Dinner party starters

These crispy paella bites make the perfect canapé for a Spanish-style party. We predict they’re the new deep-fried mac 'n' cheese, watch this space...

Adapt these arancini rice balls to your liking: add fresh herbs, sundried tomatoes or chopped ham. You can also make the balls from leftover cold risotto

This festive make-ahead starter is perfect for a Christmas meal for two. Serve with crunchy toast and a scattering of dill for an impressive seafood dish

This light and refreshing cucumber salad also goes well with smoked salmon or pickled herrings

These South-east Asian grilled fishcakes make for a lovely, light dinner party starter, served with a chilli, cucumber and rice vinegar relish

Look for a buffalo mozzarella to use in this salad, if you can. With chickpeas, prosciutto and hazelnuts, it's a riot of colour and texture

Use crab to take your fishcakes to the next level. These are ideal for sharing and dunking in our tangy tartare sauce. If you can, use fresh crabmeat

Serve up a fibre-rich lunch or side dish with this beetroot, feta and green lentil salad. Bursting with colour, it's full of flavour and nutrients

Enjoy this speedy tomato and mozzarella salad as a side dish, or add some sliced avocado for a filling lunch. Top with basil leaves and crushed crostini for extra flavour and texture

Grow primroses from January to April and use the flowers to make a delicious topping for these sourdough tartines. They make a lovely light lunch, starter or canapé

Rustle up this miso, mushroom and tofu noodle soup with just six simple ingredients. Healthy and low in calories, it makes a tasty light lunch or supper

Quality produce makes this dish, Charentais melon, heirloom tomatoes and salty prosciutto marry beautifully. Ideal as a sharing platter starter for a summer dinner party

Make the most of dates with these Middle Eastern-inspired sweet and savoury filo pastries. Packed with feta, dates and spinach, they make a great side dish

Get your dinner party off to a great start with this salad topped with toasted almonds. Alternatively, it can be made into impressive-looking canapés

Make one of Kerala’s staple dishes – malabar prawns, a speciality of the South Indian coast. They're quick and easy to prepare and full of distinct flavours

A simple salad that looks stunning on the plate. A mix of courgette colours, fragrant mint and salty ricotta salata make this a feast for the senses

Try a clever Christmas-themed update on the ‘butter board’ trend (that’s butter spread on a board with various toppings, ready to slather on bread)