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Photo: Photography / Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling / Ruth Blackburn
Make the most of your farmers' market haul or garden bounty with these healthy appetizers. Not only are these appetizers delicious, but they highlight some of our favorite summer fruits and vegetables like watermelon, tomatoes and corn. Recipes like our Chunky Black Bean Salsa with Corn & Bell Pepper and Smashed Cucumber Salad with Lemon & Cumin are light, refreshing and the perfect start to any meal.
01of 14Smashed Cucumber Salad with Lemon & CuminView RecipeDon’t skip salting the cucumbers in this quick cucumber salad recipe—just 10 minutes pulls out some of their excess moisture, concentrating the flavor and keeping the salad from being watered down. Serve this smashed cucumber salad at a summer cookout alongside burgers and hot dogs.
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Smashed Cucumber Salad with Lemon & Cumin
View Recipe
Don’t skip salting the cucumbers in this quick cucumber salad recipe—just 10 minutes pulls out some of their excess moisture, concentrating the flavor and keeping the salad from being watered down. Serve this smashed cucumber salad at a summer cookout alongside burgers and hot dogs.
02of 14Caprese SkewersView RecipePhotographer / Jen Causey, Food Stylist / Emily Nabors HallWe take all the ingredients of a classic caprese salad and layer them onto skewers for a quick appetizer. These tomato-mozzarella-basil skewers are easy to assemble and perfect for a party.
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Caprese Skewers
Photographer / Jen Causey, Food Stylist / Emily Nabors Hall
We take all the ingredients of a classic caprese salad and layer them onto skewers for a quick appetizer. These tomato-mozzarella-basil skewers are easy to assemble and perfect for a party.
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Chunky Black Bean Salsa with Corn & Bell Pepper
Fred Hardy
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Watermelon with Mint Gremolata
05of 14Air-Fryer EggplantView RecipeJacob FoxThis air-fryer eggplant is crispy on the outside with a tender middle. You can fit more slices in the basket when you use smaller eggplant. Dip these crispy slices in marinara or pesto, or drizzle with balsamic glaze.
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Air-Fryer Eggplant
Jacob Fox
This air-fryer eggplant is crispy on the outside with a tender middle. You can fit more slices in the basket when you use smaller eggplant. Dip these crispy slices in marinara or pesto, or drizzle with balsamic glaze.
06of 14Fennel, Radish & Cucumber SaladView RecipeThis supremely crunchy, quick side salad is best when spring vegetables are sliced as thinly as possible–a great excuse to pull out the mandoline or the slicing disk of your food processor, if you have one.
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Fennel, Radish & Cucumber Salad
This supremely crunchy, quick side salad is best when spring vegetables are sliced as thinly as possible–a great excuse to pull out the mandoline or the slicing disk of your food processor, if you have one.
07of 14Cherry Tomato & Strawberry BruschettaView RecipeLeigh BeischThese topped toasts get a sweet-salty punch from the addition of strawberries and ricotta salata—a firm, saltier version of ricotta cheese. Look for it with other specialty cheeses at the supermarket, or substitute Parmigiano-Reggiano or pecorino.
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Cherry Tomato & Strawberry Bruschetta
Leigh Beisch
These topped toasts get a sweet-salty punch from the addition of strawberries and ricotta salata—a firm, saltier version of ricotta cheese. Look for it with other specialty cheeses at the supermarket, or substitute Parmigiano-Reggiano or pecorino.
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Cheesy Jalapeño Corn Dip
09of 14Spiced-Yogurt Tomato Salad & NaanView RecipeTed & Chelsea CavanaughHere we make a creamy tomato salad perfect for scooping up and eating with your favorite naan, or any flatbread you have on hand will do.
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Spiced-Yogurt Tomato Salad & Naan
Ted & Chelsea Cavanaugh
Here we make a creamy tomato salad perfect for scooping up and eating with your favorite naan, or any flatbread you have on hand will do.
10of 14Canapés with Peach, Sage & ProsciuttoView RecipeThere are endless ways to change up these canapés–plums and tarragon, cherries and mint, apricots and chervil. Mix 6 ounces of softened goat cheese with 1 tablespoon honey if you can’t find honey chèvre.
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Canapés with Peach, Sage & Prosciutto
There are endless ways to change up these canapés–plums and tarragon, cherries and mint, apricots and chervil. Mix 6 ounces of softened goat cheese with 1 tablespoon honey if you can’t find honey chèvre.
11of 14Radishes with Green Goddess DressingView RecipeJason DonnellyThis quick and easy radish recipe will get you ready for spring. Traditional green goddess is made with mayo and sour cream but here we use avocado, buttermilk and yogurt to achieve a lightened-up, creamy dressing.
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Radishes with Green Goddess Dressing
Jason Donnelly
This quick and easy radish recipe will get you ready for spring. Traditional green goddess is made with mayo and sour cream but here we use avocado, buttermilk and yogurt to achieve a lightened-up, creamy dressing.
12of 14Taco Dip with Tomato WedgesView RecipeTed & Chelsea CavanaughEnjoy a fresh tomato in all its ripe glory with this simple creamy dip. A little taco seasoning, lime and cheese adds tons of flavor to protein-packed Greek yogurt for a satisfying snack.
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Taco Dip with Tomato Wedges
Enjoy a fresh tomato in all its ripe glory with this simple creamy dip. A little taco seasoning, lime and cheese adds tons of flavor to protein-packed Greek yogurt for a satisfying snack.
13of 14Lemon-Garlic Green BeansView RecipeWill DickeyThese tender-crisp lemon-garlic green beans have tons of flavor from shallots, garlic and the tangy lemon. It’s the perfect simple green bean side dish that pairs well with everything.
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Lemon-Garlic Green Beans
Will Dickey
These tender-crisp lemon-garlic green beans have tons of flavor from shallots, garlic and the tangy lemon. It’s the perfect simple green bean side dish that pairs well with everything.
14of 14Skillet Sun-Dried Tomato DipView RecipePhotography / Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling / Ruth BlackburnThis skillet sun-dried tomato dip is creamy, but also gets a hit of sweetness from roasted bell peppers to complement the sun-dried tomatoes. It’s cooked and served all in the same skillet, cutting down on dishes. Serve it with crackers, toasted bread or fresh-cut veggies.
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Skillet Sun-Dried Tomato Dip
Photography / Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling / Ruth Blackburn
This skillet sun-dried tomato dip is creamy, but also gets a hit of sweetness from roasted bell peppers to complement the sun-dried tomatoes. It’s cooked and served all in the same skillet, cutting down on dishes. Serve it with crackers, toasted bread or fresh-cut veggies.
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