Dinner party starter recipes
Get your next gathering off to a delicious start with one of our dinner party starter recipes.
These impressive entrées include dinner party classics like elegant soups, salads, tartlets and terrines. There are plenty of make-ahead dishes and lots of plant-based ideas for vegetarians and vegans. Or why not opt for something a little fancy in the form of scallop recipes? Start planning your next dinner party with a browse through these test-kitchen approved starter ideas.
That’s the starter taken care of, now how about the main course? Choose from 100+ easy dinner party recipes.
Showing 1-16 of 88 recipes
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Dinner party starter recipes
Paul Ainsworth’s The Mariners taramasalata on toast
Taramasalata on toast makes a winning dinner party starter or snack. “There’s no comparison to the homemade stuff," says chef Paul Ainsworth.
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Camembert recipes
Baked camembert with harissa honey
Oozy, gooey cheese drizzled with a fiery, sweet topping; this easy baked camembert with honey recipe is perfect for entertaining.
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Easy
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Pâté recipes
Mushroom and tarragon pâté with roasted grapes and chestnuts
This easy pâté makes a pretty vegetarian starter, Roasted grapes bring bursts of sweetness while earthy chestnuts add festiveness.
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Easy
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Crab recipes
Crab crumpet rarebit with pickled walnut ketchup
Crab raises welsh rarebit to the height of luxury in this impressive Christmas starter recipe. Make the rarebit and crab mixes a day ahead.
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Easy
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Pear recipes
Beef carpaccio with pickled pear and parmesan mayonnaise
This carpaccio is a masterpiece on the plate, with butter-soft beef, pear, umami-rich mayo and crunchy nuts, A perfect make-ahead starter.
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Medium
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Steak recipes
Best-of-the-best steak tartare
Good steak tartare is a thing of beauty. The French dish is a restaurant classic, but with quality beef fillet, it’s simple to make at home.
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Prawn cocktail recipes
Prawn cocktail platter
Create the ultimate prawn cocktail platter with proper marie rose dip made with homemade mayo, prawns and crisp lettuce leaves.
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Easy
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Crab recipes
Emily Scott’s Cornish crab, toast and mayo
Cornwall-based chef Emily Scott’s recipe for crab on toast is delightfully simple but special, enriched with just a little lemon and garlic.
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Easy
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Easy starter recipes
Pork rillettes
Pork rillettes, a French classic, is perfect served with a crusty baguette and pickles. Learn the art of meat potting with our easy recipe.
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Easy
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Fakeaway recipes
Mushroom jiaozi dumplings
Jiaozi are a versatile Chinese dumpling, served steamed, boiled or fried These vegan jiaozi are packed with three kinds of mushroom.
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Harissa recipes
Harissa, feta and filo cigars
Tangy feta meets fiery harissa and sweet honey, in this filo cigars recipe. The perfect pre-dinner bite or fancy snack – no humidor required.
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Easy
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Houmous recipes
Cauliflower houmous with pickled onions and cauliflower
This rustic cauliflower houmous will ruin you for the shop-bought variety. Top with pickles and serve with crisp lavosh or toasted pittas.
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Medium
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Easy starter recipes
Smashed potatoes with crème fraîche and roe
Smashed potatoes with crème fraîche, chives and roe make for a decadent starter or sharing dish. They're salty, creamy and very moreish.
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Easy
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Scallop recipes
Chilli-soy scallops with ginger and spring onion oil
Tender, meaty scallops are dressed with ginger and spring onion oil and a chilli-spiked soy dressing in this delicious starter recipe.
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Easy
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Spring onion recipes
Spring onion soup with green oil
This spring onion soup offers a lighter take on classic leek and potato. Decorate the soup with vibrant green oil and crispy spring onions.
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Easy
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Soufflé recipes
Smoked haddock and gruyère soufflés
These twice-baked smoked haddock soufflés are great if you’re nervous about making soufflés because you do the hard work ahead.
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