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Top 9 Mediterranean Appetizers

ByElena Paravantes, MS, RD
greekthanksgivingappetizers

At our house the pre-dinner cocktail hour stage is probably longer than it should be. I love coming up with appetizers, fun drinks and good music. And while it is fun, it is also time consuming. Through the years I’ve come to realize that for me the best part of dinner parties are the appetizers, the drinks, and the socializing before the actual dinner. So I hate spending my time slaving away in the kitchen, while everyone else is having fun in the living room.

The solution; Easy, make-ahead appetizers. And here is a selection of my easiest, go to, Greek-Mediterranean inspired appetizers. There is something for everyone here: vegetarian, gluten-free and yes I’ve included the Greek meatballs (keftethakia) for the meat lovers and mini cheese pies (tiropitakia). Some Greeks consider them old fashion, but really can there be a Greek party without these retro appetizers? I think not.

So choose some or make them all. The dips particularly taste better the next day, the breadsticks can be made over the weekend-just make sure you hide them otherwise you will not have any left come Thanksgiving. The cheese pies and mini pitas can be baked beforehand and then just heated up before serving, same goes for the olives and the fava bites.

Some of these recipes have been tweaked by me to be healthier (baked rather fried, less salt), while others I have developed using ingredients traditionally used by Greeks. And they are all rich in herbs, antioxidants and good fats but also in flavor. So enjoy, knowing you are serving made-from-scratch, healthy appetizers.

The Recipes

1. Red Pepper Dip with Feta Cheese and Greek Yogurt

roasted red pepper

 

2. Juicy Roasted Greek Meatballs – Keftethakia

 

3. Greek Veggie Patties-Favokeftedes

 

4. Greek Style Roasted Olives

 

5. Feta and Greek Yogurt Pita Appetizer

 

6. Tzatziki-Greek Garlic and Yogurt Dip, Traditional and Light Version

tzatziki

 

7. Low Salt Crispy Mini Greek Cheese Pies-Tyropita

 

8. Greek Carrot & Parsley Breadsticks

 

9. Greek Spicy Feta Cheese Dip – Tirokafteri

Best Mediterranean Diet cookbook for beginners

Photos by Elena Paravantes © All Rights Reserved

Elena Paravantes, MS, RDN is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist by the U.S. Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). She is an expert on the Mediterranean Diet. She has been active as a clinician, consultant, author and lecturer for 20 years, both in the U.S. and Greece. An expert on the Greek Mediterranean Diet, her interviews and articles have been published in many publications including CNN, U.S. News and World Report, Prevention, NPR, and Shape. Elena has collaborated with a number of organizations including Loyola University, Yale University, University of Missouri, Louisiana State University, and the American College of Greece. Elena earned her Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition and Dietetics and her Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Sciences in Psychology from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She holds has a Master’s Degree of Science in Health Management.

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