There’s a reason caterers charge so much for passed apps: The beautiful, bite-size morsels are usually a serious pain in the a** to make. While the mini pieces of art the pros put out are spectacular, their multiple components, obscure ingredients, and often elaborate assembly make them an unrealistic undertaking for your average summer cocktail party. But they’re still the perfect party food, so we set to work in the goop test kitchen developing some quick and easy recipes to up our summer app game. Here’s what we came up with.
Seared Tuna Bites
Seared tuna is always a crowd-pleaser, and serving it on cucumber slices helps keep things light.
Peach and Mozzarella Skewers
A riff on caprese—and we think the peach-and-mozzarella combo might be even better than the original.
Marinated Olives and Artichoke Hearts
This gets better as it sits, so try to make it at least one day in advance. We particularly like using Casteveltrano olives, but any mix will work.
Smoked Salmon Dip
People go crazy for this old-school smoked salmon dip. Serve with potato chips and champagne.
Summer Melon with Crispy Prosciutto
If you’ve ever been to Italy (or an Italian restaurant) in the summertime, you’ve undoubtedly seen melon and prosciutto. The sweet melon and the salty prosciutto complement each other perfectly and make a delightfully easy appetizer or first course. Our slight modification involves baking the prosciutto, which gives it a lovely crunch, and adding a pinch of Marash chili for a bit of heat.