over ice cream or cake in under 10 minutes.

A chilled Hungarian-style cherry soup made with Bing cherries, claret wine, cinnamon, and lemon, thickened with egg yolk. Served cold as an elegant starter or light meal.

Breaded chicken pieces cooked in the microwave with sauterne wine, mushrooms, and tomatoes. A quick shortcut version of the classic French Chicken Marengo.

Chopped black olives and canned clams stirred into sour cream with garlic powder and a kick of cayenne. Five minutes of effort, two hours in the fridge, and you've got a briny, creamy party dip.

Three-ingredient cold papaya soup with fresh lime and a garnish of papaya seeds. A Caribbean-inspired no-cook fruit soup that's ready in 10 minutes flat.

Roman-style concia: zucchini slices fried golden in olive oil, then layered with garlic, basil, and vinegar. An old-world Italian appetizer that improves as it sits.

Colorful rotini tossed with black-eyed peas, sweet corn, crisp bell peppers, and zesty salsa-lime vinaigrette. Perfect make-ahead potluck side.

These Puerto Rican snacks can be served with a drink, or as a side dish along with fish.

Fresh corn in a shatteringly light tempura batter, deep-fried until golden and lacy. Served with tentsuyu dipping sauce and grated daikon for a crisp Japanese-style appetizer.

Deep-fried jalapeno halves packed with seasoned crab meat, garlic, and cayenne, double-breaded in cracker meal for an extra-crunchy shell. Spicy, crispy, and wildly addictive.

Classic New Orleans crabmeat ravigote with lump crab, bell pepper, pimiento, scallions, and a bright lemon-cayenne kick. No cooking required. Ready in 20 minutes.

Five-ingredient cranberry orange crescents using store-bought crescent roll dough. Fresh cranberries and orange zest rolled into flaky, golden pastries in 30 minutes flat.

Cajun crawfish or shrimp cocktail sauce loaded with horseradish, chili sauce, Worcestershire, and hot sauce. A fiery, no-cook dipping sauce ready in 10 minutes flat.

Retro party dip blending cream cheese, deviled ham, dry red wine, and dill pickles with a mustard-Worcestershire kick. Ready in 20 minutes, serve as a dip or chilled spread.