Appetizers recipes

Creamy lox dip with smoked salmon, cream cheese, sour cream, and fresh chives. A Lower East Side-inspired spread for bagel chips, cucumbers, and crudites, ready in 10 minutes.

Lobster casserole with cream of cheddar soup, mushrooms, sherry, and buttered breadcrumbs made entirely in the microwave. A rich, creamy seafood main dish in 30 minutes.

Spicy rice balls made with ground beef, uncooked rice, onion, celery, bell pepper, horseradish, and Worcestershire, baked in a spicy tomato soup sauce. A Southern-style porcupine meatball with serious kick.

Italian spinach sauce for pasta made by blending raw spinach, lettuce, capers, lemon juice, and olive oil into a vibrant green puree. Quick, fresh, and vegetarian.

Sockeye salmon dip with lemon, fresh dill, mayonnaise, and whipping cream. No cooking required. Serve with veggies, black bread, or potato skins.

Sopa de tortilla, the authentic Mexican tortilla soup: a tomato-onion-garlic broth infused with mint, finished with fried corn tortilla strips and cheese. Ready in 40 minutes, pantry-friendly.

English muffin mini pizzas with mozzarella, tomato sauce, oregano, and your choice of pepperoni, sausage, anchovy, or mushroom toppings. Ready in 15 minutes in the microwave.

Cold spicy soba noodles tossed in a creamy tahini, sesame oil, and chili dressing with reduced soy sauce, brown sugar, and balsamic. The Japanese-style cold noodle bowl ready in 40 minutes.

Microwave lobster newburg: the classic creamy lobster and sherry sauce ready in 30 minutes from the microwave. Served over rice or toast points for a quick but elegant dinner.

Spiced lentil and brown rice soup simmers green lentils, brown rice, tomatoes, and herbs in a sherry-spiked broth. Hearty vegan and gluten-free dinner soup.

Scandinavian cinnamon fruit soup with dried apricots, prunes, peaches, and pears thickened with tapioca. Served chilled as either a Nordic dessert or a sweet starter.

Indian-style red lentil soup (masoor dal) simmered with ghee-bloomed onion, peppercorns, bay leaves, dried red chilies and grated fresh ginger. Vegetarian, high in fiber, ready in 45 minutes.

Cold spaghetti pasta salad tossed with diced cucumber, red bell pepper, fresh tomatoes, tomato sauce, and bottled Italian dressing. A potluck classic that travels well and tastes better the second day.

Oat and onion tarts: little British-style savory tarts with crisp oat-and-cheese pastry, slow-sweated onions, and a baked sour cream and cheddar custard. Perfect with drinks or a green salad.

Fiery salsa: fresh pico de gallo with ten jalapenos, tomatoes, onion, cilantro, lime, and lemon. Made ahead and chilled overnight for the bold heat to develop fully.

Parmesan squash cakes pan-sear crispy-edged patties of shredded yellow squash, shallot, parsley, and grated Parmigiano, then finish in the oven. A low-carb vegetarian side or brunch bite.