Appetizer, Hors D’Oeuvre and Snack Recipes

Cutting board with tapas
Image by Terence Lim

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

Satay Ayam 
(Indonesian chicken skewers with peanut sauce)
Indonesian chicken skewers with peanut sauce

Satay Ayam 
(Indonesian chicken skewers with peanut sauce)

Pilus 
(Indonesian sweet potato puffs)
Sweet potatoes

Pilus 
(Indonesian sweet potato puffs)

Pâté de Campagne 
(French country-style pork terrine)
Slices of pâté de campagne

Pâté de Campagne 
(French country-style pork terrine)

Angels on Horseback 
(English bacon-wrapped oysters appetizer)
Angels on horseback appetizer skewers on the grill.

Angels on Horseback 
(English bacon-wrapped oysters appetizer)

Alcapurrias 
(Puerto Rican stuffed fritters)
A tray full of alcapurrias

Alcapurrias 
(Puerto Rican stuffed fritters)

Pajeon 
(Korean scallion pancake)
Seafood pajeon pancake

Pajeon 
(Korean scallion pancake)

Akkra 
(Senegalese black-eyed pea fritters)
Akkra with a filling

Akkra 
(Senegalese black-eyed pea fritters)

Yakitori 
(Japanese grilled chicken skewers)
Yakitori (Japanese grilled chicken skewers)

Yakitori 
(Japanese grilled chicken skewers)

Empanadas 
(Latin savory stuffed pastries)
Tray of empanadas

Empanadas 
(Latin savory stuffed pastries)

Olive Marinate 
(Italian marinated olive appetizer)
A bowl of marinated olives

Olive Marinate 
(Italian marinated olive appetizer)

Elotes Asados 
(Mexican roast corn on the cob)
Elotes Asados (Mexican roast corn on the cob)

Elotes Asados 
(Mexican roast corn on the cob)

Muhammara 
(Middle Eastern spicy roasted pepper dip)
Middle Eastern spicy red pepper and walnut dip

Muhammara 
(Middle Eastern spicy roasted pepper dip)

Zuiji 
(Chinese drunken chicken)
Zuiji (Chinese drunken chicken)

Zuiji 
(Chinese drunken chicken)

Mejillones Fritos 
(Spanish batter-fried mussels)
Spanish batter-fried mussels with aioli dipping sauce

Mejillones Fritos 
(Spanish batter-fried mussels)

Cancha 
(Ecuadorian, Peruvian toasted corn snack)
Small bowl of toasted cancha

Cancha 
(Ecuadorian, Peruvian toasted corn snack)

Bruschetta alla Romana 
(Italian grilled bread with tomatoes)
Tray of bruschetta alla romana

Bruschetta alla Romana 
(Italian grilled bread with tomatoes)

Pão de Queijo 
(Brazilian cheese buns)
Pão de Queijo (Brazilian cheese buns)

Pão de Queijo 
(Brazilian cheese buns)

Lo Mai Gai 
(Chinese rice steamed in lotus leaves)
Two lo mai gai on a plate

Lo Mai Gai 
(Chinese rice steamed in lotus leaves)

Falafel 
(Middle Eastern fried chickpea patties)
Falafel (Middle Eastern fried chickpea patties)

Falafel 
(Middle Eastern fried chickpea patties)

Pakora 
(Indian, Pakistani vegetable fritters)
Pakora (Indian, Pakistani vegetable fritters)

Pakora 
(Indian, Pakistani vegetable fritters)

Pimento Cheese 
(American Southern cheese spread and sandwich filling)
Pimento cheese sandwich

Pimento Cheese 
(American Southern cheese spread and sandwich filling)

Pâtés Haïtiens 
(Haitian puff pastry beef patties)
Pâtés Haïtiens (Haitian puff pastry beef patties)

Pâtés Haïtiens 
(Haitian puff pastry beef patties)

Torshi 
(Iranian, Afghan pickled vegetables)
Jars of vegetable torshi

Torshi 
(Iranian, Afghan pickled vegetables)

Tlacoyos 
(Mexican bean-stuffed masa patties)
Woman making blue corn tlacoyos

Tlacoyos 
(Mexican bean-stuffed masa patties)

Hummus bi Tahina 
(Middle Eastern chickpea and sesame dip)
Bowl of hummus topped with parprika with a drizzle of olive oil

Hummus bi Tahina 
(Middle Eastern chickpea and sesame dip)

Scotch Eggs 
(Scottish hard-boiled eggs wrapped in sausage)
Scotch egg cut into quarters

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

Bichak 
(Afghan stuffed savory and sweet pastries)
Plate of bichak pastries

Bichak 
(Afghan stuffed savory and sweet pastries)

Okonomiyaki 
(Japanese savory “as-you-like-it” pancakes)
Osaka-style okonomiyaki on the griddle

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

Plantain Fritters 
(Jamaican fried plantains)
Crate of plantains

Plantain Fritters 
(Jamaican fried plantains)

Baleadas 
(Honduran flour tortillas with beans and cheese)
Baleada on a plate

Baleadas 
(Honduran flour tortillas with beans and cheese)

Baba Ghanoush 
(Middle Eastern roasted eggplant dip)
Bowl of baba ghanoush

Baba Ghanoush 
(Middle Eastern roasted eggplant dip)

Cachapas 
(Venezuelan fresh corn pancakes)
A large cachapa on a plate.

Cachapas 
(Venezuelan fresh corn pancakes)

Bao 
(Chinese steamed, filled buns)
Steamer basket with bao buns

Bao 
(Chinese steamed, filled buns)

Gravlax 
(Swedish cured salmon)
Crackers topped with creme fraiche and gravlax

Gravlax 
(Swedish cured salmon)

Tortilla Española de Patata 
(Spanish open-faced potato omelet)
Large tortilla espanola on a platter

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

Queso Fundido 
(Mexican melted cheese appetizer)
Bowl of queso fundido

Queso Fundido 
(Mexican melted cheese appetizer)

Chun Yao Bang 
(Chinese fried scallion pancake)
Sliced scallion pancake on a plate

Chun Yao Bang 
(Chinese fried scallion pancake)

Obatzter 
(German beer cheese spread)
Obatzter (German beer cheese spread)

Obatzter 
(German beer cheese spread)

Köttbullar med Gräddsås 
(Swedish meatballs with cream sauce)
Plate of Swedish meatballs

Köttbullar med Gräddsås 
(Swedish meatballs with cream sauce)

Mücver 
(Turkish zucchini fritters)
Zucchini mucver fritters

Mücver 
(Turkish zucchini fritters)

Souskaï de Mangues Vertes 
(French Caribbean mango appetizer)
Green mangoes on the tree

Souskaï de Mangues Vertes 
(French Caribbean mango appetizer)

Chopped Chicken Livers 
(Jewish liver paté spread)
Chopped chicken livers spread on a crostino

Chopped Chicken Livers 
(Jewish liver paté spread)

Tod Mun 
(Thai spicy fish cakes)
Tod mun on a plate

Tod Mun 
(Thai spicy fish cakes)

Lumpia Shanghai 
(Filipino meat-filled eggrolls)
Small bowl of lumpia Shanhai with dipping sauce

Lumpia Shanghai 
(Filipino meat-filled eggrolls)

Buffalo Wings 
(American chicken wings in spicy sauce)
Bowl of Buffalo wings

Buffalo Wings 
(American chicken wings in spicy sauce)

Oysters Rockefeller 
(American oysters with green sauce appetizer)
Plate of oysters Rockefeller

Oysters Rockefeller 
(American oysters with green sauce appetizer)

Banh Xeo 
(Vietnamese filled crepe)
Stuffed banh xeo on a plate with a side of herbs

Banh Xeo 
(Vietnamese filled crepe)

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

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

Tostones 
(Caribbean fried plantains)
Twice-fried plantain slices

Tostones 
(Caribbean fried plantains)

Law Bok Gow 
(Chinese steamed radish cake)
Plate of Chinese steamed radish cake

Law Bok Gow 
(Chinese steamed radish cake)

Dolmathes 
(Greek grape leaves stuffed with rice and meat)
Dolmas steaming in a pot

Dolmathes 
(Greek grape leaves stuffed with rice and meat)

Ukoy 
(Filipino shrimp and sweet potato fritters)
Ukoy (Filipino shrimp and sweet potato fritters)

Ukoy 
(Filipino shrimp and sweet potato fritters)

Jamaican Beef Patties 
(Jamaican spicy curried meat pies)
Two Jamaican beef patties on a plate with some hot sauce

Jamaican Beef Patties 
(Jamaican spicy curried meat pies)

Acharuli Khachapuri 
(Georgian boat-shaped cheesebread with egg and butter)
A loaf of Acharuli khachapuri, Georgian cheese bread

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

Buñuelos de Queso 
(Puerto Rican cheese fritters)
Plate of bunuelos de queso

Buñuelos de Queso 
(Puerto Rican cheese fritters)

Gefüllte Eier 
(German deviled, stuffed eggs appetizer)
Small plate of deviled eggs

Gefüllte Eier 
(German deviled, stuffed eggs appetizer)

Coxinhas 
(Brazilian deep-fried chicken croquettes)
Two coxinhas

Coxinhas 
(Brazilian deep-fried chicken croquettes)

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

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

Muchines de Yuca 
(Ecuadorian stuffed and fried cassava balls)
Bowl of muchines de yuca

Muchines de Yuca 
(Ecuadorian stuffed and fried cassava balls)

Siu Mai 
(Chinese steamed pork and shrimp dumplings)
Siu main in a steaming basket

Siu Mai 
(Chinese steamed pork and shrimp dumplings)

Khinkali 
(Georgian meat-filled dumplings)
Hand making homemade khinkali dumplings

Khinkali 
(Georgian meat-filled dumplings)

Conch Fritters 
(Caribbean deep-fried conch snacks)
Plate of conch fritters with dipping sauce

Conch Fritters 
(Caribbean deep-fried conch snacks)

Kadinbudu Köfte 
(Turkish “lady thigh” meatballs)
Saute pan on stove with kadinbudu kofte

Kadinbudu Köfte 
(Turkish “lady thigh” meatballs)

Yangnyeom Dak 
(Korean sweet and spicy fried chicken)
Yangnyeom Dak (Korean sweet and spicy fried chicken)

Yangnyeom Dak 
(Korean sweet and spicy fried chicken)

Gamberetti all’Agro 
(Italian lemon-marinated shrimp)
Shrimp on a cutting board with a whole lemon

Gamberetti all’Agro 
(Italian lemon-marinated shrimp)

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

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

Domatokeftedes 
(Greek tomato fritters)
Small mezze plate with tomato fritters

Domatokeftedes 
(Greek tomato fritters)

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds 
(American Halloween snack)
Roasted pumpkin seeds

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds 
(American Halloween snack)

Guacamole 
(Mexican avocado sauce and condiment)
Small dish a guacamole with avocados and a tomato

Guacamole 
(Mexican avocado sauce and condiment)

Sigara Boregi 
(Turkish cheese-filled filo appetizers)
A plate of sigara boregi, Turkish cheesy roll ups

Sigara Boregi 
(Turkish cheese-filled filo appetizers)

Medu Vada 
(South Indian deep-fried lentil fritters)
Medu vadas on a thali platter

Medu Vada 
(South Indian deep-fried lentil fritters)

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