Vegetarian Appetizers

Champiñones al Ajillo (Garlic Mushroom Tapas) are a wonderful addition to any appetizer or tapas menu! Since spending time in Spain, we have become quite enamored with tapas. Spanish Tapas are small dishes or little appetizers often served alongside a glass of wine or sangria.  Enjoying tapas with friends is a great way to unwind …

There are many versions of this popular easy Greek Feta Dip, known as Htipiti or Tirokafteri. Some use sweet red bell peppers and cayenne pepper, others use spicy red pepper flakes or fresh spicy red peppers. Different varieties of vinegar (such as red wine vinegar or plain white vinegar) or added oregano or Greek yogurt …

Romanian White bean dip (Fasole Batuta) is a frequent part of a traditional appetizer platter. Romanians love their platters to be piled high with cold cuts, rustic meatballs (chiftele), assorted cheeses and often several kinds of dips or spreads.  White Bean dip, along with a simple spread featuring eggplant (salata de vinete), and a colorful …

Salate de Vinete, a Romanian eggplant dip, is a very simple traditional Romania dish. It is similar to the Middle Eastern dish, Baba Ghanoush, but without tahini (toasted sesame seed paste).  Our version of Romanian Eggplant Dip also includes green onions for a little extra color and flavor.  Salate de Vinete (or Aubergine dip) is …

Zacusca is a slow cooked eggplant and red pepper spread. This traditional Romanian dish is made in Autumn when its main ingredients, eggplants and gogosari peppers are in season. Gogosari peppers very similar to red bell peppers, which is what I use in this recipe. During our time in Romania, we came to enjoy having …

Buffalo Chickpea Dip is an excellent Hummus variation if you love the flavors of Spicy Buffalo Dip.  I’m a bit of a buffalo wing nut — I love wings. But I’m very particular, too. Wings need to be crispy, the hot sauce must be the perfect mix of heat and flavor, and the accompanying sauce …

This Georgian Spinach Salad (Ispanakhis Pkhali) absolutely saved our waistlines during our time in Tbilisi, Georgia. Here there is a bakery and a cheese shop on almost every corner, and when putting them together, some of the best cheese bread (called Khachapuri) that we’ve even eaten. Georgian’s are also very fond of plump pasta dumplings …

I consider these Sulguni Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms as a gateway “drug” to Georgian cuisine. And that’s saying a lot, because Georgian food is some of the most unique and delicious that we have experienced. When I told friends and family that I planned to visit the Former Republic of Georgia, many admitted that they had …

The first time I had guacamole, I really wasn’t a big fan. That is probably because the dip was either store bought or made in a blender so the consistency was runny. Then I had my first guacamole made table side at a restaurant and the whole flavor was completely different. The dip was thick …

Cheesy Black Bean Dip is one of those appetizers that always gets rave reviews whenever we serve it. Warm bean dip mixed with pico de gallo and spices, laced with cheese. The dish is finished with more cheese and pico de gallo and, optionally but highly recommended, a good dose sour cream.  The dip also …