No festive table is complete without appetizers. There are countless recipes for these dishes, but we've gathered 20 of the most interesting, original, yet quick and inexpensive options for you!
1. "Colorful Balls" Appetizer
A plate of colorful appetizer balls will definitely be a worthy addition to any festive table, and it also strongly resembles Christmas tree decorations!
You will need: 250 g mild cheese, 2 carrots, 2 beets, 5 hard-boiled chicken eggs, 1 skinless and boneless herring, a handful of walnuts, 1 can mayonnaise, 2 large garlic cloves.
Preparation: Grate the cheese finely, divide the mass in half and put it into two different bowls. To the first, add grated carrots, garlic, and chopped egg yolks, and to the second, add beets and grated egg whites. Mix both mixtures thoroughly with mayonnaise and start creating the appetizer. Inside the beet balls, place a piece of peeled herring. Inside the carrot balls, place a quarter of a walnut kernel.
2. "Macrame" Pancake Appetizer
A bright and delicate appetizer made from pancake batter with a lettuce leaf and a piece of lightly salted red fish inside.
You will need: 2 cups kefir or buttermilk, 2 eggs, 300 g flour, 0.5 tsp baking soda and the same amount of vinegar, 1.5 tbsp sugar, 1.25 tsp sea salt, 5 tbsp refined vegetable oil, 2 bunches lettuce leaves, lightly salted red fish for filling, 1 lemon.
Preparation: First, you need to bake pancakes, but they should not be round, as usual, but net-like. It's very simple. Using a mixer, whisk kefir, eggs, salt, and sugar, add soda slaked with vinegar, flour, and vegetable oil. Pour the resulting batter into a plastic bottle, make a round hole 4 mm in diameter in the lid. Now you have a "pencil" with which you can easily draw a net on the bottom of a hot pan.
When all the net-pancakes are ready, you can start forming the appetizers. Cut the fish into pieces, sprinkle with lemon juice. Then spread a pancake on the table, cover it with a lettuce leaf, place the fish in the center, and fold it into an envelope. Place on a plate seam-side down.
3. "Nostalgia" Appetizer
This appetizer is just one variation of the "Herring Under a Fur Coat" salad, but in a very unusual and delicious shell.
You will need: 1 fresh baguette, 1 lightly salted herring, 2 processed cheeses, 2 hard-boiled eggs, 55 g softened butter, 1 pickled cucumber, 1 boiled beet, 0.5 cup chopped herbs.
Preparation: Add grated eggs and processed cheese to the butter and mix thoroughly with a fork. Mix one-third of the resulting mass with chopped herbs, and add finely grated beets to the remaining portion.
Cut the baguette lengthwise with a special bread knife, leaving about 1 cm uncut from the edge. Remove the soft inner part. Spread the beet mixture on the inside of the baguette. Evenly spread a layer with chopped herbs over it. Then sprinkle with grated pickled cucumber and arrange the herring fillet. Join both halves of the baguette and wrap tightly with cling film. Refrigerate for several hours, remove the wrapping before serving, and slice thinly.
4. "Grandma's Joy" Appetizer
Any grandmother (and not just her) will be very happy if edible balls of yarn appear on the festive table!
You will need: 350 g any minced meat, 1 onion, 1 raw egg yolk, 2 sheets of yeast-free puff pastry, spices to taste.
Preparation: Prepare the filling for the future appetizer from minced meat, ground onion, and spices. Don't forget to beat it thoroughly for at least 15 minutes to make the "balls" as tasty and juicy as possible. Form balls the size of a horse chestnut. Thaw the puff pastry, lightly roll it out in one direction, and cut into thin long strips. These will act as "yarn." Wrap the meat balls with the strips, then arrange them on a baking sheet, brush with a lightly beaten egg yolk. Bake in the oven.
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5. "Forest" Appetizer
This appetizer is suitable for any festive table. Tasty and hearty, but very easy to prepare!
You will need: 350 g pork, 2 fresh champignons, 3 raw eggs, 1 small onion, 1 tbsp wheat flour, breadcrumbs for breading.
Preparation: First, finely chop the onion and mushrooms. Fry them until cooked and pour an omelet made from two beaten eggs, salt, and flour over them. If desired, you can add a handful of chopped fresh herbs. Fry the pancake on both sides until golden brown. Thoroughly pound the pork fillet to form a large meat patty, season with salt and pepper. Place the egg and mushroom omelet on the patty and roll it up. Secure the edges with toothpicks to prevent unrolling.
Roll the meat roll in flour, then dip it in beaten egg and bread it on all sides with breadcrumbs. Fry the roll in a large amount of vegetable oil until a bright orange crust forms, then finish cooking in the oven. Before serving, cut the roll into pieces 2 cm thick. Arrange on a plate, garnish with small pickled mushrooms and herbs to create stumps that resemble forest ones.
6. Eggplant Appetizer
This appetizer is perfect if shashlik is present on your festive table!
You will need:
Dough: 300 ml water, 400 g sifted flour, 100 ml odorless sunflower oil, 1 tsp sea salt.
Filling: 2 large tomatoes, 2 medium eggplants, 2 chicken eggs, 2 garlic cloves, salt, pepper, and fresh herbs.
Preparation: Pile the flour into a deep bowl, carefully pour in boiling water mixed with salt and oil. Quickly knead the dough with a spoon, then finish kneading by hand. Peel the eggplants, cut them into long slices, salt them, and leave for ten minutes. Lightly squeeze, dip each vegetable slice into beaten eggs, and fry on both sides in vegetable oil until golden brown.
Cut the tomatoes into sticks, separately mix chopped herbs with garlic, salt, and seasonings. Place a tomato stick on the edge of an eggplant slice, a spoon of herbs with garlic, and roll it up. Divide the dough into as many pieces as you have vegetable rolls. Roll out each dough ball into a thin flatbread, brush it with oil, and wrap an eggplant roll in it. Brush with egg, sprinkle with crushed nuts, sesame seeds, or dried garlic. Bake in the oven until cooked.
7. "Scrolls of Wishes" Appetizer
Appetizing rolls of ham with a delicious filling wrapped inside. Not only tasty, but also quite impressive!
You will need: 400 g ham, sliced very thinly, 4 processed cheeses, 4 hard-boiled eggs, 1 large garlic clove, a handful of olives, "pigtail" cheese for decoration, 1 can mayonnaise, pomegranate seeds.
Preparation: Freeze the processed cheese slightly, then grate it finely. Mix with finely chopped eggs, garlic, and mayonnaise. Mash the mixture thoroughly with a fork to make it smoother and more uniform. Lay out the ham slices on the table, place a heaping tablespoon of filling on top. Roll it up into a tube and tie with a thin string of "pigtail" cheese. Decorate the edges of the delicious scrolls with pomegranate seeds.
8. Vegetable Appetizer
The ingredients for this appetizer are always available in stores or at the market, so you can prepare it all year round, not just for big holidays!
You will need: 2 kg eggplants, 2 small onions, 1 large bell pepper, 1 large carrot, 4 garlic cloves, 0.25 cup vinegar, 0.25 cup sugar, 2 tbsp sea salt (level), 0.25 cup cold boiled water.
Preparation: First, prepare the eggplants. Wash each vegetable, cut into thick circles. Lightly sprinkle with salt and leave for an hour to remove excessive bitterness. Fry each circle in heated vegetable oil until lightly golden brown. No need to cook through.
Cut the onion and bell pepper into half-rings, grate the carrot on a coarse grater. Place them in a saucepan, add a little vegetable oil and fry. Add garlic at the end. In a deep enameled pot (without scratches or chips!), layer the eggplants and vegetable filling. Then pour in the marinade made from water, vinegar, and sugar. Store the pot with the appetizer salad in the refrigerator, serve with meat dishes, fish, vegetables, or porridges.
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9. Festive "Exotic" Appetizer
A juicy appetizer of canned pineapple with garlic and cheese – every gourmet's dream!
You will need: 1 can canned pineapple rings, 300 g hard cheese, 3 hard-boiled eggs, 2 garlic cloves, 200 g peeled shrimp, 1 can olives, a handful of cashew nuts, mayonnaise, 1 bunch lettuce leaves.
Preparation: Place eggs, cheese, mayonnaise, and garlic in a food processor. Blend until almost smooth. Line a serving dish with lettuce leaves, arrange the pineapple rings spread with the cheese and egg filling (it's best to pile it up). Decorate with shrimp, crushed nuts, and olive rings.
10. "Greek" Appetizer Salad
An excellent appetizer recipe for the festive table during Lent. Tasty, hearty, and inexpensive!
You will need: 1 kg cooked beans, 2.2 kg tomatoes, 600 g each of onions, carrots, and sweet bell peppers, half a cup of sugar, 2 tbsp table sea salt, 270 ml olive oil, 1 chili pepper, 4 heads of garlic, 1 tsp vinegar essence.
Preparation: Prepare a sauté from onions and carrots, place it in a large pot along with the beans, tomatoes cut into thin half-rings, and chopped bell pepper. Add salt and sugar, pour in vegetable oil. Place on medium heat, cook for half an hour after the mixture boils. Add finely chopped hot pepper, garlic, and pour in vinegar essence. Cook for another five minutes and remove from heat. Distribute the salad into jars and seal. Serve as an appetizer with meat dishes.
11. "Bright Orange" Appetizer
There will never be an allergy to these "oranges." On the contrary, guests will ask for this appetizer again and again!
You will need: 1 cup cooked rice, 1 can trout in oil, 1 garlic clove, 1 sour green apple, 60 g cheese, a handful of roasted peanuts, 3 boiled carrots, 2 tbsp mayonnaise, clove buds (spice) for decoration.
Preparation: Mix the rice with the mashed canned trout pulp, grated apple and cheese, crushed nuts, and pressed garlic. Dress the appetizer filling with mayonnaise. Form balls about 4 cm in diameter. Grate the carrots on the finest grater, roll the balls in it so that there are no gaps, lightly press the topping with your hands. Make the stem from a clove bud.
12. Spicy Apple Appetizer
Crispy apple with pickled cucumber and onion – a magnificent appetizer for alcoholic beverages.
You will need:
Main dish: 2 sour green apples, 2 pickled cucumbers, 1 large white onion.
For dressing: 3 tbsp corn oil, 1.5 tsp sugar, 2 tsp sea salt, 0.25 tsp ground mixed peppers.
Preparation: Core the apples and cut them into thin sticks. You don't need to peel the cucumber; also cut it into thin strips. Cut the onion in half and slice into thin half-rings, place in a bowl, cover with water, and set aside for about 15 minutes, then squeeze dry. Combine the sliced ingredients, pour in the dressing, and mix.
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13. "Roosters" Appetizer
The convenience and versatility of this appetizer for the festive table lie in the fact that the preparations can be made in advance, and then quickly cooked before serving.
You will need: 2 boneless chicken breasts, 2 bell peppers (different colors), 2 tbsp homemade mayonnaise, 1 bunch fresh dill and green onions, 1 garlic clove, 50 g Dutch cheese.
Preparation: For the filling, grate the garlic and cheese as finely as possible, add chopped dill and mayonnaise. Mix thoroughly. If you can't grate finely, then bring the mixture to the desired consistency using a blender. Cut the chicken fillet into small bars, make an incision in the center of each, through which thread a green onion feather and a few strips of bell pepper.
Fill the remaining space in the incision with cheese and garlic paste. Fry the resulting preparations in vegetable oil, then place them in a deep pan, pour in a little water, and cook until done under a lid.
14. Beetroot Pancake Appetizer
A very original and delicious appetizer made from beetroot pancakes with fish and horseradish.
You will need:
For pancakes: 100 ml freshly squeezed beetroot juice, 1 egg, 4 – 5 tbsp sifted flour, 3 tbsp odorless vegetable oil, 0.5 tsp sea salt.
Filling: 120 g cream cheese, 3 tbsp homemade sour cream, 1 tbsp prepared horseradish, 200 g lightly salted red fish, a handful of crushed walnuts, lemon pepper, and lettuce leaves.
Preparation: Using a mixer or blender, prepare a smooth batter for thin pancakes and immediately start frying. Prepare a paste for the appetizer from cream cheese, horseradish, spices, and nuts. Spread it on each pancake, place a lettuce leaf on top, spread a little more cheese and nut mixture, then place a piece of fish and roll it up. Wrap each roll in cling film and refrigerate. When serving, cut the preparations into small diagonal pieces.
15. Appetizer for Olive Lovers
The main thing is to buy large black and green pitted olives!
You will need: 1 can each of green and black olives, 250 g yeast-free puff pastry, 1 garlic clove, 60 g cured ham, a couple of tablespoons olive oil, 0.5 tsp each of dried rosemary, basil, and paprika, soy sauce.
Preparation: Drizzle the olives with soy sauce, vegetable oil, you can also sprinkle with lemon juice, sprinkle with spices and pressed garlic. Leave to marinate for several hours, so the olives will acquire an amazingly piquant taste. Roll out the puff pastry, cut into small squares, place a cube of ham and an olive in the center of each, join opposite corners and pinch the edges. Bake in the oven, serve chilled.
16. "Hot-Cold" Appetizer
The name of this unusual appetizer comes from the fact that it's delicious hot, but even tastier when cold!
You will need: 1 package quail eggs, 300 g chicken fillet mince, 5-6 tbsp soy sauce, 1.5 tbsp each of honey and pomegranate sauce, toasted sesame seeds (mix of white and black).
Preparation: Place a saucepan with salted water on the stove. When the liquid starts to boil, carefully lower the quail eggs into it, wait for it to boil again, and cook for exactly three minutes over medium heat. Immediately drain the boiling water, pour ice-cold water over the eggs and leave for half an hour, then peel them.
Season the minced meat to taste, divide into ten portions, form each into a patty and wrap a whole egg inside. Fry in a pan until golden brown. Skewer each ball, dip in the dressing made from liquid honey, pomegranate, and soy sauce. Roll in sesame seeds.
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17. "Raffaello" Appetizer Cakes
An ideal appetizer for a festive table or buffet. Delicate balls of crab salad and coconut flakes are very similar to the famous candies.
You will need: 4 crab sticks, 70 g hard cheese, 3 hard-boiled eggs, 1 garlic clove, a handful of whole cashews or almonds, 2-3 tbsp mayonnaise and the same amount of soy sauce, 1 packet white coconut flakes.
Preparation: Remove crab sticks from their plastic wrapping and cut into small cubes. Mix with soy sauce and leave to marinate for about thirty minutes. Meanwhile, finely grate garlic, cheese, and eggs, add mayonnaise to them. Mix thoroughly. Form patties from the resulting mixture, place a nut and a teaspoon of marinated crab sticks in the center. Join the edges and roll into smooth balls. Roll the preparations in coconut flakes.
18. "Cipollino" Appetizer
This appetizer needs to be prepared in advance so that the onions have enough time to marinate thoroughly.
You will need: 750 g onions, 160 ml olive oil, 5 tbsp soy sauce, 0.5 tsp ground black pepper, 2 tsp each of sugar and ground paprika.
Preparation: Peel the onions, slice them into thin rings or half-rings, place in a bowl, and cover with boiling water. After about 30 minutes, drain the liquid – this will remove the bitterness from the onions, and they will become much tastier. However, if you have sweet white onions, you can safely skip this step.
Pour vegetable oil into a saucepan, heat it strongly, add paprika and black pepper. Mix and immediately pour this mixture over the squeezed onions. Pour in the soy sauce. Leave to marinate overnight in the refrigerator.
19. Sprat Appetizer
Sprats will be an excellent addition to the festive table if you prepare this wonderful appetizer from them!
You will need: 1 can sprats, 1 hard-boiled egg, 70 g hard cheese, 1 small boiled potato in its skin, 2 fresh cucumbers, a couple of tablespoons mayonnaise, 1 garlic clove, add herbs and spices to your taste.
Preparation: Grate the cheese, cooled and peeled potato, and boiled egg (without the shell, of course) on a fine grater. Bring the filling to an ideal taste by adding crushed garlic, salt, and seasonings. Slice the cucumbers into thin strips with a vegetable peeler. Place a little filling and half a fish on the edge of a strip, roll it up, secure with a toothpick or skewer.
20. "Mediterranean" Appetizer
Not only very tasty, but also extremely healthy appetizer made from canned cod liver in oil.
You will need: 1 can cod liver, 1 small bunch green onions, 4 hard-boiled eggs.
Preparation: Open the can of cod liver, transfer the contents to a plate, add two arbitrarily chopped yolks and two whole eggs, sprinkle with a little ground black pepper and chopped green onions. Mash everything thoroughly with a fork. From the resulting mixture, make many small balls, roll them in a mixture of grated egg whites and green onions.