An Appetizer-Only Event Guide
My ten essential party dishes on repeat
My ten essential party dishes on repeat
When it comes to an appetizer-only event, say, Memorial Day or the like, I’m looking for new takes on feel-good classics, and I’m looking for things that are going to be fully eaten and enjoyed by all. This is why I mainly look to dips. There are a million different directions to go with dips (smoked salmon, labneh, feta, sour cream and onion, green goddess, olive tapenade, anything citrusy and zesty). An excellent thing about dips is that even your friends who don’t like to cook can contribute something: you’re simply mixing together several components and it’s near impossible to mess up. My typical formula for an appetizer-focused event: something fresh or green, (several of) something crunchy, something smoked, something citrusy, something creamy. Here are ten of the appetizers I find myself returning to time and time again:
Real Sour Cream & Onion Dip
This recipe from NYT does not take long to throw together and is about 1000x better than anything you’ll find pre-packaged. Whenever I have this out, people are always shocked at how exciting a simple onion-based dip can be.
Brown Butter Potato Salad by Alison Roman
I made this genuinely brilliant potato salad for a party last Memorial Day, and nearly everyone came up to me saying, “…I heard you made the potato salad. Why was it the best potato salad I’ve ever had?” I think the stick of melted butter vs. mayo is a perfect idea for an outdoor gathering— is anyone really going to be reaching for a mayo-based dish that’s been sitting out under the sun? It’s so vibrant and I’d bet it would go very nicely with anything else you choose to serve.
Aperitivo Board
If traditional charcuterie boards are feeling a little tired to you, might I suggest a more pared-down, casual version? I like to pair salty kettle chips with some form of aged ham, some good cheese, mustard, and olives, plus amaro sodas, which is my personal drink of the summer.
To view the rest of the list, head over to...
