Appetizers

This is so much more than a salad; it's a plate of light, crisp, dressed leaves partnered with a leek-topped crostini that gives it enough heft to turn it into a meal. The leeks are perfumed with lemons and thyme, and cooked until they are browned and jammy. The aïoli is rich, garlicky, and bright; along with the briny, marinated anchovies, it cuts through the richness of the leeks and soft-cooked eggs.

This big platter of tempura vegetables, shrimp, and uni served with tendashi and matcha salt from Top Chef contestant Shota Nakajima is an excellent snacking platter that can double as a meal. The tempura chocolate cookies stuffed with cream accented with Wagyu fat and then fried are an unexpected sweet finish.

This quick, simple dip from chef Stephanie Izard  is light and perfect for summer entertaining. The tahini, soy sauce, and harissa add complexity, and yogurt makes it nice and creamy. Serve the lightly seasoned dip as a snack with vegetables or with kebobs; as a marinade for grilled meats; or as a spread for wraps and sandwiches.

Shrimp toast has become a staple in American Chinese restaurants, and is a fun snack to make at home. Here, 2011 F&W Best New Chef Stephanie Izard makes a shrimp mousse flavored with spicy sambal oelek; bright, tangy preserved lemon; and Shaoxing rice wine, and spreads it on white bread. When it fries, the mousse will puff and become a reddish-brown color. Izard keeps some of the shrimp in larger pieces to add textural interest to each bite; they also let you see when the shrimp toast is fully cooked (look for the pieces to be opaque). Both the shrimp mousse and the Aïoli served with the finished Shrimp Toasts can be made a few hours in advance and refrigerated until you are ready to fry.

This creamy, smooth dip from chef Stephanie Izard creates layers of flavor with a short ingredient list. Roasting the garlic mellows its sharpness — together with the tahini, it brings a subtly sweet and nutty taste to the dish. Tamari provides umami, and fresh lemon juice adds brightness and acidity. After everything is combined in a food processor, a generous sprinkle of This Little Goat Chili Crunch finishes the dip off. Make it the next time you're entertaining, or for your next snack dinner.

Crunchy, cheesy, and a little bit spicy, these potato elote bites are pastry chef Paola Velez's take on bollitos, one of her favorite snacks in the Dominican Republic. She makes a spiced corn filling based on elote, the classic Mexican street food, then wraps it up in spiced mashed potatoes, and deep-fries it. The delicate crust on the potato bites is made with tapioca flour, keeping the recipe gluten-free. Garnished with lime-flavored crema and fresh cilantro, the bites are as pretty as they are delicious.