Gourmet Appetizer Ideas

• The idea of serving gourmet appetizers at your next event can be intimidating. Gourmet food items generally demand the use of fresh and high quality ingredients and require a degree of skill in preparation. The final product is also aesthetically pleasing. However, gourmet does not have to mean difficult. You can prepare a variety of gourmet appetizers in less than an hour even if you don't have extensive culinary experience.

Crostini

• Crostini offers serving possibilities with dips, cheeses, vegetables and more. a fennel and tomato salad with crostini image by David Smith from Fotolia.com

  Crostini is a versatile gourmet appetizer that is easy to prepare. Take a loaf of Italian or French bread and slice it diagonally. Arrange the slices of bread on a baking sheet. Brush them lightly with oil, and sprinkle on some sea salt and pepper. Bake the slices at 350 degrees until they're lightly browned, about eight minutes. For a savory appetizer, serve the crostini on a platter with a homemade creamy chickpea, garlic and parsley dip, or with a store-bought gourmet cheese and sliced tomatoes. For an appetizer on the sweeter side, top the crostini with a spreadable cheese, such as goat, and a marinated roasted fruit, such as fig or pear. For a fresh vegetable appetizer, top the crostini with a mixture of chopped cherry tomatoes and black olives with garlic and oil. Garnish with chopped fresh basil.

Steamed Mussels

• Steamed mussels take on the flavor of the broth you use. steamed mussels image by John Keith from Fotolia.com

  All you need to prepare basic steamed mussels are olive oil, a chopped onion and white wine. Use chicken stock if you prefer not to use alcohol. Saute the onion in the oil until it's softened, then add the wine and mussels and bring to a boil. Steamed mussels are versatile because the mussels will take on the flavor of whatever they are cooked with. The addition of minced garlic and an herb such as parsley or dill will punch up this basic recipe. Mussels can also be prepared with butter and cream-based broths, which add a touch of sweetness. For a spicy appetizer, prepare the mussels with red pepper flakes, or add chorizo sausage for a heavier plate. Because the broth is an integral part of steamed mussels, serve them in a bowl with a hearty bread such as ciabatta for dipping, and top with freshly ground black pepper.

Stuffed Mushrooms

• White mushrooms are typically used for this appetizer. mushrooms image by Horticulture from Fotolia.com

  Stuffed mushrooms are prepared by carefully removing the stems and stuffing the caps. Traditional stuffed mushrooms take a mixture of the finely chopped mushroom stems, bread crumbs and an herb such as dried oregano. For another savory stuffing, use crabmeat prepared with full-flavored condiments such as Worcestershire sauce and Dijon mustard. Mushrooms can also be stuffed with creamed spinach or cooked baby shrimp and garnished with crisp chopped bacon.