On an evening where the drink of choice is Champagne, the menu should be similarly effervescent. From classics like caviar, oysters, and crab dip to new favorites like crisp fried olives, buttery kale tarts, and an indulgent six-onion pizza, these are our favorites for a New Year’s Eve celebration not to be forgotten.
Large poached shrimp are dressed in an herbed mayonnaise and served on a bed of lettuce and avocado in this refreshing take on the traditional hors d’oeuvre. Get the recipe for Shrimp Cocktail with Avocado »
Patience is the key to making this flavorful pate. Before it is assembled, the ingredients should marinate overnight, and the finished pate should set for at least a day after it’s cooked so that the flavors meld.
Adding rolled oats that have first been ground in the food processor helps hold these chocolate balls together while giving them an earthy note. Get the recipe for Chocolate Truffles »
Chef Eric Ripert of Le Bernardin in New York City pairs Kumamoto oysters on the half shell with tiny, melt-in-your-mouth cubes of aspic in various flavors.
Briny, faintly spicy pickled shrimp are a staple of Southern cuisine. In this Georgia-inspired version, frozen raw shrimp are a fine substitute for fresh. Get the recipe for Pickled Shrimp »
These delicious Malaysian dumplings stuffed with minced shrimp, scallions, water chestnuts, and bamboo shoots are easy to make with store-bought gyoza (potsticker) wrappers. Get the recipe for Har Gao (Shrimp Dumplings) »
The substitution of almond flour for conventional wheat flour in this recipe, developed by Judy Haubert, originated as a gluten-free workaround, but actually makes the cakes moister and more tender than traditional crab cakes. Get the recipe for Almond-Flour Crab Cakes with Lemon Aioli »
Perfumed with floral lavender, these fragile, crispy thin wafers are a delicate cookie to serve on their own or as a crisp contrast to creamy desserts like crème brulée, pudding, or pie. See the recipe for Lavender Tuiles »
Finger limes, sometimes called “the caviar of citrus,” add tartness and balanced sweetness to this rich dish of seared scallops in decadent beurre blanc sauce.
Kale and fennel lend a unique sweetness to these briny puff pastry tarts. They’re perfect as appetizers, savory breakfasts, or as an accompaniment to a bowl of warm, wintry soup.
The best party foods are ones that combine comfort with luxury. Crab is an extravagant ingredient, but when used in a warm, savory dip, a little goes a long way. Get the recipe for Hot Crab Dip with Pita Chips »
Roasting beets and puréeing them with a little balsamic vinegar makes a sweet, earthy spread that’s a perfect base for slices of smoked salmon and peppery watercress.
