Make-ahead Christmas starters
Need a festive head-start? Don’t we all. Here’s our round-up of make-ahead Christmas starters – from classic salmon blinis, to soups and lighter salads. You can make some days in advance, or part-make some the night before. On your marks, get set…
Showing 1-12 of 36 recipes

Christmas starter recipes
Cornish gouda with sourdough and rocket
A cheese course is a special treat at Christmas but if you fancy something different...

Make-ahead Christmas starters
Potted duck with pistachio
This pimped potted duck starter is easy to make ahead of time and will lend...

Christmas starter recipes
Beetroot-cured salmon with watercress
This colourful Christmas starter uses beetroot and colourful citrus zest to produce a beetroot-cured salmon...

Christmas canapés
Devilled eggs
The ultimate Christmas party food, devilled eggs are about as moreish as canapés get. Popular,...

Snacks and nibbles
Smoked haddock scotch eggs with lemon mayo
”I’m not sure why, but using haddock instead of sausagemeat makes these scotch eggs feel...

Christmas starter recipes
Classic prawn cocktail
Make our classic prawn cocktail when you want to whip up a starter in just...

Make-ahead Christmas starters
Pork and rabbit rillettes
David Everitt-Matthias – head chef at Le Champignon Sauvage in Cheltenham – shares his recipe...

Duck recipes
Duck, pork belly and green olive terrine
Henry Harris’ duck terrine recipe is a great starter for Christmas or, indeed, a swish...

Make-ahead Christmas starters
Mackerel pâté with quick-pickled radishes and spelt
Homemade mackerel paté is an easy but impressive starter, that takes very little time to...

Christmas starter recipes
Ham hock terrine
This stunning terrine is a great way to use up leftover Boxing Day ham, as...

Burns Night recipes
Venison terrine with prunes, orange, juniper and thyme
Gill Meller’s venison terrine, flavoured with orange zest and sweet prunes, makes a tasty starter...

Make-ahead Christmas starters
Speedy mackerel pâté
Find out how to make smoked mackerel pâté with our quick-fix recipe. It would make...

Christmas canapés
Anchovy rarebit
Lucas Hollweg recommends eating this rarebit just as it is or posh it up on...

Showstopping salmon recipes
Cheesy choux wreath with hot smoked salmon and...
An impressive tear-and-share cheesy profiterole wreath served with a fiery smoked salmon, horseradish and cream...

Christmas starter recipes
Smoked salmon, fennel and clementine salad
The refreshing flavours of clementine and fennel cut through the salty richness of the smoked...

Trout recipes
Trout terrine with capers, chopped egg, dill and...
Served with fresh crusty bread and sharp pickled cucumbers, Gill Meller’s trout terrine is studded...

Make-ahead Christmas dinner recipes
Salmon tartare blinis
It wouldn’t be a party without canapés – Raymond Blanc puts his twist on a...

Christmas canapés
Mini pissaladières
These classic French canapés may be small in size but the topping made from anchovies,...

Make-ahead Christmas dinner recipes
Horseradish and preserved lemon salmon roulade
Salmon roulade is retro no more – our new take on the classic recipe combines...

Make-ahead Christmas starters
Potted hot-smoked salmon with onion and apple pickle
It wouldn’t be Christmas without a salmon starter. This potted hot-smoked salmon dish is simple,...