Appetizer Recipes

Fresh zucchini salad with Parmesan layers grilled zucchini ribbons with bright lemon dressing, blanched lemon peel, toasted almonds, and shaved Parmigiano. A simple summer side that turns garden squash into a star.

Blue cornmeal crepes made with eggs, milk, and clarified butter for a thin, tender wrapper with earthy corn flavor. Fill with salsa, crabmeat, or your favorite stuffing.

Potato skin nachos swap tortilla chips for crisp russet potato shells topped with taco sauce, cheddar, jalapeños, garlic and parsley. Gluten-free game-day bites with crunch.

Cucumber tea sandwiches with homemade mint mayonnaise, fresh lemon juice, and Dijon mustard. A 20-minute no-cook appetizer that yields 32 dainty bites for your next gathering.

Greek spanakopita Peloponnisos style: spinach, leeks, and spring onions rolled in olive oil-brushed phyllo pastry and baked golden. A dairy-free version without the traditional feta cheese.

Filled tortillas are make-ahead pinwheel appetizers, flour tortillas spread with spiced cream cheese, jalapenos and black olives, then rolled, chilled and sliced into bite-size rounds. Crowd-pleasing party finger food.

Creamy spinach dip with Knorr vegetable mix, sour cream, and mayonnaise, served in a hollowed pumpernickel loaf. A no-cook party classic that hits the table in five minutes flat.

Layered vegetable salad with warm spicy peanut dressing made from coconut milk, peanut butter, and sweet soy sauce. Blanched potatoes, cauliflower, green beans, cabbage, and raw jicama.

Toasted pita chips split, cut, and bake pita bread into crisp triangles for dips, soups, and lunchboxes. Two ingredients, eight-minute bake, much better than store-bought.

Chilled prawn salad with melon balls, strawberries, avocado, and celery in a fresh strawberry-orange dressing. A light, elegant appetizer that's naturally low in fat and ready in 30 minutes with no cooking.

Blue crab cakes bound with ground water crackers and sauteed golden in butter, served with a homemade cayenne mayonnaise made with roasted red pepper, anchovies, and capers.

Marinated olives steeped with lemon, fresh thyme, rosemary and slivered garlic in good olive oil. A no-cook, make-ahead appetizer that gets better as it sits. Serve with warm crusty bread.

Microwave broccoli spears topped with a creamy lemon-ginger butter sauce made from scratch. A fast vegetable side dish with bright citrus flavor.

Italian-seasoned popcorn tossed with garlic-oregano butter and grated Parmesan cheese. A savory 3-ingredient snack ready in 15 minutes that beats plain buttered popcorn every time.

Steamed winter vegetables tossed in a warm orange, maple, and ginger glaze with toasted sesame seeds. Carrots, parsnips, broccoli stems, and cauliflower served hot or at room temperature.

Bacon-wrapped crabmeat balls with sherry, lemon juice, dry mustard, and fresh bread crumbs broiled until crispy. An elegant appetizer that makes about 2 dozen bite-sized hors d'oeuvres.