Source: Valeria Zeleneva, AdobeStockA variety of appetizers creates the feeling of that rich table you want to set for a special holiday. We offer a large selection of recipes for New Year 2026! All in the best traditions of the Year of the Fire Horse – no horse meat, smoked foods, or simply heavy dishes!
1. Crab Balls with Processed Cheese
Source: AdobeStockA wonderful and very vibrant appetizer for the New Year's table.
You will need: 250 g crab sticks, 3 eggs, 150 g processed cheese, 80 g mayonnaise, garlic, salt, ground black pepper.
Preparation: Boil the eggs and grate all ingredients. Reserve some grated crab sticks to roll the finished balls in, and mix the rest with mayonnaise, garlic, and spices. Form into balls and roll them in the crab stick crumbs.
2. Stuffed Tomatoes with Cheese
Source: AdobeStockChoose small tomatoes, like cocktail tomatoes.
You will need: 500 g tomatoes, 200 g Adyghe cheese, 1 bunch of herbs, 4 cloves of garlic, salt, spices.
Preparation: Grate or crumble the Adyghe cheese, finely chop the herbs with garlic, mix everything together and season thoroughly. Cut off the tops of the tomatoes, carefully remove the pulp, and fill the tomatoes with the cheese mixture.
3. New Year's "Mandarins" with Chicken and Cheese
Source: AdobeStockOrange is one of the main colors for the festive table in 2026 – the Year of the Fire Horse.
You will need: 300 g chicken fillet, 4 eggs, 200 g hard cheese, 3-4 carrots, 2 cloves of garlic, mayonnaise or yogurt, salt, ground black pepper.
Preparation: Pre-boil chicken fillet, carrots, and eggs. Grate the eggs and cheese, press the garlic, finely chop the chicken, add mayonnaise, season, and mix everything together. Form small balls from this mixture.
Finely grate the cooked carrots separately from the other ingredients. Roll each ball in the carrot shreds so that it is covered in a carrot shell – like an orange mandarin. Garnish the finished appetizer with herb leaves when serving.
4. Aspic Olivier Salad
Source: AdobeStockCut it into portioned pieces before serving.
You will need: 200 g chicken fillet, 1 potato, 1 carrot, 2 eggs, 1 pickled or fresh cucumber, 100 g canned green peas, 250 ml sour cream, 100 ml water, 1 tbsp gelatin, 2 tbsp Dijon mustard, salt, spices.
Preparation: Boil chicken, potatoes, carrots, and eggs, then chop all ingredients for the salad. Dissolve gelatin in water according to package instructions. Thoroughly mix sour cream, Dijon mustard, water with gelatin, and spices to taste, pour this mixture over the chopped ingredients and stir. Refrigerate until set.
New Year's Menu 2026: Best Recipes, What to Cook
5. Cottage Cheese Balls with Herbs and Garlic
Source: AdobeStockIf you prefer spicy appetizers, add a little more chili pepper.
You will need: 350 g cottage cheese, 50 g herbs, 2-3 cloves of garlic, 50 g mayonnaise or thick yogurt, salt, spices.
Preparation: Finely chop the garlic and herbs, and thoroughly mix all ingredients together. Form into balls, then, if desired, roll them in herbs or sesame seeds.
6. Zucchini with Korean Carrots
Source: AdobeStockA vibrant vegetable appetizer – just what you need for the Fire Horse.
You will need: 500 g zucchini, 1-2 carrots, 1 bunch of green onions, 2 cloves of garlic, 1 tsp grated ginger, 1/2 chili pepper, 2 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tsp rice vinegar, 1 tsp sugar, 1 tsp sesame seeds, 0.5 tsp turmeric, spices to taste.
Preparation: Cut zucchini into sticks or rounds, grate carrots on a Korean grater, and finely chop green onions, garlic, and chili. Mix olive oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, sesame seeds, ginger, and garlic. Lightly squeeze excess juice from the zucchini, mix them with carrots and green onions, then pour the dressing over. Refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.
7. Pan-Fried Cheese Balls
Source: AdobeStockServe them on the New Year's table with various sauces of your choice.
You will need: 200 g any hard cheese or a mix of different cheeses, 2 tbsp flour, 2 eggs, vegetable oil, breadcrumbs, salt, spices.
Preparation: Grate the cheese and mix it with eggs, salt, spices, and flour. Form into balls and roll them in breadcrumbs, then fry them in plenty of oil until golden.
8. Herring Under a Fur Coat in Balls for New Year
Source: AdobeStockAn original interpretation of a New Year's classic!
You will need: 150 g potatoes, 200 g carrots, 300 g beets, 150 g lightly salted herring, 3 eggs, 4 tbsp mayonnaise.
Preparation: Boil vegetables and eggs, grate them, and mix with mayonnaise. Form balls from this mixture with a piece of herring inside. Serve with fresh vegetables.
20 Delicious Tartlet Recipes for New Year 2026
9. Zucchini Rolls with Ricotta
Source: AdobeStockAny other cream cheese also works great in this recipe.
You will need: 3 zucchini, 300 g ricotta, 2 sprigs of thyme, 3 sprigs of basil, 2 cloves of garlic, vegetable oil, salt, ground black pepper.
Preparation: Slice zucchini into thin ribbons and lightly fry them in a minimal amount of oil in a pan. Mix ricotta with chopped herbs and garlic, season, and roll the cheese filling into the zucchini slices.
10. Quick Marinated Eggplants
Source: AdobeStockThe advantage of these eggplants is that they don't need a long marinating time.
You will need: 3 eggplants, 1 bunch of herbs, 4-6 cloves of garlic, 3 tbsp olive oil, 3 tbsp vinegar, 2 tbsp sugar, 1 tsp salt.
Preparation: Boil eggplants for 15 minutes after boiling, peel, and cut into medium sticks. Finely chop garlic and herbs, mix olive oil with vinegar, salt, and sugar.
Place half of the eggplants in a plastic container, sprinkle with half of the garlic and herbs, and pour half of the marinade over. Repeat the layers once more, close the container, and refrigerate for several hours.
11. Deviled Eggs with Canned Tuna
Source: AdobeStockThese light and lean appetizers are best served for the beginning of the Year of the Fire Horse!
You will need: 8 eggs, 200 g canned tuna in its own juice, 1 cucumber, 50 g hard cheese, 100 g processed cheese, salt, ground black pepper.
Preparation: Boil, cool, peel, and cut eggs in half. Separate the yolks and mash them with a fork along with the canned tuna. Grate both types of cheese, cut the cucumber into thin strips, and mix all ingredients for the filling together. Season and fill the egg halves with it.
12. Marinated Bell Peppers with Nuts and Herbs
Source: AdobeStockWe recommend using red bell peppers – fitting for the colors of New Year 2026.
You will need: 5-6 bell peppers, 200 g walnuts, 4 cloves of garlic, 1 bunch of parsley, 1 lemon, 6 tbsp olive oil, 3 tbsp white wine vinegar.
Preparation: Roast bell peppers for 35-40 minutes in the oven at 180 degrees, then cut and remove seeds. Mix lemon juice, oil, and wine vinegar, and pour this mixture over the pepper halves for half an hour. After that, press the garlic, finely chop nuts and herbs, and roll the resulting filling into pepper strips. Drizzle the appetizer with the remaining marinade and garnish with herbs and nuts when serving.
20 Original Canapé Recipes for New Year 2026
13. Cucumber Rolls with Crab Sticks for New Year
Source: AdobeStockCrab sticks have always been a versatile base for a variety of New Year's recipes.
You will need: 3 long cucumbers, 150 g crab sticks, 150 g hard cheese, 3 eggs, 2 cloves of garlic, 6 sprigs of dill, mayonnaise or sour cream.
Preparation: Boil and grate eggs, grate cheese and crab sticks, finely chop garlic with dill, and dress everything with mayonnaise. Roll this filling into thin, long cucumber slices. Done!
14. Marinated Calamari
Source: AdobeStockSeafood appetizers are traditionally light and delightful!
You will need: 500 g calamari, 2 cloves of garlic, 1 lemon, 1/2 chili pepper, 30 g parsley, 3 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp sweet chili sauce, salt, ground black pepper.
Preparation: Finely chop garlic, chili pepper, and herbs, zest the lemon and squeeze the juice. Mix all this with sweet chili sauce, olive oil, and spices. Separately slice calamari into rings and fry them for 2-3 minutes over medium heat, stirring. Mix the calamari with the previously prepared marinade and refrigerate for 1 hour or overnight.
15. Eggplant Rolls with Walnuts
Source: AdobeStockThere are more options for vegetable appetizers for the 2026 Year of the Horse than it seems!
You will need: 4 eggplants, 300 g cream cheese, 200 g walnuts, 4 cloves of garlic, 3 sprigs of cilantro, salt, ground black pepper, pomegranate seeds.
Preparation: Slice eggplants into thin strips, salt them, and fry them in a pan with a minimal amount of oil until soft. Separately finely chop walnuts and cilantro, press garlic, mix everything with cream cheese, salt, and pepper. Roll the prepared filling into the eggplant slices and garnish with pomegranate seeds.
16. Spinach Roll with Salmon for New Year
Source: AdobeStockGuests will be lining up for this recipe!
You will need: 200 g lightly salted salmon, 200 g cream cheese, 150 g frozen spinach, 4 eggs, 50 g flour, salt, spices.
Preparation: Separate the whites of 3 eggs and beat them with salt using a mixer until stiff peaks form. Blend spinach with yolks, the last whole egg, and spices. Mix everything with flour and gently fold the egg whites into this mixture with a spatula.
Spread the spinach dough onto parchment paper in a layer about 4-5 mm thick and bake for 7-10 minutes in the oven at 180 degrees. Slightly cool the resulting biscuit and roll it up.
Wait until it has completely cooled, then unroll, spread with cream cheese, arrange pieces of lightly salted salmon, and roll it up again. Tightly wrap everything in cling film, refrigerate for 4 hours, and slice before serving.
20 Amazing Sandwich Recipes for New Year 2026
17. Tartlets with Pollock Roe
Source: AdobeStockYou can use capelin roe or any other roe you like.
You will need: 10-12 tartlets, 200 g pollock roe, 50 g cream cheese, 3-4 eggs, herbs.
Preparation: Boil and grate eggs, finely chop herbs, and mix everything with pollock roe and cream cheese. Fill the tartlets with the resulting mixture, garnish to taste, and serve.
18. Zucchini Rolls with Carrots
Source: AdobeStockThanks to their simple ingredients, these can be made not only for New Year but almost every day.
You will need: 2 zucchini, 3 carrots, 2 onions, vegetable oil, salt, spices.
Preparation: Slice zucchini into thin strips and lightly fry them on both sides in a pan. Finely chop and fry onions with carrots in the remaining oil, season the filling, and roll it into the zucchini slices.
19. Quick Lightly Salted Cucumbers
Source: AdobeStockPerfectly complement any festive table, including the New Year's!
You will need: 500 g cucumbers, 2-3 cloves of garlic, 25 g dill, 0.5 tsp salt.
Preparation: Lightly bruise and cut cucumbers into sticks. Thinly slice garlic, finely chop herbs, mix all ingredients together, and shake well. Let the appetizer sit for a bit before serving.
20. Stuffed Calamari with Crab Sticks
Source: AdobeStockIf you prefer hot appetizers – bake them in the oven for 10-15 minutes.
You will need: 4 calamari, 2 eggs, 100 g crab sticks, 40 g rice, mayonnaise, spices.
Preparation: Boil calamari in boiling water for about 1 minute, clean, rinse, and cool. Boil eggs and rice, grate eggs and crab sticks, mix the filling, and dress it with mayonnaise and spices. Stuff the calamari and refrigerate to set. Slice the appetizer into portioned pieces before serving.