Whether you're at an expensive restaurant or attending an elegant gathering, it's often
the fancy appetizers that steal the show. While there are hundreds of fancy appetizers out there,
these are the ones that you really should try at least once before you die.
If you love Italian food, you've probably seen antipasto in one form or another.
The traditional first course of an Italian meal, antipasto is typically served as a
platter of cured meats, cheeses, olives, mushrooms, pepperoncini , and other vegetables.
The shared platter is rich in color,
flavor, and texture, and can be enjoyed by everyone at the table.
Antipasto isn't only served on a platter, however. Antipasto skewers are often served at parties.
The usual antipasto ingredients are assembled onto skewers to create the perfect portions of
everything you want, without multiple hands digging into the same platter.
Whether you eat one or a half-dozen, you can pick which skewers you want.
And you don't have to worry about someone else at the table getting
all the prosciutto before you get a nibble.
Yes, we know — this appetizer doesn't sound very appetizing. However,
you'll have to trust us and give it a try.
Smokey, crisp bacon comes together with sweet prunes deliciously. If it makes you feel any
better, you can call them dried plums instead of prunes. All you need for this traditional
Polish appetizer is the prunes and the bacon, but some chefs like to soak the prunes in apple
brandy or other liquor, and/or stuff them with various ingredients like chopped apple or nuts.
Once you try a bacon-wrapped prune,
you will fully believe that bacon makes everything, and anything, better.
You might have had brie in your lifetime, but have you had baked brie?
If not, you are truly missing out. You can bake brie in a puff pastry shell or
coated with just a little bit of honey. However, one of the best recipes for this
cheesy goodness is to add a layer of toasted pecans and maple syrup on top.
You'll also love baked brie topped with figs, pears, berries, and other fruit.
No one says you have to throw a party to eat brie. Grab some crackers or bread and go to town on
this gooey deliciousness all by yourself while you're bingeing on your favorite Netflix show.
Another Italian favorite is spiedini , which are small meat rolls. Veal, lamb,
pork, and beef all make for delicious spiedini.
However, you can never go wrong with be ef cuts such as sirloin or ribeye steaks.
The meat is sliced thin, rolled around your fillings, dredged in bread crumbs and cheese, and
then baked or grilled. The filling can be anything from tomatoes and cheese to currants and nuts.
If you can't find spiedini at your local Italian place,
these are easy enough to make at home for a family dinner or festive party appetizer — and
maybe even better since you can fill them with anything your heart desires.
At least once in your life, you absolutely must try caviar . Caviar is the expensive roe,
which are eggs from the sturgeon family of fish. The most coveted varieties of caviar include
beluga and osetra , so look for those names on the menu next time you're at a fancy restaurant.
You can consume caviar directly from the spoon if you like, but most people prefer it on crackers
or blini , which are small Russian pancakes. Caviar tastes salty, buttery, and often nutty.
"What is that? What are you doing? You're taking all the caviar. That caviar is a garnish."
Though you might not love it, you should definitely give it a try.
Caprese consists of fresh tomato, buffalo mozzarella,
basil, olive oil, salt, and pepper. This dish is typically served on a plate like a salad,
but some people prefer it put on bread for a sandwich, on a skewer for parties,
or on a homemade pizza. Though caprese is simple in and of itself, it can take many fancy forms.
The key to good caprese is that the tomatoes need to be at their peak of freshness.
Therefore, caprese is best in the summertime when perfect tomatoes
are plentiful — whether in your garden or at the grocery store.
Cheese balls don't sound fancy or exciting, but they definitely can be if they're done properly.
For cheese balls that are amaze-balls, use cream cheese and cheddar cheese, combined with
crispy chopped bacon, fresh chives, slivers of pecans, sunflower seeds, and dry ranch dressing.
Roll the balls small enough to just pop in your mouth, rather than making a large party ball for
your whole group to scrape with crackers. You can smash the bite-size balls between two crackers,
or skip the extra carbs and calories and eat them solo.
Who doesn't love chicken and waffles? But we have to admit that a whole plate of them
can be a little heavy. The appetizer version, however, is just perfect.
Chicken and waffle bites are tiny toasted waffles, topped with deep fried chunks of
chicken and drizzled with syrup. You can either find these yummy bites on brunch menus or you
can make them at home as appetizers or snacks; your family and friends will love you for it.
The chicken lettuce wraps from P.F. Chang's and other restaurants
across the country feature layers of flavors to tantalize your taste buds.
It's more than just the chicken — it's the hoisin sauce, soy sauce,
rice wine vinegar, garlic, ginger, scallions, and everything else that goes into them.
If you want some heat, chili garlic sauce is the perfect addition.
In between visits to your local Asian eatery, you can try copycat recipes at
home to amaze your family. Start with crisp lettuce and experiment with.
You love cheese. You love chocolate. So, why not chocolate-covered cheese? Goat cheese,
Monterey Jack cheese, and even cheddar cheese pair wonderfully with dark chocolate and sea salt.
If you just can't deal with dark chocolate,
semi-sweet or milk chocolate can work nicely as well.
If you can't find this delicious treat on a menu,
it doesn't take much effort to make yourself. Eat chocolate-covered cheese
once and you'll wonder why you never dared to pair this tasty combination.
You might be familiar with jalapeno poppers, but these poppers are totally different.
Crab meat and mayo are combined with other simple ingredients,
rolled in panko, and fried until they're crispy, golden brown.
Depending on the restaurant,
you might find crab cake poppers that feature a ton of cheese, or none at all.
No matter which type you're eating, dip them in a spicy aioli to maximize the deliciousness
and celebrate the fact that you gave these poppers a try.
Canapes are small, decorative hors d'oeuvres that typically feature crackers, pieces of bread,
or puff pastry as the base. They can be enjoyed with different spreads and a variety of toppings.
While you have probably had some type of canapes at one time or another in your life,
you may have not had cucumber canapes, and you should definitely try them.
They can be as simple as slices of cucumber with a layer of whipped cream
cheese and sun-dried tomatoes, or something a lot more fancy.
If you have a choice, choose the fancy ones. You'll be happy you did.
Empanadas are baked or fried turnovers that are filled with meats and other savory ingredients.
South American and Caribbean countries serve empanadas as starters or main courses,
and you can also find them at various restaurants and food trucks across America.
Beef empanadas are a favorite. The ground beef is
aromatically seasoned with everything from cinnamon, to cumin, to paprika.
Sometimes the meat mixture also contains raisins, toasted nuts, potatoes, and/or olives as well.
The result is scrumptious, often addicting, appetizers that you'll thoroughly enjoy.
Before you know it, you'll be heading to Latin
America to stuff your face with as many empanadas as you can handle.
What should you order to start your meal at a French restaurant? Escargot , of course.
Escargot is cooked land snails. And no matter how gross you think it might sound,
you should definitely try this delicacy.
Snails are traditionally cooked in a parsley garlic butter. You eat them by holding the
shells with tongs and using your fork to twist the meat out of the shell.
Removing the meat can be quite a production, so don't expect to zip
right through this course. We aren't guaranteeing you'll love escargot.
"I think I'm gonna throw up." "Don't throw up."
"All the nice dinner that I had. I'm gonna throw it up."
"You're not gonna throw up, Dale."
But you might love it, so you shouldn't pass it over or you may regret it.
Typical deviled eggs feature hard boiled egg yolks mixed with mustard and mayo.
The resulting mixture is piped or scooped into the egg whites and sprinkled with paprika or pepper.
And though it's impossible to eat just one of these simple
bites at your office potluck or company picnic, they don't have to be simple.
With the addition of everything from crumbled bacon to salmon roe, and bell pepper strips
to tiny shrimp, deviled eggs can offer layers of rich flavors and textures that are sure to please.
Classic bruschetta features toasted bread that is rubbed with garlic and topped with
ingredients like chopped tomatoes, basil, and balsamic vinegar. And though the classic
version is certainly tasty, the more elaborate varieties take things to a whole new level.
Some of the best bruschetta ditches the tomatoes altogether and instead slathers the bread with
sweetened figs, goat cheese, and walnuts. A couple minutes under the broiler melts the cheese,
toasts the nuts to perfection, and allows you to scratch something off your bucket list.
If you've never tried squid or octopus, you're missing out on some delicious seafood.
Calamari is a type of edible squid that is often served fried in Italian cuisine.
When making this appetizer, squid pieces are usually soaked in buttermilk,
dredged in seasoned flour, and then fried until golden and crisp. Fried calamari is
typically overpriced in restaurants, but fortunately it's very easy to make at home.
The biggest complaint about squid is that it can be tough. For tender calamari, you need to fry it
fast in very hot oil — or braise it very slowly. Traditionally, fried calamari is served with a
tomato-based sauce, but garlic-lemon aioli is also an amazing alternative for dipping your squid.
Pigs in a blanket are basically hot dogs wrapped in croissant dough.
They are the perfect cheap snack or appetizer for a kids' party. However,
hogs in a blanket are a big upgrade to the pigs and can be served to even your snootiest friends.
Substituting spicy andouille sausage and buttery puff pastry,
hogs in a blanket are often served with mustard chutney, cheese fondue, or sweet chili sauce.
They are very easy appetizers to make, and you should bake twice as many as you think
you should, because your guests will assuredly gobble them down.
And if you have leftovers at the end of your shindig, you can always snack on them later.
Lobster rolls are scrumptious sandwiches served in Maine and throughout New England. Lobster meat
is dressed with mayonnaise and other ingredients and piled into a toasted, split-top hot dog bun.
While they use the mayonnaise in Maine and other areas, Connecticut-style lobster rolls
skip the mayo and just add melted butter and chives to show off the lobster flavor.
A pared-down version of the traditional lobster roll is served on slider buns to create
an appetizer-size version of this New England favorite that can't be beat, and must be tried.
Macaroni and cheese takes the form of an appetizer with the help of a mini muffin tin. You can find
bite-sized portions of mac and cheese everywhere from pricey restaurants to party buffet stations.
Plain macaroni and cheese is often dressed up with bits of bacon,
scallions, and other yummy additions, and then deep fried.
When it comes to mac and cheese bites, the best ones are when the bacon is used
to create the cup to hold the pasta. Once again, bacon just makes it better.
Almost everyone has had shrimp cocktail, but have you had Mexican shrimp cocktail?
Be sure to experience this flavorful appetizer at least once in your life.
The tomato-based sauce for the Mexican version is chock-full of celery,
cilantro, cucumber, garlic, jalapenos, and red onion.
Shrimp and avocado are added to the sauce right before serving for an unbeatable fresh taste.
Next time you're in a Mexican restaurant,
ask for the shrimp cocktail with a side of chips and a margarita.
Quiche Lorraine is the best kind of quiche for one
reason — bacon. This classic quiche features eggs, heavy cream, bacon,
and Gruyere cheese combined to create a savory custard that is baked in a buttery pie crust.
Whether you like it hot or cold, it's the ideal brunch food.
But this list of what you need to try at least once in your life is about appetizers,
not brunch. So, thankfully, mini quiche was invented. Baked in tart shells in a muffin tin,
you'll love mini quiche Lorraine bites no matter when or where you are eating them.
Speaking of olives, tapenade — a paste made with a blend of olives, capers,
and anchovies — is a key ingredient in a number of tasty appetizers.
Spread it on top of slices of toasted bread and munch away.
You can also add goat cheese, currants, tomatoes, nuts, and other ingredients,
if you want to get even more fancy. Tapenade might not be the most common appetizer,
but you should certainly try it at least once in your life.
If you've never been able to stomach the idea of eating slimy raw oysters, you aren't alone.
"Would you like an oyster?"
"No."
However, it doesn't mean you should skip eating these mollusks altogether.
Originally created at Antoine's Restaurant in New Orleans, Oysters Rockefeller are baked or
broiled oysters on the half-shell that are topped with a rich blend of butter,
spinach, herbs, and bread crumbs.
"And this is a family secret."
"You don't give away the recipe?"
"We don't give the recipe away. There's only three cooks here that know how to do it."
You don't have to venture to Thailand to get pork satay from a street vendor.
You can find it at Thai restaurants all over. Thin slices of marinated pork are
grilled on skewers and served with peanut sauce for dipping.
The coconut milk, fish sauce, brown sugar,
and spices in the marinade produce layers of flavors that are absolutely delicious.
Don't deny yourself this fancy appetizer. Give it a try at least once in your life.
If you ever see prosciutto wrapped figs on a menu, don't hesitate to order them.
Prosciutto is a dry-cured Italian ham that is typically served uncooked.
Slices of prosciutto are wrapped around fresh figs that are stuffed with goat cheese or blue cheese.
Though you can eat them as-is, these appetizers are best when
baked at a high temperature until the prosciutto is crispy and brown.
Drizzle them with honey or dip them with sweet chili sauce for a tantalizing bite
that will be remembered for the rest of your living days.
Even if you skipped the foie gras mousse , you should definitely try salmon mousse appetizer.
Salmon mousse is a mixture of cream cheese, smoked salmon, and lemon juice.
It can be piped on top of the aforementioned cucumber canapes, spooned into pastry shells,
scooped onto bread, or simply served in a bowl with a side of crackers.
Some salmon mousse is a little bland, but not if onion, horseradish, paprika,
and dill are added to the mix to provide a sturdy kick.
Shrimp tartlets vary from cold shrimp salad stuffed into tart shells,
to shrimp and Bisquick baked in muffin cups. You can find
dozens of versions of these bite-size delights at restaurants and parties.
Many recipes feature shrimp tartlets with creamy
cheeses and spicy seasonings for layers of savory, rich flavors.
No matter what type of shrimp tartlets you run into throughout your life,
you shouldn't overlook them. Never shy away from more shrimp.
Juicy, thin slices of steak, caramelized onions,
and creme fraiche top crispy slices of baguettes to create some of the best bruschetta that
you'll ever taste. This is what you'd call a heavy appetizer — but not heavy in a bad way.
When made with high-quality meat, steak bruschetta is so good and hearty that
you might just skip the main course and jump straight to dessert. If you are a meat-lover,
this is one appetizer that you undoubtedly should try at least once in your life.
You don't like mushrooms, you say? Impossible! You just haven't tried the right mushroom.
Stuffed mushrooms are some of the most delicious and diverse starters you can find.
You can fill mushroom caps with just about anything. Whether you prefer spicy sausage,
tasty crab meat, or gooey cheese, you are sure to discover a stuffed mushroom that you love.
The key is large, firm mushrooms that don't get mushy or collapse when they are baked.
If you aren't familiar with Latin American or Caribbean cuisine,
you might not have a clue what tostones are. Well, we are here to tell you that they are delicious.
Tostones are slices of plantains — which are not bananas — that are fried, flattened, and fried
again. You can eat them plain, dip them in mojito sauce, or top them with avocado cream sauce.
You might think it's difficult to find tostones, but most major cities have a Cuban, Dominican,
Puerto Rican, or other ethnic restaurant that serves up these crispy slices of heaven.
If you're a sushi fan, then you have most likely eaten raw tuna before. However tuna
tartare is a bit different than traditional tuna sashimi you'd find at your favorite sushi place.
Chunks of fresh tuna are combined with green onions, sesame seeds, and other ingredients,
and then placed on a bed of avocado, cucumber, or greens. This appetizer
is often served with a soy-garlic sauce and rice crackers, or another vehicle for dipping.
Though raw fish might sound unappealing to some,
tuna tartare is delish, and worth a bite at least once in your life.
"What's that?"
"Sushi."
"Sushi?"
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