Appetizers recipes

Indian pakoras made with chickpea flour batter spiced with garam masala, coriander, and turmeric. Dip eggplant, potato, pepper, mushroom, or onion and fry until crisp. The chaiwala classic at home.

Homemade jalapeno breadsticks with buttermilk, sauteed onion, and fresh peppers on a cornmeal-dusted baking sheet. Chewy yeast breadsticks with real heat and golden, crispy edges.

Brie quesadillas with jalapeño-plum salsa bring creamy, buttery cheese together with sweet-tart stone fruit and a kick of chili. A 30-minute appetizer that punches way above its weight class.

Pecan stuffed mushrooms with cream cheese, crumbled bacon, chives, and white wine, broiled until bubbling. A make-ahead appetizer that's ready in 20 minutes.

Chinese mixed fruit dessert with grass jelly cubes, lychee, and mandarin oranges. Refreshing 3-ingredient cold dessert, perfect for hot summer days.

Quick Rotel salsa made with canned Rotel tomatoes and chiles, fresh tomato, scallions, garlic, and lime juice. No cooking required. Mix and serve with chips, on salads, or over Southwestern dishes.

Potted chicken with bacon, butter, and warm spices baked in a water bath until silky. Old-world Irish preserve sealed under clarified butter for an old-school appetizer or sandwich spread.

Sausage balls with sharp cheddar and Bisquick, shaped walnut-sized and baked in 15 minutes. The classic Southern party appetizer with just 4 ingredients.

Oktapodi Maratho Krasato is a Greek braised octopus with fennel and tomatoes simmered in red wine until fork-tender. Served warm or cold as a main dish or meze.

Crunchy deviled eggs with sour cream, crumbled bacon, parsley, and paprika, topped with a pimento-stuffed olive half. A quick no-cook appetizer ready in 10 minutes.

Fried calamari done the simple way: fresh squid dredged in flour, fried golden, then hit with lemon, salt, and pepper. The classic Italian-American appetizer with no fussy batter.

Mussel and tomato soup: a quick four-ingredient Italian-style seafood soup with garlic, olive oil, plum tomatoes, and fresh mussels. Ready in 40 minutes for a light appetizer or main.

Bacon-wrapped spinach balls stuffed with herb stuffing, sausage, Parmesan, and eggs. These bite-sized appetizers bake up crispy on the outside and savory-soft inside, guaranteed to vanish at any party.

Coconut shrimp De Jonghe: a tropical riff on the classic Chicago baked shrimp casserole, with garlic, paprika, sherry, parsley, and toasted coconut layered over plump shrimp. Bakes in one dish for an old-school dinner-party main.

Tofu wontons with ginger, garlic, and sesame oil filling, ready for deep frying or boiling in soup. Freezer-friendly for up to 2 months.

Samosas are crisp Indian fried pastries filled with spiced potato and pea, or curried lamb and beef. Two filling options, one homemade dough, fried golden in 48-piece batches.