As friends and family gather for the big event, offer these tasty nibbles that just so happen to be excellent make-ahead recipes.
Angela Brassinga, Frederick Tippett
We’ve all been there, standing around at a Thanksgiving gathering, making small talk, and wondering in the back of our minds how much longer until everyone is allowed to eat. But that doesn’t have to be the case with these incredible appetizers.
Or maybe take the seafood route. Stay in the realm of finger food with hazelnut herb butter mussels, or, for oyster fans, try them with an intriguing ginger-shallot mignonette.
And of course, what can go wrong with a good dip? Whether it’s a classic creamy spinach parmesan dip or a bright, fresh cashew-lime cilantro hummus, they’re perfect for people to gather around and share memories while they snack.
With these recipes at your disposal, you can keep hunger at bay and put everyone’s mind off the arrival time of the main meal by wowing them with oysters, nuts, and dips galore!
Applause-Worthy Apps
1 /16Iain Bagwell
Cashew-Lime Cilantro Hummus
This bright, fresh version of hummus is great with any combination of raw vegetables.
Why make everyone wait until dessert for pumpkin? Give your meal a Mexican Thanksgiving twist! Set out all the components for these seasonal tacos and let guests build their own pre-dinner treat.
We love this low-fat version of everyone’s favorite dip. Serve it with sliced baguette or crisp, raw vegetables. As a bonus for the hostess this dip can be made up to two days ahead of time.
As part of their catering business, Jaret Foster and Mona Johnson run a mobile oyster bar called Oyster Social. Their gingery twist on classic mignonette “adds a touch of intrigue,” says Johnson.
For this soup—adapted from her 2013 book Vegetable Literacy—author Deborah Madison makes a quick stock from the trimmings of the main ingredients: She sets a pot with 5 cups of water on the stove, and as she chops, she tosses in the squash peels, pulp, and seeds; the ends of the onion; some basil and mint sprigs; and 1 tsp. each of coriander seeds and peppercorns. She lets it simmer, partly covered, and it’s ready by the time she needs to strain it for the soup.
Baked in the half-shell and bubbling with butter and aromatic herbs, these mussels are irresistible. Get the biggest, fattest ones you can find, because they’ll shrink as they cook.
Melted brie, crushed pistachios, and savory diced pancetta top off these gluten-free “toasts” that are bound to disappear from a fall party platter in moments.
This stunning fuchsia hummus is a bright addition to your holiday spread. Serve it with a platter of colorful Thanksgiving vegetables and a bowl of extra-virgin olive oil for dunking.
Pumpkin seeds make this spicy mix perfect for Thanksgiving or any fall gathering. Spiced nuts are also a great hostess gift or potluck dinner contribution. They’re easy to make ahead and travel well.