christmas starters

A jar of this fresh-tasting smoked mackerel pâté is great to serve as a starter or to pack for a picnic. This no-cook starter is unbelievably easy to whizz up and costs very little. 

Smoked mackerel pâté

mackerel

tsp horseradish (or 2 tsp horseradish sauce)

Dijon mustard

black pepper

tbsp crème fraîche

½ lemon, juice only

grams/2½oz unsalted butter, chopped

spring onions, chopped

sourdough bread,

Sweet potato soup is a big bowl of comfort. It's vegan, has cheap ingredients, is quick and easy to make. It can also be frozen for future lunches and dinners. Perfection!

Each serving provides 234 kcal, 3g protein, 43g carbohydrates (of which 16g sugars), 4g fat (of which 0.5g saturates), 9g fibre and 0.5g salt.

Sweet potato soup

olive oil

onion, roughly chopped

carrots,

4cm/1½ inches fresh root ginger, finely chopped

garlic clove, crushed

½ tsp dried red chilli flakes

700 grams/1lb 10 ounces sweet potatoes,

vegetable stock

salt and black pepper

These tarts make a beautiful vegetarian starter when served aside some simple salad leaves. They are also perfect for a picnic.


Equipment and preparation: For this recipe you will need two four-hole Yorkshire pudding tins.

Goats' cheese and shallot tarts

175 grams/6 ounces plain flour,

grams/3½oz butter,

egg,

grams/1 ounces walnuts, roughly chopped

tbsp oil

banana shallots, thinly sliced

tbsp balsamic vinegar

tbsp light muscovado sugar

300 grams/10½oz soft goats' cheese

eggs,

parsley

Sometimes I can get so fixated on a recipe that I find it hard to step away when, even after repeated testing and retesting, what I’m looking for continues to elude me. I’m glad that I persisted here, where more reasonable people would long since have given up, as I have finally created the dark, treacly bread I had hitherto only imagined and obsessed over.

I love this bread with smoked salmon, smoked trout, any smoked fish. And this is indeed how I suggest you serve it as a first course, if one is wanted.

No-knead black bread 

500 milliliters/18fl oz Irish stout,

large free-range egg, at room temperature, separated

dark muscovado sugar

tbsp extra virgin olive oil

tbsp black treacle

300 grams/10½oz dark rye flour

300 grams/10½oz strong white bread flour

cocoa

tsp activated charcoal (optional)

tsp nigella seeds, plus 1 tsp for sprinkling

tsp caraway seeds

fennel seeds

yeast

1¼ tsp fine sea salt

vegetable oil, for greasing

salmon

dill fronds

Dried porcini and fresh shiitake combine to bring an intense mushroom flavour to this vegan mushroom pâté.

For this recipe you will need a food processor. 

Each serving provides 134 kcal, 6g protein, 3.5g carbohydrates (of which 1.5g sugars), 10g fat (of which 2g saturates), 3g fibre and 1.1g salt.

Mushroom pâté

porcini mushrooms

cashew nuts

shallots, thinly sliced

grams/4½oz shiitake mushrooms, sliced

garlic cloves, finely chopped

thyme, leaves picked

rosemary, leaves picked

60 grams/2¼oz pitted green olives,

salt and pepper

This wintery butternut squash salad makes a great side dish to Christmas ham, and would also go well with griddled pear wedges as part of a vegetarian platter of festive dishes.


Roast squash salad 

butternut squash

thyme

garlic cloves, crushed

150 grams/5½ oz baby leaf spinach

pumpkin seeds (see Recipe Tips and How-to Video)

tbsp sherry vinegar

½ tsp runny honey

½ tsp wholegrain mustard

These tasty individual tarts are brilliant for a quick but stylish supper. They can be baked straight away or prepared the day before and cooked just before serving. They also work well as canapés if you make them smaller.

I like to offer two different toppings per person. For each of the topping ideas you will need half of the pastry and crème fraîche filling. Serve with a green salad.


Puff pastry savoury tarts 

x 320 grams/11½oz ready-rolled puff pastry

free-range egg

tsp milk

crème fraîche

tsp honey

spring onions, finely chopped

grams/⅛ oz finely chopped dill

grams/2½oz cream cheese

120 grams/4 ounces smoked trout (or salmon if preferred), roughly chopped

tbsp horseradish sauce

½ quantity crème fraîche filling (see above)

brie,

rashers smoked streaky bacon,

tsp cranberry sauce

rocket

anchovies, finely chopped

75 grams/2½oz ricotta

red chili flakes

80 grams/¾oz strong cheddar cheese, grated

basil pesto

60 grams/2¼oz cooked, peeled chestnuts, roughly chopped

onion

Contrast salt and pepper prawns with sweet chilli pineapple dipping sauce for a vibrant starter.

Salt and pepper prawns with pineapple dipping sauce

pineapple, flesh chopped into bite-sized pieces

peanut oil

lime

sambal oelek (Indonesian chilli paste)

fish sauce

tamarind paste

Sunflower oil, to deep-fry

eggwhites, lightly beaten with 2 teaspoons water

(150 grams) plain flour, seasoned

green school prawns

sea salt flakes

red chilli,

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Try a twist on a classic Christmas party starter by adding pickled walnuts and pears to baked camembert. They add welcome sweetness and texture

Pickled walnut & pear baked camembert

baking camembert

walnut

ripe pear

bread

Bake the camembert following pack instructions (or for about 25-30 mins at 190C/170C fan/ gas 5). Combine the walnuts and pears with a small pinch of salt.

After 15 mins, remove the cheese from the oven, top with the nuts and pears, then bake for another 15 mins. Serve with crusty bread.

Top 9 christmas starters recipes from across the web

The most viewed christmas starters recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine

Top Tags

Smoked mackerel pâté

Sweet potato soup

Goats' cheese and shallot tarts

No-knead black bread

Mushroom pâté

Roast squash salad

Puff pastry savoury tarts

Salt and pepper prawns with pineapp...

Pickled walnut & pear baked camembe...

Top 9 christmas starters recipes from across the web

The most viewed christmas starters recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engineic_arrow_forward_48px

Top Tags

Smoked mackerel pâté

Sweet potato soup

Goats' cheese and shallot tarts

No-knead black bread

Mushroom pâté

Roast squash salad

Puff pastry savoury tarts

Salt and pepper prawns with pineapp...

Pickled walnut & pear baked camembe...

The most viewed christmas starters recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine