Trader Joe’s carries an assortment of frozen vegetarian appetizers, including spanikopita, taquitos, pakoras (vegan), samosas, and egg rolls. In addition, vegetarian frozen pizzas and flatbreads can be sliced and served as appetizers.
Read appetizer ingredient labels carefully to determine whether or not it is really vegetarian or vegan. Note that the mushroom turnovers have gelatin, the arancini balls have chicken fat and the roasted vegetable pizza has honey in the crust.
Trader Joe’s also carries a couple small, precut fresh vegetable trays. Take the vegetables out of the plastic and arrange them on a nice serving plate. Alternatively, you can easily make your own vegetable plate with cherry tomatoes, broccoli, jicama, baby carrots, celery and olives served with a creamy salad dressing or dip.
Cheese plates are an appetizer staple for parties and Trader Joe’s has an excellent selection of cheeses, breads and crackers. Embellish your cheese plate with nuts, fresh fruit (grapes and sliced apples or pears), olives and tasty spreads (honey, chutney, sun dried tomato, artichoke spread).
Trader Joe’s also has all the ingredients for an impressive Middle Eastern platter, including hummus, feta cheese cubes, kalamata olives, cherry tomatoes, and pita bread and chips.
Create a colorful Mexican appetizer plate with tortilla chips, salsa, refried beans, corn relish and guacamole.
Make a super-easy, crowd-pleasing appetizer with some combination of bread, spread and garnish. For example, top thinly sliced baguettes (white or whole grain) with:
- brie, apricot preserves or mango chutney, and a walnut half
- artichoke spread, shredded parmesan cheese and a small slice of roasted red pepper
- sun dried tomatoes, goat cheese and a kalamata olive
All the above can be served at room temperature, but they’re especially tasty when toasted in the oven.