Appetizer Recipes

Grilled pizza with oat-flour crust, fresh Roma tomatoes, basil, bell pepper, and melted mozzarella. Homemade dough grills in minutes with a smoky charred crust.

One-pot egg noodles cooked in golden onion soup broth and tossed with garlic bread crumbs, parsley, and parmesan. A pantry-friendly Italian-style pasta ready in 30 minutes.

Silky apricot cheese dip with cream cheese, sour cream, apricot preserves, brandy, and almonds. A sweet, creamy no-cook dip for vanilla wafers and pound cake cubes.

Kalamarakia is classic Greek fried squid dusted in flour and pan-fried in olive oil, then finished with white wine and fresh lemon juice. A simple taverna-style appetizer ready in 30 minutes.

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.

Howard Karten's salsa is a Mediterranean-leaning chunky tomato dip: peeled tomatoes, red onion, black olives, cumin, garlic, oregano, and red wine vinegar. No chiles, no cilantro, all flavor.

Shrimp stuffed mushrooms with tarragon, cracker crumbs, and a buttered breadcrumb topping baked golden. A classic seafood appetizer that fills 24 caps in 35 minutes.

Thai green papaya salad (som tum) with grated unripe papaya, green beans, cherry tomatoes, and peanuts in a spicy soy-chili-lemon dressing. Served with raw cabbage leaves for scooping.

Salmon pate made with fresh salmon, whitefish, white wine, cream, and warm spices, baked in a water bath until silky smooth. An elegant make-ahead appetizer for crackers or toast.

Spicy nachos supreme with a green chile tomato sauce, melted cheddar, fresh guacamole, sour cream, and jalapeño slices. Loaded appetizer nachos done right.

Gingered Tomato Broth with Pappadam Noodles recipe

Baked coconut curry chicken wings: marinated in coconut-flavored milk, dredged in instant mashed potato flakes mixed with curry and shredded coconut, baked golden with garlic butter.

Broiled shrimp teriyaki with a homemade sauce of soy, ginger, garlic, and sugar. Quick appetizer with glossy, caramelized shrimp ready in 20 minutes from scratch.

Ham mousse with peaches, a savory baked custard of ground ham, eggs, cream, Dijon mustard, and port wine, unmolded and garnished with fresh peaches, pickled watermelon rind, and almonds.

Vegetarian antipasto pasta salad with rotini, cauliflower, carrots, black olives, and a garlic cider vinegar dressing. Made overnight so the flavors develop fully.

Garlic toast brushed with slow-infused garlic olive oil and baked until pale gold. A three-ingredient Italian appetizer base ready for grilled red peppers or any topping.