Vegetarian Christmas starter recipes

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

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

Try these super-clever caramelised mushroom tartlets on those occasions when you're entertaining and need an exciting canapé, but could do without the faff

Try a healthy twist on classic comfort food with this silky veggie soup, topped with almonds. It’s low in fat and calories but packed full of flavour

Roast your vegetables in honey before blitzing into this velvety smooth, spiced soup - served with garlicky, zesty ciabatta slices for dipping

Take puff pastry and top with banana shallots and ready-cooked chestnuts for these stylish vegetarian tarts – a great dinner party starter

This spicy soup combines red lentils, apples and parsnip for a smooth, warming soup - a low fat meal that you can make ahead and freeze

Try these colourful vegan spring rolls as canapés for a party, vibrant with fresh veg and juicy mango. Serve with a sweet chilli dipping sauce

Earthy beetroot works perfectly with creamy goat's cheese for an easy but impressive starter

Roasting the onions gives the soup a rich caramelised flavour that really hits the spot on a chilly day

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

A smart veggie starter that will impress even the biggest foodie at your dinner table

This sumptuous salad is perfect for a group starter and can be whipped up the night before

This gutsy vegetarian dish lifts the humble pumpkin with a sweet dressing and creamy cheese

James Martin's savoury fritters make a great brunch item and have the fluffiness of American pancakes

Pear, blue cheese and toasted nuts is a combination made in heaven

Salads don't get much more robust than this – team roasted onions and squash, deep-flavoured cheese, crunchy nuts and healthier grains

Nigella seeds are a flavourful addition to this winter soup; they taste like oregano and have the slight bitterness of mustard seeds

Feed your friends this simple freeze-ahead starter, topped with goat's cheese croutons for added crunch

Satisfying and comforting soup is the ultimate meal in a bowl, like this smooth and spicy North African blend

This simple breaded cheese can be made ahead and frozen, ready to use as a starter for a dinner party with friends

These fabulous soufflés are not as nervewracking to cook and serve as traditional ones, and can be prepared ahead

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

This impressive-looking dish makes a wonderful starter for a dinner party