Dinner party starter recipes
Kick off your dinner party with this chic selection of starter ideas such as smart soups and prepare-ahead salads.
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Creamy cucumber with gravadlax
- Ready in 25 mins
This light and refreshing cucumber salad also goes well with smoked salmon or pickled herrings
5
ratings
Easy
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Old-school prawn cocktail
By
- Ready in 10 mins
Help bring this retro favourite back into fashion and serve prawn cocktails as the starter at your next dinner party
7
ratings
Easy
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Watercress & celeriac soup with goat's cheese croutons
- Ready in 55 mins
Feed your friends this simple freeze-ahead starter, topped with goat's cheese croutons for added crunch
10
ratings
Easy
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Asparagus, mozzarella & prosciutto parcels
By
- Ready in 20 mins
Try this simple, but smart, starter using English asparagus
57
ratings
Easy
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Chicken liver & pineau pâté
- Ready in 20 mins
A rich, sweet pâté recipe using pineau - a sherry-like aperitif - great as a dinner party starter.
20
ratings
Easy
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Seared scallops with leeks & lemon chilli butter
- Ready in 20 mins
Scallops love a bit of lemon and chilli plus, they are ready in a flash. The perfect way to impress last-minute guests
14
ratings
Easy
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Smoked salmon with prawns, horseradish cream & lime vinaigrette
- Ready in 20 mins
This stunning starter can be assembled ahead, then topped with dressed leaves just before serving
74
ratings
Easy
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Cream of wild mushroom soup
- Ready in 1 hr 10 mins
This rich and filling dish is the perfect way to use up end-of-season mushrooms on the cheap
47
ratings
Easy
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Sautéed scallops with mushrooms & spinach sauce
- Ready in 15 mins
A quick, impressive dish that's easy to prepare and cook, creating stacks of flavour within minutes
22
ratings
Moderately Easy
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Halloumi stuffed peppers
By
- Ready in 50 mins
Full of wonderful flavours and textures, these vegetarian stuffed peppers make a great supper or dinner party starter
22
ratings
Easy
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Pan-fried scallops & chorizo with parsley salad
By
- Ready in 15 mins
Spanish flavours update a simple scallop starter
19
ratings
Easy
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Twice-baked goat’s cheese soufflés with apple & walnut salad
- Ready in 1 hr 20 mins
These fabulous soufflés are not as nervewracking to cook and serve as traditional ones, and can be prepared ahead
19
ratings
For The Keen Cook
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Squid, feta & chorizo salad
By
- Ready in 20 mins
Give squid a go in this punchy restaurant-style starter, ready in minutes
1
rating
Easy
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Creamy smoked salmon, leek & potato soup
By
- Ready in 40 mins
Creamy and low-fat aren't words you often hear together, but that's exactly what you get with this freeze-ahead starter
22
ratings
Easy
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Szechuan pepper chicken with tomato chilli jam
By
- Ready in 50 mins
Everyone loves finger food on a stick. These dinky chicken bites are sure to disappear in seconds
24
ratings
Easy
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Creamy spiced mussels
- Ready in 35 mins
Expand your seafood horizons - this recipe for mussels is not as difficult as you might think
12
ratings
Easy
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Scallops with pea & mint purèe
By
- Ready in 20 mins
This makes a really quick but impressive looking starter. The pea purée is quite soft, so it doubles up as a sauce
18
ratings
Easy
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Mini salmon & hollandaise tarts
By
- Ready in 35 mins
Using ready-made filo pastry makes these little tarts a cinch to make in no time at all
9
ratings
Easy
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Mussels steamed with cider & bacon
- Ready in 1 hr
Mussels are much easier dish to serve up than people realise. Try this easy dish, read the tips, and impress your friends
15
ratings
Easy
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Melty onion toasts
- Ready in 55 mins
Make the onion topping for this simple gastropub-style starter up to two days ahead
8
ratings
Easy
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Thai minced chicken salad
By
- Ready in 50 mins
Known as larb gai in Thailand, the hot spiciness in this chicken salad recipe works really well with the crunchy veg, creating a perfect balance of flavour and heat
30
ratings
Easy
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Spanish baked prawns
By
- Ready in 20 mins
Sizzling spanish seafood, perfect for a summer's evening or a tapas party
26
ratings
Easy
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Pea, mint & spring onion soup with Parmesan biscuits
By
- Ready in 45 mins
The Parmesan 'tuiles' make this soup stylish enough for entertaining - but they take just a few minutes to make
39
ratings
Easy
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Baked mushrooms with ricotta & pesto
By
- Ready in 45 mins
The rich basil sauce helps balance the tangy ricotta and earthy mushroom flavours of this easy vegetarian starter
18
ratings
Easy
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Smoked salmon soufflés
- Ready in 1 hr
These non-scary, freezer-friendly soufflés can be baked ahead, then reheated in the oven before serving
23
ratings
Easy
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Make-ahead mushroom soufflés
- Ready in 45 mins
A soufflé to start always gives your dinner party a 'wow' factor and this make-ahead recipe gives you more time to be the perfect host
20
ratings
Easy
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Grilled field mushrooms with rarebit filling
By
- Ready in 20 mins
The perfect starter, main, snack, lunch, brunch - these are so good you'll want them at every meal!
13
ratings
Easy
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Easy mezze
By
- Ready in 20 mins
Good quality ready-prepared items from the supermarket make this the easiest ever starter
0
ratings
Easy
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Build-your-own-bruschettas
By
- Ready in 15 mins
Pick your favourite toppings and serve up a fun light supper, suitable for veggies and non-veggies
1
rating
Easy
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Easy cheese fondue
By
- Ready in 40 mins
Using mild cheese means everyone in the family can enjoy this classic starter
2
ratings
Easy
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Walnut & Stilton orzotto with roasted squash & Port sauce
By
- Ready in 2 hrs 40 mins
MasterChef finalist, Alex Rushmer, shows us how to create a show-stopping vegetarian starter for the festive season
2
ratings
For The Keen Cook
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Seafood, herb & garlic gratins
By
- Ready in 20 mins
Try this inspiring dish next time you need a great make-ahead starter
5
ratings
Easy
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Hot & sour broth with prawns
- Ready in 15 mins
This healthy starter takes just 15 minutes to make and is a cleansing way to kick off a Chinese meal
12
ratings
Easy
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Marinated beetroot with grilled goat's cheese
By
- Ready in 1 hr 15 mins
Earthy beetroot works perfectly with creamy goat's cheese for an easy but impressive starter
7
ratings
Easy
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Chargrilled vegetable salad
- Ready in 1 hr 20 mins
Serve these chargrilled vegetables with torn buffalo mozzarella, for a lovely starter or light supper
3
ratings
Easy
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Mini Swedish meatballs with cranberry sauce
By
- Ready in 30 mins
Scandinavian-style food is light but packed with flavour. This veritable smorgasbord of little dishes is great for summer entertaining
1
rating
Easy
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Leek & mustard vinaigrette with Carmarthen ham
- Ready in 25 mins
Chef Stephen Terry showcases the best Welsh ingredients in this prepare-ahead dinner party starter
2
ratings
Easy
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Smoked trout pâté & pitta crisps
By
- Ready in 25 mins
Cheaper than smoked salmon, this smoked trout dip makes a smart party nibble or simple starter
0
ratings
Easy
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Bloody Mary oysters
- Ready in 20 mins
The spicy flavours of this classic cocktail marry well with freshly shucked oysters, says chef Matt Tebbutt
0
ratings
Easy
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Kohlrabi & celery remoulade
- Ready in 40 mins
Look out for this pale green veg says Matt Tebbutt, it makes a nice change from celeriac in this recipe
2
ratings
Easy
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Smoked salmon with lentil salad
- Ready in 45 mins
A simply stylish salad that will make an impressive dinner party starter this Christmas
2
ratings
Easy
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Salmon & prawns with dill & lime aïoli
By
- Ready in 15 mins
For a simple, smart starter, just mix mayo with garlic, herbs and a squeeze of lime and serve with seafood and brown bread
6
ratings
Easy
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Parma ham with figs & dolcelatte
By
- Ready in 15 mins
Why not give your Christmas lunch a bit of Italian flair and flavour?
0
ratings
Easy
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Ham hock terrine with piccalilli
By
- Ready in 16 hrs
This make-ahead meaty terrine makes the perfect Christmas or winter dinner party starter
1
rating
Moderately Easy
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Clementine, feta & winter leaf salad
By
- Ready in 20 mins
This wonderfully light salad is packed with easy-to-find seasonal ingredients and makes a great Christmas starter
4
ratings
Easy
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Celeriac tartare with smoked trout
- Ready in 20 mins
This is a twist on remoulade - served with flaked smoked fish and dressed leaves, it makes an easy starter
1
rating
Easy
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The ultimate makeover: Prawn cocktail
- Ready in 35 mins
Try a lighter, modern version of this ever-popular retro starter
4
ratings
Easy
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Deli board with bread & crudités
By
- Ready in 1 hr
olive magazine reader Emily Crawford shares her simple summer platter to kick off a relaxed dinner party
1
rating
Easy
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Serrano ham, olive, feta & rocket platter with homemade crostini
- Ready in 35 mins
Serve this help-yourself platter while you get on with the rest of supper. In summer, add a few sliced fresh figs
3
ratings
Easy
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