Appetizer Recipes

Garlic and chickpea dip with two whole heads of boiled garlic, tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, and fresh parsley. Chilled in a mold and served with tomatoes.

Nuclear chicken wings: oven-baked wings glazed with a double-hot sauce of Tabasco and habanero, brown sugar, vinegar, and ground red pepper. For the chili-head crowd. Serve with blue cheese.

Ma-po's pork brains is a traditional Sichuan offal stir-fry pairing silky poached pork brains with crispy ground pork, chili nam yuey, ginger, and Shaoxing wine. A regional classic for adventurous eaters.

Devil's Delight, a retro West Virginia spread of whipped cream cheese, deviled ham, and tomato soup with a hit of hot sauce. Make-ahead, spreadable, and made for chips and crackers.

Ranch oyster cracker snack mix tossed in warm oil with ranch dressing mix, dill weed, and garlic powder. An addictive, five-ingredient party snack ready in minutes.

Fried eggplant and yellow squash drizzled with taratour (Lebanese tahini-lemon sauce), served with pita wedges. A Middle Eastern appetizer with crispy, golden vegetables and creamy sauce.

Microwave lamb chops a l'orange topped with fresh orange slices and orange marmalade glaze. Just four ingredients and ready in under 20 minutes.

Romaine salad with avocado, sliced radishes, and fresh oranges under a creamy lime-marmalade dressing. A bright, crunchy winter citrus salad with Mexican roots.

Creamy corn and walnut dip with cream cheese, lime juice, cumin, and ground red chili. A no-cook Mexican-inspired party dip with crunch and heat, ready in 10 minutes flat.

Thai galloping horses (Ma Hor) made vegetarian with shiitake mushrooms, peanuts, garlic, and cilantro root on fresh pineapple chunks. A sweet-savory-spicy Thai appetizer.

Dahl Shaag, an Indian lentil and spinach stew with turmeric, cumin, mustard seeds, and garam masala tempered in ghee. Protein-packed, naturally vegan-friendly, and deeply comforting.

Lentil and yogurt soup with orange lentils, bacon, mushrooms, and ground coriander, finished with a swirl of low-fat yogurt. Hearty, warming, and lighter than it tastes.

Shrimp, chicken, water chestnuts, and Chinese ham wrapped in pork caul fat, deep-fried into crispy golden rolls, and served with hoisin dipping sauce. An impressive Chinese banquet appetizer with showstopping presentation.

Broiled potato skins loaded with pepper jack cheese and crispy bacon, cut into bite-size pieces for game-day appetizers. A quick broil melts the cheese in two minutes.

Fillets of Flounder in Lemon Parsley Butter recipe

Baked potato skins filled with chopped smoked salmon, sour cream, and topped with red or black caviar. An elegant four-ingredient appetizer that turns a humble potato into something luxurious.