Looking to add some unique and delicious flavors to your outdoor party spread this summer? Try these 3 vegetarian appetizers that are easy to make and full of good nutrition.
I have partnered with National Dairy Council to share three easy and nutritious appetizer ideas made with dairy.
When the temperatures are climbing and you’re enjoying the outdoors with family and friends, what better way to cool down and relax than with delicious food? The key is to create easy finger food that people can grab on the go, that also won’t take you hours to make!
These three vegetarian outdoor party appetizers provide a mixture of flavors, textures, and temperatures for any hour of your get together. Click on one of the recipes below to jump to the recipe.
- Simple Deviled Eggs with Greek Yogurt
- Peruvian Spiced Tomato, Cheese, and Olive Skewers
- Mini Frozen Mixed Berry and Mango Popsicles
Choosing Ingredients for Your Outdoor Party Appetizers
As with any snack or meal, creating a mixture of healthy fats, lean protein, quality carbohydrates, and a lot of plant-based color is the key – especially when you’re out and about and want sustained energy.
Nutrient-Rich Vegetarian Ingredients for Appetizers
Each of these vegetarian appetizers had a mix of nutrient-dense foods. The tomatoes, avocado, mango, and berries provide fiber, which helps digestion. And, combined with other carbohydrates, fat, and protein, regulates energy and hunger. Each of these colorful plant-based foods also has powerful phytonutrients that can help fight off disease and inflammation.
An important ingredient in each of these items was the dairy, whether it was milk, queso fresco or Greek yogurt, since they all provide a boost of protein. Greek yogurt is naturally higher in protein than regular yogurt and has natural probiotics. Plain Greek yogurt serves as a great substitute for mayonnaise, just as it’s used in the deviled eggs recipe below.
Health Benefits of Fermented Dairy Foods
Both fermented and probiotic foods are likely good for our health. There is a growing body of evidence that demonstrates fermented dairy foods such as yogurt play an important role in health and reduced risk of disease.
Outdoor Party Appetizer #1: Simple Deviled Eggs with Greek Yogurt (2 ways)
Who doesn’t love Deviled Eggs? They’re a finger-food favorite party appetizer. These little delicious devils are made with a twist, with Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise! Greek yogurt is lower in saturated fat, has calcium, and increases the total protein amount.
Equipment
- Instant Pot
- Plastic baggie
Ingredients
Ingredients for Flavor 1:
- 8 hard boiled eggs peeled
- ½ cup 2% plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons olive oil mayonnaise dressing
- 2 teaspoons yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon curry powder
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
- Salt to taste
Ingredients Flavor 2:
- 8 hard boiled eggs peeled
- ½ cup 2% plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons olive oil mayonnaise dressing
- 2 teaspoons yellow mustard
- 2 tablespoon ranch dressing powder
Instructions
Instructions Flavor 1:
- Step-by-step instructions in the Caliente Kitchen video.
- Hard-boil the eggs (I used an Instant Pot).
- Cut the eggs in half, take the yolks out and save the whites.
- Add the Greek yogurt to your egg yolks.
- Add olive oil mayonnaise dressing, curry powder, turmeric, and mustard.
- Add sea salt and pepper to taste.
- Using a fork mix all of your ingredients together.
- Add the mixture to a plastic bag with a spoon, and cut the corner of the bag to pipe the ingredients into your halved eggs.
- Garnish with paprika and enjoy!
Instructions Flavor 2:
- Step-by-step instructions in the Caliente Kitchen video.
- Hard-boil the eggs (I used an Instant Pot).
- Cut the eggs in half, take the yolks out and save the whites.
- Add the Greek yogurt to your egg yolks.
- Add olive oil mayonnaise dressing, mustard, and Ranch dressing powder.
- Using a fork mix all of your ingredients together.
- Add the mixture to a plastic bag with a spoon, and cut the corner of the bag to pipe the ingredients into your halved eggs.
- Garnish with paprika and enjoy!
Video
Outdoor Party Appetizer #2: Peruvian Spiced Tomato, Cheese, and Olive Skewers
Queso fresco, just like other dairy foods, provides high quality protein so it can help elevate your protein game in your appetizers! This is a very simple appetizer and only takes seconds to make. It also has Latino-inspired flavors.
Equipment
- Toothpicks
Ingredients
Skewer Ingredients for Option 1:
- Cherry tomatoes
- Kalamata olives
- Queso fresco
- Avocado
Skewer Ingredients for Option 2:
- Cherry tomatoes
- Queso fresco
- Jalapeño
- Avocado
Instructions
Instructions for Option 1:
- Step-by-step instructions in the Caliente Kitchen video.
- Slice your jalapeños into 1/2″ sections.
- Cube your avocado and queso fresco.
- Take your toothpick, and add one cherry tomato, a cube of queso fresco, a cube of avocado, and a slide of jalapeño.
- Enjoy!
Instructions for Option 2:
- Cube your avocado and queso fresco.
- Take your toothpick, and add one cherry tomato, one olive, a cube of queso fresco, and a cube of avocado.
- Enjoy!
Video
Outdoor Appetizer #3: Mini Frozen Mixed Berry and Mango Popsicles
These healthy homemade fruit popsicles only have 3 ingredients, and they are easy to make with kids. Plus, you don’t need a fancy popsicle mold. Just find some paper cups that you may have lying around, or purchase them at a store (low cost and no clean-up necessary!) and you’re ready to make them into pops!
Lactose-free milk can be substituted for real milk for anyone with a lactose intolerance. It is real milk just without the lactose and with all the great nutrition providing 8 grams of high-quality protein and 13 essential nutrients per 8 fluid ounces serving.
Mini Frozen Mixed Berry and Mango Popsicles
Ingredients
- 1 cup lactose-free 2% Milk
- 1 cup frozen fruit
- 1 tablespoon monk fruit or honey
- Small paper cups + aluminum foil + wooden sticks
Instructions
- Blend together milk, frozen fruit, and monk fruit.
- Pour into your paper cups.
- Add a wooden stick in the center of each cup, and surround the top with aluminum foil to hold the stick in place.
- Place in the freezer until frozen.
