Appetizers/20 recipes

Scampi Principessa with butterflied shrimp poached in white wine, flambéed with aquavit, then served in cold yogurt sauce. An elegant Italian-Scandinavian appetizer ready in 20 minutes.

Delicate phyllo pastries filled with chopped apples, sharp cheddar cheese, and fresh chives, pinched into kiss shapes. These golden bundles bake in 20 minutes. Serve warm as appetizers.

Mushrooms Barcelona: fresh mushrooms sauteed in butter, finished with dry sherry, lemon juice, orange peel, toasted walnuts, and parsley. A Spanish-style tapas appetizer ready in 20 minutes.

Crispy coconut-crusted jumbo shrimp fried golden and served with a tangy pineapple cocktail dipping sauce. This Hawaiian-style appetizer is ready in 20 minutes and feeds a crowd.

Creamy no-cook Camembert and walnut pâté with just 4 ingredients. Blended smooth with cream cheese and a squeeze of lime, it's an elegant appetizer ready in 20 minutes.

Delicate homemade crepes filled with flaked trout in a creamy sauterne wine sauce with garlic and onion. Makes 20 crepes for an impressive brunch, appetizer, or French-inspired dinner.

Broiled tomato halves stuffed with mashed avocado, melted Swiss cheese, and fresh basil. A spooky-themed Halloween appetizer for kids that's ready in 20 minutes with just 5 ingredients.

Crisp Belgian endive leaves loaded two ways: smoked salmon with creamy Taleggio and fennel, or bresaola with roasted peppers and sun-dried tomatoes. No-cook Italian appetizers in 20 minutes.

Spicy beef lettuce cups loaded with sirloin stir-fried in soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and Chinese five spice. A crispy, low-carb appetizer that comes together in just 20 minutes.

Deviled eggs stuffed with chopped chicken, Dijon and dry mustard, and a kick of hot sauce. A protein-packed appetizer ready in 20 minutes that disappears at every potluck and picnic.

Crab and avocado salad: sweet crab meat tossed in a zesty picante-mayo dressing with green olives, piled into ripe avocado halves. A no-cook, 20-minute Tex-Mex lunch or appetizer that looks far fancier than it is.

Boiled shrimp stuffed with a spicy cream cheese filling made with pickled jalapenos, garlic, and fresh cilantro. A crowd-pleasing cold appetizer that's ready in 20 minutes with bold Tex-Mex flavors.

Freezer-friendly spinach balls with herb stuffing, Parmesan, garlic, and eggs that bake from frozen in 20 minutes. Make 50 bite-sized appetizers ahead and pull them out whenever company shows up.

Open-faced appetizer bites with Hungarian salami, hard-boiled egg, feta, dill pickles, kalamata olives, and shredded Jarlsberg on buttered bread. A no-cook Eastern European party platter ready in 20 minutes.

Mexican pita pizzas layer black beans, Pico de Gallo, and melted cheese on crispy pita rounds for a fast appetizer or weeknight dinner. Ready in 20 minutes with easy Tex-Mex toppings.

Chilled stuffed mushroom caps marinated in red wine vinaigrette and filled with chopped chicken, spinach, and a tangy mayo-onion mixture. A no-bake party appetizer that comes together in about 20 minutes of active work.