Non-Fried Appetizers
Believe it or not, most appetizers are not fried. To some diners this may sound blasphemous, but fully 60% of all appetizers on the menu are the non-fried variety. Restaurants without deep fryers as well as those with the equipment will attest there are hundreds of popular non-fried appetizers.
Preparation Methods Used With Non-Fried Appetizers
Almost one third (28%) of Non-Fried Appetizers are Grilled. Baking accounts for 14%, followed by Served Chilled/Not Cooked at 14%, Simmered at 10%, Served Chilled/Cooked at 7% and Steamed at 7%.
Non-Fried Preparation Methods |
% Share |
| Grilled | 28% |
| Baked | 14% |
| Served Chilled, Not Cooked |
13% |
| Simmered | 10% |
| Served Chilled, Cooked |
7% |
| Steamed | 7% |
| Smoked | 5% |
| Roasted | 5% |
| Broiled | 3% |
| All Other (Boiled, Warmed, Braised, etc.) |
8% |
| Total, All Non-Fried Appetizer Items | 100% |
Non-Fried Protein Appetizers
Three fourths of all Non-Fried Appetizers are based on a Meat Protein platform, and one fourth are Vegetable based, Cheese based, or Bread based. By far, the most popular Non-Fried Protein Appetizers come from the sea. One in four (28%) non-fried protein appetizers are seafood based, that is, clams, oysters, lobster, crab, mussels, calamari, and so on. Some 13% are finfish and another 12% are shrimp for a total exceeding 55%. The balance is Chicken (16%), Beef (11%), Pork (11%) and Game Meat/Bird (2%).
Non-Fried Protein Appetizers |
% Share |
| Seafood | 28% |
| Chicken | 16% |
| Finfish | 13% |
| Shrimp | 12% |
| Beef | 11% |
| Pork | 11% |
| Beef/Chicken | 2% |
| Pork/Various Seafood |
2% |
| Game Meat/Game Bird |
2% |
| Seafood/Fish/Shrimp | 1% |
| Other | 2% |
| Total, Non-Fried Protein Appetizers |
100% |
Non-Fried Appetizers: Veggies/Cheese/Bread/Other
After Proteins, Vegetables are the second most popular platform for Non-Fried Appetizers,accounting for 38% of the total. Spinach & Artichoke Dip is the leading veggie appetizer, followed by Mushroom items, Guacamole Dips, and Eggplant. Cheese Appetizers are the next largest group (22%) and these Appetizers are most often Nacho Cheese items, Various Cheese Dips, and Baked Cheeses, Assortments, and Quesadillas. Bread based Appetizers such as Garlic Bread, Bruschetta and Focaccias combine for 18% of Non-Protein/Non-Fried Appetizers.
Veggies, Cheese, Bread Appetizers (non-fried) |
|
|
|
| Spinach & Artichoke Dip | 7% | Breads, Breadsticks |
10% |
| Mushroom Appetizers | 5% | Bruschetta | 7% |
| Guacamole Dips | 5% | Focaccia | 1% |
| Artichoke Appetizers | 4% | Bread Based Appetizers | 18% |
| Eggplant, Baba Ghanoush | 3% | Bean Appetizers | 3% |
| Spinach Based | 2% | Pasta Appetizers | 3% |
| Other Vegetables | 12% | Chips and Salsa | 2% |
| Vegetable Based Appetizers: | 38% | Spring Rolls/Egg Rolls | 2% |
| Nachos with Cheese | 11% | Chile Con Queso | 2% |
| Cheese Dips/Assortments | 8% | Other Dips | 2% |
| Quesadilla (Cheese Only) | 3% | Appetizer Sampler/Platter | 1% |
| Cheese Based Appetizers: | 22% | All Others |
7% |
| Total Non-Fried: | 100% |
Flavor Enhancers
Over 70% of Grilled Appetizers use sauces mainly BBQ Sauce, Salsa, Cheese Toppings, Guacamole, or Buffalo Sauce. Six of ten (62%) of Baked Appetizers use flavor enhancers in this order: Sour Cream, Cheese Toppings, BBQ Sauce, Cheese Dips, Salsas, Butter. Nearly half of Chilled/Not Cooked Appetizers do not use a sauce, but those that do are most likely to use Tartar Sauce, Cocktail Sauce, Lime Based Sauces or Olive Oil Sauces. Naturally, the leading sauce associated with Cooked, Chilled Appetizers are various Cocktail Sauces, Tartar Sauces and a surprising amount of Lime based sauces. Some 62% use a sauce of some kind.
What’s on the Menu at Leading Chains and Independents
Meat Appetizers (non-fried) |
Restaurant |
Flavor Enhancers |
| Baby Back Pork Ribs |
Stuart Anderson's Black Angus |
BBQ Sauce, Seasoned Lightly |
| Beef & Bean Nachos | Tia's Tex-Mex |
Nacho Sauce, Sour Cream, Pico de Gallo |
| Chicken Naan | Bombay Caf? |
Chutney, Tomato |
| Chicken Satay |
Alcatraz Brewing Co. |
Peanut Sauce, Spicy & Hot |
| Honey Ginger Ribs |
Tommy Tang's |
BBQ Sauce |
| Mojo Bones |
Rainforest Caf? (U.K.) |
BBQ Sauce, Smokey |
| Sweet & Spicy Thai Thighs |
Flattop Grill |
Sweet Chili Sauce, Sesame Oil |
| Seafood (non-fried) |
Restaurant |
Flavor Enhancers |
| Seafood (non-fried) |
Shun Lee Palace |
Black Bean Sauce |
| Baked Garlic Shrimp |
Keg Steakhouse & Bar | Cheese Topping, Garlic & Herbs |
| Boston Sashimi |
Anthony's Pier 4 | Soy Sauce |
| Carpaccio |
Il Fornaio |
Lemon, Olive Oil Sauce, Italian Spices |
| Hawaiian Blackend Ahi Tuna |
Roy's |
Mustard Sauce |
| Jumbo Shrimp Cockail |
Los Ranchos | Cocktail Sauce Dipping Sauce |
| Marinated Hamachi |
Gramercy Tavern | Vinaigrette, Lemon, Herbs |
| Oyster Roast Carolina Style |
Hooters | Drawn Butter |
| Oysters on The Half Shell |
Chart House | Lemon |
| Wild Salmon |
Le Bernardin | Vinaigrette, Horseradish Dressing, Yuzu |
| Prince Edward Island Mussels |
Carlucci | White Wine Sauce |
| Grilled Tuna Roll |
Friendly's | Mayonnaise |
| Bread |
Restaurant | Flavor Enhancers |
| Aglio Olio & Breadsticks |
Bertucci's Brick Oven Pizzeria | Olive Oil, Herbs |
| Garlic Cheese Pizza Bread |
Cheesecake Factory | Cheese Topping, Marinara Dip, Garlic |
| Crab Bread |
Champps Americana | Marinara Sauce |
| Bruschetta |
Caf? Winberie's | Pesto Sauce, Basil, Garlic, Pesto |
| Italian Breadsticks | Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza | Italian Spices, Marinara Dip |
| Roasted Cuban Bread |
Bahama Breeze | Cilantro, Garlic |
| Steamed Dumpling |
Crystal Thai | Sweet & Sour Sauce |
| Cheese |
Restaurant | Flavor Enhancers |
| Baked Brie |
Aioli Restaurant & Tapas Bar | Jelly Garlic Dipping Sauce |
| Creole Baked Goat Cheese |
Bahama Breeze | Creole Seasonings |
| Veggie Appetizers |
Restaurant | Flavor Enhancers |
| Banzai Roll |
Chaya Brasserie | Ponzu Sauce, Mayo, Wasabi |
| Cajun Stuffed Mushrooms | Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen | Cajun Seasonings |
| Chili Cheese Dip Supreme |
Gold Star Chili | Sour Cream |
| Eggplant Parmigiano Appetizer | Pasta House Company | Meat Sauce, Italian Spices |
| Oven-Steamed Spaghetti Squash |
Oceana | Tomato Concasse |
| Pan Roasted Artichoke |
Kuleto's | Lemon Tarragon Sauce, Aioli Lemon Dip |
| Roasted Red Peppers |
Rosebud | Olive Oil & Garlic |
| Saffron Rice Cake |
Bolo | Saffron |
| Seafood Stuffed Mushrooms |
Landry's Seafood House | Olive Oil |
| Vegetable Garden Rolls |
Saigon Gourmet | Peanut Sauce |
| Potatoes |
Restaurant | Flavor Enhancers |
| Cheddar Skins |
Hamburger Hamlet | Sour Cream |
| Cheese & Bacon Potato Skins |
Bennigan's Irish American Grill | Cheese Topping, Sour Cream, Salsa |
| Potato Skins |
Black-eyed Pea | Sour Cream & Salsa, Ranch Dip, Chives |
| Mexican |
Restaurant | Flavor Enhancers |
| Fajita Quesadilla |
Casa Ole | Cheese Topping, Sour Cream, Pico de Gallo |
| Nachos with Chicken |
Islands Fine Burgers and Drinks | Nacho Cheese Sauce, Garlic, Salsa |
| Quesadilla con Chipotle |
Mimi's Cafe | Chipotle Sauce, Sour Cream |
| Rainforest Pita Quesadilla |
Rainforest Cafe | Pico De Gallo/ Sour Cream |
| Pulled Pork Quesadillas |
Damon's Grill | Sweet & Spicy Sauce, Ranch Dip |
| Seven Layer Nachos |
Kings Family Restaurant | Nacho Cheese Sauce, Mexican Spices |
Dips |
Restaurant |
Flavor Enhancers |
| Creamy Artichoke & Spinach Dip |
Red Robin | Creamy Parmesan Sauce |
| Baba Ghannouj |
Cafe Lebanon | Lemon/Garlic |
| Flaming Spinach & Artichoke Dip |
Clubhouse | Artichoke-Spinach (Dip Sce) |
| Hummos Appetizer |
Cafe Lili | Sesame Seed Paste, Garlic |
| Spinach & Artichoke Dip |
Mimi's Cafe | Cheese Dip |
| Tuscan Hummus |
California Pizza Kitchen | Sesame Garlic Sce, Hummus, Lemon, Basil |
| Tzatziki |
Le Petite Greek | Yogurt Cucumber Dipping Sauce |
| Shrimp and Artichoke Dip |
Romano's Macaroni Grill | Artichoke-Spinach Dipping Sauce |
| Chipotle Corn Salsa |
Macheezmo Mouse | Salsa , Chipotle |
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