Appetizer Recipes

Cold microwave borscht with grated beets, lemon juice, and a chilled overnight rest. A streamlined Eastern European soup ready in 12 minutes of cook time, finished with cold sour cream.

Quiche Nicoise is a Provençal savory tart with slow-cooked tomatoes, anchovies, olives, and herbes de Provence baked into an egg custard. Southern French cafe flavors in one slice.

Spicy cottage cheese veggie dip blends raisins, curry powder, chili and onion into a creamy chilled crudite dip. High-protein, low-fat and ready in 20 minutes. Curry-meets-sweet flavor that hooks dippers.

Hot olive cheese puffs wrap briny green olives in a sharp cheddar dough with butter, flour, and a hit of paprika. Make-ahead friendly, freezer-stable, and the kind of retro appetizer that always disappears first.

Classic Jewish chopped liver made the traditional way with schmaltz, sweet sauteed onions, and hard-cooked eggs. Smooth, rich, and perfect spread on rye, matzo, or stuffed into celery stalks.

Saltimbocca alla Romana: pounded veal layered with prosciutto and fresh sage, seared in butter and finished with a dry white wine pan sauce. The classic Roman trattoria dish.

Yellow Hell is a Caribbean mango marinade with scotch bonnet pepper, dark rum, coconut milk, ginger, and lime. Fruity, fiery, and built for grilled chicken, pork, or seafood.

Whole wheat samosas with a sturdy, nutty pastry and a spiced potato filling bloomed with cumin, mustard, fennel and fenugreek. Fold, fill and fry these crisp Indian hand pies from scratch.

Teriyaki chicken wings marinated in a honey-sherry teriyaki glaze with ginger, garlic, and dry mustard. Sticky, sweet, and savory wings for game day appetizers or party platters.

Snails Sommeroise is a rustic French escargot dish: snails simmered with herbs, then browned in a savory tangle of bacon, ground walnuts, anchovy and garlic and served over a bed of wilted spinach.

Warm baked crab and cream cheese dip with a bite of horseradish, topped with toasted slivered almonds. Scoop onto crackers for an easy, crowd-pleasing appetizer in 40 minutes.

Mexican-style quesadilla pizza on flour tortillas with refried beans, cumin-spiked pizza sauce, green chiles, olives, and melted cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese.

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.

Artichoke squares baked with chopped artichoke hearts, shredded cheddar, eggs, and oregano. Onion and garlic sauté in the artichoke marinade for extra depth. Great party appetizer.

Vegetarian bean pate purees a 7-bean and barley mix with tahini, lemon juice, garlic, and cumin into a thick Mediterranean-style spread. Serve chilled with whole wheat bread or crackers.

Herbed cheese tarts bake as mini savory cheesecakes with cream cheese, cottage cheese, and Swiss in breadcrumb-lined muffin cups. Finished with sour cream, caviar, or olives for cocktail parties.