Appetizer recipe collection

Kalamaria Parayemista: Greek stuffed squid filled with cinnamon-spiced rice, tomato, and chopped tentacles, then braised in white wine until tender. A traditional Greek meze.

Kasseropi are Greek cheese crescents filled with kasseri cheese, fresh tomatoes, and basil in handmade olive oil dough. A golden, flaky vegetarian appetizer baked until bubbly.

Leek and goat cheese tart with balsamic-braised leeks and cream layered over crumbled chevre in a pre-baked shell. An elegant French vegetarian tart with rich, tangy flavor.

Lentil and yogurt soup with orange lentils, bacon, mushrooms, and ground coriander, finished with a swirl of low-fat yogurt. Hearty, warming, and lighter than it tastes.

Light fiesta shrimp dip with reduced-fat cream cheese, picante sauce, horseradish, and cumin. A creamy, zesty cold dip with real chopped shrimp served with vegetable dippers.

Light fiesta shrimp dip blends chopped shrimp with reduced-fat cream cheese, picante sauce, horseradish, cumin, and green onions. Lighter than your average shrimp dip, full of southwest punch.

Crispy loaded potato skins stuffed with cheddar cheese, crumbled bacon, and scallions. Baked twice for extra crunch, with a make-ahead option for easy party prep.

Good as a salad dressing or dip, wonderful with boiled shrimp as an alternative to ketchup-based dip, and fantastic with Onion Mums.

Marinated fresh mushrooms in olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, Dijon mustard, and tarragon. A make-ahead appetizer that improves over 1-2 days in the fridge.

Low-fat marinated vegetable platter with crisp broccoli, carrots, celery, red pepper, olives, and artichoke hearts in tangy Italian dressing. Make-ahead appetizer that gets better as it chills.

Marinated wild rice salad with porcini and white mushrooms, julienned carrots, walnuts, and Dijon vinaigrette. A make-ahead grain salad that gets better as it sits.

Melitzanosalata, a Greek roasted eggplant dip with garlic, tomatoes, olive oil, and red wine vinegar. Smoky, tangy, and rustic, served cold with bread or grilled meats.

Crispy spring rolls filled with chorizo, Chinese mushrooms, rice sticks, cabbage, and bean sprouts in an oyster-sesame sauce. Double-fried for extra crunch and served wrapped in lettuce leaves.

Start a fiesta in your crockpot with this tasty dip that is perfect for tortilla chips.

Moroccan spiced olives marinated in toasted cumin, fennel, coriander, cardamom, citrus, and garlic. Five-minute appetizer that improves for weeks in the fridge.

Mushroom almond pate with toasted almonds ground to a paste, blended with sauteed mushrooms, butter, thyme, and garlic. A vegetarian pate that's rich, earthy, and spreadable.