Appetizers recipes

Hot crab meat canapes on crackers with lemon-cayenne mayo, warmed in the microwave until bubbly. A quick, elegant appetizer ready in 15 minutes.

Banana corn fritters balance sweet mashed banana and warm cinnamon against a smoky chipotle kick. Pan-seared golden, then oven-finished so they puff up light without deep-frying.

A savory tomato pie layering ripe red and tart green tomatoes in a flaky crust under a golden mayonnaise-Parmesan-garlic topping. A Southern summer classic that uses up late green tomatoes.

Crispy phyllo bundles filled with curried shrimp, coconut, chopped peanuts, yogurt, and chutney. Makes 24 golden bite-sized appetizers. Freezer-friendly, so you can bake them straight from frozen for easy entertaining.

Chocolate raisin snacking cake with cocoa, cinnamon, and chopped nuts, made in one saucepan. Raisins get simmered first to plump them up, and the warm cooking liquid goes right into the batter.

Crispy Southern-style cheese balls with sharp cheddar, crisp rice cereal, and a hint of cayenne. One-bite appetizer that bakes in 10 minutes. Party-ready.

Russian marinated herring (selyodka) layered in Mason jars with olives, dried chilis, coriander, mustard seeds, and a sweet vinegar brine. Ready after 5 to 7 days in the fridge.

Vegan sunflower seed pate baked with nutritional yeast, grated potato, cornmeal, and a kick of horseradish. A protein-packed plant-based spread for crackers, sandwiches, or appetizer platters.

Oysters in champagne sauce: plump shucked oysters cloaked in a silky butter-champagne sauce, broiled just until golden on a bed of rock salt. An elegant appetizer for New Year's Eve or any holiday table.

Baked beef samosas, not fried, with a spiced ground beef filling fragrant with cinnamon, cardamom, cumin, and fresh cilantro, all wrapped in flaky homemade pastry. A lighter take on the Indian classic.

Microwave lamb chops a l'orange topped with fresh orange slices and orange marmalade glaze. Just four ingredients and ready in under 20 minutes.

Bold tomato-anchovy sauce clings to al dente spaghetti in this rustic Italian seafood pasta with tuna. Ready in 45 minutes for easy weeknight dinners that taste like coastal Italy.

Creamy cucumber dill dip with mayonnaise, sour cream, fresh dill, green pepper, and white pepper. No-cook, ready in 10 minutes. Great for veggies, chips, and crackers.

Italian marinated sun-dried tomatoes preserved in olive oil with basil, garlic, and red pepper flakes. A homemade antipasto topping for bread, pasta, and charcuterie boards.

Cajun chicken nuggets pan-fried in a spiced breadcrumb and onion soup mix coating with chili powder, cumin, thyme, and red pepper flakes. Kid-pleasing appetizer with grown-up Southern heat.

Grandma's spanakopita (Greek spinach pie) layered between buttered phyllo sheets and filled with feta, cottage cheese, eggs, and spinach. The classic Greek meze cut into diamond squares.