Gluten-Free Appetizers and Snacks

November 20, 2007
Photo: Jim Franco; Styling: Leslie Siegel
The party's on with this collection of popular gluten-free appetizers, including some top-rated dips that you can serve with fresh fruits and vegetables instead of bread slices and crackers, tartlets loaded with seasonal vegetables and creamy cheeses, and even a few sweet, nutty options.  Recipes that are tagged as “gluten-free” do not include products that normally contain gluten. However some recipes with the gluten-free tag may call for ingredients such as sauces or mixes that may or may not contain gluten, so be sure to read ingredient labels carefully.
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Happy-Hour Hummus

Oxmoor House
Happy-Hour Hummus Recipe
Make this easy hummus recipe in food processor and serve with gluten-free dippers such as carrots, radishes, and sugar snap peas.
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Deviled Eggs

Photo: Oxmoor House
Deviled Eggs Recipe
To keep these portable, gluten-free snacks from turning on their sides when serving, use a deviled egg tray.

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Smoked Salmon and Fingerling Potatoes

Photo: Howard L. Puckett; Styling: Lindsey Ellis Beatty
Smoked Salmon and Fingerling Potatoes Recipe
Instead of serving smoked salmon on toasted bread slices, serve on slices of potato and top with créme fraiche and caviar.
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Kale Chips

Kale Chips Recipe
Kale chips are all the rage, so it’s nice that these crunchy chips happen to be gluten free. Use them as an alternative to potato chips or tortilla chips when you’re looking for something different for an appetizer or snack.

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Grilled Shrimp with Romesco Sauce

Photo: Oxmoor House
Grilled Shrimp with Romesco Sauce Recipe
Serve this as an appetizer at your next outdoor bash, and your guests will swoon over the spicy, rich sauce full of fire-roasted tomatoes.

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Tomato-and-Goat Cheese Tartlets

Photo: Aran Goyoaga
Tomato-and-Goat Cheese Tartlets Recipe
Fresh cherry tomatoes, goat cheese, and herbs make a delightful filling for a savory gluten-free tart crust. Serve these individual tartlets as an appetizer or enjoy them as part of a light meal alongside a salad.
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Lemon-Caper Parmesan Potato Bites

Photo: Johnny Miller; Styling: Sarah Smart
Lemon-Caper Parmesan Potato Bites Recipe
Turn "jacket potatoes" into irresistible potato salad bites. Capers offer a twist on traditional relish; they're actually pickled flower buds and add bright, briny flavor to this appetizer.

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Indian-Spiced Roasted Nuts

Photo: Oxmoor House
Indian-Spiced Roasted Nuts Recipe
This simple recipe makes a tasty party snack. Use your favorite nuts, and add a bit of heat with a dash of ground red pepper, if you like.

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Roasted Sweet Onion Dip

Photo: Oxmoor House
Roasted Sweet Onion Dip Recipe
Roast a sweet onion (such as a Vidalia) along with a head of garlic for an sweet, caramelized flavor, then combine the chopped onion and garlic with sour cream for this easy, make-ahead party dip.
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Parmesan Crisps

Photo: Oxmoor House
Parmesan Crisps Recipe
These flourless cheese crisps have only two ingredients (Parmesan cheese and black pepper) and are great for serving as an appetizer or on top of a soup or salad.

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Beef Teriyaki Crisps with Wasabi Mayonnaise

Photo: Oxmoor House
Beef Teriyaki Crisps with Wasabi Mayonnaise Recipe
Serve strips of flank steak marinated in gluten-free soy sauce, honey and rice wine on gluten-free crackers and top with a dollop of flavored mayonnaise for an easy appetizer that’s totally gluten free.

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Roasted Beet Hummus

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lindsey Lower
Roasted Beet Hummus Recipe
The beet flavor (if not the color) in this dip is very subtle, with a nutty edge from walnuts and walnut oil, concentrated sources of fat and flavor. Pair with crunchy crudités.
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Chocolate-Almond Pretzels

Photo: Oxmoor House
Chocolate-Almond Pretzels Recipe
Just 3 ingredients create this delightfully salty-sweet snack. It's so easy, you won't ever want to stop making this recipe.

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Nam Sod

Photo: Oxmoor House
Nam Sod Recipe
Roll up bites of this spicy Thai turkey salad in crunchy cabbage leaves for a super-flavorful light meal or appetizer.

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Gabriel's Guacamole

Photo: Peden & Munk; Styling: Amy Wilson
Gabriel's Guacamole Recipe
Fresh Mexican avocado is the base for this classic Mexican dip. Typically served with corn chips, it's also great with fresh veggie dippers.
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Kalamata-Garbanzo Hummus

Photo: Oxmoor House
Kalamata-Garbanzo Hummus Recipe
Greek yogurt and salty olives give this hummus a Mediterranean kick. Serve with gluten-free rice chips.

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Smoked Salmon Crostini

Photo: Oxmoor House
Smoked Salmon Crostini Recipe
You can prepare the salmon topping for these party canapés earlier in the day and keep it refrigerated until ready to assemble. You’ll need gluten-free baguette slices for the base.

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Lemon-Parmesan Popcorn

Photo: Justin Walker; Styling: Cindy Barr
Lemon-Parmesan Popcorn Recipe
Never buy microwavable popcorn again after trying this tasty snack, which comes together in minutes using only a handful of ingredients.
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Artichokes with Roasted-Pepper Dip

Randy Mayor
Artichokes with Roasted-Pepper Dip Recipe
This colorful, savory dip is served with artichoke leaves, so there's no need for chips or crackers. Enjoy a flavorful gluten-free appetizer.

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Spicy Almond-Pumpkinseed Snack Mix

Photo: Oxmoor House
Spicy Almond-Pumpkinseed Snack Mix Recipe
Smoky spices lend addictive flavor to this crunchy snack mix, loaded with rice cereal squares, roasted pumpkinseeds, and slivered almonds.

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Diner-Style Onion Rings

Photo: Oxmoor House
Diner-Style Onion Rings Recipe
Revive this diner favorite using a mixture of gluten-free all-purpose flour, white rice flour, and club soda in the batter.
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Yogurt "Romesco" Dip

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Missy Neville Crawford
Yogurt "Romesco" Dip Recipe
This version of a traditional Spanish sauce gets a touch of creaminess from Greek yogurt and a smoky flavor from charred bell peppers and smoked almonds. Serve with gluten-free crackers or crunchy veggie sticks.

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Honey-Roasted Nuts and Fruit

Photo: Oxmoor House
Honey-Roasted Nuts and Fruit Recipe
Use any variety of mixed nuts or seeds you like in this trail mix. Dried fruit is rich in vitamins and antioxidants, and the nuts add healthy fats and protein, which makes this an excellent on-the-go snack.

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Hazelnut Hummus

Karen Steffens
Hazelnut Hummus Recipe
Toasted hazelnuts add a new dimension of flavor to this garlicky bean spread.
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Hot Bean-and-Cheese Dip

Hot Bean-and-Cheese Dip Recipe
Make this easy dip with ingredients you already have on hand: canned beans, canned tomato, caned chiles, hot sauce and cheese.

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Lemony Fruit Dip

Karry Hosford
Lemony Fruit Dip Recipe
Serve this fluffy citrus-kissed dip with any of your favorite fruits.

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Coconut Shrimp with Mango Sauce

Photo: Oxmoor House
Coconut Shrimp with Mango Sauce Recipe
Gluten-free panko breadcrumbs and flaked coconut create a delightfully sweet crust on tender shrimp, ideal for dipping in spicy-sweet Mango Sauce.
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Endive with Smoked Salmon

Endive with Smoked Salmon Recipe
Endive leaves make a great alternative to bread or crackers.

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Whole-Grain Crackers

Photo: Oxmoor House
Whole-Grain Crackers Recipe
Gluten-free crackers are not hard to find on the market, but they're often highly processed and expensive. These homemade crackers, made with high-protein quinoa flour, are teeming with nutrients.

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Citrus, Fennel, and Rosemary Olives

Photo: Oxmoor House
Citrus, Fennel, and Rosemary Olives Recipe
A mix of fruity and meaty olives works well in this recipe. They are ideal for cocktail platters, antipasto, snacking, or as a gift when placed in a decorative jar. You can refrigerate them for up to a month.
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Sweet-Hot Spiced Pecans

James Carrier
Sweet-Hot Spiced Pecans Recipe
Toasting nuts brings out their flavor, and the flavor gets even better when you toast them in a mixture of sugar and spices.

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Roasted Garlic, Poblano, and Red Pepper Guacamole

Photo: Oxmoor House
Roasted Garlic, Poblano, and Red Pepper Guacamole Recipe
Homemade tortilla chips are easy to make and even easier to eat with this colorful guacamole. When storing, press plastic wrap against the surface of the guacamole to keep it from turning brown.

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Bruschetta with Warm Tomatoes

Photo: Oxmoor House
Bruschetta with Warm Tomatoes Recipe
Use any variety of small summer tomatoes you find at the market in this recipe. For a gorgeous look, mix tomato colors and shapes, such as yellow and orange pear tomatoes paired with red grape tomatoes.
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Pizza Scones

Photo: Oxmoor House
Gluten-free scones that taste like pizza? Count us in. Turkey pepperoni, three types of cheeses, and Italian seasoning give these savory scones convincing pizza flavor, making them the perfect kid-friendly treat!

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Tempura Green Beans with Mild Cayenne Sour Cream

Photo: Oxmoor House
Tempura Green Beans with Mild Cayenne Sour Cream Recipe
Batters like this one that use carbonated beverages such as club soda produce gas bubbles that discourage oil absorption, yielding a lighter fried food.

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Sesame Seed Crackers

Photo: Oxmoor House
Sesame Seed Crackers Recipe
Sesame seeds have a long and established history; they were once highly valued for their oil in ancient times. Serve these crackers with hummus, peanut butter, or slices of cheese.
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Spiced Pecan-Cherry Crunch Mix

Photo: Oxmoor House
Spiced Pecan-Cherry Crunch Mix Recipe
Gluten-free toasted rice cereal, pecans, dried cherries, and spices are the key ingredients that make this snack mix anything but ordinary.

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Salmon and Cucumber Bites

Salmon and Cucumber Bites Recipe
Dramatically cut the calories out of this simple canape by subbing crisp cucumber slices for bread. The freshness of the cucumbers pairs well with the smoked salmon and creamy topping.

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Baked Brie with Honey

Photo: John Kernick; Stylist: Alistar Turnbull/Pat Bates and Associates
Baked Brie with Honey Recipe
A drizzle of honey adds a bit of sweetness to savory Brie. Pair this Baked Brie with Honey appetizer with grapes, dried figs, or apple slices.
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Perfect Poached Shrimp

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Lindsey Ellis Beatty
Perfect Poached Shrimp Recipe
Shrimp is always a popular appetizer item, and it also happens to be a great low-fat and gluten-free offering, particularly when it's poached. You can make this recipe a day ahead and keep chilled in the refrigerator until you're ready to serve.

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Cream Cheese-and-Olive Pecan Bites

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Marian Cooper Cairns
Cream Cheese-and-Olive Pecan Bites Recipe
These little cream cheese-filled pecan bites are the perfect combination of creamy and crunchy. You'll have a hard time stopping with just one bite.

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Ham and Cheddar Potato Skins

Ham and Cheddar Potato Skins Recipe
This traditionally high-fat appetizer got a makeover using reduced-fat sour cream, a reduced amount of cheese, and smaller potatoes to keep these bites portion-controlled.
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Warm Lemon-Rosemary Olives

Photo: Jim Franco; Styling: Leslie Siegel
Mixed olives are available at most groceries and make the easiest appetizer whether you’re gluten-free or not.
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