Appetizer recipe collection

Cajun-spiced fried eggplant or zucchini gets a triple coating of seasoned flour, egg wash, and breadcrumbs before hitting hot oil. Cayenne heat with a surprising powdered sugar dusting at the end.

Jewish-style kasha and mushroom knishes: flaky puff pastry pouches stuffed with toasted buckwheat groats, caramelized onions, and mushrooms. Poppy seed-topped and bite-sized for parties.

Creamy mushroom soup made with ground cashews instead of dairy, spiked with cayenne and sea kelp for a rich, vegan-friendly bowl ready in 30 minutes.

Mahogany wings marinated overnight in a glossy plum sauce and teriyaki glaze with brown sugar, Worcestershire, garlic, and ginger. Baked crispy at high heat for a sticky, lacquered finish.

Marinated mushroom salad with vinegar-poached mushrooms, blanched carrots, celery, and bell peppers dressed in oregano olive oil. A make-ahead antipasto-style cold salad.

Apple and brie together create these yummy mini quiches. They are easy to pick up, perfect food for pot-luck or party.

Moroccan cucumber salad tosses grated cucumber with olive oil, vinegar, sugar, salt, and za'atar, then garnishes with cured black olives. Bright, refreshing North African side ready in minutes.

Old-fashioned chicken soup is comforting homemade chicken soup made fast in the microwave: a whole chicken simmered with carrot, celery and onion into a clear, soothing broth, strained and ready for noodles.

Baked chicken wontons fold a ground chicken, ginger, soy, and sherry filling into crisp wonton wrappers, brushed with butter and oven-baked until golden. A less greasy take on the classic fried wonton appetizer.

Oysters Mosca: chopped fresh oysters cooked down with garlic, scallions, lemon, and Romano cheese, then spooned into puff pastry shells. The classic Italian-Creole New Orleans appetizer from the legendary Mosca's restaurant.

Party pleaser meatballs: coconut-studded baked meatballs glazed in a sweet-savory sauce of grape jelly, chutney, red wine, and mustard. The retro cocktail-party appetizer that still disappears first from the buffet.

Vegan pasta and red kidney bean salad with diced zucchini, green pepper, tomato and green olives, bound in eggless mayonnaise with chili powder, coriander, paprika and sage. A protein-rich room-temperature salad for picnics and potlucks.

Sliced ripe Roma tomatoes drizzled with olive oil, fresh minced herbs, and cracked black pepper. A 5-minute Italian appetizer or side with only 4 ingredients. Vegetarian and naturally low calorie.

Salsa is such a great sauce that can go well with lots of things, it can be served with chips as a dip, or it can be put in the casserole as a sauce. And it is so quick and easy to make, chop a few fresh vegetables, throw them all together, here your freshly homemade salsa.

Cajun remoulade sauce with brown mustard, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, and Tabasco, served with fresh vegetable crudites. A tangy, spicy no-cook dip for raw veggies.

Sausage and beef party rye appetizers with melted Velveeta, oregano, and hot sauce. A make-ahead freezer appetizer that broils up bubbly and hot straight from the freezer.