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Looking for Christmas starter ideas? These festive favourites feature classic seafood and pâté starter recipes as well as veggie options and canapés. Find more Christmas recipes and inspiration.
A gorgeous pairing of two delicate flavours - sweet and juicy melon with smoky slices of Parma ham
These oven-baked chicken drumsticks, deliciously spiced with curry paste, are sure to become a firm favourite with the whole family. Served with a refreshing cucumber salad, it’s the perfect dish to enjoy any night of the week
Serve a showstopping Christmas side that's sure to impress with this colourful tomato and mozzarella salad presented in a festive candy cane shape
Serve up this wonderfully creamy and garlicky whipped feta dip as part of a Christmas sharing platter. Simply blitz everything together and serve with crisp flatbreads or crackers for an easy festive party snack.
Jamie says: "This has a great twist – old-school iceberg lettuce at the bottom, topped with spoons of creamy avocado and sweet fresh mango."
A rich and wonderful lamb's liver pâté that goes best with lightly toasted (and slightly sweet) brioche, this recipe isn't for the faint of heart. It is, however, perfect for those who want to indulge themselves and delve into the world of classic French gastronomy.
Recipes don't get much more comforting than this warming carrot and chestnut soup. Cooked chestnuts give the soup a deliciously nutty flavour and depth while finely grated Gruyere provides a lush and moreish mouthfeel.
These potted prawns with melba toast will make an impressive starter at your dinner party. Helpfully, they can be prepared hours in advance and kept in the fridge until your guests arrive. Wait until the last minute to make the melba toast to keep it nice and crisp.
This retro favourite has had a lovely makeover. Traditional Marie Rose is replaced by a crème fraîche with lemon, garlic and paprika. This powerful sauce is a brilliant match for the large prawns and crunchy little gem.
These spicy tostadas are made to be enjoyed as canapés with cocktails. Prawn, avocado, red chilli, coriander and lime combine for a Mexican flavour sensation. Be sure to leave enough time for marinating.
Forget sausages on sticks, impress guests with every mouthful of these tasty bites! Smoked salmon tartare is a classic and elegant appetizer that is both quick to prepare and cook, making it the perfect party food.
An elegant starter or side, making the most of the season's juicy figs.
Pinchos – or pintxos – are a traditional drinking snack that can be found strewn across bars and restaurants in northern Spain. This version, made with pork tenderloin and sweet bell peppers, makes for an impressive, meaty appetizer.
You can make these the night before. Keep them covered in the fridge, then simply pop them into the oven to roast along with the vegetables.
Crunchy, sweet and zingy, this vibrant salad makes an interesting starter for Christmas Day or winter dinner parties. Make the dressing and toast the nuts a couple of days in advance, to save time on the day.
This easy air-fryer brie is a must this festive season. Top the cheese with chutney for a caramelised glaze and walnuts for extra crunch. You can't go wrong with melty cheese.
Combining two classics – Chinese-inspired prawn toast and retro-style prawn cocktail – these bite-sized canapés bring comfort and joy in equal measure. Better still, they take just 10 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook in the air-fryer, while you can dial up the spice for extra heat.
Use up all your leftover cheeseboard bits to make these extra-special cheesy chips. Chuck whatever cheeses you have left, along with chutney and cornichons, and get ready for some serious cheese pulls.
Gooey, oozy baked brie is a cheese lover’s dream - here paired with an impressive homemade bread. Serve up this easy baked brie recipe as part of a Boxing Day spread or for any special occasion
Use seasonal red cabbage, beetroot and pear to make this zingy winter salad. Top with a homemade herby chimichurri dressing and enjoy throughout the festive period.
For a fruity vegan Christmas starter that everyone will love, look no further than these stuffed pears
Set the scene for your Christmas lunch with this vibrant salad. Sweet red cabbage tastes heavenly matched with tangy blue cheese and roasted pecans in this festive starter.
These sweet potato rounds are perfect for a special occasion or as part of a festive feast. They are easy to make and can be prepared ahead, so there’s no hassle on the day. The roasted sweet potato discs make a delicious base for a whipped feta topping, s
Sweet, fresh and zesty, this twist on the classic prawn cocktail is the best way to get your festivities underway
Set the tone for your Christmas dinner with this impressive, luxurious starter. A Vietnamese-inspired salad that pairs meaty lobster with sharp grapefruit, fresh mint and a wonderfully fragrant sweet and sour dressing
These delicious prosciutto parcels are stuffed with the tasty festive flavours of tangy blue cheese and sweet, sticky dates, making it the perfect starter for Christmas Day
A simple starter that is ready in no time and will be a real crowd-pleaser
If you're rustling up a platter of party food, then you'll want to include these crispy-coated tender chicken pieces.
Get your Christmas feast started right with this simple, flavoursome, veggie starter ready in just 25 minutes
This vibrant, textured salad is the perfect starter to kick off your Christmas dinner. Sweet, earthy beetroot in a fragrant herb crust paired with the crunchy walnuts and creamy goat's cheese – a classic Christmas starter that's sure to get good results
Try a cheesy festive twist on meaty stuffed mushrooms for a great vegetarian Christmas Day starter that's ready in under 30 minutes and totally gluten-free
Halloumi, Serrano ham and figs come together beautifully in this wintery starter complemented by a dressing that combines fiery chilli and sweet honey. This fuss-free Christmas starter can be ready in just 20 minutes, leaving you more time to relax
Create a taste sensation with this fabulous salad, the pomegranate salsa infused with garlic and chilli perfectly complements the mild saltiness of the halloumi.