Firsts

I wrote in my first book, From Tapas to Meze: "First courses are meant to stimulate the appetite, not satiate it. The host often prepares them ahead of time to avoid being trapped in the kitchen and missing all the fun." This is so true! I also love to entertain by making an entire meal out of small plates, so my guests get to taste a variety of different flavors, inspired by one country or perhaps the entire Mediterranean! Here is a collection of delicious first courses.

• Albondigas - Tiny Spiced Meatballs with Tomatoes
• Asparagus Cheese Puffs
• Avocado and Roasted Garlic Hummus with Root Vegetable Chips
• Basic Hummus
• Braised Artichokes Stuffed with Sausage and Mushrooms
• Brown Butter, Walnut and Cheddar Wafers
• Cheddar-Crusted Tomato and Corn Tart
• Chicken Lettuce Wraps
• Chorizo and Cheese Puffs
• Chorizo Hand Pies
• Classic Ceviche
• Creamy Parmigiano Reggiano Flans with Tomatoes
• Crostini Rossi
• Crostini with Artichokes and Olives
• Crostini with Dried Fig Paste and Goat Cheese
• Crostini with Fennel Sausage
• Crostini with Herbed Goat Cheese and Wilted Baby Spinach
• Crostini with Sheep's Milk Ricotta, Asparagus and Mint
• Crostini with Smoked Trout and Lemon Zest
• Croutons with Brandade
• Crunchy Cornmeal and Tomato Galette
• Cucumber Feta and Mint Salad
• Deviled Eggs with Caviar
• Dried Fig, Armagnac Jam and Fresh Goat Cheese Toast
• Frico with Bacon and Potatoes
• Fried Green Tomatoes with Red Tomato Mayonnaise
• Fritatta with Potatoes and Spiced Red Peppers
• Fritto Misto (Mixed Shellfish Fritters) with Salsa Verde
• Gnocchi with Roquefort Cream
• Grilled Bread with Fava Beans and Escarole
• Grilled Broccoli Rabe Wrapped in Prociutto
• Grilled Dried Plums, Montasio and Prosciutto
• Hummus Ma'sabanegh-Warm Chickpeas with Spinach
• Mom's Scalloped Oysters
• Moroccan Baked Phyllo Rolls with Shrimp and Scallops (Briouats)
• Moroccan Spiced Walnuts
• Olive and Fig Toast
• Olives with Fennel, Lemon and Rosemary
• Oven Dried Tomatoes with Feta and Olives
• Pimientos de Padrón
• Pita Crisps with Spinach, Walnut and Garlic Puree
• Potato Latkes with Roasted Spiced Applesauce
• Preserved Lemons
• Rice "Olives"
• Roasted Carrot Hummus and Root Vegetable Chips
• Root Vegetable Chips with Carrot Hummus
• Scalloped Oysters
• Sinful Crepes
• Sizzling Garlic Prawns with Hot Pepper and Amontillado Sherry
• Smoked Cheddar Twists
• Smoked Duck, Roasted Apricot and Honey Croutons
• Spiced Hummus with Preserved Lemons
• Spicy Eggplant Jam with Grilled Bread
• Spicy Feta Dip
• Spicy Fried Chickpeas
• Spicy Sausages with Tomatoes and Olives
• Straw Potato Cakes with Smoked Salmon and Caviar
• Blood Orange, Kumquat and Pomegranate Ceviche
• Sweet Pea Guacamole
• Sweet Vidalia Onion Rings with Chili Catsup
• Tomato Bruschetta
• Walnut Bread Toasts with Blue Cheese and Figs
• Warm Olives with Fennel and Preserved Lemon
• Warm Stilton and Mushroom Galette
• Wild Mushroom and Blue Cheese Crostini
• Za'atar Spice Blend