Appetizer
3523 recipes found
Tartine’s Country Bread
The country bread from Tartine Bakery in San Francisco has reached cult status among passionate bakers, and deservedly so. Based on traditional principles, Mr. Robertson has developed a way to get a tangy, open crumb encased in a blistered, rugged crust in a home kitchen, from a starter you create yourself. It is a bit of project — from start to finish, it takes about two weeks — but well worth the effort. (If you already have active starter ready to go, then the process shortens to two days.) So know that you have to be patient, and that the nature of bread baking at home is unpredictable. The level of activity of your starter, the humidity in your kitchen, the temperature during the rises, the time you allow for each step — all of these elements affect the bread and any change can impact your final loaf. But that final loaf is a wonder, the holy grail for the serious home baker.
Walnut Bread
The affinity of walnuts and whole wheat plays out well in this fairly simple loaf. I ramped up the walnut component by mixing in toasted pieces, including ground nuts along with the flour and even adding some walnut oil to the dough. Making this bread is straightforward enough for the home cook to master, and using a mere pinch of yeast will give the dough a nice rise. This dough would also welcome raisins, olives or pieces of figs along with the walnuts. I have found that the best way to introduce ingredients like these is to knead them in after the first rise.
Crisp Quinoa Cakes With Cilantro, Scallions and Sriracha
Not-Quite-Whole-Grain Baguettes
Sourdough Rye
Everything Parker House Rolls
There’s nothing better than a warm Parker House roll, except maybe one with a salty, seedy everything-bagel topping. While there are a million subtle variations of the classic roll, this recipe keeps the shape simple (just basic rounds) for the most buttery, fluffiest results. You can purchase everything-bagel seasoning in the spice section of some supermarkets, but it’s also easy to make your own.
Blue Cheese Swirl Bread
This easy skillet bread gets lightly crusty on the outside, but stays soft and fluffy inside. The dough is shaped into a log, then blue cheese is pressed into the dough before it’s rolled into a spiral. The finished loaf smells amazing, and looks like it took way more effort than it did. Serve alongside soups or stews, or all on its own as a tasty snack.
Brothy Cod With Peas and Mushrooms
In this recipe, tender, flaky cod is poached in a light, flavorful broth that optimizes bottled clam juice, a versatile yet underused ingredient. The juice is perfect for weeknight cooking, when shortcuts to big flavor are key, and it adds a subtle, briny backbone to any broth. This broth is also infused with rich shiitake mushrooms, aromatic garlic and a generous boost of bright ginger. Pearl couscous gets toasted before boiling, adding nutty notes to the soup. It also contributes delightful chewiness, but other small pastas like ditalini or orzo are also good substitutes, though cook time may need to be adjusted accordingly.
Country Bread With Apples
This is a whole wheat version of a classic Norman country bread. Normandy is apple country and apples find their way into many dishes in this region. I came across the bread in “Bread Alone” by Daniel Leader, and have adapted the recipe. The dough ferments overnight in the refrigerator, and after it has come back to room temperature the chopped apples are kneaded in. It goes beautifully with cheese.
Jalapeño Poppers
There are many delicious versions of jalapeño poppers: Some are breaded and deep-fried, others use two kinds of cheese, and another, called armadillo eggs, calls for enrobing the cheese-stuffed peppers with ground meat and bacon. These easy-baked poppers are filled with tangy cream cheese — brightened with scallions, cilantro, garlic and lime zest — then wrapped with bacon for looks, salt and crunch. For a vegetarian variation, sprinkle the stuffed jalapeños with finely crumbled tortilla chips before baking to complement the crisp-tender chiles and the molten-cheese filling.
Cheesy Garlic-Potato Monkey Bread
This savory monkey bread begins with a yeasted dough made with mashed potatoes, which helps make it the extra light and fluffy. Each round of dough is coated in garlic butter, cheese (Parmesan and white cheddar), and a generous dose of coarse black pepper. Think of it as cacio e pepe monkey bread. It’s best served warm. The dough rises overnight in the refrigerator, which makes this recipe especially great when you’re looking to plan ahead.
Lemon-Pepper Chicken Wings
Lemon pepper usually refers to a store-bought spice blend of dehydrated lemon zest, black pepper and other seasonings, but the beloved pantry staple is simple enough to recreate at home: Rub oven-dried lemon zest into fresh, coarsely ground black pepper to release the oils of each. Magic ensues as the lemon gains the fruity muskiness of the pepper, and the pepper is slicked with the fragrant balm of the lemon. The citric acid is optional, but provides lemon pepper’s characteristic tartness. Sprinkled over roasted chicken wings, this golden dust gives off high-voltage flavors. To make this with store-bought lemon pepper, skip Steps 3 and 4 and simply toss the roasted wings with a dusting of the seasoning to taste.
Spicy Party Mix
When a recipe for a seasoned snack mix first appeared on the back of the Chex cereal box in the 1950s, people went crazy for it. Years later, a Google search for the recipe yields more than two million results for various riffs, from savory to spicy to sweet. Many call for tossing the dry ingredients with the wet, then letting the mix dry on paper towels, but baking it at a low temperature yields crisper, more flavorful results. Hot sauce gives this version a bit of a kick, but if you don’t like heat, you can leave it out. View this recipe as a template to tweak as you see fit: Use crunchy, roasted edamame or green peas in place of the nuts, substitute Thai red curry paste or Sriracha for the hot sauce, or double up on whatever ingredients you like best. Keep the dry-to-wet ratios the same and you can’t go wrong.
Seven-Layer Dip
For this recipe, the traditional 7-layer dip has been revisited so that each layer is good enough to eat on its own, but isn’t so much effort that the whole thing can’t be finished in 20 minutes. The order of the layers offers some delightful moments, like where the cheese melts into the warm refried beans or where the cool sour cream meets the fiery salsa. Cilantro and scallions serve as a refreshing counterpoint, and Fritos lend added crunch. No need to dig out your trifle bowl: A platter with a lip is preferred here for easier scooping.
Beer Cheese
Some say this classic pub snack originated in Kentucky, but you can typically find it in bars all around, usually served with warm pretzel bites or vegetables. There are two different styles of beer cheese: a spreadable, thick version and a creamier fondue-style type like this one. Though optional, adding a bit of miso brings out the beer flavor and adds a bit of saltiness that eliminates the need to add any salt to the dish. Either way, make sure to choose a beer that tastes good to you.
Sausage Balls
These classic Southern hors d’oeuvres, made with only three ingredients, taste just as good with beer as they do with bourbon. And they come together in about 20 minutes from start to finish.
Split Pea Soup
This customizable recipe for classic split pea soup allows you to make it vegetarian or not with equally delicious results. Meat eaters can get that classic smoky flavor by adding bacon or ham hock, while vegetarians can reach for the smoked paprika. Half the split peas are added part way through cooking, which adds texture to each cozy, hearty spoonful.
Sour Cream and Onion Dip
Take plenty of time to properly caramelize a mixture of onions and shallots and you’ll be greatly rewarded with a depth of flavor that you would never get from a powdered packet. Resist the urge to cook them at a higher temperature in order to rush the process – they’ll burn before they brown and soften. The addition of Greek yogurt might seem unusual, but it provides a lightness and tang that sour cream can’t deliver by itself.
Figs and Pigs in a Blanket
Arguably better than pigs in blankets — or, at least, more elegant — these, flaky hors d’oeuvres will be the first things to disappear at a party. The filling of chopped dried figs and prosciutto or salami is a balanced mix of savory and sweet, but feel free to substitute other dried fruit, like apricots, raisins or cranberries, for the figs. And if you can find all-butter puff pastry, it really makes a difference here, adding a deeply golden color and rich flavor.
Charcuterie Board
A charcuterie board refers to an impressive spread of cured meats, and this festive take adds cheeses with fun accoutrements such as roasted nuts, tangy olives and fresh vegetables, which brighten the meal. It even includes a smooth pâté, decadent smoked fish and a homemade whipped ricotta that serves as both a dip and a spread. Whipped ricotta is a cinch to make, transforming the grainy, dense cheese into something light and airy. This type of grand spread is perfect for entertaining and is extremely flexible — simply curate any combination of meats and cheeses with varying textures.
Za’atar Parmesan Pinwheels
These crunchy, savory snacks have the irresistible can’t-stop-eating nature of cheese straws, but with the added allure of a sprinkle of herby, sesame-flecked za’atar, a Middle Eastern seasoning mix available in large supermarkets and spice shops. Rolled into logs and sliced into pinwheels before baking, they puff into domes in the oven’s heat, turning golden, crisp and wonderfully flaky. If you can find all-butter puff pastry, it really makes a difference here, adding a rich, deep flavor and an especially bronzed color.
Roasted Apple, Shallot and Blue Cheese Tart
This sweet and savory apple tart is both substantial and sophisticated. The chewy, pizza-like crust is fortified with three kinds of flour. The topping is a comforting, mellow jumble of sweet roasted apples and shallots scented with thyme and zipped up with pungent blue cheese.
Baked Brie With Quick Cranberry Jam
Likely to be a hit at any party, this recipe updates the classic brie en croute with a sweet and savory cranberry jam that’s simple to put together. The trick here is to trim the dough as you wrap the brie: Too many layers of overlapping dough and the pastry won’t cook through. This is an excellent make-ahead appetizer since the puff pastry-wrapped brie can be assembled up to a day in advance and stored in the refrigerator. Brush the exterior with egg wash just before baking, for best results, and serve warm.
Pasta With Parsnips and Bacon
They may seem like an unlikely duo, but pasta and parsnips work really well together, with the parsnips becoming almost like a sweet and soft extension of the pasta. And they’re another vehicle for the creamy, bacon-rich sauce. You can roast the parsnips several hours ahead (they’ll be fine at room temperature). But the rest of the dish is best made just before serving. Then serve it hot. There are few dishes that are cozier on a cold winter night.