Appetizers recipes

Traditional Japanese sunomono with paper-thin cucumber slices in sweet vinegar dressing, served with shrimp, crab, and tomato. A refreshing, light appetizer or side dish for any Japanese meal.

Crispy baked croquettes packed with black beans, corn, scallions, and cilantro, seasoned with cumin and chili powder. A vegan Mexican-inspired appetizer that's perfect with avocado and salsa.

Grilled shrimp skewers threaded with orange sections and black olives, marinated in olive oil, sherry vinegar, orange juice, and fresh basil. A Mediterranean-inspired appetizer or light main.

Spiced marinated shrimp poaches in olive oil with 30 cloves of garlic, lemon, paprika, and rosemary. Make-ahead Spanish gambas-style appetizer that mellows and deepens overnight in the fridge.

Grilled shrimp marinated in pineapple juice, lemon, and hot sauce for a sweet-heat kick. Thread on skewers for a crowd-pleasing appetizer or serve as a sizzling summer entree for 6 to 8.

Jumbo shrimp marinated in brandy, garlic, and lemon then skewered with bok choy and broiled until charred and succulent. A show-stopping appetizer or light dinner ready in under an hour.

Caribbeans love spicy food. This dish combines rosemary, thyme, cayenne, black pepper and garlic. Quickly cooked in a hot skillet,these shrimp make a great appetizer. Serve with a splash of fresh lime juice.

Cajun shrimp bread stuffed into a hollowed French loaf with toasted bread crumbs, sauteed onions, paprika, and melted cheddar on top. A Louisiana-style appetizer or party centerpiece.

Marinated olives infused with warm olive oil, crushed fennel seeds, bay leaves, garlic, and fresh lemon peel. A 24-hour Mediterranean appetizer that beats any deli counter version.

Oysters Tyler: baked oysters on the half shell topped with a crabmeat, scallion, and Parmesan patty. A Gulf Coast seafood appetizer for holiday tables or oyster-bar feasts.

Lentil kufta, a Middle Eastern vegetarian patty made with red lentils and bulgur, seasoned with sauteed onions, scallions, and red pepper. No-fry vegan appetizer shaped into balls or one big mound.

Varicose Veins on a Leaf is a creepy Halloween appetizer with French-style green beans dyed red to look like veins, arranged on lettuce leaves with sliced almond bones. Spooky, edible, fun.

Spicy marinated shrimp for a crowd with 10 pounds of shrimp soaked overnight in olive oil, cider vinegar, capers, and hot sauce. A make-ahead party appetizer that serves 20.

Chili cheese cubes are a vegetarian Tex-Mex appetizer of baked egg, Monterey Jack, sharp cheddar, and green chiles cut into bite-sized squares. Equally good hot or cold.

Molded borsch with diced beets set in a jewel-toned consomme gelatin ring, served cold with sour cream. A retro chilled appetizer that looks as stunning as it tastes.

Parmesan twists braid a buttery cheese-and-sour-cream dough into golden savory straws topped with caraway or poppy seeds. Crisp cocktail party appetizer that bakes in 10 minutes.