Healthy Appetizer Recipes

Tangy hummus is perfect for parties or as a quick and healthful snack when served with a colorful array of fresh vegetables. Roasted garlic, fruity olive oil, and sesame tahini enliven the flavor.

Pickled onions add a puckery punch to a staple tomato and cucumber salad.

This Spanish soup is traditionally made by adding olive oil to the vegetable puree; we left out the oil and used only a small amount to cook the shrimp.

Toasted bread spread with feta and topped with sliced cucumber makes a cool and refreshing appetizer.

Mash these peas up for a nice spread to have with pita or crudites.

Cool and refreshing, this dip pairs best with raw vegetables like carrots, cucumbers, and bell peppers.

This traditional Tuscan Panzanella summer salad is a mix of bright flavors and textures—tomatoes, bocconcini, red onion, basil, and crusty bread.

This baked potato cakes are every bit as flavorful as their all-fried counterparts.

These crunchy cucumbers are a welcome addition to any meal.

Sweet and delicious, figs make the perfect pairing for a thin slice of Prosciutto di Parma -- which, by the way, is nitrate-free and low in saturated fat. Get more healthy holiday recipes

Golden croutons made from olive bread boost the presence of the Kalamata olives, both of which are fried in this rendition of the salad. Cucumbers, tomatoes, and red onion—tumbled over slices of feta—are all here. Dill adds a bright spring grassiness to this new rendition of Greek salad.

Using labneh as its base, which is a thick and creamy Middle Eastern yogurt cheese, this dip mixes in deeply caramelized onions and fennel along with thyme and savory Worcestershire sauce. Serve it alongside some crackers and crudité for an easy yet impressive appetizer, or dollop it onto grilled chicken, lamb, or roasted eggplant.

These flavorful vegetarian cakes are easy to prep. Serve with a green salad and chips and salsa for a complete meal.

This pineapple salsa makes a great appetizer at any party that could use a sweet-and-spicy kick.

Get your vegetables even when you don't feel like cooking. Garlic and cayenne give green beans and wax beans a pleasant heat.

A yellow onion is stuffed with mushrooms and potatoes, then baked.

Serve this savory tart as a side dish or cut into little squares as an hors d'oeuvre. A layer of sour cream and mustard topped with sauteed leeks prevents the crust from getting soggy under juicy tomatoes.

In this light, summery twist on classic French onion dip, sweet corn is sautéed until tender and mixed with tangy Greek yogurt, which brings the richness of a creamy dip without all the fat. 

This roasted-eggplant dip, made silky by the addition of yogurt, arrives alongside crisp, Herb-Rubbed Pitas for easy scooping.

James Beard wrote of these beloved bites, "nothing disappears as quickly." Here, mashed yolks are mixed with herbs, grainy mustard, and vinegar, then piped into the whites.

A warm, golden dip always tempts guests to dig in. This one uses Parmesan cheese to season caramelized fennel and garlic.

The secret to the shrimp salad's decadent taste: creamy avocado, which is rich in heart-healthy unsaturated fat. Slivers of scallion and a shot of lime juice brighten the flavor.

Pliable rice-paper wrappers envelope six vegetables (and countless nutrients). The sauce supplies a tingling jolt of ginger and vinegar.

Filled with tangy feta and a handful of sweet tiny tomatoes, red bell peppers take on a Mediterranean twist.