501 appetizer recipes

Thai devilled crab salad stuffed into Roma tomato halves with lemongrass, fish sauce, lime juice, mint, and chili. A no-cook, elegant appetizer with bold Southeast Asian flavor.

Marinated tortellini skewers with mushrooms and bell pepper diamonds, threaded and displayed on an acorn squash for a dramatic party platter.

Thai hot and sour shrimp soup (Tom Yum Goong) with lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, chile paste, and straw mushrooms. A bright, aromatic broth built from shrimp shell stock.

Potato tikki with almonds, jalapeno, and bell pepper, pan-fried until crispy and served with a creamy almond-cilantro chutney. A vegan Indian-inspired appetizer or snack.

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.

Light fiesta shrimp dip with reduced-fat cream cheese, picante sauce, horseradish, and cumin. A creamy, zesty cold dip with real chopped shrimp served with vegetable dippers.

Crab and corn cakes pulse half the corn with garlic, mustard, and egg as a binder, then mix with whole corn kernels, lump crab, and scallions for pan-fried savory cakes. A summer-easy seafood appetizer.

Fruit soup thickened with tapioca, sweetened with honey, and topped with sliced banana. Serve hot or chilled as a dessert, appetizer, or over cornbread.

Stuffed celery with provolone cheese, minced ham, butter, and Worcestershire sauce. A 5-minute no-cook appetizer that fills 15 to 20 celery pieces.

Spinach pesto appetizer: a sliceable, high-protein cheesecake-style savory loaf with spinach, cottage cheese, cream cheese, and Romano. Perfect make-ahead party food served chilled with crackers or crostini.

This classic salmon is always welcomed by party. For sure, but also a good appetizer at any meal.

Two-layer molded gelatin salad with lime Jell-O and cucumber on the bottom and a cranberry-cabbage layer on top. Vintage chilled appetizer with retro charm.

Stuffed Chinese black mushrooms filled with seasoned crushed tofu, ginger, garlic, sesame, and scallion, then grilled or broiled. A vegan-friendly appetizer with earthy, umami-rich mushroom caps.

A South African-style spiced mince filling for samoosas: beef or mutton braised dry with jeera, ginger, garlic, turmeric, fresh coriander and mint. The keep-it-dry method that stops samoosas from going soggy.

Broiled shrimp teriyaki with a homemade sauce of soy, ginger, garlic, and sugar. Quick appetizer with glossy, caramelized shrimp ready in 20 minutes from scratch.

Pork chops baked over beans in a tangy tomato-ketchup sauce with onion. A simple, comforting casserole that slow bakes for up to 90 minutes until the chops are fall-off-the-bone tender.