Appetizers

Slices of soft goat cheese coated with fresh herbs make a wonderful nibble to keep in your repertoire when unexpected guests call to say they're in town. Serve them as an hors d'oeuvre with wine, or set a round of the cheese beside a salad of lightly dressed greens as an appetizer. Begin with a log of plain, soft goat cheese and cut it into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Finely chop lots of fragrant herbs such as parsley, dill, coriander, lemon thyme, and mint. Spread them on a plate and add a touch of color and spice with crushed red peppercorns.

Yogurt cheese begins with plain yogurt, which is poured into a strainer lined with cheesecloth and refrigerated for a few hours or overnight. The yogurt releases some whey and turns into a tangy white spread. It forms the basis of this appetizer, which can also begin with unflavored Greek yogurt. Spoon it onto a dish, and beside it, set ripe avocado mashed with lemon juice, a rich element to balance the yogurt's sharpness. Then spoon a little salad of finely chopped tomato, bell pepper, black and green olives, and capers to offer fresh and slightly salty tastes.

It's the possibilities in that blank crust that make pizza so much fun. Lately, we've been obsessed with white pizza. Brush the dough with olive oil, sprinkle with mozzarella, and then let the fun begin. Without the acidity of the tomato sauce to contend with, you can really experiment. In this version, asparagus adds freshness and a hit of color, goat cheese brings a creamy tang, and fingerling potatoes (yes, potatoes) round out the pie with their richness.

A sweet-and-salty miso glaze turns tofu into little bites of comfort food, traditionally served on skewers. Active Time: 15 min Total Time: 15 min

This tasty salsa is just right as an appetizer served with tortilla chips but you can also try it over grilled chicken or as a side dish. 

Made with a combination of avocado and edamame, the flavor of this variation on traditional guacamole is both creamy and fresh. Serve with raw vegetables like celery, carrots and radishes for dipping or alongside tortilla chips as a healthy snack or appetizer. 

"Whether you start with fresh or frozen sugar snap peas, this recipe bursts with soy sauce and sesame flavor. Serve the snap peas hot as a side dish, or chilled for an Asian-inspired appetizer." 

Take a break from meat and serve these easy wraps at your next get together. They're full of protein and flavor and low in fat. Ingredients with an asterisk (*) are available in the Whole Foods Market Family of Brands.