What starter do you have with Christmas dinner?

[catherinep80]

I think we normally just have soup as a starter but I'm doing Christmas dinner this year and I want to do something different. Any ideas for something easy but impressive? What does everyone else do?

Prawn cocktails here too. Or smoked salmon. Or prawns in cocktail sauce wrapped in smoked salmon.....can you see I have a theme.

@Kidssendingmenuts
Can I ask why you answered in such an arse-y manner? I'm not having a go at you, it's just that I have a relative who is scathing in their replies, like you. And I genuinely wonder why?

When we strayed from salmon it was a disaster.

Too full. So salmon! Asparagus.

We never have a starter either, and we eat Christmas dinner early at about 12:30 so we can feel hungry again by the evening for muchos Christmas nibbles which is the best bit of the day 😄

No starters here.

We have canapes mid morning with drinks, then just a (huge) main and pudding.

I love starters normally but we aren't fussed on the day as usually far too drunk at that time. We just want the roasties, pigs in blankets and gravy!

We have a choice of 2, breaded camberbert cheese with a little relish on the side with a bit of mixed salad.

And either chicken and mushroom vol au vent or prawn cocktail. I get the breaded camberbert in Tescos in a 4 pack and it always goes down so well here, so easy and quick to make, no prep etc, and buy a nice jar of Christmassy relish. Really tasty and doesn't fill you up

We usually have a mix of pate and toast, scallops with black pudding or chorizo and garlic prawns depending who is there. I would happily have all of them with pigs in blankets, stuffing, roast parsnips and yorkies. Not fussed on roast meat really or potatoes.

Last year we bought frozen lobster tails from Aldi and they were lush, not filling just felt posh as hell.

some form of cheese (normally wensleydale with cranberries) wrapped in filo pastry for us with a lovely balsamic glaze. Starter gets everyone to the table and then they sit nattering and having a lovely time while DW and I plate the last of the main. Last year starter lasted ages as we were all chatting so much.

What we serve is light enough to not take the edge off the appetite and then big dinner. However we then have a lovely long rest until christmas pudding with more chatting around the table with PIL, DPs and DS and then a walk to wear it all off.

Last year we had a selection of different prawns, baked camembert, pate, smoked salmon and different breads.

Prawn cocktail, always (although have sometimes jazzed it up a bit). Has been the same since forever and was the bit I made when I was little three decades ago

Christmas present chocolate! (Terry's chocolate orange anyone?)

But seriously, none.

Canapés! All pre done, usually order from marks or Waitrose. Especially like things like this - www.marksandspencer.com/mini-seafood-shells-20-pieces/p/p60081189?prevPage=plp

When I did starters it was
Thinly sliced melon with Parma ham and pomegranate seeds
Smoked salmon blinis
Duck pate with relish and toasted brioche fingers
Figs with melted goats cheese drizzled with honey and balsamic vinegar

But these days we just get straight down to the main event.

Something that doesn't need to go near an oven. Usually King prawn, smoked salmon, bread, type thing.

Usually something fishy, maybe prawn cocktail, gravlax, scallops in sauce, or prawn tarts.

I like a starter, as it gets everyone settled at the table, and looks pretty too.

@primoestate not meant to be arsey at all. It's just how I come across. As in.... I can't be arsed with all the starter bollocks I've enough on my plate without doing fancy stuff! 😂😂

@Kidssendingmenuts
Apologies
Realized I'd read your comment in the voice of my relative in your head!
It's the words she'd say but in a nasty, arse-y way.

@primoestate not nasty I promise. I've always been the type of person that speaks before she thinks and says it how it is. I sometimes think to myself why did I say that 😂😂 after I've actually said it. Xx

We always have prawns and smoked salmon.

Breaded camembert with light salad

I had no idea starters were a thing for Xmas dinner!! Just bring on the roast!!

We normally have goats cheese tart with sweet chilli jam and a bit of salad

Garlic and chilli prawns

I generally don’t do a starter with Christmas Dinner - the big roast and all the trimmings and then pudding is usually enough.

But if I was going to do a starter it would be something light - smoked salmon canapés, maybe, or a light pate like smoked salmon pate, or mushroom or chicken liver, with toast - basically something really easy to do, that wouldn’t fill people up too much.

For a hot starter, you could do pan fried scallops - three each is what I’d serve - that is luxurious and special, and won’t fill people up too much. Or garlic prawns maybe.

No starters here on Christmas Day but baked camenbert or breaded camenbert with mango chutney is a winner here . Add some French bread ......