Dinner party starter recipes
Get your next gathering off to a delicious start with one of our dinner party starter recipes.
These impressive entrées include dinner party classics like elegant soups, salads, tartlets and terrines. There are plenty of make-ahead dishes and lots of plant-based ideas for vegetarians and vegans. Or why not opt for something a little fancy in the form of scallop recipes? Start planning your next dinner party with a browse through these test-kitchen approved starter ideas.
That’s the starter taken care of, now how about the main course? Choose from 100+ easy dinner party recipes.
Showing 1-16 of 78 recipes
Save recipe
Harissa recipes
Harissa, feta and filo cigars
Tangy feta meets fiery harissa and sweet honey, all wrapped up in crunchy filo. The perfect pre-dinner bite or bougie...
-
Easy
Save recipe
Houmous recipes
Cauliflower houmous with pickled onions and cauliflower
“This rustic cauliflower houmous will ruin you for the shop-bought variety,” says food writer Ravinder Bhogal. Top with punchy pickled...
-
Medium
Save recipe
Easy starter recipes
Smashed potatoes with crème fraîche and roe
Food writer Ravinder Bhogal’s smashed potatoes with crème fraîche, chives and roe (or caviar if you’re feeling extragavant) make for...
-
Easy
Save recipe
Scallop recipes
Chilli-soy scallops with ginger and spring onion oil
Tender meaty scallops are dressed with classic Cantonese accompaniments in this starter recipe: one punchy and savoury, full of soy...
-
Easy
Save recipe
Spring onion recipes
Spring onion soup with green oil
A seasonal twist on leek and potato, this spring onion soup has a fresher flavour. Show off by decorating it...
-
Easy
Save recipe
Soufflé recipes
Smoked haddock and gruyère soufflés
Debora Robertson’s twice-baked smoked haddock soufflés are great if you’re at all nervous about making soufflés because you do the...
-
Medium
Save recipe
Soup recipes
Best of the best French onion soup
Create the ultimate French onion soup with our masterclass recipe – read more about the magic behind it here. The...
-
Medium
Save recipe
Dip recipes
Piedmontese bagna cauda
Bagna cauda is THE dip of Piedmontese cuisine. This simple dish contains heaps of garlic, anchovy and olive oil –...
-
Easy
Save recipe
Italian pasta recipes
Tortellini in brodo
A Piedmontese classic, this dish from chef Chris Leach at Italian restaurant Manteca in London might look simple but is...
-
Medium
Save recipe
Trout recipes
Lemon and pink peppercorn cured trout terrine
This trout terrine with fruity and floral pink peppercorns takes a bit of time, but is so worth it for...
-
Easy
Save recipe
Trout recipes
Brown sugar-cured trout with easy wheaten bread
This dish sings with aniseed flavours, from the spices in the trout cure to the glorious tarragon herb butter on...
-
Easy
Save recipe
Trout recipes
Cured trout tartare with apple and nori
Cured trout tartare is a simple, relatively effortless starter. Curing your own trout might sound daunting, but all it takes...
-
Easy
Save recipe
Halloween recipes
Mini pumpkin fondues
How do you make a pumpkin even tastier? Fill it with cheese, of course! Make the most of sweeter mini...
-
Easy
Save recipe
Squash recipes
Butternut squash velouté with green curry foam
There’s soup, and then there’s velouté – its silkier, richer counterpart. Chef Kerth Gumbs’ squash velouté shows how a handful...
-
Easy
Save recipe
'Nduja recipes
Charred purple sprouting broccoli with ‘nduja, kale pesto and crackling crumb
This dish from The Free Company restaurant near Edinburgh makes a cracking starter or side dish. Charred broccoli is elevated...
-
Easy
Save recipe
Cold soup recipes
Sweetcorn gazpacho
This bright yellow chilled soup is thrumming with sweetcorn’s delicious flavour, balanced out by yellow pepper and jalapeño for a...
-
Easy
Subscribe to our magazine
Food stories, skills and tested recipes, straight to your door... Enjoy 5 issues for just £5 with our special introductory offer.
Subscribe
Unleash your inner chef
Looking for inspiration? Receive the latest recipes with our newsletter