I like a quick and easy vegetarian chili cheese dip just as much as everyone else, but I also love to create dishes that are a work of art in themselves. Here are some of my favorite elegant vegetarian and vegan appetizers and hors d'oeuvres.
1. Gourmet Bruschetta
Texas Sweet Citrus
Kick your basic bruschetta recipe up a notch by using grapefruit, blue cheese and red pepper flakes instead of the usual tomatoes and basil. Filled with unpredictable flavors, this gourmet vegetarian appetizer recipe will surely become a favorite. Or, scroll through this collection of gourmet bruschetta recipes to experiment with different blends of cheeses, toppings, vinaigrettes and mroe.
Pictured: Gourmet grapefruit and blue cheese brushcetta
2. Herbed Vegetarian Mushroom Pate
Nothing says "gourmet food" quite like a pate, so try making a vegetarian version using fresh mushrooms and plenty of fresh herbs for flavor. This is an elegant gourmet vegetarian and vegan appetizer best chilled before serving with sliced French bread or whole grain crackers.
See also: Vegan Walnut and Mushroom Pate
3. Fingerling potatoes
A vegetarian and vegan recipe for fingerling or new potatoes with cashew cream and horseradish mayonnaise, topped with crisped dulse flakes. From The Conscious Cook by Tal Ronnen.
4. Garbanzo Bean and Pesto Dip
Add a bit of gourmet flair to a traditional vegetarian bean dip recipe by using garbanzo beans and adding a prepared pesto sauce. Serve with toasted pita chips or spread on crackers.
See also: Sun-dried Tomato and Goat Cheese Bean Dip
5. Onion and Apple Tarts with Goat Cheese
US Apple Association
For an elegant fall gourmet vegetarian appetizer, try these savory onion and apple tarts, made with either feta or goat cheese. These little onion apple tarts are vegetarian, but for a vegan gourmet appetizer, you could use vegan dough and omit the cheese.
6. Fruit Spring Rolls with Lemon Yogurt Sauce
See also: How to Wrap Spring Rolls (It's easy!)
7. Ginger, Lime and Apple Salsa
See also: Pineapple Jalapeno Gourmet Salsa
8. Fresh Apricots with Cream Cheese and Pistachios
This summery recipe uses fresh apricots for a quick yet tasty appetizer or hors'd oeuvres. You can make this vegetarian recipe vegan by using a vegan cream cheese.
See also: Apricot Salsa Dip
9. Roasted Artichoke with Chipotle Spiced Aoili
For this gourmet appetizer, the sweet tangy richness of the artichoke is complimented by the smoky flavor of the chipotle aioli dip. An easy gourmet recipe to prepare.See also: Hot Artichoke and Parmesan Dip
10. Artichoke Focaccia with Fresh Thyme
Your kitchen will smell like old Italy when you bake up this fresh herbed focaccia bread as a gourmet vegetarian appetizer. A savory and flavorful bread that is excellent on its own or served with an appetizer soup or as the crust for a vegetarian gourmet appetizer pizza.See also: White wine and sage vegan focaccia
