Mediterranean Appetizers are by far one of our favorite ways to kick off a special meal. Maybe it’s just because we’re two dumb landlocked Americans, but the Mediterranean has always seemed like an enchanting place where time moves more slowly and everybody is beautiful and always slightly buzzed with the backdrop of that inimitable sea. While that vision might just be goofy romanticism, the food from that region is certainly just as lovely as the landscape. That’s why we’ve decided to put together a list of our favorite Mediterranean Appetizers, so no matter where you are in the world, you can pretend you’re on vacation and, in between sips of wine, picking at this lighter fare throughout the day.
Mediterranean Appetizers with Crostini
This Tomato Garlic Confit might have a French word in it, but it’s all about Italian flavors. Grape tomatoes, LOTS of garlic, fresh herbs, and of course olive oil—it’s like a 101 of ingredients for Mediterannean Appetizers. We finish it off with a healthy dose of burrata cheese that makes this crostini topper even more irresistible. The serrano peppers are optional (and not necessarily Italian lol), but the little heat they provide is a nice balance.
Fried But Healthyish Mediterranean Appetizers
You can’t have a Mediterranean Appetizers list without some goat cheese, right? Well, this Fried Goat Cheese salad also brings in a mix of North African and Persian flavors with harissa oil and pomegranate seeds. This is the perfect appetizer or warm weather lunch to keep things light but super flavorful.
Classic Mediterranean Appetizers
While this species of clam might come from the Pacific, our Steamed Little Neck Clams recipe is done very much in the Mediterranean style. Garlic, shallots, wine, and fresh herbs carry this dish so beautifully you’ll want to drink the broth straight from the pot.
Mediterranean Appetizers You Can Dip
When you think about Mediterranean Appetizers, hummus is likely one of the first things to come to mind. Our Rosemary Garlic White Bean Hummus steers things in an Italian direction with cannellini beans and rosemary, but we stay true to the traditional component of tahini while adding a little razzle-dazzle with some harissa oil.
Fusion Mediterranean Appetizers
Pomegranates make another appearance on our list with our Pomegranate Persimmon Crostini. While the crostini vehicle here is very Mediterranean, the flavors are a fusion of Mediterranean and East and South Asian with a combo of whipped feta, cardamom, thyme, persimmon, and ginger. This appetizer will light up any winter holiday spread.
Air-Fried Mediterranean Appetizers
It’s not Mediterranea if it’s not healthy, right? So we air-fried these Zucchini Parmesan Fries to keep them legit. Italian herbs, parmesan cheese, and bread crumbs offer up a lighter alternative to potato fries while never sacrificing any of the flavors. This is a year-round snack indeed.
Traditional Italian Mediterranean Appetizers
This Sicilian appetizer might be a little more healthy-ish than healthy, but we HAD to include it on the list. Traditional risotto is already creamy and bright, but what if you balled it up with a cheesy center, breaded it, then fried it? You would say, “One-way ticket to Italy, please.” And never come back.
Mediterranean Appetizers with Smoked Veggies
While Baba Ganoush may be a cousin of hummus in terms of texture and function, its flavor profile is all its own. Smoky eggplant, paprika, cumin, tahini, and olive oil, all topped with pine nuts and fresh parsley. Much like hummus, not only can you dip it, but you can use it as a condiment!
Mediterranean Appetizers from the Tuscan Coast
This one might be a BIT of a cheat, but Tuscany touches the coast of Italy, so this traditional Panzanella counts! Roasted bell peppers, fresh cherry tomatoes, garlic, rosemary, Kalamata olives, and chunks of Italian bread all dressed in oil and vinegar then topped with Burrata cheese. It makes us tear up just thinking about it.