Appetizers recipes

Homemade salami from ground beef with curing salt, mustard seeds, coarse black pepper, and hickory liquid smoke. A three-day process baked low and slow.

Homemade whole wheat crackers: a nutty, crisp copycat-style cracker with wheat germ, brown sugar, and butter. Rolled thin on the sheet pan, scored into squares, and baked in 8 minutes flat.

Flaky crescent rolls stuffed with a cream cheese, cheddar, sour cream, and chicken filling with chopped olives, brushed with butter and Parmesan. A crowd-pleasing appetizer or finger-food dinner.

Pork and mung bean spring rolls: ground pork stir-fried with bean sprouts and onion, wrapped in egg roll skins, dipped in a Bisquick batter and deep-fried golden. American-Chinese style.

Pea and carrot salad with lovage tosses steamed fresh peas and baby carrots in a creamy mayo-yogurt dressing with Dijon mustard. The herb lovage adds a celery-like depth you won't get from parsley.

Classic French country pate with ground pork and veal marinated overnight in white wine and brandy, lined with fatback, and baked in a water bath until firm. A make-ahead appetizer.

Savory sherry cheese puffs: bite-size choux pastries filled with cream cheese, sharp cheddar, chopped green olives, and a splash of dry sherry. A retro cocktail-party appetizer.

Creamy shrimp spread with cream cheese, lemon juice, horseradish, and Worcestershire sauce. A quick no-cook appetizer that comes together in minutes and pairs perfectly with crackers or fresh veggies.

Mushroom pate: a vegetarian appetizer of buttery sauteed mushrooms and onions deglazed with sherry, then blended with cream cheese and fresh parsley. Spread on crackers or crusty bread for the perfect cocktail snack.

Bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with whole almonds: the sweet-salty party appetizer that vanishes in minutes. Just three ingredients and 30 minutes for a crowd-pleasing bite.

Mussel and saffron soup built on the briny steaming liquor with leeks, fenugreek, and a finish of cream. A French bistro classic with deep golden color and shellfish-rich broth.

Chilled prawn salad with melon balls, strawberries, avocado, and celery in a fresh strawberry-orange dressing. A light, elegant appetizer that's naturally low in fat and ready in 30 minutes with no cooking.

Caramelized pork carnitas with brown sugar, molasses, tequila, and garlic simmered until glazed and sticky. A one-skillet Mexican appetizer served with picks.

Bacon-wrapped rumaki with marinated chicken livers, water chestnuts, and scallions broiled until the bacon crisps. A retro tiki bar appetizer with soy-sherry-ginger soak.

Easy crab rangoon mixes crab meat with cream cheese, sour cream, and garlic powder, then deep-fries the parcels in wonton wrappers until golden. The classic takeout appetizer made at home in 30 minutes.

Spinach dip with sour cream, mayonnaise, and chopped onion. Four ingredients, no cooking, and it tastes even better after chilling overnight.