Appetizers are a great way impress guests at your next gathering. Scroll through my recipes to find the perfect one for your occasion!
Fried Brie with Sundried Tomato Pesto
This Fried Brie with Sundried Tomato Pesto is a fun and festive treat to make for special occasions. Creamy brie cheese is coated in a crispy and crunchy breading and topped with a sweet and tangy sundried tomato pesto. Enjoy this recipe in moderation or for special celebrations!
Mini Salmon Sliders with Garlic Aioli
Fresh, light and full of flavour, these Mini Salmon Sliders are a great appetizer to serve at any party or as a light lunch. Garlic aioli and fried capers add a touch of acidity that compliments the fresh sockeye salmon so well!
Crispy Baked Shrimp Balls
These Crispy Baked Shrimp Balls are a unique appetizer to serve this holiday season. Even though they look a bit complex, I can assure you they are really simple to make from scratch and are sure to impress!
Turkey-Cranberry Holiday Strudel
Whether you’re looking for a holiday brunch recipe, or an elevated holiday party appetizer, this Turkey-Cranberry Holiday Strudel is it! Made with local Turkey-Cranberry Sausage from Red Barn Markets, this appetizer is perfect for the holiday season!
Spinach & Red Pepper Puffs
Puff pastry appetizers are a staple during the holidays! This vegetarian appetizer is full of delicious veggies and cheese that will be enjoyed by all!
Spot Prawn Dumplings
Spot Prawns are back in season so why not treat yourself to some Spot Prawn Dumplings?! These succulent dumplings are sweet and a bit spicy with the addition of chili oil. If you do not have access to spot prawns, you can also substitute them with tiger shrimp as well!
Asian Pear & Radicchio Crostini
This crostini recipe is quick and easy and is perfect for when unexpected guests drop by! I use locally made French Baguette from Portofino Bakery is this recipe to host all of my other ingredients!
Jalapeño Canoes
Jalapeño Canoes are the perfect spicy appetizer for the big game. You can prepare these peppers a day in advance and bake them off at halftime so you won’t miss any of the action. These Jalapeño Canoes will definitely score big points!
Cranberry Glazed Meatballs
Move over Meatballs with Grape Jelly, and make way for my modern Cranberry Glazed Meatballs! This is a perfect one-bite appetizer for the holiday season! Not only are they delicious and festive, but they can be made in advance and frozen then reheated in a crockpot or over the stove on the day of your party!
Artichoke and Asiago Turnovers
I’m putting a fun (and delicious) spin on Artichoke and Asiago Dip with my recipe for Artichoke and Asiago Turnovers. My delicious, fresh filling is stuffed inside of flaky and buttery puff pastry and is perfect for any party!
Cream Cheese & Bacon Stuffed Mushrooms
These Cream Cheese & Bacon Stuffed Mushrooms are the perfect little appetizer that your guests can pop right into their mouths and savour during a cocktail party or right before dinner. They are also very easy to make and can be served straight out of the oven or at room temperature- these stuffed mushrooms are fabulous either way!
Roasted Shrimp Cocktail
Roasting (rather than boiling) the shrimp adds tons of flavour to this classic shrimp cocktail recipe. Serve this at your next fancy get together and I guarantee this will be first thing to disappear from your table!
Herb & Hazelnut Cheese Log
The holidays can be a busy time so it is nice to have some quick and easy recipes under your belt. This Herb & Hazelnut Cheese Log is a take on the classic Cheese Ball. This log is much easier to slice and holds more delicious hazelnuts and herbs on the outside!
Citrus Marinated Olives
This recipe for Citrus Marinated Olives is the solution if you are looking for a quick and easy holiday appetizer for your celebrations. Simply combine all the ingredients and let the flavours marinade for as long as you like!
Pear & Goat Cheese Tartlets
Holiday appetizers are best when they are made with seasonal ingredients! These Pear & Goat Cheese Tartlets are made with fresh bosc and anjou pears and get a nice sweet and salty kick from local honey and goat cheese!
Cheese & Thyme Gougères
Ring in any festive occasion with my homemade Cheese & Thyme Gougères. These delicious cheesy puffs are light and airy, and go great with a glass of bubbly!
Parsnip Blinis
Parsip Blinis are the perfect festive appetizer to serve during the holiday season! Topped with crème fraiche and fresh pomegranate arils, these blinis are sweet and savoury!
Fried Goat Cheese and Honey
These little goat cheese balls get their beautiful golden colour from homemade breadcrumbs. I used a locally made gluten-free white bread from Portofino Bakery to made these amazing breadcrumbs so that everyone can enjoy this gluten-free appetizer!
Toum (Creamy Garlic Sauce)
Even though you may have never heard of Toum, I am certain that you have had it if you have eaten shawarma or falafel. This creamy garlic sauce is perfect for adding to grilled meats, veggies or just as a dipping sauce with pita or naan bread.
Mint Fava Bean Dip
Move over Avocado Toast, there’s a new (even better) green toast in town! Fava beans are in season in during the summer and they taste so much better fresh than they do dried. Whenever I can get my hands on them, I made this refreshing green dip that people just go crazy for. Serve this dip with fresh bread or with crudités for a light summer party appetizer!
Pork and Chive Potstickers
These Pork and Chive Potstickers are the perfect appetizer. These delicious little bundles are stuffed with pork, chive, and cabbage and are fried and steamed to create crisp yet juicy bites.
Stuffed Mushrooms
Whenever I think of winter appetizers, mushrooms always come to mind. My mom has been making this stuffed mushroom recipe for as long as I can remember, and every body loves them. Serve these at your next holiday party and everyone will be raving!
Homemade Sausage Rolls
To make meaty (and not oily) sausage rolls, I combine sausage meat with ground chicken to help absorb the excess oil. You can use whatever sausage you like in this recipe, but I like Italian sausage since it has lots of flavour. If you are making this recipe around the holiday season, try to find a nice ground turkey sausage and serve the Sausage Rolls with cranberry sauce!
Holiday Cheese Ball
The holidays can be a busy time so it is nice to have some quick and easy recipes under your belt. This classic Holiday Cheese Ball is great appetizer recipe that can be made in advance or just a few minutes before any holiday party.
Mushroom Turnovers
This is a savoury take on classic sweet turnovers that everyone loves. Cremini mushrooms are mixed with onions, thyme, and cream cheese and are stuffed in a soft homemade pastry. There are great to make ahead and freeze so that you have them ready to go whenever you are!
Fried Cauliflower with Coconut Curry Sauce
Originally inspired by the fried cauliflower dish at Datsun restaurant in Ottawa, I bring this restaurant favourite into your home with the simple and easy to follow recipe that is sure to impress all of your friends and family!
French Onion Dip
This recipe for French Onion Dip tastes as good as the soup packet- but is much better for you. I use a mixture of red and yellow onions for my recipe; red onions provide lots of sweetness and the yellow onions provide a solid onion flavour.
Cucumber-Dill Tea Sandwiches
These elegant tea sandwiches are the perfect appetizer for when you want to keep things light. I lay long, thin slices of cool cucumbers over a delicious cream cheese mixture and top it with sprigs of dill. Every bite is refreshing, yet filling from the hearty bread. Make these at your next tea party and watch them fly off the tray!
Grilled Lemongrass Spot Prawns
BC Spot Prawns are a seasonal favourite on the west coast. This recipe combines these tasty prawns with southeast Asian flavours including lemongrass, lime and chilis.
Endive Spears with Black Olive Tapenade
My black olive tapenade gets elevated when served in crisp, refreshing endive spears. This elegant, vegetarian appetizer can be served at any holiday or New Years party and will easily please all of your guests!
Baked Spring Rolls with Chili Dipping Sauce
These crispy spring rolls are stuffed full of fresh vegetables and are baked, not fried- so you can feel a bit better about eating them. Paired with homemade Sweet Chili Dipping Sauce and voila– no need to buy pre-made spring rolls ever again!
Stuffed Olives
These olives are stuffed with a simple and straightforward mixture of garlic, parsley, breadcrumbs and olive oil and are served straight out of the fridge or at room temperature. As a bonus, these can be made up to two days in advance so you aren’t scrambling around the day of the party to get these done. Plus, they get better the longer they sit!