Appetizer Recipes

Simple, but scrumptious snacks that are perfect when on the go. Try different toppings to add some variety.

Plum tomato tart on crisp phyllo layers with Dijon mustard, Parmesan, and fresh thyme-parsley-garlic oil. A shatteringly light French-style appetizer with dramatic tomato mosaic presentation.

Lobster chunks poached in herbed chicken broth with fresh mushrooms and garden vegetables, finished with lime juice. A light, elegant seafood dish ready in 30 minutes.

Microwave-poached sole fillets bathed in a creamy white-wine shrimp sauce. An elegant fish dinner from the 1980s microwave-cooking era, ready in 40 minutes without dirtying a stovetop pan.

Pomodori secchi imbottiti: sun-dried tomato "sandwiches" drizzled with garlic and red pepper-infused olive oil. A simple Italian antipasto with intense flavor.

Pop the Cork Pasta Crunch: deep fried corkscrew macaroni tossed in Parmesan, Italian seasoning, and garlic salt. A crispy, addictive party snack or appetizer.

Classic Cantonese siu mai with ground pork, dried mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and green onions, wrapped in open-top dumpling skins and steamed until juicy. Dim sum at home.

Thai pork satay with peanut dipping sauce: lemongrass-marinated pork tenderloin skewers broiled fast, served with a silky peanut sauce built with lime, jalapeño, and fresh coriander.

Mayo-free potato salad with an olive oil and herb dressing, tossed with green pepper, celery, and scallions. Light, zesty, and great for summer cookouts.

Pureed potato soup with just potatoes, onion, celery, stock, and a bay leaf. Seven ingredients, 30 minutes, naturally creamy without any dairy.

Upside-down potato tarts layered with creamy Brie, prosciutto, and herbs get topped with puff pastry and baked into elegant French-inspired appetizers.

Potato tikki with almonds, jalapeno, and bell pepper, pan-fried until crispy and served with a creamy almond-cilantro chutney. A vegan Indian-inspired appetizer or snack.

Potsticker crisps made by baking dumpling wrappers until golden and shatteringly crisp. A one-ingredient appetizer chip ready in under 10 minutes.

Pressed bean curd soup with pan-fried tofu, green peas, tomatoes, corn, and a savory broth of soy sauce, dry sherry, and sesame oil. A hearty vegetarian Chinese soup.

Stuffed celery with provolone cheese, minced ham, butter, and Worcestershire sauce. A 5-minute no-cook appetizer that fills 15 to 20 celery pieces.

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.