Yellow tomatoes have a lower acidity than their red cousins and several varieties are among the earliest in the season to ripen. Here they combine with cool cucumber and yellow bell peppers in a refreshing salsa. Grilled shrimp make this dish a more full-flavored and elegant version of shrimp cocktail.
Spicy peanut sauce is the perfect match for these Thai-marinated grilled chicken strips.
Pan con tomate, a classic Catalan tapa, is delicious alongside most soups or stews. Or serve with thinly sliced prosciutto and Manchego cheese for a tasty appetizer.
Grilled eggplant is pureed along with garlic, lemon juice and tahini to make a lighter version of the classic Middle Eastern dip. If you can't find ground sumac for the garnish, chopped pistachios are traditional as well. Serve with pita wedges or use as a spread for sandwiches.
The mellow grilled eggplant melds perfectly with the smoked paprika and tart sherry vinegar that define the flavor of the dressing in this decidedly Spanish salad. Curls of mild Manchego complete the Spanish theme. If you can't find smoked paprika, substitute Hungarian paprika—the grilled eggplant brings some smoke to the salad on its own.
Toss a colorful mix of grilled bell peppers with briny olives, sweet sun-dried tomatoes and balsamic vinaigrette for a lovely side dish. Or spread crostini with goat cheese and top it with this salad for an easy summer appetizer.
Fava is the Greek word for bean puree, almost exclusively made with yellow split peas—here it's served with grilled squid, but the simplest and most traditional is raw onion, olive oil and lemon juice; in Santorini it is topped with stewed capers and onions, a combination referred to as “married” fava in Greek. For a vegetarian topping, try a combination of arugula and caramelized onions.
If you’re entertaining this summer and looking for an easy, impressive appetizer, look no further than these grilled appetizer recipes. Chicken satay with peanut sauce is always a crowd pleaser. Or make bruschetta, grilled bread topped with roasted peppers and mozzarella or summer-ripe tomatoes and capers, for a fresh start to your dinner. Try one of these easy grilled appetizer recipes at your next summer BBQ.