Dinner party starter recipes
86 Recipes
Kick off your meal in style with our chic selection of starters. From soups and salads to scallops and smoked salmon, these elegant dishes are sure to impress.
This stunning starter can be assembled ahead, then topped with dressed leaves just before serving.
Rustle up Tom Kerridge's crab starter with a hint of smoked paprika for your next dinner party. You can make it ahead, leaving you time to sit down and enjoy
Make this moreish vegetarian dish as an easy starter for a dinner party. You can make it in 20 minutes and the sauce can be prepped ahead of time
Bring a Spanish touch to scallops using smoky chorizo and a picada made with hazelnuts, sherry and rustic bread. A vibrant starter or indulgent summer lunch
Make this speedy, cheesy veggie treat for a light supper, or starter. It only needs five ingredients and you can have it on the table in 15 minutes
Treat guests to grilled lobster tails served with a lemon, garlic and parsley butter. They take a little effort, but make an impressive dinner party dish
Feed your friends this simple freeze-ahead starter, topped with goat's cheese croutons for added crunch
Impress guests with this deceptively simple starter that's packed with the lovely flavours of salmon, shrimp, asparagus and apple. Make it in just 20 minutes
Chop up tomatoes, toss with salt, top with creamy burrata and slather with a broad bean-flecked salsa verde to make this simple yet super-tasty salad
If you're looking for a Christmas classic with a twist, this French ham hock and pistachio terrine, transformed into a modern make-ahead starter is for you
A light salmon starter with a crisp salad and honey and mustard dressing. No cooking required, just gravadlax or smoked salmon plus fresh seasonal produce
Fry up some fishcakes for an easy supper on busy weeknights. They're full of nutrients from the omega-3 in the salmon and vitamin C in the sweet potato
Individual tarte Tatin-style bakes with puff pastry, caramelised onions, thyme and ash goat's cheese make a sumptuous vegetarian lunch or dinner party starter
A modern dinner party starter that’s great for a budget - salty feta, sweet grapes, tangy sumac and aniseed dill create contrasting yet complementary flavours
Fresh mackerel is always a winner and grilling gives a deliciously charred quality. Pickled beetroot wedges add an extra tang in this party-perfect, budget-savvy starter
Curing your own salmon is well worth it for taste and wow-factor. Serve this beetroot and berries version as a starter or on crackers as a canapé
Make this classic French fish soup at a dinner party for friends and family. It's a challenge, but will make an impressive starter or main course
Runner beans work really well with spices and these curried filo triangles are the perfect showcase - a great starter or nibble for 6 people
Impress guests with this starter, or fish course, that's perfect for a dinner party. Scallops and radishes are served in a delicate Vietnamese sauce
This broccoli and feta dish makes a great vegetarian starter with a pinch of warming chilli. The preserved lemon yogurt is seriously addictive
Elegant yet full-flavoured, guests will love putting together these bites - make the beef and crème fraîche topping in advance to get ahead
This versatile recipe can be altered to transform your leftover cheese into a help-yourself starter - perfect served with crusty bread
We've made leeks the star of our elegant, simple starter. Hazelnuts add crucial crunch and the anchovy dressing gives the dish an umami depth of flavour
Pair up an epic combination of tomato soup and a cheese toastie to make this flavour-packed meal in just 25 minutes. It makes a comforting supper or starter
