Appetizers recipes

Individual party pizzas on homemade dough with Italian sausage, pepperoni, artichoke hearts, and mozzarella. Pre-baked 7-inch crusts topped and finished in the oven.

Spicy peanut dipping sauce with sesame oil, soy sauce, Thai chili paste, and a creamy mayonnaise finish. No-cook sauce for satay, shrimp, and fresh vegetables.

Savory rice pancakes with Parmesan, dried tomatoes, and rosemary, pan-fried until golden and crispy. Made from Italian medium-grain rice cooked risotto-style in broth.

Quick microwave pineapple sauce with cinnamon and butter, thickened with cornstarch. A sweet, spiced sauce for grilled meats or desserts, ready in just 7 minutes.

Focaccia Pugliese made with durum flour and mashed potatoes for a soft, chewy crumb. Topped with fresh tomatoes, capers, oregano, and olive oil.

Garlic broth made with two whole heads of garlic, saffron, curry powder, and sage. A pureed vegetarian soup with deep, aromatic flavor from simmered garlic and warm spices.

Oven-baked sweet potato fries tossed in curry powder, turmeric, cumin, and ginger. A vegan Indian-spiced side that turns out crispy outside, soft inside, with a warm golden color.

Lung Fung Shrimps with jumbo shrimp and three kinds of mushrooms deep-fried then wok-tossed in oyster sauce, soy, ginger, and sesame oil. A classic Cantonese banquet-style seafood dish.

High-protein cottage cheese vegetable dip blended smooth with Dijon mustard, curry powder, lemon juice, and onion. Lighter alternative to sour cream dip with a warm spice profile.

Homemade falafel made from cooked chickpeas mashed with tahini, garlic, cumin, turmeric and cayenne, then deep-fried into golden balls. Stuff into pita with cucumber, tomato, sprouts and your favourite sauce.

Fun gwau: Cantonese steamed dumplings stuffed with pork, shrimp, shiitake mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and water chestnuts, all wrapped in translucent wheat-starch wrappers. A dim sum classic.

Lemony leek and mushroom soup: a bright vegan vegetable soup with turnips, tomatoes, dill, and a finishing squeeze of lemon. A Passover-friendly first course with deep, herbal flavor.

Hearty Creole gumbo pot loaded with shrimp, eggplant, okra, corn, and rice in a smoky paprika-tomato broth. One pot, one hour, six happy bowls.

Classic Italian balsamic bruschetta with ripe Roma tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic and Parmesan on toasted French bread. Essential summer appetizer for tomato season.

Microwave sweet potato casserole with mashed sweet potatoes, pineapple tidbits, brown sugar, butter, and gooey marshmallows. The holiday classic side dish, ready in 25 minutes without ever turning on the oven.

BBQ corn cobs wrapped in bacon, cooked inside their own husks, served with garlic-chive compound butter. A smoky, juicy summer cookout classic with built-in seasoning.