As a snack or an appetizer, there’s nothing quite as light, restorative, and fun as a sampling of Italian small bites. Mix and match these recipes—plates of grilled polenta, stuffed zucchini and cherry peppers, sweet and sour sardines, and more—serving one or two for a casual get-together with a friend, or a whole spread for a crowd.
Who doesn’t love fried food? Our fried broccoli rabe and Italian sausage ravioli are hearty enough to be a meal in and of themselves. Frittatine di pasta, spaghetti fritters with ham and mozzarella, will also fill you up, as will our veal croquettes or arancini rice fritters. For a lighter fried snack, try anchovy-stuffed zucchini blossoms.
Want more seafood? How about a crostini topped with sardines and salsa verde, or garlicky, pancetta-studded shrimp? Or, if you want to go all out, combine shrimp, fish, and squid for an extravagant fritto misto.
Don’t worry, vegetarians, we have you covered too. Our broccoli rabe, cannellini bean, and ricotta crostini is as satisfying as its meaty counterparts. For an appetizer that could easily double as a main, try our ricotta and roasted pepper frittata. Stuffing zucchini with pecorino and ricotta makes for a rich appetizer or side dish.
With all of these great Italian appetizers, you might not even make it to the pasta course. Check out our collection of Italian appetizer recipes.
Cavolo Nero and Prosciutto Bruschetta
Fried Anchovy-Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms
Broccoli Rabe, Cannellini Bean, and Ricotta Crostini
Fried Dough with Arugula and Grape Tomatoes (Angioletti Fritti con Rucola e Pomodori)
Spaghetti Fritters with Ham and Smoked Mozzarella (Frittatine di Pasta)
Shrimp with Pancetta and Rosemary (Gamberi al Rosmarino)
Bacon-Wrapped Artichokes (Fondi di Carciofi)
Stuffed Mussels (Cozze al Pomodoro)
Ricotta Crostini with Cherry Tomatoes
Ricotta Crostini with Soppressata
Fritto Misto (Fried Squid, Fish, and Shrimp)
Marinated Sardine Crostini with Salsa Verde and Fennel
Grilled Polenta with Dried Cod Mousse (Baccalà Mantecato)
Pecorino Flans with Tomato Sauce
Zucchini Stuffed with Ricotta (Zucchine Ripiene con Ricotta)
Venetian Rice Fritters (Arancini Veneziani)
Stuffed Cherry Peppers (Peperoni con Acciughe)
Dry-Cured Olives with Rosemary and Orange
Ricotta and Red Pepper Frittata
Stuffed Zucchini (Zucchine Ripiene)
Bread and Tomato Soup (Pappa al Pomodoro)
Tricolore Salad with Grapefruit Saba Vinaigrette
Caprese Salad with Fried Capers and Basil