Appetizers recipes

Marinated prawns soak cooked shrimp in a spicy white vinegar bath with whole chilies, oregano, carrots, and stuffed olives for two days. A make-ahead Caribbean-style escabeche appetizer.

Deep-fried Camembert dredged in mustard-herb flour and a spicy bread crumb crust with chili powder and cayenne. Crackling-crisp outside, molten cheese inside. A 30-second appetizer.

Ginger shrimp skewers marinated in a pureed lime-jalapeno-ginger blend and grilled until pink and firm. A quick, bold appetizer for parties that takes just 2 minutes per side.

Fresh lump crabmeat in a creamy Chablis and mustard sauce with pimiento and green pepper, spooned into baking shells and microwaved in just 13 minutes. An elegant seafood appetizer for weeknight entertaining.

Shibu Kawa-Ni: Japanese chestnuts simmered first in green tea, then in a light sugar and soy sauce syrup. A refined, minimalist appetizer with just 4 ingredients and subtle, earthy sweetness.

Whipped cream cheese and sour cream folded with caviar, fresh dill, grated onion, and a squeeze of lemon. A 15-minute no-cook appetizer dip that turns any gathering into something special.

Crispy fried tempeh chips marinated in tamari, garlic, and coriander, served with a spicy chili-lemon dipping sauce. This crunchy vegan appetizer is addictively snackable and ready in 35 minutes.

Old-fashioned chopped beef liver spread with hard-boiled eggs, onions, and melted butter. Molded in a loaf pan and served chilled on crackers or toast as an appetizer or lunch.

Shredded Spam and sharp cheddar rolled into a zesty cheeseball with horseradish, Worcestershire, and chili powder, then coated in crunchy chopped nuts. A retro appetizer that keeps the cracker crowd coming back.

Double cheese wheel appetizer made from a hollowed-out Chihuahua cheese round filled with a cream cheese, artichoke heart, pine nut, and basil spread. A stunning party centerpiece served in wedges with crackers.

Marinated mushrooms simmer briefly in a tart bath of white wine, lemon juice, vinegar, and olive oil with shallots, garlic, and coriander. A chilled make-ahead appetizer ready in 40 minutes.

Soy marinated mushrooms, a make-ahead appetizer of fresh mushrooms steeped overnight in a hot brine of soy sauce, red wine vinegar, sherry, sugar, and minced onion. Tangy, savory, deeply umami.

Homemade Boursin-style garlic and herb cheese spread with cream cheese, butter, Parmesan, garlic, parsley, thyme, and marjoram. The classic French appetizer made at home for a fraction of the boutique cheese price.

Bourekakia me kremithakia freska are Greek phyllo appetizers filled with fresh scallions, dill, and olive oil, rolled into golden tubes, sliced, and sprinkled with sesame. A rustic meze that disappears fast at any party.

Daube glace: the classic New Orleans cold beef aspic from Louisiana Creole tradition. Shredded pot roast suspended in jellied savory consomme with celery, lemon, and Tabasco. A summer Creole appetizer.

Island teriyaki beef skewers marinate round steak in soy, molasses, ginger, garlic, and dry mustard, then broil or grill on skewers. Hawaiian-style appetizer with deep umami glaze. Ready in under 40 minutes.