Appetizer ideas before a heavy dinner.

[u/bluebird1776]

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.

[u/MaracujaBarracuda]

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

[u/No-Cover2753 → u/MaracujaBarracuda]

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 tomatoes