Quick Appetizers for a Crowd

When it is a food get together, nothing is complete without the taste of delicious appetizers. Appetizers work as an anticipation for the tempting main course to be served and guests just love to munch on them! Few minutes and common ingredients can make a variety of appetizers and let you be a great host, as well!Quick Appetizer Recipes for a PartyAppetizer #1Ingredients:
Celery, finely chopped – 2 tbsp.
Mayonnaise – 2 tbsp.
Lemon juice – ½ tsp.
Onion, finely chopped – ½ tsp.
Hard-boiled eggs, finely chopped – 2
Cocktail shrimp, finely chopped – 1 cup
Mini – croissantsPreparation:
Mix well all the above ingredients. Thereafter, slice the croissants and spread the mix over them and cut in half. Arrange on any dish you desire and keep it in the freezer until ready to serve.Appetizer #2Ingredients:
Tomatoes with green chilies – 1 can
Cabbage, chopped – ½ cup
Vegetable Broth – 3 cup
Celery, raw and cut into cubes – ½ cup
Carrots, raw and chopped – ½ cup
Bell peppers, chopped – 1 cup
Onions, raw and chopped – 1 cup
Large potato (with skin), cut into cubes – 1
Vegetarian sausage, chorizo flavored – 5 oz (141 g)
Cilantro to garnishPreparation:
Mix onions, carrots, celery and peppers and make a quick fry in a little fat in a broth. Now add the rest of the ingredients and bring it to boil for about 20 minutes. Use the garnishing.Appetizer #3Ingredients:
Dill pickle – whole
Cream cheese
Ham – thinly slicedPreparation:
Here you would have to wrap the ham around the pickles. Before that, spread the cream over the ham and take care that the cheese remains at room temperature. Wrap in wax paper and let it cool overnight. Slice before serving.Appetizer #4Ingredients:
Bread – 20 slices
Asparagus, frozen – 1 package
Pimiento cheese spread – 5 oz (141 g)Preparation:
Get rid of the crusts from the bread slices and spread each of them with cheese. Tenderize the asparagus by cooking and let it chill. Place the asparagus across the slices, in any desired position like diagonally or length wise, etc. Overlap the asparagus by turning opposite corner and thrust to seal. In a wax paper, wrap all the sandwiches and chill. Use a covered container to keep them.Appetizer #5Ingredients:
Black beans, drained – 15 oz (425 g)
Garlic, minced – 1 tbsp.
Olive oil – 1 tbsp.
Lime juice – ¼ tbsp.
Cumin – ½ tsp.
Tahini – ¼ cupPreparation:
Take all the ingredients mentioned and make a smooth and creamy mix using a processor. If you want to make it a little lighter, you can add ½ a tsp. of lime juice and olive oil. Keep in the freezer if intended to serve later, otherwise serve immediately.Appetizer #6Ingredients:
Bread slice, cocktail
Cream cheese, softened
Bacon, cooked and crumbled into small pieces
Cucumber, thinly slicedPreparation:
After stirring the bacon into cream cheese, spread the mixture onto one side of the bread. Make a sandwich by placing a cucumber slice between this bread slice and another slice.Appetizer #7Ingredients:
French baguette loaf – 1
Feta cheese, crumbled – 1 cup
Tomatoes, seeded and chopped – 1 cup
Olive oilPreparation:
Slice the loaf and wipe each side slice with olive oil. Place chopped tomato onto each slice and add cheese too. Turn on the oven at 350ºF (176ºC) and bake until hot and bubbly. Time required is 7 minutes.
You can also try to use ingredients of your choice for the above appetizer recipes and see how it turns out, and there will more coming from our side in future. So, till then, use some of these tips and prepare some splendid appetizers for your guests!

Quick Appetizers for a Crowd

Quick Appetizers for Kids

Kids and their eating tantrums are not unknown to anyone. Parents have to do a lot of things to make them eat the healthy stuff, on a regular basis. Getting to know some easy and quick appetizers for kids can be a great thing for the parents as well as the kids. Besides this ‘eating problem’, there is one more occasion when the mother really gets helpless, that is her child’s party! They get frenzied in the quest for new and exciting appetizers recipes for kids, at the same time.Simple and Quick Appetizers
When talking about good appetizers for kids, it is very important to see to it, that the food recipes are healthy and at the same time attractive. One must also see to it that the appetizers are made with utmost care and precautions, so that the kids stay away from any food borne diseases. Keeping all these and many things in mind, there are some quick appetizers meant for kids that one can make. Here are several such easy appetizers to make, that you can try for your kids.Mexican GuacamoleIngredients
2 avocados
¼ medium tomato, chopped
¼ medium onion, chopped
Jalapeños to taste
5 to 6 sprigs of cilantro, chopped
¼ teaspoon roasted cumin powder
½ lime juice
Pepper and salt to taste
Procedure
Peel and cut the avocados and take the flesh out in a bowl. Partly mash the avocados with help of the fork and then add the tomatoes, jalapeños, onion and cilantro in it. Squeeze the lime juice in it and add the cumin powder, pepper and salt in the mixture. Chill the mixture and serve with some favorite chips or with some exciting Mexican meal!Summer Rolls with Peanut Dipping SauceIngredients: Summer Rolls
Edible rice paper
Rice sticks (rice vermicelli)
Shredded lettuce
Sticks of cucumber (de-seeded)
Chopped cilantro or coriander leaves
Thin slices of ripe mango
Alfalfa sprouts
Whole basil leaves
Ingredients: Peanut Sauce
2 tablespoons peanut butter
1 ½ tablespoon hot water
1 tablespoon soy sauce
½ teaspoon minced ginger
Chili flakes to taste
1 teaspoon honey or sugar
1 finely chopped spring onion
Procedure
Cook rice sticks al dente or as directed on the packet, drain and keep aside. Take a large container and place damp towel at its bottom. Take a shallow plate and fill it with warm water, to prepare the wrappers. Place the rice papers one by one in the warm water until it gets soft and pliable. Remove from water and place on a cutting board or such hard surface. Take small portions of all the cut vegetables along with the rice sticks and place on the bottom half of the rice paper. Make sure to not to over fill it. Put the remaining half of the rice paper over the filled half, gently. Press semi firmly and roll the rice paper completely, making sure that the folds do not split up. Place these summer rolls in the prepared damp towel containers. Make sure that each roll is place in such a way that it won’t stick to the other. Cover them with an airtight plastic bag and place in fridge until we make the peanut sauce. Melt peanut butter in a small bowl, with the hot water. Add all the remaining ingredients of the sauce and mix well, until the sauce gets smooth texture. Serve this peanut sauce with the summer rolls, a real treat as quick appetizers for a party.Ham & Swiss Roll-upsIngredients
Sliced ham
Sliced Swiss cheese
Drained and crushed pineapple
Brown sugar
Toothpicks
Procedure
Lay the ham slice flat on a chopping board and put a slice on cheese on each ham slice. Add as much as crushed pineapple on top of the slices. Roll up the ham slice and secure it with a toothpick. Put the ham rolls in a baking pan and drizzle the brown sugar all over the rolls. Bake in a preheated oven, over 350 degree F, for about 15 minutes. Serve them warm! This is arguably one of the fastest appetizer recipe.Chicken Strips & Blue Cheese Dipping SauceIngredients
Strips of ½ lb boneless chicken breast
2/3 cup low fat yogurt
2 oz blue cheese crumbles
3 tablespoons low fat mayonnaise
3 tablespoons minced spring onion
¼ crushed ground black pepper
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
¼ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon hot sauce
2 teaspoon margarine
Procedure
Take a small bowl and whisk the blue cheese, yogurt and mayonnaise. Add spring onion and black pepper and stir. Drizzle salt on the strips of chicken breast. Cover it and place in a fridge till the time you need it. Heat a large skillet and add the oil in it. Brown the chicken strips by stirring continuously, till thoroughly cooked. Remove the skillet from heat and add the butter and hot sauce to the same pan. Slightly move the pan round, so that the butter and sauce covers the chicken strips. The chicken is ready, now all you have to do is to serve it with the blue cheese dip!
There are so many easy and quick appetizer ideas for kids, once you find out what are the habit and weaknesses of your kids, when it comes to food recipes. After that every dish you make will be savored, even before you come to know! Enjoy!

Quick Appetizers for Kids

Best Appetizers in the World

The term appetizer, literally means a food or drink that stimulates the human appetite and makes the person thoroughly hungry. The concept of appetizers is seen in every food culture around the world. The European synonym for the term appetizer is the French term Hors d’oeuvre, which is translated as ‘apart from the main course’. The European equivalent, Hors d’oeuvre, has many sub types, such as Amuse-Bunche, which is an appetizer eaten in one bite. There are several other appetizers that are meant to go with cocktails or wine. Technically, appetizers can be any dish that is eaten before the main course, that tingles the taste buds and makes the tummy rumble.Appetizers in Different Cultures
In the course of time, many appetizers have evolved in different regions and cultures. The recipes of these appetizers, may differ in ingredients but the basic method used to make these appetizers is the same.Canapé
A Canapé is a European, finger food and one-bite appetizer, that is prepared with the help of a base, which is made either with a small piece of bread or a pancake. The base in most of the cases are made up baked items, but in some cases, the base is also fried. Chefs, in some cases also make use of crackers or a puffed pastry, to prepare the base. In some cases, the base is further decorated by sautéing, buttering or toasting. The base is then covered mildly with a spread that is usually flavored cream or cheese. Next the main item of the Canapé, which is cut into small pieces, is placed upon the base. The main item can be any kind of meat or fruit or vegetable. The main item is then covered up with a dressing of cream, butter or purée, that is applied artistically with the help of a pastry bag. The whole Canapé is then sprinkled with a finely chopped garnish that is usually prepared with the help of herbs or leafy vegetables. Personally, I feel that mint leaves are the best garnish for a Canapé.Crudités
Crudités are a very nice set of appetizers, that have originated in the famous food culture of France. This appetizer is very, very enjoyable as it consists of vegetable sticks that are dipped in a range of different sauces. The commonly used Crudités are carrots, celery sticks, broccoli and cauliflower. Logically, any person who wants to go in for a gradual weight loss must eat this appetizer before any meal, as it is an excellent source of carbohydrates, fiber and vitamins and would creatively boost the process of weight loss.Meze
Historians and experts of cookery, often claim that Meze is probably the oldest known appetizer. Meze, is an appetizer that is native to the Persian regions and has also gained widespread popularity in the Eastern Mediterranean regions. The Meze are made up of meat, vegetables, herbal garnishes and are served with traditional alcoholic drinks.Tapas
The Tapas are appetizers that are native to Spain and are prepared using sea food, cheese and olives. The Tapas are conventionally prepared in two different ways, that include, hot and cold. The hot type of Tapas is fried in oil and contain a considerable amount of meat, whereas the cold Tapas has cheese and olives and other vegetables.
These three appetizers have evolved as a part of the local cuisines. Today some of the traditional appetizers, such as the Cicchetti from Venice, Dim sum, from China, Gujeolpan from Korea and Kemia from Morocco have not only become locally popular but are being served in restaurants all across the globe. Recently on a vacation, I tried out the amazingly delicious Korean Gujeolpan.List of the Best Appetizers in the World
The following is a small list of appetizers, that are nowadays found in almost all parties and restaurants and hotels.Garlic Clam Dip: Made from garlic, cream and cheese, this appetizer is bound to make you hungry as a hunter. This is a very easy recipe if you are planning to make appetizers for parties.
Italian Sausage in Tomato Sauce: The Italian sausage in tomato sauce is always included in the world’s best appetizer recipes. This appetizer is a delicious combination of sausage, olive oil, tomato sauce and wine.
Baked Artichoke Dip: Looking for the best appetizers for a party? Well then you should definitely try out the baked artichoke dip.
Tri-Color Yum: Well, I consider the Tri-Color Yum to be the world’s best appetizer. A combination of fresh basil, French bread, mozzarella and nice tomatoes, the Tri-Color Yum is also among the best appetizer ideas for bachelorette party.
Deviled Eggs: Looking for quick appetizers to make? Then try out the deviled eggs. You will find about 30 to 40 different improvised and innovated recipes for the deviled eggs. Deviled eggs are always considered to be an excellent option for thanksgiving appetizer ideas.
Appenzeller Cheese Tartlets: The Appenzeller Cheese Tartlets, are very popular appetizers that give the tongue a very cheesy sort of appeal. The appenzeller cheese tartlets, are an excellent option if you are on the outlook for appetizer ideas for birthday party
To choose the best appetizers to be served, you must first know the people who are going to have the appetizer. Kids will enjoy cheesy and sweet appetizers. The mature adults on the other hand, are bound to compliment an appetizer that has a very good dressing and gives a crispy feel to the mouth. The teenagers would enjoy something filling and yet having a tangy taste in the mouth.

Best Appetizers in the World

Mexican Food Appetizers

Mexican food has a tangy flavor to it, which makes it impossible to resist! And then there is such a wide variety of tasty foods available, that one often gets confused about what to eat and what not to! Another specialty of Mexican cuisine is that it is brightly decorated, which makes it even more tempting! If you are a bean lover, Mexican food can rightly be your staple food, as almost every Mexican dish does contain bean and corn. The simple reason for it is that corn is the main grain produced in Mexico. Talking about spices, cinnamon, chile powder, epazote, oregano, cumin and cilantro are some of the widely used spices. So now you know what gives Mexican food its spicy taste! So are you curious to know some of the mouth-watering Mexican food appetizers? Here are some of the most popular traditional Mexican appetizers for you.Mexican Appetizer RecipesTortilla Soup RecipeIngredients
Chopped fresh cilantro
4 cups chicken broth or homemade chicken stock
1 medium anaheim, poblano or jalapeno chile, seeded, veins removed, chopped (depending on the hotness and flavor desired. You can also mix chilies – 1 Anaheim and a half jalapeno.)
6 (6-inch) corn tortillas, preferably a little old and dried out
1½ cups shredded cooked chicken
¼ cup grape seed oil, peanut cooking oil, other high smoke-point oil
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 lime, cut into wedges
1 ripe medium avocado
1 small onion, chopped ( ½ cup)
½ tsp coarse salt (kosher or sea salt)
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
½ cup shredded cheese (2 oz)
Process
If the tortillas are fresh, bake them for 10 – 15 minutes at 200º F, to dry them out. Cut the tortillas into half and then cut them further into ¼ inch strips. Heat oil in a 3-quart saucepan. Fry the tortillas, â…“ at a time, until crisp and brown. Once brown, remove and drain on paper towels. Keep aside. Heat the remaining oil, and cook onion for about 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Now add in chile and garlic. Cook for about 3 minutes, stirring until the ingredients are crisp-tender. Add in broth, salt and tomatoes and heat the mixture until it boils. Reduce the heat, cover it and cook for another 15 minutes, just simmer. Add in chicken and heat until hot. While serving, peel the avocado and cut into 1-inch slice. Divide half the tortilla strips in 4 serving bowls. Pour the soup and top with cheese and avocado. Garnish the remaining tortilla strips and cilantro. You can also serve with lime wedges, to make it more decorative.Veg QuesadillasIngredients
1 large clove, finely chopped fresh garlic
1 cup Mexican cheese, divided
1 tbsp vegetable oil
¼ cup thick and chunky salsa
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
2 tsp margarine or butter
1 cup red bell pepper strips
4 (8″) soft taco-size flour tortillas
Process
Heat vegetable oil over medium heat in a large skillet. When heated, put mushrooms, garlic and bell pepper. Cook for about 1 – 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add in spinach, cook until spinach turns tender. Spread half of this mixture into a tortilla and sprinkle half of the cheese, on top of it. Place the second tortilla over it. Take a large pan and melt margarine in it, over medium-high heat. Place quesadilla in the skillet and cook for about 2 minutes on both the sides. Let the cheese melt. Repeat the same with all others.EmpanadasIngredients
2 hard-cooked eggs, peeled and chopped
½ cup shortening
½ cup raisins
2 tbsp olive oil
1 quart oil for frying, or as needed
1½ pounds ground beef
1¼ cups water, or as needed
1 tbsp white vinegar
1 pinch salt
½ tsp ground black pepper
1 small onion, chopped
1 tbsp cumin
Process
Stir flour and salt together in a bowl. Make small pieces of shortening or cut it with a pastry blender, into small crumbs. Using a fork, stir in water, just a few tbsp at a time, only until it forms a ball. Once it is formed into a ball, flatten it slightly, wrap it in plastic and refrigerate for about an hour. Now heat oil in a pan, over medium heat. Fry onions until tender, add in beef, sprinkle paprika, salt, black pepper and cumin. Cook until beef becomes brownish and then stir frequently. Once cooked, drain the excess oil and then add vinegar along with raisins. Refrigerate for chilling. When chilled, add in hard-cooked eggs. Take the prepared dough and form small balls out of it, about 2 inches in size. Roll out each ball and spoon in the meat mixture, into the center and fold one part, into half-moon shapes. Do not forget to seal the edges with your fingers. Now take a deep fryer and heat oil to 365º F. At a time, place only one or two pieces in the fryer. Fry from both the sides, turning once, for about 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels and serve.
These were some of the traditional Mexican appetizer recipes. These Mexican food appetizers were some of my personal favorites. There are many others which taste as good as these. So now when you are bugged up with the usual pizzas and burgers, you can try some Mexican cuisine, which will surely awaken your taste buds!

Mexican Food Appetizers

Pizza Appetizers

Everybody loves pizzas. So what better way to jazz up a party than serving pizza appetizers. The last thing you want to do, when you are hosting a party, is to slave around the kitchen the whole day. Making pizza appetizers is a great option, as they are very easy and quick to make and are also a great hit with kids.Mini Pizza Topped with Smoked SalmonIngredients
12 wonton wrappers
½ cup Gorgonzola
4 slices of smoked salmon
1 tablespoon gherkins, finely chopped
1 tablespoon capers, finely diced
2 medium-sized red shallots, finely chopped
2 tablespoons of spring onions, finely chopped
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 tablespoon chives, chopped fine
Cooking spray
Method
To make this easy Italian appetizer recipe, first, arrange the wonton sheets on a baking tray and coat them with cooking spray. Bake it in oven at 350 ºC for about 4 – 5 minutes, until crisp. In a small bowl, combine the Gorgonzola with chopped red shallots, lemon zest, capers, minced gherkins and spring onions. Mix them thoroughly. Cut the smoked salmon into 12 equal portions. On the crisp wonton wrapper, spread a spoonful of the gorgonzola mixture and top it with a piece of smoked salmon. Garnish this with a sprinkling of chives. Mini Pizza Topped with Olives and ArugulaIngredients
1 cup baby tomatoes, diced
¼ cup Kalamata olives, sliced
1 cup baby arugula
Frozen thin crust pastry
4 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 red chili, unseeded and minced fine
2 cloves garlic, minced
Method
In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, red chili and garlic. Add this mixture over diced cherry tomatoes and baby arugula. Bake a frozen thin-crust pizza in the oven for 10 minutes. When the pizza crust is firm, remove it from the oven and let it cool down. Arrange the tomato and baby arugula mixture over the pizza crust and bake it for another 3 – 4 minutes. Top the pizza with sliced Kalamata olives. Cut the pizza into bite sized pieces and arrange in a platter.Potato Pizza AppetizerIngredients
2 medium-sized russet potatoes
1 cup minced meat
2 tablespoons spring onions, chopped fine
1 cup pizza sauce
1 ½ cups grated mozzarella cheese
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
salt to taste
½ tablespoon pepper
Method
In a cooking pan, fry the minced meat with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, until it turns brown. When meat is properly cooked, add spring onions and pizza sauce. Let this mixture simmer in low heat for 4 – 5 minutes. Remove from flame and let the mixture cool down to room temperature. Cut the potatoes into ¼ inch thick slices. In an oven-proof dish, arrange the potato slices in a single layer. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and add freshly ground pepper and salt. Now bake this in a moderately hot oven for 10 – 15 minutes, until the edges of the potatoes becomes brown. Remove from oven and gently place each potato slice on a platter. Carefully put a spoonful of minced meat mixture on the potato slices. Add grated mozzarella cheese on top and your pizza.Prosciutto and Feta Cheese PizzaIngredients
200 gm pizza dough
½ cup feta cheese
½ cup prosciutto, sliced
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh basil
2 tablespoons diced olives
Method
To the pizza dough, add olive oil and feta cheese and mix well. Roll out the dough making sure that it is 1 inch thick. Bake it in an oven for 8 – 10 minutes. Remove from oven, and then add sliced prosciutto, olives and a handful of basil. Bake it for another 2 – 3 minutes. Cut the pizza appetizer into small bite sized pieces with a pizza cutter and serve.
Keep the portion of your appetizers small or your guests will be too full to enjoy the main course. Pizza appetizers are visually appealing and also delicious. The most wonderful thing about them is that it can be prepared in advance and you only need to reheat them before serving. So the next time you are throwing a party, why not serve mini pizzas.

Pizza Appetizers

Salmon Appetizer Recipes

So you’ve got a lot of salmon and don’t know what to do with it? Simple. Throw a party for your friends tonight and treat them to some amazing salmon appetizer recipes. Hors d’oeuvre are the party setters. Guests are famished by hunger, at the start of the party. Some lightly filling and mouth-watering appetizer are a great way of starting the greatest party. Appetizers recipes bring the much-needed energy to the party to rock all night long.Cognac SalmonIngredients
2 proportionate center cut salmon fillets with skin
1 tablespoon black pepper corns
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon, cognac, rum or whiskey
¼ cup chopped dill
Salt, as per taste
Directions
Remove all the bones from salmon using a tweezer.
Coarsely crush the pepper corns, with a heavy object.
Combine salt, crushed pepper and sugar in a bowl, add a tablespoon of water to mix them well. Also, the sugar will partially dissolve, making the process of marinating easy.
Now, rub the sugar and salt marinade, on both sides of the fish fillets.
Sprinkle some cognac on it, and arrange the fillets on top for the other.
Sprinkle the chopped dill on the fish.
Put the fish fillet a greased baking dish and bake it for 30 minutes.
Smoked SalmonIngredients
8 salmon fillets
1/4 cup kosher salt
2 bay leaves
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 stalk sliced celery
2 smashed garlic cloves
1/2 chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped fennel
4 cups water
Directions
Mix the sugar and salt with 1 tablespoon of water.
Rub this mixture on the fish fillets and let it refrigerate for 4-5 hours.
Now combine the rest of the ingredients together and sprinkle them on the fish, once you remove it from the fridge.
Heat the smoker well, before you begin smoking. You can also use a grill for the same purpose. Use coal, instead of electric smoker to get the effect.
Grill the fish fillets, till they turn dark pink on the inside and the cover turns brown.
Smoked Salmon SandwichesIngredients
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon peel
1/2 teaspoon dried tarragon
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon minced fresh parsley
1 teaspoon dill weed
1 cup mayonnaise
Ground nutmeg
9 thin slices of white or brown bread (crusts removed)
Dill sprigs
A packet of smoked salmon
Directions
Mix all these ingredients together, except the salmon.
Spread it on to the bread slices and garnish it with dill springs.
While you make these recipes, make sure that the fish fillets have been cleaned properly. The ingredients mentioned in the above recipes can be changed to suit your palate. Also, while buying salmon, make sure you’ve bought the fresh fish. The fish does not really have a taste. So, to make a tasty fish, you need to make sure that fish has been marinated for at least two hours. If you are refrigerating the fish, let it thaw, before you begin cooking it, or else, it will lead to disintegration of the flesh.

Salmon Appetizer Recipes

Summer Appetizers

Appetizers are an essential course for any party or gathering and you just cannot do without them. When it comes to hosting a party in summer, you need appetizers that are not too heavy on the palate and which are cool and refreshing. As summers are the time when you get the most variety of delectable fresh vegetables and fruits, you can create many appetizer recipes that uses these fresh produce. When you are hosting a cocktail party or a dinner party, you do not want to slave over the hot stove all day, preparing dishes. So the best appetizers are those that can be prepared well in advance and only needs to be grilled or heated before serving them.Quick Appetizers for Summer
Appetizers that are served in summer should ideally be cold or chilled. This cools down the body temperature and is great for those sultry evenings when you don’t feel like eating anything too spicy or hot. One of the best ideas for summer appetizers is to serve chilled soups or gazpacho in small shot glasses. You can also serve ceviche which is a kind of marinated raw seafood or meat dish. Your guests will find this simple fare very refreshing and appetizing. Simple GazpachoIngredients
2 cups cherry tomatoes
1 cup tomato juice
1 medium cucumber, peeled and chopped
1 small red pepper, chopped
1 medium red onion, chopped fine
2 cloves garlic, minced
Juice of 1 lime
2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
1 small jalapeño, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Sprigs of basil leaves
½ teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Method
Boil some water in a saucepan and pour it over the cherry tomatoes placed in a bowl. Allow the tomatoes to remain in the water for 5 minutes and then peel off the skins. Now puree the tomatoes in a food processor and add the tomato juice into it. Remove the pureed cherry tomatoes into a bowl and set it aside.
In the food processor, add the chopped cucumber, bell pepper, jalapeño, red onion, minced garlic, extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, lime juice, ground cumin, salt, Worcestershire sauce and pepper. Process this until you get a thick pulpy mixture. Transfer this mixture into the bowl containing the tomato puree and mix everything until well combined. Chill the gazpacho for at least two hours and pour it into small shot glasses drizzled with a few drops of balsamic vinegar and garnished with a sprig of basil leaf. This is a good cold appetizer for summer which can be served with summer cocktails and your guests are sure to enjoy it.Green Mango SaladIngredients
2 large green mangos, peeled and finely julienned
½ red onion, finely julienned
½ cup roasted, salted peanuts
1 bunch cilantro, chopped
½ teaspoon red chili flakes
1 garlic clove, minced
2 teaspoons rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons fish sauce
¼ cup lime juice
2 tablespoons brown sugar
Method
In a small bowl, combine the rice wine vinegar, fish sauce, lime juice, brown sugar and red chili flakes. Whisk them together until all the sugar has dissolved and you have a thin dressing.
Next add the julienned green mango to a bowl along with the minced garlic, roasted peanuts and red onion. Add the chopped cilantro and mix well. Drizzle the mango salad with the dressing and serve cold.CevicheIngredients
250 g piece of skinless plaice fillet
250 g piece of skinless salmon fillet
Juice of 3 limes
1 red onion, finely sliced
1 green chili, chopped
1 red chili, chopped
¼ cup coriander leaves
Method
Slice the salmon and plaice into thin strips with a sharp knife and place them in a single layer over a large platter. Mix together the lime juice, sliced red onion and chillies. Pour this mixture over the fish, making sure that you cover the fish with it. Cover the platter with a cling film and allow it to marinate for an hour in the fridge. Serve this simple seafood appetizer recipe with chopped coriander leaves.
Another great way to serve healthy appetizers to your friends and family is to make a selection of tasty dips that can be served with a variety of breads, tortilla chips and crackers as well as crunchy vegetables. Dips too can be prepared well in advance and you can also experiment with different food combinations. Here are a few dips that you can use for your next party.Grilled Eggplant with Tomato and Onion SalsaIngredients
1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered lengthwise
1 large eggplant
½ cup chopped onion
1 garlic clove, minced
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon drained capers, rinsed
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 celery stalks, finely diced
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh oregano
5 large green olives, pitted, thinly sliced
½ teaspoon chili flakes
Salt and pepper to taste
Method
Peel the eggplant and cut it crosswise into 1 inch thick slices. Lightly brush the eggplant slices with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Leave the eggplant aside and preheat the grill.
In a bowl, mix together the quartered cherry tomatoes, chopped onions, capers, celery, oregano, sliced olives and minced garlic. Add the olive oil, red wine vinegar and red chili flakes. Season with salt and pepper and set it aside. Grill the eggplant slices for around 7-8 minutes on both sides.
Arrange the eggplant slices on a platter and spoon some of the onion and tomato salsa over it. Serve hot.Lemony Garlic PrawnsIngredients
750 g prawns
4 cloves garlic, peeled
½ teaspoon red chili flakes
4 tablespoons plain unsalted butter
¼ cup fresh parsley
Juice of 1 lemon
1 teaspoon salt
Method
Clean and devein the prawns and pat them dry with a kitchen towel. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Arrange the prawns in a single layer on a baking sheet.
In a food processor, process the butter, parsley, garlic, lemon juice, salt and red pepper. Add this mixture over the prawns and cook until the prawns are done. Serve hot with freshly baked bread.Crab DipIngredients
1 can crab meat
1 ½ cups cream cheese
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 tablespoons chives, chopped
1 tablespoon horseradish sauce
2 tablespoons lemon juice
¼ teaspoon chili sauce
Method
Mix the sour cream along with the crab meat, chopped chives, mayonnaise, horseradish sauce, chili sauce and lemon juice. Check seasonings and add more salt if required. Chill the crab dip for at least an hour before serving with crackers.
You can also serve dips made with a variety of oven roasted vegetables like tomatoes and bell pepper as well as different types of chips. Other great cocktail party food are tomato bruschetta, deviled eggs, mini crab cakes, spring rolls and tuna tartar. Also serve cool summer drinks to go with these delicious appetizers. Whatever summer appetizers you serve, make sure that they are presented in the most attractive way.

Summer Appetizers