Appetizers are a popular food world over; this definitely is a better option when you are planning a party. So, making an assortment of these is truly a tempting idea which is certain to turn out to be a winner. It is easy to be imaginative when you are planning appetizers. In some countries appetizers contribute to their style of eating. Appetizers have different names in different countries like in UK it is called âstartersâ, in France they call them ‘canapes’, in Sweden it is known as âsmorgasbordâ. They are also popular in the Middle East and Greece and are known as “meze.”
Here are 10 appetizers that can be served during a party, these recipes are quick and can be made effortlessly.
1. Orange glazed chicken wings
Complexity level: Moderate
Time taken: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
fresh orange juice of 2 oranges
2 tablespoon grated orange zest
6 cloves garlic minced
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 pounds chicken wings
Process:
1. Take a large bowl, combine the orange juice, soy sauce, orange zest, minced garlic, salt, brown sugar, and pepper, finally add chicken wings to this and mix.
2. Preheat the oven to 400° Fahrenheit, arrange the wings in a single layer on a baking sheet.
3. Pour some of the orange mixture over the wings and keep the rest aside. Bake for about 20 minutes.
4. Turn and baste them with the stored orange mixture. Cook till just done for 10 minutes.
2. Orange chipotle salsa
Complexity level: Moderate
Time taken: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
3 medium navel oranges
2 plum tomatoes
3/4 cup grape tomatoes or de seeded and chopped
1 tablespoon fresh cilantro leaves chopped
2 green onions thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon chipotle chile puree or hot sauce
Process:
- Take a medium bowl and grate the rind from 1 orange, slice the remaining peel along with the white pith holding it over the bowl to allow fruit and juice to fall into bowl. Discard the seeds.
- To this, add the tomatoes, green onions, cilantro, chipotle puree, and 1/4 teaspoon salt; stir this well. Cover and refrigerate salsa before serving.
3. Marinated olives
Complexity level: Easy
Time taken: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
2 pounds assorted Mediterranean olives
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons crushed fennel seeds
6 strips of lemon peel
4 small bay leaves
4 cloves of garlic crushed
Salt
Process:
- Heat olive oil in a pan until hot but not smoking; add fennel seeds and bay leaves over medium heat. Take it off the heat and stand for about 10 minutes.
- Now stir this olive oil mixture with olives, lemon peel, and garlic. Keep the bowl covered with a plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 24 hours, keep stirring occasionally. This can be stored for up to a month.
4. Instant party mix
Complexity level: Easy
Time taken: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
1 cup mixed nuts
3 tablespoons butter
1 cup mini pretzel rods
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 cup corn cereal
1 cup rice cereal
1 cup wheat cereal
Process:
- Melt butter in a 275 degrees F preheated oven, and stir seasoning’s in the melted butter using a spatula.
- Add all the other ingredients and carefully stir to coat all dry ingredients with butter and seasoning’s. Bake 20 minutes, stir once again and bake for another 10 minutes.
5. Hummus
Complexity level: Moderate
Time taken: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
Pita Bread Wedges
1 large lemon
4 garlic cloves peeled
2 tablespoons tahini
1 can of garbanzo beans rinsed well and drained
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoon water
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
1/2 teaspoon paprika
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
Olives
Process:
- Heat 2 cups of water to boiling point in a sauce pan. Add minced garlic and cook 3 minutes and drain.
- Add 1 tsp lemon peel grated, 3 tablespoons lemon juice and blend in the food processor along with beans, garlic, tahini, oil, water, salt, and ground red pepper. Puree till you get a smooth paste. Refrigerate for up to 4 hours. Serve, sprinkled with paprika and cilantro, with pita bread wedges and olives.
6. Little crab cakes with wasabi mayonnaise
Complexity level: Moderate
Time taken: 30 to 40 minutes
Ingredients:
1 pound back fin lump crab meat
picked over for cartilage and shell
1 egg lightly beaten
1 1/4 cup fine fresh breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
2 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
3 tablespoons canola oil
1 teaspoon lemon zest
Citrus Wasabi Mayonnaise
Process:
- Combine crab meat with breadcrumbs, whisked egg, mayonnaise, mustard, seasoning, chives, and lemon together.
- Scoop this mixture into small muffin moulds.
- Heat oil in a large pan and cook the cakes for about 1 minute per side, or until lightly browned. Transfer cakes to a paper towel and put it into the oven which is preheated to 400 degrees F. Bake the crab cakes for about 10 minutes. Top each of the small cake with a small dollop of Wasabi Mayonnaise.
- For citrus Wasabi mayonnaise: stir in 1/2 teaspoon of grated lemon zest and 1 tablespoon lemon juice into 1/2 cup Wasabi mayonnaise.
7. Chinese dumplings:
Complexity level: Moderate
Time taken: 1 hour
Ingredients:
1/2 pound ground pork
2 cups sliced Chinese cabbage
1 tablespoon dry sherry
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 1/2 teaspoon minced ginger root
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 minced green onion
1 beaten egg white
Wonton-skin wrappers
Soy dipping sauce
Sliced green onions
Process:
- Finely chop cabbage and squeeze liquid gently from chopped cabbage; place it in a medium bowl. Stir in pork, ginger, sherry, cornstarch, soy sauce, and green onion.
- To prepare filling: boil water in a saucepan over high heat add cabbage to the boiling water. Cook for a 1 minute; drain and run cold water over cabbage to cool. With hands, squeeze as much water out of cabbage.
- Arrange wonton skin wrappers on a waxed paper sheet, brush it lightly with egg white. Spoon 1 rounded teaspoon filling onto centre of each wonton wrapper. Bring opposite corners of wonton wrapper up over filling and pinch to seal the edges. Repeat the process with the remaining wonton wrappers.
- Place all dumplings with the sealed edge up, in one layer in a 12 inch skillet deep skillet over in 1/2 inch boiling water. Keep stirring gently with spoon to prevent dumplings from sticking to bottom of skillet. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 5 minutes or until dumplings are through cooked. Remove and serve with soy sauce and sliced onions.
- For the soy dipping sauce: mix together 1/4 cup soy sauce, 2 tablespoons thin strips of ginger root, 1/4 cup seasoned rice vinegar or white vinegar.
8. Oven fried chicken tenders with five spice bbq sauce
Complexity level: Moderate
Time taken: 20 minutes
Ingredients: 1 egg white
3/4 cup panko
2 tablespoons sesame seeds
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon Chinese five spice powder
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound tender chicken breast
1 small onion, chopped
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/2 cup ketchup
1 1/2 teaspoon cider vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Process:
- Toast bread crumbs and sesame seeds over high heat for about 5 minutes in a 475 degrees F until golden. Transfer this into a plate.
- In medium bowl, whisk the egg white with 1/2 a teaspoon five spice powder, salt. Dip each chicken tender in the egg mixture, and crumb mixture. Place on a cookie sheet and bake it in an oven which is preheated for 13 to 15 minutes or until they change their colour.
- While this process is under way heat oil over medium heat fry onion and cook for about 8 to 10 minutes till it is lightly browned. Remove from heat and stir in ketchup, sugar, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and remaining five spice powder. Serve it with tenders.
9. Pimiento stuffed deviled eggs
Complexity level: Moderate
Time taken: 40 minutes
Ingredients:
12 hard boiled eggs
1/4 cup sliced pimientos
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/4 cup low fat mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
Fresh herbs for garnish.
Process:
- Slice each egg lengthwise into half. Gently scoop out the yolks and place it in a bowl, and mash them. Add mayonnaise dressing, pimientos, ground red pepper, mustard, and salt well.
- Spoon in this mixture into the egg halves and refrigerate until ready to serve.
10. Sautéed shrimp cocktail
Complexity level: Moderate
Time taken: 3 minutes
Ingredients:
1 pound jumbo shrimp
peeled, and de veined
2 tablespoons olive oil,
salt, ground pepper
herbes de Provence,
1 1/4 cup of plain yoghurt
2 tablespoon whole grain mustard
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 1/2 tablespoon maple syrup
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil.
Process:
- Heat oil in a large pan, over a medium heat. Add shrimp and herbes de Provence, salt and pepper. Cook the shrimp, stirring gently, until cooked thoroughly, for about 3 minutes each side.
- In a small bowl, mix yoghurt, mayonnaise, mustard, maple syrup, turmeric, and basil until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Serve along with the cooked shrimp.
Serve these simple and easy to make appetizers for your party and have a blast.
