Ask Erica: Cheese-free Appetizers Please!

Hey Erica!!

Loving your new blog, hope you are enjoying life in Chicago!!

Question for you: I know you remember my deep, deep disdain for all things cheese. Whenever we have people over to hang out for game night, or get invited to a party, I ALWAYS end up making an appetizer I won’t eat. Whether it’s a buffalo wing dip, a cheese and crackers platter, bacon tomato cups, they ALL have cheese. I’m sick of making things everyone else compliments while I eat my plate full of plain potato chips, dying for the main course.

Do you have any recipes or inspiration for CHEESE-LESS hot appetizers or hors d’oeuvres? Help!

Thanks 🙂

-Kristen (a.k.a. Pek)
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Hi Pek,

First of all, let me apologize to you and all my lactose intolerant (and cheese hater) fans out there. I have this crazy obsession with cheese and sometimes I forget that many of my readers simply can’t/won’t eat it. Looking back, I realize that the majority of my recipes are heavy on the cheese, eek!

Thanks for helping me realize that…

Now, normally I’d give you 3 cheese-free recipe ideas and call it a day, but since I kinda messed up and alienated you for the past couple of weeks, how about I double it to 6!

Here we go…

1) Pigs in a Blanket: One of my favorite appetizers in the world are hotdogs wrapped in flaky dough (informally called “Pigs in a Blanket”). This appetizer will surely make cheese lovers forget that it’s not there.

You can buy them frozen, or make them just as easy on your own. To make on your own, buy mini hotdogs (or cut up larger ones) and some crescent dough. Place the hotdog on a triangle of crescent dough (its already pre-cut) and just roll it up (roll from biggest to smallest side). Serve with honey mustard, ketchup or whatever you think would taste good for dipping!

2) Asian Lettuce Cups: Not only is this appetizer cute, it’s super simple to make and always a crowd pleaser. To make these, simply cook up some ground chicken, onions, peppers, water chestnuts in your favorite asian flavored sauce. Fill up lettuce cups (just the inside leaves of a head of iceberg) with the chicken mixture and top with thinly sliced cucumbers, crumbled cashews and some rice noodles. YUM!

3) Mini Chicken and Waffles: This appetizer is one that I recently posted on a previous post. Basically all you do is take little Eggo waffles and place a piece of bone-less fried chicken on top. I like to make my own honey mustard maple syrup (literally mix honey, mustard and syrup together) and drizzle it over the top. Totally cheese-free and totally delish.

4) Deviled Eggs: I know you said hot appetizers, but these are one of my favorite party snacks (so I had to throw it in)! I know they can be tedious to make, but follow my “The Easiest Way to Boil and Peel Eggs” post and it will make it much easier!

When I make deviled eggs, I always experiment with different flavors. Right now, my favorite is truffle. They are super simple to make too! Simply add a little truffle salt or oil to your regular recipe and that’s it! To make them extra special, you can place a tiny piece of chive on each one or even a little piece of shaved truffle (if you don’t mind spending a little bit more).

5) Bacon-wrapped dates: This ooey goey , sticky appetizers is one of my favorites and only 3 ingredients: pitted dates, bacon and almonds. To make them, just make a tiny slit in the date and stuff the almond in. Wrap the whole thing in bacon and put under the broiler for 10 minutes until brown and crispy!

6) Prosciutto wrapped melon: This is another simple appetizer that doesn’t take a ton of time or ingredients. For these I take a melon baller and get little circles from the fruit, wrap them in prosciutto di parma and then drizzle them with a balsamic reduction.

Well Pek, I think I’m officially over cheese after realizing how many delicious things I can make without it! I hope this  post helps and you don’t go hungry at your next get-together!

Love always,
Erica