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

Tostones 
(Caribbean fried plantains)

Tostones 
(Caribbean fried plantains)

Souskaï de Mangues Vertes 
(French Caribbean mango appetizer)

Souskaï de Mangues Vertes 
(French Caribbean mango appetizer)

Siu Mai 
(Chinese steamed pork and shrimp dumplings)

Siu Mai 
(Chinese steamed pork and shrimp dumplings)

Guacamole 
(Mexican avocado sauce and condiment)

Guacamole 
(Mexican avocado sauce and condiment)

Chun Yao Bang 
(Chinese fried scallion pancake)

Chun Yao Bang 
(Chinese fried scallion pancake)

Sigara Boregi 
(Turkish cheese-filled filo appetizers)

Sigara Boregi 
(Turkish cheese-filled filo appetizers)

Pão de Queijo 
(Brazilian cheese buns)

Pão de Queijo 
(Brazilian cheese buns)

Pimento Cheese 
(American Southern cheese spread and sandwich filling)

Pimento Cheese 
(American Southern cheese spread and sandwich filling)

Buñuelos de Queso 
(Puerto Rican cheese fritters)

Buñuelos de Queso 
(Puerto Rican cheese fritters)

Scotch Eggs 
(Scottish hard-boiled eggs wrapped in sausage)

Scotch Eggs 
(Scottish hard-boiled eggs wrapped in sausage)

Baba Ghanoush 
(Middle Eastern roasted eggplant dip)

Baba Ghanoush 
(Middle Eastern roasted eggplant dip)

Muhammara 
(Middle Eastern spicy roasted pepper dip)

Muhammara 
(Middle Eastern spicy roasted pepper dip)

Yakitori 
(Japanese grilled chicken skewers)

Yakitori 
(Japanese grilled chicken skewers)

Obatzter 
(German beer cheese spread)

Obatzter 
(German beer cheese spread)

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

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

Gefüllte Eier 
(German deviled, stuffed eggs appetizer)

Gefüllte Eier 
(German deviled, stuffed eggs appetizer)

Hummus bi Tahina 
(Middle Eastern chickpea and sesame dip)

Hummus bi Tahina 
(Middle Eastern chickpea and sesame dip)

Muchines de Yuca 
(Ecuadorian stuffed and fried cassava balls)

Muchines de Yuca 
(Ecuadorian stuffed and fried cassava balls)

Mejillones Fritos 
(Spanish batter-fried mussels)

Mejillones Fritos 
(Spanish batter-fried mussels)

Pâtés Haïtiens 
(Haitian puff pastry beef patties)

Pâtés Haïtiens 
(Haitian puff pastry beef patties)

Kadinbudu Köfte 
(Turkish “lady thigh” meatballs)

Kadinbudu Köfte 
(Turkish “lady thigh” meatballs)

Cachapas 
(Venezuelan fresh corn pancakes)

Cachapas 
(Venezuelan fresh corn pancakes)

Samosas 
(Indian, Pakistani, African deep-fried potato pastries)

Samosas 
(Indian, Pakistani, African deep-fried potato pastries)

Torshi 
(Iranian, Afghan pickled vegetables)

Torshi 
(Iranian, Afghan pickled vegetables)

Lumpia Shanghai 
(Filipino meat-filled eggrolls)

Lumpia Shanghai 
(Filipino meat-filled eggrolls)

Mücver 
(Turkish zucchini fritters)

Mücver 
(Turkish zucchini fritters)

Satay Ayam 
(Indonesian chicken skewers with peanut sauce)

Satay Ayam 
(Indonesian chicken skewers with peanut sauce)

Pâté de Campagne 
(French country-style pork terrine)

Pâté de Campagne 
(French country-style pork terrine)

Pakora 
(Indian, Pakistani vegetable fritters)

Pakora 
(Indian, Pakistani vegetable fritters)

Coxinhas 
(Brazilian deep-fried chicken croquettes)

Coxinhas 
(Brazilian deep-fried chicken croquettes)

Gamberetti all’Agro 
(Italian lemon-marinated shrimp)

Gamberetti all’Agro 
(Italian lemon-marinated shrimp)

Jamaican Beef Patties 
(Jamaican spicy curried meat pies)

Jamaican Beef Patties 
(Jamaican spicy curried meat pies)

Bao 
(Chinese steamed, filled buns)

Bao 
(Chinese steamed, filled buns)

Lo Mai Gai 
(Chinese rice steamed in lotus leaves)

Lo Mai Gai 
(Chinese rice steamed in lotus leaves)

Baleadas 
(Honduran flour tortillas with beans and cheese)

Baleadas 
(Honduran flour tortillas with beans and cheese)

Cancha 
(Ecuadorian, Peruvian toasted corn snack)

Cancha 
(Ecuadorian, Peruvian toasted corn snack)

Zuiji 
(Chinese drunken chicken)

Zuiji 
(Chinese drunken chicken)

Chopped Chicken Livers 
(Jewish liver paté spread)

Chopped Chicken Livers 
(Jewish liver paté spread)

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds 
(American Halloween snack)

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds 
(American Halloween snack)

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

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

Dolmathes 
(Greek grape leaves stuffed with rice and meat)

Dolmathes 
(Greek grape leaves stuffed with rice and meat)

Empanadas 
(Latin savory stuffed pastries)

Empanadas 
(Latin savory stuffed pastries)

Law Bok Gow 
(Chinese steamed radish cake)

Law Bok Gow 
(Chinese steamed radish cake)

Plantain Fritters 
(Jamaican fried plantains)

Plantain Fritters 
(Jamaican fried plantains)

Domatokeftedes 
(Greek tomato fritters)

Domatokeftedes 
(Greek tomato fritters)

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