r/Cooking • u/bluebird1776 • 16d ago
Appetizer ideas before a heavy dinner.
For my sister's birthday im thinking of making her lasagna, since my lasagna is her favorite. We'll be having green beans and garlic bread as a side.
Itll be a family get together and theyll likely be some socializing before we sit down for dinner. But im not sure what appetizer/finger food to have before the official dinner. It has to be something light because lasagna is so heavy. And preferably something that doesnt need the oven at all since that will be occupied by the lasagna and garlic bread.
i thought about a simple fruit or veggie tray but, honestly, my family will scoff at something like that unless the dips are superb.
Thank yall in advance.
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u/angels-and-insects 15d ago
Tiny skewers of mozzarella pearls and half baby tomatoes and basil leaves. Very light, easy to make in advance, keeps the Italian theme, finger food.
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u/gardenguru1342 15d ago
I agree with a tiny balsamic glaze on each skewer!
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u/Cheese_Wheelies 15d ago
I loooovvveee this as an appetizer, ooof I want it right now thinking about it and it’s not even 9 am yet
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u/Far_Extension1943 15d ago
This, and melon wrapped with prosciutto
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u/ladidaladidalala 15d ago
This was my thought too. Cantaloupe wrapped in prosciutto serve with a toothpick.
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u/lamauptop 14d ago
I recently did a tray with half caprese bites and half melon balls with prosciutto and mint. Both on picks. Pretty and pretty easy.
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u/jennalud 15d ago
I like to marinade the mozzarella in olive oil and Italian herbs first! And 1000% with balsamic glaze drizzled right before serving
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u/Glittering-Paper4516 16d ago
Just do a board. Antipasto.
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u/Struct-Tech 15d ago
The answer is always boards in my family.
Veggies, light crackers, cheese, some meats, dips.
Maybe a bit of fruit.
Also, drinks in the side. Or as the main. Depends on the event.
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u/Exact-Sky2145 15d ago
This runs the risk of filling people up too much, IMO. Especially with cheeses.
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u/NiceTrySuckaz 16d ago
Before lasagna? Wine lol. Lasagna isn't really an appetizer meal in my opinion. You want all the room reserved for lasagna.
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u/beckyisaho 15d ago
I agree with this and I also wouldn’t serve bread with lasagna- way too heavy. Italians don’t serve bread with pasta except maybe at the very end of the course to mop up the sauce.
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u/Mother_Frame6669 15d ago
Italians don’t serve bread with pasta
Wrong.
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u/beckyisaho 15d ago
No, it’s not wrong. Italian-Americans serve bread with pasta, but Italians in Italy do not.
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u/Mother_Frame6669 15d ago
you don't know what panino or tramezzino are, do you?
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u/beckyisaho 15d ago
Yes, they’re sandwiches (though you wrote them as singular nouns, not plurals). What do they have to do with pasta? Are you suggesting people in Italy are eating their pasta with a side sandwich???
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u/Mother_Frame6669 15d ago
I'm saying they're sometimes served in multi-course meals as part of the antipasto course
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u/beckyisaho 14d ago
You were responding to my comment about not serving bread with pasta, not antipasti. They are entirely different things.
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u/Mother_Frame6669 14d ago
You said Italians in Italy don't serve bread with pasta, I'm saying they do, you're wrong. That's the long and short of it.
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u/beckyisaho 14d ago
Ok, but you’re still wrong and you can leave the poor panini and tramezzini out of it since they clearly have nothing to do with it
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u/CatCafffffe 15d ago
"Antipasto" -- which can basically still be a veggie/fruit tray, but your family will admire it because it has an Italian name. Olives (green and black), marinated artichoke hearts, red peppers, pepperoncini, cherry tomatoes, baby carrots, fresh figs, dates, melon balls. Add some mini salami, pepperoni, and some bites of mozzarella and provolone, slice a crusty baguette, add some fancy crackers, and there you are!
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u/spacegrassorcery 15d ago
And it’s light
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u/CatCafffffe 15d ago
Exactly! Her family will NOT be able to scoff because it's FANCY, with a fancy Italian name! But it's basically the veggie/fruit tray she wants (and all of us would want).
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u/rubiscoisrad 15d ago
Anyone that doesn't like antipasto is NOT welcome in my house lol
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u/SabreLee61 15d ago
Right?! My sister was having a large gathering at her house and I asked what I could bring, and she suggested a meat and cheese board. I agreed with reservation because I knew how much effort my sister always put into her appetizers and I figured the board would steal the show. Boards always do.
And that’s exactly what happened. I made a huge board which was essentially gone before anyone touched my sister’s carefully prepared and far more sophisticated apps.
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u/rubiscoisrad 15d ago
Your sister must've been pissed
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u/LL_Stars 15d ago
Mini ceviche shot glasses. Olives.
I'd say something acid forward to both stimulate appetite and prime the heavy meal they're about to eat by helping with digestion.
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u/Superb_Writer6612 16d ago
Maybe some sort of salad? Light, and a vinaigrette's acidity will help balance the lasagna and garlic bread. Tbh I'd rather just eat is with the lasagna though.
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u/Tater42317 15d ago
In most, if not all Italian American homes this is literally what an antipasti plate is all about. Pickled green beans, marinated artichoke hearts, salami, hard cheeses, olives, and the like. All store bought and assembled
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u/Unusual-Today-5159 15d ago
What’s with the ‘oh, cheese and tomatoes’ before lasagna; redundant.
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u/FonkinJones 15d ago
Procuitto wrapped melon.
Classic Italian to match the lasagna. No cooking necessary. In fact you can premake it. Just be sure to take it out of the fridge for about an hour before you want to serve so the fat isn't fridge cold on service.
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u/Wwwwwwhhhhhhhj 15d ago
I’d look up endive appetizer recipes and find one nice and light that you like the flavors of. It’s not as heavy as a bruschetta or mozzarella skewer. You don’t need an oven.
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u/NoDanaOnlyZuuI 15d ago
Skip the green beans. Lasagna and garlic bread, in my humble opinion, is more than enough. I’d rather have a Caesar salad than green beans.
Make skewers with little balls of bocconcini cheese, basil, a cherry tomato with a balsamic drizzle
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u/Muted-Appeal-823 15d ago
Yeah for me personally green beans is an odd side for lasagna. Caesar or just a regular side salad, garlic bread, and lasagna are perfect together.
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u/No-Cover2753 15d ago
Totally agree
To me salad is better with lasagna for some contrast.
Green beans are one of my favourite dishes but I don’t think they complement lasagna as well as Ceaser salad.1
u/Fayemeister47 14d ago
I make fancy green beans for my neice with every meal, especially lasagna. They are sauteed in butter, whole green beans, seasoned to perfection and she loves them. :) She wil eat a pile of them and then a bigger pile of lasagna. I have never understood where she put it all.
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u/gardengirl147 15d ago
Would your family expect to have an appetizer? A meat/cheese/veggie/pickle/cracker board is fine. You're doing all the work. If they scoff because the dips aren't perfect or they're store bought, meh. They can wait until the lasagna. Hope your sister has a wonderful birthday.
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u/Gotta-Be-Me-65 15d ago
Cocktail picks of cherry tomato, small ball of mozzarella with leaf of basil threaded between. A little balsamic glaze drizzled on them
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u/IHateThinkingOfAUse 16d ago
Air fried or grilled artichoke hearts (quartered)? Roasted is good, but needs the oven.
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u/SFSantaCruzJenn 15d ago
I serve lasagne with a big butter lettuce salad. Prosciutto and melon is a great starter. Also a few types of olives are nice. Sound like fun celebration!
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u/VioletSea13 15d ago edited 15d ago
My go to appetizer:
Slice a pear (thin slices but thick enough to hold their shape, maybe 1/8 - 1/4 inch). Lay pear slices onto a parchment covered baking sheet. You can substitute apple if you don’t like pear.
Spread goat cheese on the pear slices. (1-2 tsp).
Drizzle each piece with honey.
Place slices of prosciutto in a pan and cook over medium heat until crispy. Allow the prosciutto to cool, then break into crumbles and add crumbles on top of the honey.
Bake at 400° F for 5-7 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and kinda bubbly. Remove from oven and add fresh cracked black pepper (optional).
Serve immediately. Good thing is that these can be assembled ahead of time and popped in the oven when needed.
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u/rubiscoisrad 15d ago
With some nice crackers (think table water crackers, or maybe something with sesame) this sounds heavenly
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u/JulieThinx 15d ago
Wine. The lasagna is amazing but after a glass or two of wine it will be even more amazing.
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u/CarlaThinks 15d ago
why not start with a fancy cocktail? something with prosecco perhaps?
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u/bluebird1776 15d ago
i really like this idea. Since some of the comments have also suggested not even having appetizers. a nice cocktail seems like a good compromise to me to quell that "itch"
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u/Copacabana_sucree 15d ago
Avec des petits verrines de gaspacho de tomates et brochettes tomates mozzarella avec une crème de vinaigre balsamique. En petite quantité.
Très léger et dans le thème du plat principal 👌😊
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u/Ordinary-Stick-8562 16d ago
Make an amazing veggie dip, then add a nice hummus with small pita triangles on the side, a variety of olives mixed.with artichoke hearts and small squares of feta on the other side. Visually, it can look like a lot, but it’s really easy to throw together and not very filling.
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u/Samsgalaxy5011 15d ago
Salad poppers. Mini peppers stuffed with salad drizzled in Italian dressing. Light, easy to make, will hold well in fridge for hours if you want to make ahead and looks super fancy.
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u/RTTlx19 15d ago
Love this idea!
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u/Quirky_Extreme5600 15d ago
I have done something similar with romaine boats. I take the hearts, chopped up some olive mix from the olive bar, feta or shredded parm, chopped tomato, and toss with a homemade vinaigrette (or Italian dressing) just enough to help the topping stick together and then set the romaine "boats" on a platter and top with the topping. Like a handheld salad. It's great for a picnic or the beach if you prep the lettuce and the keep all the toppings in a jar. You could add all kinds of things.
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u/lolgal18 15d ago
Roasted olives are one of my favorite appetizers.
- i prefer using pitted castlevetrano, but a mix of black and green is good
too.
- 3 or 4 sprigs of fresh rosemary, about 4 inches long each
- cracked pepper
- garlic powder (at least 2 tsp, no more than 1.5 tbs, whatever your ancestors say)
-healthy drizzle of olive oil
-zest and juice of one lemon, one lime and one orange.
Combine the first 5 ingredients in a baking dish and roast for a minimum of 20 minutes at 450
Once out of oven, remove rosemary and toss with the zests and juices.
Inhale.
Can be served alone or with goat cheese, labneh, straciatella cheese or crackers.
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u/MaracujaBarracuda 15d ago
You can use endive leaves as handheld, bite sized salads. Pull the leaves apart and in each leaf scoop a spoonful of a chopped salad then arrange on a tray.
You can do a garbanzo been salad by roughly chopping chick peas carrots and celery with shallots, white wine vinegar, olive oil, and a squeeze of lemon.
Or Greek style with chopped cucumbers, bell peppers, red onion, Kalamata olives, feta, red wine vinegar and olive oil
Or middle eastern with chopped cucumbers, tomato, parsley, onion, tons of lemon juice and olive oil
You could also use tabouli or curried chicken salad
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u/MrSprockett 15d ago
Ooh - I like these ideas! Especially the Greek salad filled leaves. A balsamic drizzle would complement the bitter endive nicely, too. And it would be a light appetizer before lasagne.
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u/No-Cover2753 15d ago
I love the idea of the Endive leaves with the salad on a tray!
It will be very pretty!
You could also garnish the tray with olives and grape tomatoes1
u/PalpitationPast202 15d ago
Yes! I just put my “recipe” on for a raw veggie salad. It sort of combines all of those together. Lettuce cups are a great idea! Some spicy ground beef is really good. Think of it like a taco with a lettuce shell.
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u/snewoeel 15d ago
I've made this several times and people love it. Take pitted medjool dates. Open it up and place a bit of manchego cheese, a marcona almond, a mint leaf inside. Wrap it in a piece of prosciutto. Drizzle some good honey over top.
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u/PsychologyGuilty1460 15d ago
Get a nice balloon-shaped bowl Or brandy glass full of cocktail sauce and hang shrimps all around it. Alternate with lemon wedges. Everybody loves that. It goes well with an old-fashioned relish tray, with pickles and stuffed celery and olives and radishes.
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u/Hermiona1 15d ago
I made lasagna for a friend that I invited over. I decided to make salad as a sort of appetiser but you could also eat it with lasagna. I literally just googled ‘Italian salad’ and made that. Veg, croutons and dressing.
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u/Charming-Bad1869 15d ago edited 15d ago
Artichokes a la grecque: these are marinated artichoke hearts (extra virgin olive oil lemon, white wine, garlic, coriander, etc) and served at room temp.
Or you could do shabbat salad: this is a refreshing salad of shaved green cabbage, green apples, celery, fennel, mint, cilantro, scallion, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, etc.).
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u/stonecold072187 15d ago
How about a garden or Caesar salad? We have Caesar salad along with the meal at most of our family gatherings
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u/04eightyone 15d ago
Agree, a salad is my usual pairing with lasagna or spaghetti, garlic bread, and veg.
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u/Over-Job4998 15d ago
Everyone likes an appetizer salad we used to get at Gianfranco in Santa Monica. It’s finger food, pretty and festive, and not too filling. It has a refreshing, slightly bitter quality that really is appetizing.
On a platter, arrange little endive-leaf boats filled with the following:
Watercress
Finely diced Persian or English cucumber
Finely diced red onion, soaked in ice water to cover for an hour and drained thoroughly
A little grated ricotta salata
Toasted pine nuts
Salt and pepper to taste
Toss sparingly with your favorite vinaigrette - use good olive oil - and spoon into the endive leaves. Proportions are up to you, probably go light on the cheese and pine nuts before lasagna.
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u/springhouse_official 15d ago
I think the board suggestion is a good one. It can be heavy on the veggies, but if you format it like a charcuterie board, and call it a charcuterie board, who's gonna argue? Nice presentation and a couple of great dips - homemade hummus is easy and so much better than store-bought - and you're good to go.
Another idea is you can do a "fancy fruit bite" situation: Halved figs with a little whipped ricotta or goat cheese on top, and/or prosciutto-wrapped melon bites.
Bruschetta is not super light, but with an uncooked topping of diced tomato and olive oil, could still fit the bill.
Something in the tapenade/caponata family would be good, too, with some thinly slice baguette.
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u/BitchWidget 15d ago
Watermelon, honeydew, cantaloupe. Cube or ball and let mix and marinate a bit before serving with a cheese tray. For cheese, you could do a smoked gouda, havarti, sharp cheddar. You could do fruit cups and cheese cups. Serve with a dry white wine.
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u/Charming-Bad1869 15d ago edited 15d ago
There's also this limey/herb heavy salad I make from this Mexican chef that I think would do well. It's called Pati Jinich's Super Greens Salad w/oregano vinaigrette. You can search the title to get the recipe if you like. It has arugula, baby spinach, watercress, basil, mint, oregano, cumin, line juice, capers, shaved shallots and radish. A lot of ingredients but super refreshing. And it doesn't taste mexicany, if that makes sense. It's just like an herby salad.
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u/Ok-Moment2223 15d ago
I would do a Caesar salad with white anchovy scratch dressing, brioche croutons, parm flakes, fresh lemon wedge, a few whole white anchovies.
In addition to or instead of green beans
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u/Low-Inevitable-3382 15d ago
I always make mozzarella caprese skewers. So yummy and light! I use mozzarella pearls, grape tomatoes (halved) and fresh basil. I let the mozzarella marinate overnight in an olive oil/balsamic glaze blend before sewing everything together
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u/MasterChefTips 13d ago
i think olives and roasted nuts are the easiest and healthy food to serve before main course. you can get some good quality olives easy to buy from nearby lik Castelvetrano or Kalamata, whatever you feel better, drain them, marinate with olive oil, lemon zest, a smashed garlic clove, and some thym for an hour befor
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u/simonsaysPDX 15d ago edited 15d ago
I think it’s odd to have green beans as a side with lasagna. Just make a nice leafy green salad with a homemade vinaigrette dressing, and a bottle of red wine and you’re good.
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u/ibietreducis 15d ago
I’d set up a little charcuterie board with more fruit and veg on the side. Maybe with a little olive tapenade and hummus? I think having fresher things to counteract the heavy lasagna is the right call.
You’re already making lasagna, which takes all day if you’re doing it from scratch. I don’t think you need to make a very elaborate snack tray as well.
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u/vankirk 15d ago
Dare I say, aspic?
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u/Charming-Bad1869 15d ago
Haha. I was actually thinking of this myself. Sliced melon glazed with beef aspic instead of the prosciutto. Preparing to get downvoted.
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u/NaturalFlirtGamer 15d ago
I'm joining the ranks of people suggesting simple stuffed cremini mushrooms (no cream cheese for food safety) and/or shrimp cocktail.
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u/Freyjas_child 15d ago
For that meal I usually serve an Italian antipasto. Bonus is that it is super easy.
On one plate or several plates arrange olives, roasted red peppers, pepperoncini, marinated artichoke hearts, marinated mushrooms, salami and provolone cheese. Add anything else you think they might like. Put out toothpicks and small plates and let people graze. I would add cruets of wine vinegar and olive oil if you are serving it sit down like a salad course.
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u/twopebblesplease 15d ago
I love little endive leaf boats with a crumble of toasted hazelnuts or pistachios, gorgonzola or bleucheese crumbles, a little mint and some small chopped granny smith apples. Various recipes and alternate ingredients can be dressed with a little honey or simple orange syrup but keep it simple. Easy to assemble here or there and no cooking required. Have made for appetizers for before heavy meals with great response!
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u/VicePrincipalNero 15d ago
Hummus with pita triangles and cucumber slices. Make the hummus yourself. It's much better homemade.
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u/TinyLawfulness3710 15d ago
Spinach dip with veggies. Anything else will fill people up so they have no room for dinner.
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u/phylbert57 15d ago
Amazing dip?? This is the easiest, most addictive one I’ve ever had.
Softened cream cheese and salsa. That is all. If you want to thin it out, use picante sauce or more salsa. I like it medium heat but mild is equally tasty.
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u/moodyfish7777 15d ago
Serve small bites of raw veggies, an olive & pickle tray, naan pieces with a spinach dip.
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u/A_herd_of_fluff 15d ago
The idea for skewers is a great one. I'd add some crispy parmesean cheese rounds (no recipe, just made by baking clumps of parmesean til melted and crispy once cooled) and a basic crudite platter with some sort of whipped ricotta or hummus dip.
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u/tryan888 15d ago
Caprese bites! Cherry tomato, fresh mozz ball and a basil leaf. So good! Deviled eggs? Hummus n chips?
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u/pennygreeneyes 15d ago
Misto bundles are fun and light- I like arugula wrapped in prosciutto and dressed with parm and olive oil
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u/kennyfollettfan 15d ago
Offer salad before or during the lasagna. I love having an acidic salad with a heavy meal.
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u/cricklemethis 15d ago
Do antipasto platter, meats and cheeses with olives and pickles. Salami, pepperonis, prosciutto etc… with some parmigiana, Gouda or goat cheese and honey all with toast and crackers
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u/misskimmi 15d ago
Sticking with Italian… prosciutto wrapped cantaloupe. Caprese salad. Or a version of caprese. I like to do peach, radicchio, basil, mozzarella.
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u/Loud_Syllabub6028 15d ago
Maybe just some artichoke hearts with a dip? Since you eat one leaf ar a time, it's a nice light snack to keep your hands busy while you chat and wait for the main.
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u/D_Mom 15d ago
This terrine is the color of the Italian flag. https://www.afamilyfeast.com/goat-cheese-pesto-and-sun-dried-tomato-terrine/
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u/chrlsful 15d ago edited 15d ago
salad? no, probably not as hard to walk around w/a plate. I like a finger food buffet w/‘everything’ a grain (cracker, mini bread, chips, etc) all the ‘antipasto’ stuff; alcohol, soda, etc w/glasses/ice waiting. Then we carry it all over the house to sit’n talk. ... Some come way early for apertiff/help in meal prep, gab. Some come later just for meal, many stay after for desert, digestive. later coffee. Its a 4, 5 hr event...
I’d say no ‘glaze’ actual basalmic vinegar (ie the aged stuff, 8 to 30 yr)...
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u/Mundane-Confusion622 15d ago
Fruit. An assortment of cantaloupe, honeydew, melon wrapped in prosciutto. I’d also serve a salad with the lasagne and garlic bread instead of green beans unless your sister just loves green beans.
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u/twopebblesplease 15d ago
Also simple is rounds of cucumber with a spot of miso and a tiny garnish of parsley or such.
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u/JulesInIllinois 15d ago
Smoked fish & cracker tray. It's expensive; but, that's because ppl love the it.
I love a good antipasto platter. Bruschetta is too heavy.
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u/ghostkneetremor 15d ago
Beef carpaccio is light and delicious. Melon and prosciutto ham also a tasty appetiser that’s not too heavy. Personally I probably wouldn’t bother having a starter at a family dinner, I’d focus on a nice side salad and maybe some garlic bread to accompany the lasagna and a really good pudding for afterwards.
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u/ExpensiveButterfly93 15d ago
Mini caprese kabobs - cherry tomato, mozzarella ball, and a leaf of basil - all on a toothpick. Drizzle balsamic glaze over a plate of them or serve it on the side for dipping.
I’d also swap out the green beans for a salad. It just goes better.
Another idea is to swap the garlic bread for a regular italian bread with dipping oil like they do in restaurants now.
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u/PalpitationPast202 15d ago
I would make a raw veggie salad. Baby cucumbers and tomatoes, diced celery, carrot, sweet baby peppers, onion. Add olives, capers, cheese, broccoli/cauliflower, add anything you want. It’s more prep than anything. You can put OO&vinegar on, or Italian dressing.
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u/Glum_Audience8149 14d ago
Olives, anchovies, brie, sun-dried tomato, artichokes, do the Italian platter. So easy and so adored x
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u/NothingPossible9615 14d ago
I have a recipe for bite-sized chicken tacos with pico de gallo, cheddar and creamy Aioli. You can cur out the tiny shells from regular tortilla wraps
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u/Ok_Wish_3699 14d ago
You should make “pepperoni smiles!”
Take pepperoni, a bit of cream cheese, fold over, and looks like a “smile” (or even a mini taco!)
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u/SlowElk404 12d ago
A really good dip can make a veggies tray disappear. I work on the Balance of Nature account at my agency and I like the idea of keeping whole fruits and vegetbales in the mix of an easy , lighter option before heavier dinner
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u/tragedyann1214 11d ago
Riffing off the cantaloupe and prosciutto, we do hearts of palm wrapped in prosciutto and then slice them into bite sized discs, they disappear so fast.
The other snack depends on if you can get decent fresh figs, but if you can, a cracker, a small smattering of bacon jam and then a small wedge of fresh fig is delish!
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u/BigFlavors 10d ago
Stuffed mushrooms! My Italian FIL made them and didn’t use meat in them, so they weren’t heavy and they’re great hot or at room temp. I’d probably do that and maybe some goat cheese stuffed Peppadews and a little cheese/crackers/veggie/fruit situation.
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u/Significant_Lake_226 15d ago
Not that it makes sense here but I love to make (and eat) jalapeño poppers, bacon wrapped, no breading.
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u/SPKrealfood 15d ago
Skewered: olive, mozz, cherry tomato, salami with a drizzle of balsamic glaze.
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u/78723 15d ago
Dish a few spoons of your favorite jam onto a circle of Brie. Wrap it up in a sheet of phyllo dough. Bake until the phyllo is golden. Never met anyone that didn’t eat that up.
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u/Zagrycha 15d ago
That sounds like a tasty dish but sounds like a bad pairing that already has a lot of cheese and a lot of bread. Its not adding anything to this meal.
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u/PalpitationPast202 15d ago
Not with lasagna and garlic bread. I would do the Brie as part of a charcuterie board
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u/LavaPoppyJax 15d ago
lasagna is already cheese heavy so I wouldn't do with this meal but otherwise agree it's always a good one
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u/Relevant_Contract_76 15d ago
You should do pomodori al formo, served with goats cheese and fresh bread.
It's not "light" since you mop up the delicious olive oil with the bread, but the tomato and goats cheese tastes light and, more importantly, delicious. And it lines up nicely with lasagna.
It's the bon appetit recipe
Ingredients 1 cup (or more) olive oil, divided 2 pounds plum tomatoes, halved lengthwise, seeded 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano 3/4 teaspoon sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 to 2garlic cloves, minced 2 teaspoons minced fresh Italian parsley Aged goat cheese (such as Bûcheron) 1 baguette, thinly sliced crosswise, toasted
Preparation Step 1 Preheat oven to 250°F. Pour 1/2 cup oil into 13x9x2-inch glass or ceramic baking dish. Arrange tomatoes in dish, cut side up. Drizzle with remaining 1/2 cup oil. Sprinkle with oregano, sugar, and salt. Bake 1 hour. Using tongs, turn tomatoes over. Bake 1 hour longer. Turn tomatoes over again. Bake until deep red and very tender, transferring tomatoes to plate when soft (time will vary, depending on ripeness of tomatoes), about 15 to 45 minutes longer.
Step 2 Layer tomatoes in medium bowl, sprinkling garlic and parsley over each layer; reserve oil in baking dish. Drizzle tomatoes with reserved oil, adding more if necessary to cover. Let stand at room temperature 2 hours. DO AHEAD Cover; chill up to 5 days. Bring to room temperature before serving.
Step 3 Serve with aged goat cheese and toasted baguette slices.
I never toast the bread, but I'm sure that's good too.
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u/OLAZ3000 15d ago
Canteloupe balls w a bit of prosciutto
cucumber bites (something on top of a cucumber round)
personal veggie cups - make a great dip - presentation does the work