As the holiday season approaches, be sure to impress your guests with these quick and easy vegan appetizers! For those of us hosting family and friends for parties or get-togethers, these recipes are a low-stress solution to cooking for a large group. Each of the following recipes requires only a handful of ingredients and a short amount of preparation, but is packed full of great flavors. As always, feel free to experiment with spices and toppings on each of these recipes!
- Garlic Toast
Ingredients: French-style baguette, olive oil, and garlic.
Preheat oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Start by peeling and mincing the garlic, then cut the baguette into slices and place them on a baking sheet. Spread the minced garlic over the tops of the bread slices. Drizzle a generous amount of olive oil over the garlic and place in the oven. Bake for about 10 minutes, checking frequently, until the bread becomes just toasted and the garlic is browned.
- Stuffed Mushrooms
Ingredients: Cremini mushrooms, vegan cheese, olive oil, and spices.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Wash the mushrooms and carefully remove the stems using a small spoon. Place them on a baking sheet with the underside of the mushrooms facing up. Drizzle olive oil generously over each of the mushroom caps before sprinkling shredded cheese onto them. Top with any spices that you choose (paprika and garlic salt are some of my favorites) and then bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese has fully melted.
- Pita bread with Hummus & Olives
Ingredients: Pita bread, plain hummus, green and black olives.
Preheat oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Cut the pita bread into small triangles and place on a baking sheet. Cook for about 5 minutes or until the pita bread is just toasted. Use a small spoon to place a dollop of plain hummus on the center of each pita bread triangle. Top with a green or black olive.
- Baked Jalapeno Poppers
Ingredients: Jalapenos, vegan cheese, tofu, salt and pepper.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare the jalapenos by cutting off the stems and slicing them open length-wise. Use a small spoon to clean out the seeds and pulp. Crumble the tofu with a fork and mix in the shredded cheese. Add salt & pepper to taste. Use a spoon to fill the jalapenos with the tofu and cheese mixture. Close the jalapenos and top with more cheese before placing in the oven. Bake for about 10 minutes, checking frequently, or until the cheese has fully melted and the jalapenos become slightly brown.
- Teriyaki Tofu Bites
Ingredients: Extra firm tofu, olive oil, soy sauce, water, garlic, and sugar.
Start by mixing ¼ cup of soy sauce, ½ cup of water, and 2-4 tablespoons of sugar to make teriyaki sauce. Peel and mince 1 clove of garlic before adding it to the sauce. Set aside. Take the block of extra firm tofu and carefully press it between two paper towels to remove some of the water. Cut tofu into cubes and sauté over medium heat with about 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Cook for about 5 minutes, or until the tofu becomes firm and brown. Reduce the heat and pour the teriyaki sauce over the tofu cubes. Allow to simmer for about 2 minutes, until the tofu is fully covered in sauce.
Allow to cool and serve with toothpicks!
