Appetizer recipe collection

Chicken livers soaked overnight in soy sauce and lemon juice, dredged in flour, and wok-fried golden with onions. A savory, crispy-edged appetizer with only 5 ingredients and zero fuss.

Sicilian-style caponata with tender eggplant, olives, capers, and tomatoes in a tangy vinegar sauce. Make it ahead and serve cold as a rustic Italian appetizer.

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.

Chilled two-tone melon soup with cantaloupe and honeydew poured side by side for a striking orange-and-green presentation. A refreshing no-cook summer appetizer with sherry, citrus, and fresh mint.

Swedish pickled herring with a sweet-sour vinegar brine layered with red onion, carrots, ginger, and horseradish. A classic Scandinavian smorgasbord appetizer that only gets better after 2-3 days in the jar.

Elegant layered vegetable terrine wrapped in savoy cabbage with asparagus, red peppers, shiitake mushrooms, spinach, carrots, and artichoke hearts. Served cold with a tangy tomato-buttermilk sauce.

Crispy pan-fried vegetarian pot stickers filled with tofu, brown rice, shiitake mushrooms, and olives, served with a fresh tomato-daikon-shiso dipping sauce.

Chilled sweet and sour cabbage-tomato soup pureed smooth with honey and lemon, finished with orange juice and tofu balls. A vegetarian cold soup that balances tangy, sweet, and savory.

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.

Gloria's black bean soup simmers dried beans low and slow, then gets stirred thick with a blended sofrito of peppers, onion, garlic, cumin, and oregano. A rich, Cuban-style puréed bean soup.

Turkish-style sauteed eggplant with a garlicky tomato sauce finished with vinegar. Salted and drained for silky, golden slices. Served warm or at room temperature.

A retro Southern appetizer of boiled shrimp suspended in seasoned consommé aspic with lemon, green onion, and a kick of hot sauce. Unmold onto crackers for a showstopping starter.

Spring vegetable soup with matzo balls: a vegetarian Passover-friendly soup brimming with carrots, potatoes, cauliflower, and tender peas, finished with fluffy matzo dumplings and fresh dill.

Koloketes: traditional Cypriot pumpkin hand pies with bulgur, onion, and warm cinnamon in a crisp olive oil pastry. Authentic Greek Cypriot mezze or snack.

Chickpea salad with tahini made from dried garbanzo beans, lemon, garlic, cumin, and coriander. A from-scratch hummus-style dip that's sieved smooth and chilled overnight for the best flavor.

Fresh citrus and pineapple salsa with orange, jalapeño, cilantro, green onion, and lime zest. A bright, no-cook fruit salsa for grilled fish, chicken, or chips.