At a Glance:
- Parmesan cheese is ideal for quick, crowd-pleasing appetisers.
- Using a bulk parmesan cheese block ensures you’re always ready.
- Garlic knots, crisps, stuffed mushrooms, zucchini fries, and spinach balls are easy and popular choices.
Busy weekends at your restaurant demand quick, delicious, and crowd-pleasing appetisers. Parmesan cheese, whether bought as blocks, shredded or grated can elevate many dishes. Here are five popular appetisers using parmesan cheese that are easy to prepare and sure to delight your guests.
- Parmesan Garlic Knots
Ingredients:
- 1 bulk parmesan cheese block, grated
- Pizza dough
- Olive oil
- Fresh garlic, minced
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt
Instructions:
- Heat your oven up to 400°F (200°C).
- Flatten the pizza dough and slice it into strips.
- Twist each strip into a knot and arrange them on a baking tray.
- Combine olive oil, finely chopped garlic, and parsley in a bowl.
- Brush the garlic mixture over the knots.
- Sprinkle generously with grated parmesan cheese.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.
- Serve warm with marinara sauce.
- Parmesan Crisps
Ingredients:
- 1 bulk parmesan cheese block, grated
- Freshly ground black pepper (optional)
- Herbs (optional)
Instructions:
- Heat your oven up to 375°F (190°C).
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place tablespoon-sized heaps of grated parmesan cheese onto the sheet, flattening each heap slightly.
- Sprinkle with black pepper or herbs if desired.
- Bake for 5-7 minutes (until the chips turn golden and crispy).
- Let cool before serving. These crisps can be served alone or as a garnish for soups and salads.
- Parmesan Stuffed Mushrooms
Ingredients:
- 1 bulk parmesan cheese block, grated
- Large button mushroom with stems removed
- Cream cheese
- Bread crumbs
- Chopped parsley, use fresh
- Add salt and pepper (for taste)
Instructions:
- Heat your oven up to 375°F (190°C).
- Mix the ingredients: grated parmesan cheese, cream cheese, breadcrumbs, chopped parsley, salt, and pepper properly.
- Stuff the cheese mixture into each mushroom cap and put the stuffed mushrooms on a baking tray.
- Bake them for 15-20 minutes (until the tops turn golden).
- Serve the mushroom hot. These stuffed mushrooms are always a crowd-pleaser.
- Parmesan Zucchini Fries
Ingredients:
- 1 bulk parmesan cheese block, grated
- Zucchini cut into fries
- Bread crumbs
- Eggs, beaten
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Heat your oven up to 425°F (220°C).
- Mix grated parmesan cheese, bread crumbs, salt, and pepper properly in a bowl.
- Dip the zucchini fries in the beaten eggs, then coat them with the breadcrumb mixture.
- Place the fries on a baking sheet. If possible, use baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
- Bake them for 20-25 minutes, turning halfway through, until crispy and golden.
- Serve the hot fries with a dipping sauce of your choice. These fries are a healthier option than traditional fries.
- Parmesan Spinach Balls
Ingredients:
- 1 bulk parmesan cheese block, grated
- Frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
- Bread crumbs
- Eggs, beaten
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Heat your oven up to 350°F (175°C).
- Mix the grated parmesan cheese, drained spinach, bread crumbs, beaten eggs, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- Prepare small balls from the mixture and place them on a baking sheet.
- Bake the balls for 15-20 minutes until firm and golden is achieved.
- Serve warm. These spinach balls are nutritious and packed with flavour.
These quick and easy parmesan cheese appetisers are perfect for busy weekends at your restaurant. Buying parmesan cheese blocks in bulk ensures you have plenty of cheese on hand for all your dishes. Whether you’re making garlic knots, crisps, stuffed mushrooms, zucchini fries, or spinach balls, your guests will love the rich, savoury flavour of parmesan cheese. Try these recipes and watch your customers come back for more!