Christmas Dinner Starter Ideas

[whatshallmynamebe]

I am looking for a really simple i.e. easy to make starter for Christmas Dinner. We always have seafood, and ideally I would like something different for a change.

I find soup too filling for Christmas dinner, and I haven't got enough bowls (in that I would have to wash them all up before pudding, which is just a hassle). FIL is diabetic, so it can't be too fatty, must be low GI etc. I was thinking of something along the lines of Melon & Parma Ham, but DH isn't keen on melon, and Parma Ham is on the medium GI range.

I am not going to find anything which will please everyone am I?

Any bright ideas would be very much appreciated, as I am totally out.

Hmmmm...tricky...I can only suggest:

Delia's caramelised red onion and goats cheese tarts.
Pate with crackers/toast
Baked camembert
Garlic mushrooms

no starter

straight into main course

then pudding

then cheese

pate
bruschetta
mini toad in the holes with a little gravy

I've tested out starter tonight :) we're having smoked salmon and chive pate

Last year we had Tomato and pesto tarts but I made individual ones and used red pesto as kids prefer it

Not sure how those work on the GI thing though

Smoked mackrel paté.

Dead simple to make - can all be done in advance, tastes scrummy but doen't fill you up.

We are not having a starter but i am going to do canapes before going to the table as otherwise you can seem to be sat there for hours!!!

Canapes I'm doing
Smoked salmon with creme fraught and chives on bilinis
Rosemary and gruyere cheese straws
Devils on horseback

Ha ha I will be fraught but I meant creme fraiche!

how about a stilton, pear and walnut salad with lambs lettuce etc and a vinaigrette dressing? sourdough on the side for nayone mad enough

:) at creme fraught.

We don't usually bother with a starter tbh.

If I do one, I tend to just do melon and port (cliche I know but I like it!) or soup.

Otherwise I'd just griddle some asparagus and have it with a drizzle of balsamic, some parmesan shavings and some toasted pine nuts. Then have a rest before the main course!

Thanks for the ideas everyone.

I hadn't thought of a salad and I am thinking that might be the way to go.

I find the idea of a starter for Christmas Dinner really weird - it's just not traditional!
Dinner, pudding, cheese and port, chocs...

I am learning a lot tonight on this site about people's individual traditions. When I was little we only ever had starters at Easter and Christmas (and it was normally melon .

I am amazed at the amount of people who have yorkshire pudding with Christmas dinner, which I would never consider. Although, I must confess we do normally have mash, but I am not doing it this year as we only have a small table/kitchen, and I have to draw the line somewhere

well I must admit I'd not normally bother if it were just us, but have family coming over (will be 12 of us) and they are all v good cooks, so need to make a bit more effort than usual!

I refuse to do something I won't like (so no stilton or melon!) and it needs to be veggie (fish ok) and child friendly, so not salad (rabbit food as far as my lot are concerned!)

I host Christmas every year and over the years have come to the conclusion that it is better not to have a formal starter served at the table.

For one people get full up too quickly then dont want the cheese, coffee, liquers and petit fours etc. Those are my favourites!

You need to either have loads of cutlery and dishes or be prepared to wash up between courses. If you go without a starter you can lay the table for the main course and be ready to serve as soon as guests sit down. This makes all your timings much easier as you are not trying to keep food and plates warm while people eat the starter and clear the table before you can serve the main course. Definately takes the pressure off.

When guests arrive we open presents have a drink and I get the children to hand round plates of canapes whilst I get on with things in the kitchen. I normally have bowls of olives and posh nuts. Blinis with smoked salmon. Mini prawn cocktail served on spoons etc. People can just help themselves to the things that they do like.

Try this - light and easy to assemble:

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/9081/smoked-salmon-with-prawns-horseradish-cream-and-li

Have a lovely day, irregardless!!