Impress your guests this summer with our collection of mouthwatering appetizers (from grilled shrimp skewers and veggie crostinis to fresh summer rolls and delectable dips). After all, a barbecue, picnic or backyard bash just wouldn’t be complete without fabulous finger foods to graze on throughout the afternoon, and well into the evening. Bon appetit!
Rustic Italian Caponata
Whip out some gluten-free crackers to complete this elegant eggplant appetizer that’s full of classic Italian flavours.
Vegetarian Spinach-Walnut Pate
Put a vegetarian spin on traditional pâté and get the evening started with this creamy spread made from walnuts and cilantro, topped off with juicy pomegranate seeds.
Shrimp and Avocado Salad With Frico Chips
A mouth-watering combo of juicy jumbo shrimp and crispy frico chips, this show-stopping appetizer features a fantastic range of textures guaranteed to wow guests.
Bruschetta Bar to Go
Allow your guests to make their own custom creations by setting up a bruschetta bar. Get your dinner party started by offering an assortment of tomatoes, marinated mushrooms, roasted asparagus, and bocconcini along with bread and good olive oil.
Charred Sweetcorn Salsa
Fresh summer corn is combined with diced tomatoes, jalapeno, lime and cilantro for a savoury salsa. Serve with tortilla chips, tacos, or even on top of grilled meats.
Vegan Queso
You won’t believe this queso is vegan and dairy-free because it is so smooth and creamy. The secret to getting the right texture is raw cashews, with nutritional yeast giving it that cheesy flavour.
Brioche Tea Sandwiches
These simple tea sandwiches can be made in four flavours: smoked salmon and cucumber, shrimp and egg with dill, chocolate almond raspberry, and cream cheese and cherry.
Steak Summer Rolls
Thin rice wrappers are filled with grilled steak, an assortment of vegetables and vermicelli noodles to create these simply delicious summer rolls. Serve with a homemade Greek yogurt dip for a summer party appetizer.
Grilled Herb Shrimp
Grilled shrimp appetizers are a summer entertaining staple. Ina marinates large shrimp in lemon and herbs before grilling. If you’re expecting a large crowd, you can marinate the shrimp up to two days in advance.
Mini Italian Frittatas
Ina’s make-ahead Italian frittatas are filled with chopped leeks, Italian prosciutto, spinach and grated Fontina. The egg mixture is divided into the cups of a mini muffin tin, and topped with fresh Parmesan before baking to a light golden-brown finish.
Turkey Waldorf Bites
These tasty little bites start out as an easy turkey meatloaf, which is then chilled, cut up into cubes and skewered with grape, celery and apple.
Eight-Layer Dip
While you’re grilling a feast for your guests, serve this crowd-pleasing dip along with tortilla chips and veggie sticks. What really sets this apart from your typical seven-layer dips is the addition of thick-cut bacon, adding smoky flavour.
Steak and Brie Bites
Ree Drummond takes crostini and tops them with thin slices of seared New York strip steak and wedges of Brie for a party-perfect appetizer to serve at your backyard bash.
Vegan Chickpea Crab Cakes
Old Bay seasoning and chickpea liquid, also known as aquafaba, help make these crabless vegan crabcakes a hit with vegans and non-vegans alike. Serve the golden cakes with a vegan mayonnaise-based tartar sauce.
Greek Mezze Platter
Ina combines the quintessential Greek appetizers in this mezze platter, including herbed feta, stuffed grape leaves, hummus, roasted red peppers and toasted pita chips. Serve with your favourite wine while you grill the main course.