To ask for your Christmas starters ideas?

[spingly]

We have a lot for Christmas dinner .... which is fine but what would you suggest for starters?

I want a prepare ahead starter...so I thought of making chicken liver pate .. or "retro" prawn cocktail .... or mozzarella and tomato salad.


Any other ideas please?

[zukiecat]

I always make soup for Xmas lunch for DD and me.

Either Carrot and Coriander or Vegetable and Lentil

[titchy]

Scallops and pancetta on watercress. Prosecco.

[BrieAndChilli]

we have starter about an hour before mains!!! then it means i can eat starter without worrying about the last minute rush of the main course.

I'm doing brie and cranberry filo crackers, garlic doughballs and prawn cocktail as choices. filo crackers can be pre-prepared and then chucked in oven for 10 min, prawn cocktail can be popped in fridge and garlic doughballs just need chucking in fridge.

[VestaTilley]

We always have prawn cocktail and smoked salmon with brown bread and butter, every year, without fail. A fish starter is a good light option ahead of such a big main.

[Cmagic7]

Mackerel or trout mousse with crackers and perhaps a radish and cucumber salad
Small serving of butternut squash velouté with little croutons.
Breaded mini goats cheese with pear and walnut salad.

[Piglet89]

I’m doing pea and mint soup.

[galison]

We don't even have two courses. The lunch itself is too filling for a starter before and we normally end up having pudding for tea.

[Lovelylugs]

I make an early starter of melon cubes, tomatoes, rocket, feta with onion marmalade. Tasty and so quick to make.

[Tonii1985]

Baked camemberts, crudités and dough balls.

[tinytoast]

Prawn cocktail!!

[elliejjtiny]

Some of us are having melon and the rest are having prawn cocktail. I tried making soup but I found the nicest soups are the kind that fill you up so they have gone in the freezer for January lunches.

[MsRinky]

Forget tomatoes at this time of year. Pate is delicious, but as it is so rich it can be overfilling. We are having blinis with beetroot gravadlax, sour cream and caviar (well, assuming my husband shares the caviar which is his Christmas present with me).

[Grumpyoldpersonwithcats]

Another vote for smoked mackerel pate. I usually make blinis to go with it.

[Pieceofpurplesky]

We have starter at about 1230 and lunch at 2. Started will usually be mackerel pate, crispy prawns and smoked salmon blinis.

[echt]

I'd also go for no starter. Gosh, it's years since I've had the full Monty Christmas dinner, as Australian weather doesn't suit it. That's why we do "Christmas in July" :o

Now I'm a hotter place, starters work better.

For my Christmas dinner it will be oysters with hot sauce.

[twolungs]

I've had to make this four years in a row as it has gone down so well. You can add prawns for a bit extra. The balance of the dressing is great: www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/citrusandpomegranate_92667

[MiniMum97]

A chocolate orange.

Seriously though who has room for a starter when you are about to eat the biggest roast dinner known to man. We don't eat pudding until hours after dinner. No way would I be using up precious stomach space on a starter ffs.

[EmeraldIsle81]

French onion soup - you can make it the day before - it's yum! X

[ViciousJackdaw]

Absolutely no need for a starter at all. You say you have a lot for dinner, that means you'll all need plenty of space for it. Also, prevents food waste.

Take the pressure off yourself.

[81Byerley]

I'm another one saying no starter! Gimme the dinner!

[nowaypose]

Nothing because the main and dessert are so hefty. We don’t even eat lunch on Christmas Day because the dinner is so heavy and breakfast is too. I did try a starter a couple of times but it fell flat so I don’t bother now, the main is the most important part.

Prawn cocktail is so bad .

[tillytrotter1]

No starter at the table but a selection of nibbly things with drinks beforehand, whatever's on 3 for 2 somewhere, chicken bits and tiny soup pots. Means that the children don't have to sit for a longish meal.

[BeanTownNancy]

@SnorkMaiden81 - THANK YOU! A voice of reason!

[Celticrose]

The last few years I just do party bites. Brie and cranberry parcels M&S.
Plus some of the new ones on crumpets which are expensive at £7 but got some marked down and they are now in the freezer. Might get some garlic mushrooms (for mum) I serve them about 1 to 1 1/2 hours before the meal. Just have to heat up in oven and serve on fancy Christmas paper plates. Keeps everyone going until dinner is served

[NewtonPulsifer]

I start with a satsuma and a selection box. Seriously though, no room for a starter as it is all about the giant roast in our house.