Appetizers recipes

Baked turkey empanadas with a flaky cornmeal crust filled with cubed turkey, cheddar cheese, and green chilies. A great way to use leftover turkey.

Classic Caesar salad for two with raw egg yolk dressing, anchovies, capers, bacon bits, and Parmesan. Made from scratch tableside in under 15 minutes.

Spicy roasted cashews coated in corn syrup with cumin, curry powder, and cayenne pepper. Baked low and slow until crunchy and addictive. A bold snack or gift idea.

Authentic guajillo chile salsa with roasted garlic, toasted pepitas, Roma tomatoes, and Mexican oregano. A rich, brick-red table sauce with deep, earthy heat.

Thai beef satay skewers marinated in coconut milk, curry powder, fish sauce, and cilantro. Grilled, broiled, or pan-fried and served with peanut sauce.

Cinnamon candy apple Jello salad with applesauce and a cream cheese topping. A retro molded gelatin side dish with warm cinnamon heat and tangy lemon notes.

Spiced chicken filling for samosas with garam masala, turmeric, ginger, garlic, and green chili. Steamed, flaked, and seasoned with fresh dhunia leaves.

Ligurian caviar is an Italian olive paste spread blended with capers and red pepper flakes. A briny, spicy vegetarian crostini topping that keeps in the fridge for two weeks.

Orecchiette dell'ortolano: Italian gardener's-style pasta with broiled eggplant, fire-roasted peppers, asparagus, and fresh fava beans tossed with olive oil and garlic.

Yogurt Dip: a 3-ingredient cool dip with plain yogurt, shredded cucumber, and fresh dill. Mediterranean-style and ready in 10 minutes for fresh veggies or pita.

Mexican salsa dip stirs together fresh tomatoes, green chiles, black olives, scallions, olive oil, and vinegar for a chunky no-cook party salsa with tortilla chips. Best after a brief rest.

Low fat yogurt onion dip blends plain yogurt with grated onion, lemon juice, parsley, horseradish, and a dash of hot sauce. A lighter alternative to sour cream onion dip with the same satisfying tang.

Homemade Boursin-style cheese spread with fresh basil, chives, parsley, garlic, and chopped black olives folded into cream cheese. A 15-minute herbed cheese spread for crackers, baguette, or crudites.

Habanero tomato guacamole: ripe avocados blended smooth with a whole habanero, fresh garlic, cilantro, and cumin, then folded with diced tomato and red onion. A fiery Mexican party dip.

Curried spinach and chickpea soup with pearl barley, half the chickpeas pureed for a creamy base, the other half left whole for bite. Vegetarian, high-fiber, lightly spiced with curry powder and cumin.

Neua daet diao, Thai sun-dried fried beef marinated in fish sauce, oyster sauce, garlic, coriander root, and a splash of whiskey. Crisp jerky-like edges with chewy centers, served with sweet chili sauce.