Italian Appetizer Recipes

This Easy Octopus Carpaccio is thin-sliced octopus with a parsley, garlic and chili dressing, ready in about 6 hours including the chill. It serves 6 as a starter and can be made the day before. Why This Recipe Works Simmer the octopus gently in water with lemon, bay leaves and peppercorns. A hard boil tightens …

Cinnamon and vanilla glazed roasted almonds are raw almonds cooked in a sugar syrup until they wear a shiny caramel coat, ready in about 35 minutes. The recipe makes about 14 ounces of nuts, enough for 8 small snack portions or gift jars. Why This Recipe Works The almonds cook right in the syrup instead …

Pumpkin pizza bites are stuffed pizza dough rolls tied with twine into mini pumpkins, ready in about 1 hour 25 minutes. They make 6 rolls with a vegan cream cheese, sun-dried tomato and basil filling. Why This Recipe Works Tying twine around each dough ball creates the pumpkin ridges. Keep the loops loose, because the …

Italian party platter is a no-cook spread of salami, mortadella, three cheeses, crackers, grapes, nuts and olives, ready in 25 minutes. It feeds 8 as an appetizer, and everything is sliced and set out, so there is no oven and no last-minute work. Why This Recipe Works Give each food its own section and leave …

Pear and gorgonzola bruschetta is crisp baguette toast topped with honey-glazed pears, a warm gorgonzola cream sauce and roasted cashews, ready in about 30 minutes. It makes 8 pieces, enough to feed 4 as a starter, and needs just one oven tray, one skillet and one small saucepan. Why This Recipe Works The bread goes …

Pumpkin ricotta dip is a creamy fall appetizer of ricotta, pumpkin puree and cream cheese, ready in 40 minutes with a 30-minute chill. It makes about 2 cups, enough for 6 people, and you can stir it together a day ahead. Why This Recipe Works Whole-milk ricotta and cream cheese carry the body of this …

This baked ricotta dip is a creamy, cheesy appetizer of ricotta, cream cheese, mozzarella and Parmesan with a golden top, ready in about 35 minutes. It serves 6 as a starter and goes with crusty bread, so it works for game day or a dinner party. Why This Recipe Works Whole-milk ricotta is the base …

Italian cheese ball is a creamy party appetizer of cream cheese, cheddar and Parmesan rolled in walnuts, ready in 2 hours 15 minutes. It makes 1 ball that feeds about 10 as a snack, and you can make it a day ahead. Why This Recipe Works Beat the cream cheese on its own first, until …

This Thanksgiving charcuterie board is an assembled snack platter of Genoa salami, deli turkey, sharp cheddar, grapes and two spreads, ready in 20 minutes. It feeds 8 as a starter, needs no cooking, and you can build it an hour ahead. Why This Recipe Works Salami roses and fanned turkey look like work, but each …

This antipasto board is an Italian platter of prosciutto, mortadella, salami, three cheeses, grapes, walnuts and tomato toasts, ready in about 20 minutes. It feeds 6 to 8 as a starter, and you only slice, toast and arrange, so nothing needs cooking. Why This Recipe Works Give every cured meat its own section and fold …