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Home›Appetizers & Sides

🥗 Appetizers & Sides

Start your feast with creamy hummus, smoky baba ganoush, Greek saganaki, Indian samosas, and Moroccan zaalouk - small plates with big flavor.

190 recipes

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Chinese · Appetizers
Har Gow Shrimp Dumplings (虾饺) — Translucent Cantonese Dim Sum
Har gow are classic Cantonese dim sum dumplings with a translucent wheat-starch wrapper and a springy shrimp filling. Their delicate pleats, ginger aroma, and glossy steamed skin make them a signature of yum cha service.
68 min 5 245 cal

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Trinidadian · Appetizers

Aloo Pie (Aloo Pie) — Trinidadian Fried Potato-Stuffed Street Snack

Aloo pie is a beloved Indo-Trinidadian street food: soft fried dough filled with seasoned potato, then often split and dressed with curried channa, tamarind sauce, and Scotch bonnet pepper sauce, much like doubles-shop snacks.

80 min 6 470 cal

Estonian Jellied Pork — Clear Pork Aspic with Garlic and Bay - authentic estonian recipe

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Estonian · Appetizers

Estonian Jellied Pork (Sült) — Clear Pork Aspic with Garlic and Bay

Sült is Estonia’s traditional jellied pork, made by slowly simmering collagen-rich pork until the broth sets naturally. Served cold with mustard, horseradish, potatoes, and dark leib, it is especially loved at winter family tables.

245 min 8 300 cal

Latvian Fish Aspic — Clear Dill-Scented Baltic Fish Jelly - authentic latvian recipe

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Latvian · Appetizers

Latvian Fish Aspic (Zivju galerts) — Clear Dill-Scented Baltic Fish Jelly

Latvian fish aspic is a chilled holiday cold-table dish of tender white fish set in clear, seasoned jelly. It is often served with rupjmaize and appears beside pīrāgi and jāņu siers at family celebrations.

90 min 8 152 cal

Mont Lin Ma Yar — Burmese Husband-and-Wife Rice Cakes - authentic burmese recipe

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Burmese · Appetizers

Mont Lin Ma Yar (မုန့်လင်မယား) — Burmese Husband-and-Wife Rice Cakes

Mont lin ma yar is a beloved Burmese mont: tiny paired rice cakes from street griddles, one husband and one wife pressed together while hot. In Yangon tea shops it belongs to the same snack-table world as laphet thoke and balachaung, but it stays soft, savory, and egg-topped.

65 min 4 432 cal

Hákarl — Icelandic Fermented Shark Bites - authentic icelandic recipe

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Icelandic · Appetizers

Hákarl (Hákarl) — Icelandic Fermented Shark Bites

Hákarl is Iceland’s famous fermented Greenland shark, cured and air-dried until firm, pungent, and ammonia-scented. It is traditionally served in small cubes at Þorrablót, often beside rúgbrauð, hardfiskur, and hangikjöt.

15 min 6 170 cal

Sprat Sandwich — Estonian Rye and Baltic Sprat Open-Face - authentic estonian recipe

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Estonian · Appetizers

Sprat Sandwich (Kiluvõileib) — Estonian Rye and Baltic Sprat Open-Face

Kiluvõileib is Estonia’s classic open-faced sprat sandwich: dense dark rye leib spread with butter, topped with vürtsikilu, egg, onion, and dill. It appears at home breakfasts, cafe counters, and holiday cold tables beside dishes such as rosolje.

25 min 4 285 cal

Pkhali — Georgian Spinach-Walnut Appetizer - authentic georgian recipe

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Georgian · Appetizers

Pkhali (ფხალი) — Georgian Spinach-Walnut Appetizer

Pkhali is a classic Georgian appetizer of finely chopped greens bound with seasoned walnut paste. This spinach version uses khmeli suneli, garlic, herbs, vinegar, and adjika for the bright, earthy flavor served at a Georgian supra.

35 min 6 265 cal

Prahok Ktis — Cambodian Coconut Pork Dip - authentic cambodian recipe

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Cambodian · Appetizers

Prahok Ktis (ប្រហុកខ្ទិះ) — Cambodian Coconut Pork Dip

Prahok ktis is a beloved Cambodian dip of fermented prahok, minced pork, coconut milk, and red kroeung aromatics. Rich, salty, and gently sweet, it is served with crisp raw vegetables and rice for a deeply Khmer family meal.

55 min 6 320 cal

Toast Skagen — Swedish Shrimp Toast with Dill and Roe - authentic swedish recipe

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Swedish · Appetizers

Toast Skagen (Toast Skagen) — Swedish Shrimp Toast with Dill and Roe

Toast Skagen is a Swedish seafood classic of butter-fried bread topped with creamy shrimp, dill, lemon and roe. It belongs beside gravlax and sill on a smörgåsbord, yet is simple enough for a festive home lunch.

26 min 4 360 cal

Liptauer Bryndza Cheese Spread — Paprika-spiced Slovak appetizer - authentic slovak recipe

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Slovak · Appetizers

Liptauer Bryndza Cheese Spread (Bryndzová nátierka) — Paprika-spiced Slovak appetizer

Liptauer is a lively Slovak spread from the Liptov region, built around salty sheep’s-milk bryndza, butter, paprika, and caraway. Serve it as a hospitable starter with rye bread, lokša, pickles, or sliced klobása.

20 min 8 205 cal

Serbian Cheese Gibanica — Crumpled Filo Pie with White Cheese - authentic serbian recipe

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Serbian · Appetizers

Serbian Cheese Gibanica (Гибаница) — Crumpled Filo Pie with White Cheese

Gibanica is Serbia's beloved crumpled filo pie, rich with eggs, white brined cheese, yogurt, and often kajmak. It is served warm at family tables, celebrations, and casual breakfasts with ajvar or more yogurt.

65 min 8 540 cal

Kazy — Kazakh Horsemeat Rib Sausage - authentic kazakh recipe

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Kazakh · Appetizers

Kazy (Қазы) — Kazakh Horsemeat Rib Sausage

Kazy is a treasured Kazakh sausage made from fatty horse rib meat stuffed into natural casing, then cured briefly and gently boiled. It is sliced for a dastarkhan, served with beshbarmak, sorpa, and festive breads such as baursak.

240 min 10 465 cal

Bolivian Salteñas — Juicy Baked Meat Empanadas - authentic bolivian recipe

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Bolivian · Appetizers

Bolivian Salteñas (Salteñas) — Juicy Baked Meat Empanadas

Salteñas are Bolivia’s beloved mid-morning baked empanadas, famous for a sweet golden crust and a spoon-worthy, gelatin-set beef filling called jigote. They are eaten carefully, tip-first, so the savory juices do not spill.

120 min 12 415 cal

Lima-Style Causa — Chilled Potato Terrine with Chicken and Avocado - authentic peruvian recipe

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Peruvian · Appetizers

Lima-Style Causa (Causa Limeña) — Chilled Potato Terrine with Chicken and Avocado

Causa Limeña is a beloved Peruvian chilled potato dish from Lima, seasoned with lime and ají amarillo. Layered with chicken, mayonnaise, avocado, egg, and olives, it is served as a festive starter or family-table centerpiece.

70 min 6 535 cal

Agedashi Tofu — Crisp Tofu in Savory Broth - authentic japanese recipe

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Japanese · Appetizers

Agedashi Tofu (揚げ出し豆腐) — Crisp Tofu in Savory Broth

Agedashi tofu is a beloved Japanese appetizer of lightly crisped tofu served in a hot soy-dashi broth. It is common in home cooking, izakaya menus, and casual meals where texture and delicate broth matter.

40 min 4 330 cal

Huancayo-Style Potatoes — Peruvian Potatoes in Ají Amarillo Cheese Sauce - authentic peruvian recipe

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Peruvian · Appetizers

Huancayo-Style Potatoes (Papa a la Huancaína) — Peruvian Potatoes in Ají Amarillo Cheese Sauce

Papa a la Huancaína is a beloved Peruvian starter of boiled potatoes covered with a creamy ají amarillo, fresh cheese, and milk sauce. It is served cold or room temperature with lettuce, egg, and black olives.

45 min 4 570 cal

Lumpia Shanghai — Crispy Filipino Pork Spring Rolls - authentic filipino recipe

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Filipino · Appetizers

Lumpia Shanghai (Lumpiang Shanghai) — Crispy Filipino Pork Spring Rolls

Lumpia Shanghai is the beloved Filipino party spring roll: thin, crisp wrappers filled with seasoned ground pork, shrimp, aromatics, and vegetables. It is a staple at birthdays, fiestas, family gatherings, and merienda tables.

65 min 10 320 cal

Coxinha — Brazilian Chicken Croquettes - authentic brazilian recipe

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Brazilian · Appetizers

Coxinha (Coxinha) — Brazilian Chicken Croquettes

Coxinha is Brazil’s beloved teardrop-shaped chicken croquette, sold in bakeries, lanchonetes, botecos, and party trays across the country. The savory cooked dough wraps shredded chicken, then is crumbed and fried until crisp.

130 min 20 315 cal

Vietnamese Fresh Spring Rolls — Shrimp, Pork, Herbs, and Peanut Sauce - authentic vietnamese recipe

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Vietnamese · Appetizers

Vietnamese Fresh Spring Rolls (Gỏi Cuốn) — Shrimp, Pork, Herbs, and Peanut Sauce

Goi Cuon are southern Vietnamese fresh rice-paper rolls filled with pork, shrimp, rice noodles, lettuce, and fragrant herbs. They are served cool with a savory peanut-hoisin dipping sauce and are prized for balance and freshness.

60 min 4 455 cal

Haemul Pajeon — Korean Seafood Scallion Pancake - authentic korean recipe

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Korean · Appetizers

Haemul Pajeon (해물파전) — Korean Seafood Scallion Pancake

Haemul pajeon is a crisp-edged Korean savory pancake packed with scallions and seafood. It is especially loved with makgeolli on rainy days, when the sizzling sound of batter in oil is said to echo rainfall.

41 min 4 438 cal

Patatas Bravas — Crisp Spanish Tapas Potatoes with Spicy Brava Sauce - authentic spanish recipe

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Spanish · Appetizers

Patatas Bravas (Patatas bravas) — Crisp Spanish Tapas Potatoes with Spicy Brava Sauce

Patatas bravas are one of Spain’s most beloved tapas: crisp fried potatoes served with a paprika-rich, lightly spicy brava sauce. This Madrid-leaning version keeps the sauce savory, smoky, tangy, and spoonable.

55 min 4 455 cal

Spanish Ham Croquettes — Crisp Tapas with Creamy Ham Béchamel - authentic spanish recipe

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Spanish · Appetizers

Spanish Ham Croquettes (Croquetas de Jamón) — Crisp Tapas with Creamy Ham Béchamel

Croquetas de jamón are a beloved Spanish tapas-bar staple, made from thick ham-studded béchamel rather than mashed potato. The best versions are crisp outside, molten inside, and served hot with drinks before a meal.

70 min 6 356 cal

Gyoza — Japanese Pan-Fried Dumplings - authentic japanese recipe

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Japanese · Appetizers

Gyoza (餃子) — Japanese Pan-Fried Dumplings

Gyoza are Japanese-style pan-fried dumplings with juicy pork-vegetable filling, crisp seared bottoms, and tender steamed tops. They are beloved at home, in ramen shops, and as an izakaya snack.

63 min 6 330 cal

🥗 Appetizers & Sides

Har Gow Shrimp Dumplings (虾饺) — Translucent Cantonese Dim Sum

Aloo Pie (Aloo Pie) — Trinidadian Fried Potato-Stuffed Street Snack

Estonian Jellied Pork (Sült) — Clear Pork Aspic with Garlic and Bay

Latvian Fish Aspic (Zivju galerts) — Clear Dill-Scented Baltic Fish Jelly

Mont Lin Ma Yar (မုန့်လင်မယား) — Burmese Husband-and-Wife Rice Cakes

Hákarl (Hákarl) — Icelandic Fermented Shark Bites

Sprat Sandwich (Kiluvõileib) — Estonian Rye and Baltic Sprat Open-Face

Pkhali (ფხალი) — Georgian Spinach-Walnut Appetizer

Prahok Ktis (ប្រហុកខ្ទិះ) — Cambodian Coconut Pork Dip

Toast Skagen (Toast Skagen) — Swedish Shrimp Toast with Dill and Roe

Liptauer Bryndza Cheese Spread (Bryndzová nátierka) — Paprika-spiced Slovak appetizer

Serbian Cheese Gibanica (Гибаница) — Crumpled Filo Pie with White Cheese

Kazy (Қазы) — Kazakh Horsemeat Rib Sausage

Bolivian Salteñas (Salteñas) — Juicy Baked Meat Empanadas

Lima-Style Causa (Causa Limeña) — Chilled Potato Terrine with Chicken and Avocado

Agedashi Tofu (揚げ出し豆腐) — Crisp Tofu in Savory Broth

Huancayo-Style Potatoes (Papa a la Huancaína) — Peruvian Potatoes in Ají Amarillo Cheese Sauce

Lumpia Shanghai (Lumpiang Shanghai) — Crispy Filipino Pork Spring Rolls

Coxinha (Coxinha) — Brazilian Chicken Croquettes

Vietnamese Fresh Spring Rolls (Gỏi Cuốn) — Shrimp, Pork, Herbs, and Peanut Sauce

Haemul Pajeon (해물파전) — Korean Seafood Scallion Pancake

Patatas Bravas (Patatas bravas) — Crisp Spanish Tapas Potatoes with Spicy Brava Sauce

Spanish Ham Croquettes (Croquetas de Jamón) — Crisp Tapas with Creamy Ham Béchamel

Gyoza (餃子) — Japanese Pan-Fried Dumplings