Appetizer recipe collection

Onion caviar with black-eyed peas, sweet Vidalia onions, green bell pepper, pimentos, and garlic in Italian dressing. A Southern marinated appetizer or side dish, best made overnight.

Black olive paste (pure di olive nere) blends pitted Italian or French olives with olive oil, lemon, pepper, and bread crumbs. Italian-style spread for crostini, sandwiches, and pasta. Vegan, keeps for weeks.

Salsa gruda is a chilled fresh tomato salsa with crushed coriander seeds, mustard seeds, and a splash of red wine vinegar. A no-cook condiment built for grilled chicken or fish.

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.

Tangy cold Vidalia onion dip with sweet-and-sour vinegar marinade. Overnight soaking transforms raw onions into a creamy, spreadable appetizer for crackers and crudités.

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

Party-ready shrimp mold using cream of shrimp soup, cream cheese, and gelatin for 12 servings. Baby shrimp and crab meat suspended in creamy gelatin make a vintage appetizer spread perfect with crackers or sourdough.

Pink pickled eggs in beet juice and apple cider vinegar with onion and whole cloves. The classic Pennsylvania Dutch tavern snack, dyed bright magenta and tangy-sweet from the vinegar brine.

Make-ahead bloomin' sauce and dip with sour cream, cream cheese, and picante sauce, ready for chips, pretzels, or fried onion petals. Five ingredients, one bowl, eight hours of fridge time to do its work.

Cheddar cheese ball blends sharp cheddar with cream cheese, onion, Worcestershire, and Tabasco, then chills overnight and rolls in chopped nuts. Classic make-ahead party appetizer with crackers.

Cheddar sage and walnut torta: a layered no-bake cheese mold with cream cheese, sharp cheddar, fresh sage, and toasted walnuts. An elegant make-ahead appetizer for the holiday board.

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.

Concia is a Roman Jewish dish of fried zucchini layered with garlic, fresh basil, and white wine vinegar. A make-ahead antipasto that improves overnight.