Build a Better Thanksgiving Starter Who says you can’t think beyond the bird? The appetizer table is where it’s at, and seafood is ready to jump-start the festivities. Share The turkey may be the headliner of Thanksgiving, but the first bites set the tone for the whole meal. A great seafood starter is a no-brainer when you’re entertaining: festive, flavorful, and supremely easy to assemble on the busiest hosting day of the whole year, it’s also light enough that it won’t fill you up before the main event gets underway. Go Light and Bright With Thanksgiving apps, you’re looking to whet the appetite, not overwhelm. This is the moment for zingy flavors that can provide a counterpoint to the rest of dinner. Take our Sweet & Spicy Tuna Lettuce Cups, for example: with green onions, carrots, and Thai red chili spice, it’s an unexpected (and low carb!) addition to the sideboard. For a sophisticated snack, Crab Cucumber Canapé Appetizers enhance the sweetness and delicacy of crab with slivered red onions, capers, and herbed cream cheese. Sardines with Rice Crackers and Ponzu bring a lively, citrusy freshness to smoked sardines, with thinly sliced avocado for creamy richness. Want more of an Italian spin? In-A-Snap Salmon Bruschetta gets its tang from a garlicky tomato pesto blend on a crunchy bruschetta base. Add a sprinkle of Parmesan on top, and you’ve got a starter that looks fancy but comes together with almost no effort. Make It In Advance Ovens, cutting boards, and countertops are in high demand in the hours before Thanksgiving, so pick starters that can be mixed or baked well before the guests arrive. Dips are especially good for this: Our Salmon Party Spread artfully pairs salmon with horseradish, lemon, and fresh herbs for a complex flavor that gets even better after a few hours in the fridge. If you’re in the mood for something bolder, Frank’s RedHot® Baked Buffalo Tuna Dip can be whipped up and popped in the oven the evening before, and then quickly warmed up just before showtime. When the moment comes for your dips’ debut, all you really need is an array of your favorite crackers and some colorful vegetable spears. Keep It (Really) Simple Sometimes simplicity can make the biggest impact before a meal of heavy hitters (no offense to Grandma’s triple-cream potato gratin). Tuna packed in oil and wild caught sardines packed in olive oil let their clean natural salinity shine through. If you want more robustness, pop open a tin of fancy smoked oysters. Ingredient quality matters the most with preparations that are this pared down: drizzle with a little of your finest extra-virgin olive oil, sprinkle with lemon zest, cut up a crusty, fresh loaf of bread to accompany, and let the guests dig in.