Appetizers

Easy as meatloaf (we swear), this melding of some of the richest things we know—pork shoulder, liver, and duck fat—along with spices, a splash of brandy, and some wine makes a simple, rustic country pâté that's perfect for entertaining.

A no-fuss meal, this Portuguese salad--full of meaty chickpeas and flakes of salt cod--is tossed in a cider vinegar dressing and topped with chopped egg.

Choriqueso = chorizo (spicy Mexican sausage) + queso (Spanish for cheese) melted into a puddle in a skillet. Perfect for dipping.

Elegant. Easy. Inexpensive. Just three of the many reasons you're going to want to make this little keeper of a recipe over and over and over again.

Not the classic. Even better. What it lacks in tradition it more than makes up for with sass and class.

A classic middle Eastern mezze that's crisp phyllo on the outside, blissfully melty halloumi and feta on the inside with parsley for some semblance of healthiness. Easy to juggle with a glass of wine in hand.

Call them fried pork dumplings, Chinese dumplings, or even potstickers. Whatever you do, don't call them difficult to make. So much easier to make than you'd ever imagine.

Because who doesn't want pie for dinner?! And this vegetable galette gets it exactly right with a buttery crust, a creamy cheese sauce, and oh-so-sweet roasted veggies.

Satiny smooth and ridiculously rich, this elegant spread is begging to be schmeared on rustic white bread and accompanied by a glass of riesling, whether as an impressive hors d’oeuvres or a simple winter supper.

Boletus edulis—that's the fancy-pants name for porcini—is hardly a come-hither sort of name, but with such a rich, earthy, unmistakable taste, who cares?

Super-size-me shrimp stud this creamylicious risotto which takes its astoundingly complex taste from simple shrimp shells.

Got a ton of cherry tomatoes and a craving for a creamy, cheesy, gorgeous summer tart? Lucky for you, we have the perfect solution.

Dramatically amplify the flavor (and the reactions at the table) when you leave the shells on while cooking these shrimp. And then just surrender to the mess while devouring them.

"Comes together in no time." "Immensely delicious." "A keeper." That's what folks are saying about this ridiculously easy yet elegant appetizer (or, who are we kidding, simple summer supper).

These gooey, slurpy, peanut butter-y wonders are the true test of a Chinese restaurant's worthiness. Although now you don't have to leave it to chance. You can simply make them at home.

These elegant Parmesan soufflés are really easy to make. Honest. Seventeen minutes of effort until you have a towering creation.

Lidia—yes, THAT Lidia—shares her classic risotto as it's made back in Italy. Gather your saffron, shallots, white wine, and Parmesan.

The number one complaint of folks who don't like turkey burgers is dryness. Number two is blandness. This recipe is neither.

Paella arancini. It's a savvy and sassy little appetizer that's based on an Italian classic but tastes contemporary as heck.

This luxe little number with a pan sauce reduction of late-harvest Chardonnay is best reserved for when you truly, madly, deeply love your guests.