Appetizer Recipes

Whole trout stuffed with crab meat, mushrooms, green pepper, and herbed stuffing mix, cooked in the microwave in just 30 minutes. A surprisingly elegant weeknight fish dinner with minimal cleanup.

Pearl barley gets the risotto treatment with tender cauliflower florets and a splash of red wine in this hearty grain bowl that delivers creamy comfort without the constant stirring of Arborio rice.

Crispy beer batter fried veggies using onion soup mix, mustard, and beer for a flavorful golden coating. Dip broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, mushrooms, or even mozzarella spears.

Vegetarian Chinese boiled dumplings (shwei jow) with handmade wrappers and a tofu, mushroom, and lily bud filling. Served with a soy-vinegar dipping sauce. Makes 24.

A velvety vegetarian split pea soup blended smooth with potato, celery, and garlic, seasoned with caraway seeds and a whisper of mace. Hearty, warming, and naturally creamy without any dairy.

Vegan cabbage soup with tender tofu and whole-wheat dumplings in a soy-seasoned broth. Filling, nourishing, and completely plant-based.

Creamy no-cook Camembert and walnut pâté with just 4 ingredients. Blended smooth with cream cheese and a squeeze of lime, it's an elegant appetizer ready in 20 minutes.

Edible flower salad with nasturtium leaves and blossoms layered over Vidalia onions and tomatoes, finished with celery and vinaigrette. Stunning and peppery.

Triple-cheese ball rolled in toasted almonds and fresh parsley. Cream cheese, sharp cheddar, and cold pack cheese blended into a rich, nutty party appetizer.

Crispy cheddar cheese crackers with a chili kick, topped with sesame and poppy seeds. These spicy, buttery bite-sized triangles store for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container.

Classic Swiss cheese fondue with aged Gruyere, dry white wine, and a splash of kirsch. Silky, garlicky, and meant for dunking crusty French bread cubes.

Warm, puffy baked cheddar dip with beaten egg whites, mayo, mustard, and Worcestershire. A hot souffle-style appetizer served with tortilla chips.

Spinach, cheeses and bread crumbs are three major ingredients, and they make these crispy outside and cheesy inside delicious spinach balls, they are a perfect appetizer or delicious snack.

A quick microwave cherry sauce made with dark sweet cherries, cornstarch, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Spoon over ice cream or cake in under 10 minutes.

Silky chicken and ham mousse blended with Madeira wine and whipped cream, set in a gelatin mold. An elegant make-ahead appetizer for cocktail parties and holiday entertaining.

Hearty chicken and leek soup with pearl barley, carrots, and celery simmered from a whole chicken. A rustic, filling bowl with chewy barley and meltingly soft leeks.