6 Cheese Appetizers With an Italian Twist

Pecorino brings a savory bite to Abruzzese fried cheese, while melting cheeses give rustic bread toppings their richness. Start with a regional specialty, or choose a quick pastry or bread appetizer for entertaining.

Fried Cheese puts the savory character of Pecorino front and center, wrapped in a simple batter. This traditional appetizer from Abruzzo calls for semi-aged cheese. The appeal is all about that rich pairing of fried batter and Pecorino.

Pro tip: choose a younger cheese if you want a melty center.

Cuoppo di cheese and flowers brings caciocavallo and delicate zucchini blossoms together in a fried appetizer. This vegetarian take on a Neapolitan street-food classic offers an alternative to an all-cheese spread. The flowers give the rich cheese a distinctive companion.

Pro tip: you can flavor the batter with herbs or spices.

Cheese Balls deliver the rich, melty center that makes a fried cheese appetizer so appealing. The recipe combines caciocavallo and Pecorino Toscano in an easy appetizer for sharing. Thyme adds an herbal note alongside the cheeses.

Pro tip: you can flavor the balls with chopped rosemary or fresh or dried oregano.

Cheese Puff Pastry Sticks pair savory Grana Padano with puff pastry, paprika, and poppy seeds. They come together quickly and make a welcome addition to the bread basket. The cheese gives these pastry nibbles a richer character than an everyday breadstick.

Pro tip: try rosemary or pepper in place of the paprika and poppy seeds.

Cheese Crescia, a savory cheese bread, brings the richness of Pecorino Romano and Parmigiano Reggiano to the appetizer table. This Easter specialty comes from Umbria and Marche and can be enjoyed alone or with cured meats. Black pepper adds a pointed contrast to the cheeses.

Pro tip: give the initially sticky dough the full kneading time specified in the recipe.

Cheese Crostoni bring a rich mixture of cheeses to rustic slices of homemade bread. These open-faced bread appetizers are quick to prepare for an informal dinner with friends. Rosemary adds an herbal accent to the creamy cheese topping.

Pro tip: you can substitute milk for the cream.