Easy starter recipes
Make entertaining a breeze by serving up one of our easy starter recipes. There’s plenty of starter recipe ideas for every time of year, including fresh summer dishes, cosy autumnal numbers and simple dishes that look impressive enough to serve as your Christmas starter, or at your next dinner party.
It can be hard to know what to make for a starter, but we think it’s an opportunity to really experiment and impress, without too much faff. It’s your chance to get taste-buds going, so have a bit of fun with it. For instance, our go-to starter ideas would be thesewhite bean crostini with anchovy and lemon salsa, a whole lot of flavour, and no stress on the cook’s part. Chicken liver pâté is a gorgeous make-ahead option too, and it’s much easier to prepare than you might think. If you’ve a little more time, impress with our hake cigars with saffron yogurt or give vegetarians something to remember with our tomato and burrata salad with basil oil.
Our easy starter recipes include healthy soups, colourful salads, tartlets, smoked salmon, seafood starters and other easy-but-impressive dishes. And you know what make-ahead starter will never let you down? Miso devilled eggs! Explore over 100 party nibbles, if you’re looking for something more casual.
Showing 1-16 of 71 recipes
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...
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...
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...
Soup recipes
Pea soup with dill and wasabi crème fraîche
This elegant pea soup makes an excellent Sunday lunch or Easter starter. The garnish of wasabi peas is optional, but...
Goat's cheese recipes
Whipped goat’s cheese with hot honey
Lightening up soft goat’s cheese with yogurt and oil and whizzing it up so it’s light and fluffy is a...
Dip recipes
Piedmontese bagna cauda
Bagna cauda is THE dip of Piedmontese cuisine. This simple dish contains heaps of garlic, anchovy and olive oil –...
30-minute meal recipes
Pickled blackberry and whipped feta tartines
These open sandwiches are topped with silky smooth whipped feta, piquant quick-pickled blackberries and peppery rocket leaves – a trio...
Garlic recipes
Ajo blanco
Also known as white gazpacho, this southern Spanish chilled soup combines sweet grapes, creamy almonds and bread to create a...
Raw fish recipes
Tuna tartare with avocado, soy and ginger
A speedy, simple little starter that’s full of flavour, this tartare combines creamy avocado with spankingly fresh tuna in an...
Prawn recipes
Vietnamese prawn baked tomatoes (Chạo tôm)
Thuy Pham’s baked tomatoes are a twist on Vietnamese dish, Chạo tôm. In the traditional Vietnamese dish, prawn cakes are...
Sustainable recipes
Hake cigars with saffron yogurt
Nathan Outlaw’s filo-wrapped hake cigars make the perfect starter or nibbles to serve with white wine on a sunny evening....
Burrata recipes
Burrata with croutons and nettle and basil pesto
Creamy burrata gets served up alongside croutons for crunch and a pepped up nettle pesto. A simple spring starter from...
Christmas starter recipes
Parmesan and paprika custards with quince toast
With umami-rich parmesan, smoky paprika and fruity quince paste soldiers for dipping, these savoury set custards provide a simple make-ahead...
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