|  Vegetarian Appetizers, Snacks, and Side Dishes
This page includes recipes for vegetarian side dishes, snacks, and appetizers
except for those which fit better on my pages for dips, salads, or soups.
Antipasto
Antipasto, which means "before food" in Italian, is a salad-like
appetizer consisting of various fresh and pickled vegetables, cheeses, and
rolled or sliced meats. For vegetarian antipasto, you can either subsitute mock
meat products or leave them out altogether.
Applesauce
Sure you could just buy it at the store, but homemade applesauce is one of the
all-time great treats.
Arugula Toasts
These elegant little appetizers are quick and easy to prepare and
absolutely delicious.
Baked Ricotta Cheese
Baked ricotta cheese with herbs makes
a savory, slightly spongy cake - a very simple yet delicious appetizer.
Breaded Tofu
This crunchy tofu is very bland by itself, but great for dipping
into peanut sauce or barbecue sauce.
Broiled Asparagus
Broiled asparagus topped with cheesy bread crumbs is the perfect
dish for spring.
Broiled Ricotta Gnocchi
Gnocchi are usually treated like a variety of pasta and served with sauce. But these
broiled ricotta gnocchi are great served plain or as dumplings.
Cajun French Fries
If you like spicy, try these baked, cajun-style French "fries."
Caponata - Sweet and Sour Eggplant
This eggplant appetizer from southern Italy can be eaten as a side dish
or on top of bread.
Caprese
This tomato-mozzarella-basil dish is my favorite starter; even though I make it myself
regularly, I always order it when I eat out.
Carmelized Onions
To carmelize
onions, you need to cook them for a long time in a bit of oil or butter.
The hardest part of this recipe is waiting for them to finish!
Cheese Fritters
Eat these wonderful crunchy cheese fritters as soon as possible after they are cooked.
Cheese Plate
Cheese plates can be simple or elaborate, with dozens of different
cheeses or just a few. There's no one right way to make a cheese
plate, but these guidelines can help you put together a cheese plate
you and your friends will never forget.
Cheesy Grits
Whether you serve them straight up or fried, cheesy grits make a great addition to breakfast
or brunch.
Cottage Cheese, Vegan
A combination of tofu, herbs, and barley turns into a vegan version of herbed cottage cheese.
Cream Cheese, Vegan
This tofu cream cheese recipe is perfect on bagels, sandwiches, or anything else that needs a creamy, mildly sweet spread.
Crudités
A platter of crudités typically consists of one or more types of raw vegetables served with one or more dips. These can be served as an appetizer, at a buffet, in place of a salad - the sky is the limit. Here
are some ideas for interesting crudité platters.
Deviled Eggs
Aside from being a nice way to use up leftover hard-boiled eggs, deviled eggs are easy to make, convenient to eat, and tasty to boot.
Eggplant Rollatini
These elegant
little eggplant slices rolled around cheese and herbs will impress everyone. French "Fries"
Although I call these French fries, it's a bit of a misnomer, as they are
roasted rather than fried. They're very similar to the fried ones and every bit
as good! Fried Green Tomatoes
If you have unripe tomatoes available, make good use of them with this easy recipe for fried green tomatoes. Fried Rice
Fried rice is an easy, versatile, and quick vegetarian recipe. In fact, the hardest part is remembering to make the rice at least several hours beforehand, so that it has time to chill.
Fried Tempeh
Tempeh, a cake of fermented soybeans, is much tastier than it sounds. Fried
tempeh is golden brown and goes well with peanut and barbecue sauce.
Fried Tofu
Fried tofu is easy to make and has a nice chewy/crunchy texture.
Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Parsnips
These aren't much more work than regular mashed potatoes, but they have a
lot more flavor.
Granola
Crunchy granola with enough protein and fiber to get you through the
whole day!
Home Fries
Home fries take a bit of time, but they make a great addition to breakfast or
brunch.
Italian-Style Baked Onions
This is a very simple alternative to carmelized onions - it takes longer
than carmelizing onions on the stovetop, but requires almost no work at
all.
Maki Rolls
Maki rolls are a vegetarian relative of sushi. This recipe calls for cucumber
and avocado, but you can experiment with other ingredients as well.
Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are the ultimate comfort food. They're quick and easy and the
soft texture makes me feel like a kid. They're also a great base for all kinds
of variations like vegan mashed potatoes and garlic mashed potatoes.
Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Looking for a tasty alternative to regular mashed potatoes? Try mashed sweet
potatoes (aka yams).
Matzo Balls
Matzo balls (also spelled matzoh) are a traditional Jewish dumpling, usually made with chicken fat
and served in chicken soup. This vegetarian version tastes great in vegetable
soup.
Mock Crab Cakes
Delectable
"crab" cakes made with tempeh and served with sherry sauce.
Mock Feta Cheese
Here is a delicious vegan substitute for feta cheese.
Noodle Kugel
Kugel is a traditional Jewish side dish that is usually slightly sweet but is
served as a side dish, rather than a dessert.
Pesto Tofu
A simple, quick, and colorful dish made with tofu, pesto, and
tomatoes.
Polenta
Polenta is a thick
cornmeal mush served as a side dish to stew, or topped with
vegetables, sauce, and/or cheese.
Provençal Tomatoes
These stuffed tomatoes from southern France are delicious served with soup,
pasta, or rice dishes.
Quesadillas
Quesadillas - toasted tortillas filled with melted cheese - are quick, easy,
and a favorite of kids.
Quinoa
Quinoa, a seed that is used like a grain, is a complete protein, has more
calcium than milk, and is both delicious and easy to prepare.
Red Cabbage with Cranberries
A sweet-and-sour side dish that will brighten your table at Thanksgiving or any time of
the year.
Red Onion Confit
A simple recipe that yields a delicious appetizer.
Refried Beans
This vegetarian version of refried pinto beans is tastier and healthier than
traditional ones, which are cooked in lard. Refried black beans are yummy too!
Roasted Chestnuts
Roasted chestnuts are such a traditional winter treat that there's a song about them -
sing along as you roast your own chestnuts.
Roasted Peppers
These peppers are tasty plain or with rice, bread, or pasta.
Roasted Vegetables
Roasting vegetables brings out all kinds of flavor and depth. This
recipe is just a guide - feel free to add/subtract/subsitute any of the
vegetables.
Roasted Winter Squash
An easy-to-prepare, delicate sweet-and-sour squash dish.
Spanish Potatoes
If you like potato dishes, you'll love this Spanish potato recipe with saffron,
almonds, and bread crumbs.
Spanish Rice
A traditional, somewhat spicy Spanish side dish.
Spanish-Style Green Beans
A very
quick and simple way to enjoy fresh green beans.
Spanish Tortilla
This potato omelette is a traditional Spanish tapa, or appetizer, but
it's equally good for breakfast or brunch.
Stuffed Mushrooms
Stuffed mushrooms glazed with a balsamic vinegar reduction add an elegant touch
to any dish.
Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Make the most of the sweet potatoes available in winter - these stuffed sweet
potatoes are sweet and buttery.
Stuffing
Stuffing doesn't have to be cooked inside a turkey - this vegetarian
bread stuffing with apples and walnuts is delicious baked as a
casserole.
Sweet Potato Pie
This lovely pie is sweet but not too sweet, so you can eat it as a side dish with or dessert after Thanksgiving dinner.
Tomato Cheese Tart
An extremely simple dish that is always a hit. Everyone who eats it raves
about the crust.
Tuscan Bean Dip
This elegant bean dip is known as fagioli in fiasco, or beans in a bottle. Traditionally made in Tuscany in a Chianti bottle cooked in embers in a brick oven, this modern version is creamy and delicious.
Vegan Spanakopita
Vegan variation on a classic recipe from Greece: rich and delicious spinach-"cheese"
pie.
Wild Mushroom Risotto
Wild mushroom risotto is earthy and unbelievably rich. It takes
some time at the stove, but is well worth it for a special dinner.
Winter Squash Risotto
Risotto isn't difficult to make, but it does require a lot of
standing at the stove, stirring away. The end result, however, is
delicious and a wonderful comfort food.
Zucchini Fritters
These breaded and pan-fried fritters are delicious hot or cold. Try them with
a bit of your favorite sauce or dip. If you have a favorite side dish, snack, or appetizer that you would like to share please do so on the forum!
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