Appetizer, Hors D’Oeuvre and Snack Recipes

Appetizers and hors d’oeuvre are the enticing entrance to a full meal. They pique the appetite without satisfying it and encourage easy conversation among gathered guests. Appetizers can be plated or passed, but they are most often finger food, easy to eat while standing and never overly messy in the hands.

Appetizers are mini meals that go by different names around the world. Spaniards have tapas, delicious bar food with a deep history. The Italians throw together antipasti platters with elegant simplicity. Hunger pangs in the eastern Mediterranean are calmed with meze and a beverage. Cantonese diners pick out an entire meal from dim sum carts. And the spicy chaat of India are some of the most flavorful snacks in the world.

International Appetizer Recipes

Banh Xeo 
(Vietnamese filled crepe)

Banh Xeo 
(Vietnamese filled crepe)

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds 
(American Halloween snack)

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds 
(American Halloween snack)

Jamaican Beef Patties 
(Jamaican spicy curried meat pies)

Jamaican Beef Patties 
(Jamaican spicy curried meat pies)

Law Bok Gow 
(Chinese steamed radish cake)

Law Bok Gow 
(Chinese steamed radish cake)

Tod Mun 
(Thai spicy fish cakes)

Tod Mun 
(Thai spicy fish cakes)

Dolmathes 
(Greek grape leaves stuffed with rice and meat)

Dolmathes 
(Greek grape leaves stuffed with rice and meat)

Baba Ghanoush 
(Middle Eastern roasted eggplant dip)

Baba Ghanoush 
(Middle Eastern roasted eggplant dip)

Pork and Cabbage Dim Sum Filling 
(Chinese filling for buns, potstickers and dumplings)

Pork and Cabbage Dim Sum Filling 
(Chinese filling for buns, potstickers and dumplings)

Bruschetta alla Romana 
(Italian grilled bread with tomatoes)

Bruschetta alla Romana 
(Italian grilled bread with tomatoes)

Tostones 
(Caribbean fried plantains)

Tostones 
(Caribbean fried plantains)

Chun Yao Bang 
(Chinese fried scallion pancake)

Chun Yao Bang 
(Chinese fried scallion pancake)

Obatzter 
(German beer cheese spread)

Obatzter 
(German beer cheese spread)

Olive Marinate 
(Italian marinated olive appetizer)

Olive Marinate 
(Italian marinated olive appetizer)

Siu Mai 
(Chinese steamed pork and shrimp dumplings)

Siu Mai 
(Chinese steamed pork and shrimp dumplings)

Muhammara 
(Middle Eastern spicy roasted pepper dip)

Muhammara 
(Middle Eastern spicy roasted pepper dip)

Cancha 
(Ecuadorian, Peruvian toasted corn snack)

Cancha 
(Ecuadorian, Peruvian toasted corn snack)

Oysters Rockefeller 
(American oysters with green sauce appetizer)

Oysters Rockefeller 
(American oysters with green sauce appetizer)

Souskaï de Mangues Vertes 
(French Caribbean mango appetizer)

Souskaï de Mangues Vertes 
(French Caribbean mango appetizer)

Muchines de Yuca 
(Ecuadorian stuffed and fried cassava balls)

Muchines de Yuca 
(Ecuadorian stuffed and fried cassava balls)

Okonomiyaki 
(Japanese savory “as-you-like-it” pancakes)

Okonomiyaki 
(Japanese savory “as-you-like-it” pancakes)

Baleadas 
(Honduran flour tortillas with beans and cheese)

Baleadas 
(Honduran flour tortillas with beans and cheese)

Pakora 
(Indian, Pakistani vegetable fritters)

Pakora 
(Indian, Pakistani vegetable fritters)

Lumpia Shanghai 
(Filipino meat-filled eggrolls)

Lumpia Shanghai 
(Filipino meat-filled eggrolls)

Empanadas 
(Latin savory stuffed pastries)

Empanadas 
(Latin savory stuffed pastries)

Lo Mai Gai 
(Chinese rice steamed in lotus leaves)

Lo Mai Gai 
(Chinese rice steamed in lotus leaves)

Khinkali 
(Georgian meat-filled dumplings)

Khinkali 
(Georgian meat-filled dumplings)

Acharuli Khachapuri 
(Georgian boat-shaped cheesebread with egg and butter)

Acharuli Khachapuri 
(Georgian boat-shaped cheesebread with egg and butter)

Bao 
(Chinese steamed, filled buns)

Bao 
(Chinese steamed, filled buns)

Akkra 
(Senegalese black-eyed pea fritters)

Akkra 
(Senegalese black-eyed pea fritters)

Pão de Queijo 
(Brazilian cheese buns)

Pão de Queijo 
(Brazilian cheese buns)

Pâtés Haïtiens 
(Haitian puff pastry beef patties)

Pâtés Haïtiens 
(Haitian puff pastry beef patties)

Falafel 
(Middle Eastern fried chickpea patties)

Falafel 
(Middle Eastern fried chickpea patties)

Angels on Horseback 
(English bacon-wrapped oysters appetizer)

Angels on Horseback 
(English bacon-wrapped oysters appetizer)

Hummus bi Tahina 
(Middle Eastern chickpea and sesame dip)

Hummus bi Tahina 
(Middle Eastern chickpea and sesame dip)

Tortilla Española de Patata 
(Spanish open-faced potato omelet)

Tortilla Española de Patata 
(Spanish open-faced potato omelet)

Sausage Rolls 
(Australian, New Zealand sausage-stuffed puff pastry)

Sausage Rolls 
(Australian, New Zealand sausage-stuffed puff pastry)

Coxinhas 
(Brazilian deep-fried chicken croquettes)

Coxinhas 
(Brazilian deep-fried chicken croquettes)

Mücver 
(Turkish zucchini fritters)

Mücver 
(Turkish zucchini fritters)

Pimento Cheese 
(American Southern cheese spread and sandwich filling)

Pimento Cheese 
(American Southern cheese spread and sandwich filling)

Plantain Fritters 
(Jamaican fried plantains)

Plantain Fritters 
(Jamaican fried plantains)

Tlacoyos 
(Mexican bean-stuffed masa patties)

Tlacoyos 
(Mexican bean-stuffed masa patties)

Guacamole 
(Mexican avocado sauce and condiment)

Guacamole 
(Mexican avocado sauce and condiment)

Ukoy 
(Filipino shrimp and sweet potato fritters)

Ukoy 
(Filipino shrimp and sweet potato fritters)

Satay Ayam 
(Indonesian chicken skewers with peanut sauce)

Satay Ayam 
(Indonesian chicken skewers with peanut sauce)

Cachapas 
(Venezuelan fresh corn pancakes)

Cachapas 
(Venezuelan fresh corn pancakes)

1 2 Next »

Whats4eats is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.