I just love appetizers! In fact if I had a choice between going out to a fancy dinner or ordering a few small plates or appetizers for dinner, I would choose appetizers all day long!
Why are appetizers more appealing?
Appetizers are often made with the same earnestness and desire to impress than a main meal. This is the small plate food that should be appealing to the eye, tasty and noteworthy. Oh! Who brought the ceviche? I loved it! That sort of thing. Appetizers are also a means and reason for gathering around the table, while one has a cocktail or beverage. They are chatting, laughing, unwinding and having a good time. These are the special moments surrounding appetizers in my life.
While I’m always down for a good cheese plate with chutney, honey and nuts, appetizers of this caliber are limited on a Whole Food Plant-based diet. But that doesn’t mean that appetizers need to be boring.
I’m including a few of my favorite plant based appetizers that will have your guests buzzing about your table.
I. BALSAMIC HONEY BRUSSELS SPROUTS RECIPE
Oh you mischievous little plant-based balls! You nourish the body but wreak havoc on the holiday cheer.
Who will bring the Brussel Sprouts to the holiday dinner?
This dish has a splash of elegance, a dash of gourmet and a sprinkle of exotic only because we don’t see Brussel Sprouts in a delicious context often.
Brussel Sprouts, a natural plant based food is dressed up to be savory and delicious in its fancy balsamic honey dressing.
And its sooo easy to make!
INGREDIENTS
Brussel Sprouts
2 tbsp of balsamic vinegar
2 tsp honey
olive oil
salt and pepper
This recipe is from Crunchy, creamy sweet @https://www.crunchycreamysweet.com/honey-balsamic-roasted-brussels-sprouts/
II. BEST HUMMUS RECIPE
I always bought my hummus before I found this recipe!!! And the few times I tried to make it at home kept me rushing back to the grocery store to buy hummus made from the experts.
However recently my son was working at a Mideastern restaurant and the hummus there was the best I ever had in my life!!! Eager to reproduce it I sought out recipes online and tried a few more until I found this one. Perfecto! It is so easy to make and so delicious 😋.
I also like the fact that there are absolutely no preservatives in it and if I’m feeling creative I can tweak it here and there to change up the taste. But no need because it’s just perfect the way it is.
This hummus plate, served with fresh vegetables and spicy tortilla triangles, fits the Whole Food plant-based recommendations for a colorful pallet.
Recipe found at Gimme Some Oven
The BEST Hummus Recipe! | Gimme Some Oven
https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/classic-hummus/#tasty-recipes-59873
III. DIJON AND TURMERIC ROASTED CAULIFLOWER
DIJON AND TURMERIC ROASTED CAULIFLOWER is so surprisingly delicious it will shock you. I first had it when I was invited to my brother’s house for dinner. He and his wife are somewhat of food and wine connoisseurs and at any given moment you can walk in and be served a gourmet meal. This particular evening they served turmeric roasted cauliflower as a side dish and  i was so surprised to see that their young children John and Joanie were fighting over having seconds. I mean, who fights over cauliflower? Politely, of course, because they’re lovely children. But it was so delicious I asked for the recipe and made it a dozen times shortly after.
INGREDIENTS
1 head of cauliflower
2 tbs mustard
2 tbs olive oil
1 tbs turmeric
1 tbs garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 tsp pepper
2 large cloves garlic, minced
The recipe is found at nutrition happens: http://www.nutritionhappens.com/2015/01/04/dijion-and-turmeric-roasted-cauliflower-aka-the-best-damn-cauliflower-ever/
Give it a try. You won’t regret it!
