Festive starter recipes

Gooey, melted cheese and crispy, golden bread make a stunning centrepiece to share with friends over drinks or as a dinner party starter – make ahead for fuss-free entertaining

Make this cured salmon and prawn dish as a classy starter for a dinner party. It takes a few days of prep, but it’s well worth it for the flavour that you get

Impress guests with our creamy cauliflower cheese rolls. These easy canapés are wrapped in crunchy filo pastry and topped with sesame seeds

Top toasted sourdough with goat's cheese, honey-roasted pears and walnuts to make these tasty tartines. They take just two minutes to prep and deliver one of your 5-a-day

James Martin's stunning seafood starter is guaranteed to impress at any dinner party - layer with beetroot, orange and tangy horseradish cream

Get your dinner party off to a great start with a silky-smooth chicken liver parfait. Serve with toasted brioche and a sweet chutney for an indulgent starter

This extra-special vegetarian starter is bursting with contrasting flavours and textures, such as spiralized pear, crunchy roasted nuts and creamy cheese

James Martin's seafood starter has a delicate balance of salty, sharp, rich and smoky flavours - a mouthwatering start to a Bonfire Night menu

Serve this halloumi, carrot, orange and watercress salad with a mustard and honey dressing for an easy lunch or starter. It takes just 20 minutes to make and delivers one of your 5-a-day

Whet the appetite for the main event by serving guests this special chicken terrine with leeks and apricots. It can be made up to three days ahead

This speedy, zesty version of the Swedish classic cuts the curing time to 30 minutes and makes a special starter for two

This Ukrainian dish is traditionally eaten at Christmas - serve on toasted rye bread for a crostini-like starter or party canapé

This festive seafood starter, finished with a garlicky basil dressing, can be prepared ahead - ideal for a fuss-free dinner for two

James Martin's luxuriously rich dinner party starter can be made up to two days in advance for fuss-free entertaining - serve with toasted brioche, cornichons and chutney.

This indulgent sharing platter makes an impressive dinner party starter with trout pâté, crisp coated mackerel fillets and smoked salmon

Serve these Burmese-inspired fritters with a garlic dipping sauce as a starter, canapé or simple snack. They're crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside

Entertain a crowd with this attractive chickpea dip - make the hummus and herby oil ahead, then assemble at the last minute

Give the classic prawn cocktail a twist by pairing crayfish tails with tangy horseradish and creamy avocado in this delicious dinner party starter

This versatile recipe can be altered to transform your leftover cheese into a help-yourself starter - perfect served with crusty bread

This sophisticated dish makes an elegant dinner party starter, balancing the sweetness of the apple and malt loaf with a tangy vinaigrette

Elegant yet full-flavoured, guests will love putting together these bites - make the beef and crème fraîche topping in advance to get ahead

Serve seafood on a sharing platter and let everyone build their own little prawn cocktail bites for a perfect dinner party starter or canapé

This stunning starter can be assembled ahead, then topped with dressed leaves just before serving.

MasterChef finalist, Alex Rushmer, shows us how to create a show-stopping vegetarian starter for the festive season