What starter are you doing?

[Stompythedinosaur]

I need ideas!

We have 6 people coming, one is veggie and one has a very restricted diet due to Crohns Disease, meaning they can't have sugar or most veg. In previous years I have done grilled goat's cheese salad and baked camembert, but neither was well recieved. I'd happily do a meat and veggie option if they aren't too time consuming.

Help!

A bit of paprika sprinkled on top of your prawn cocktail is really good

We usually have choices from;

Smoked salmon
Melon
Prawn cocktail
Pate

Prawn cocktail with avocado and iceberg lettuce

Mushroom pate with rye bread and cornichons

Smoked Salmon with toast points

We have sharing a seafood platter a couple of hours before the goose etc, but not a formal starter as such.

A sort of baked Brie thing surrounded by filo pastry with a cranberry sauce filling... I saw it on Facebook last year and took a punt on it and turned out really well so has been requested again

No starter here either

Prawn cocktail, smoked salmon and fish terrine - served on platters so people can have as much / little as they want! Baked cheese/mushroom terrine for veggies

Home made mushroom pate and home made smoked mackerel pate are easy, and can be made th day before.

Blitz up smoked mackerel fillets with cream cheese until smooth.

Chop mushrooms and onion, sauté in butter, add soaked dried mushrooms (drained) and a splash of sherry. Cook on a lowish heat until nice and rich. Cool, then blitz with cream cheese. Season to taste.

Serve with crudités and/or toast.

None, but a selection of canapés would make sense you can tailor some to veggie etc, buy in pre made to save time.

For prawn cocktail you need prawns, mayo, tomato purée, cayenne pepper, lettuce and usually a shot of brandy but I've seen Worcester sauce used. - or buy ready made seafood sauce!

I am incredibly greedy but even I can't imagine having a starter before the Christmas meal - maybe my servings are too generous .

But yes, a prawn cocktail is really easy to make, if all your guests like prawns.

Prawn cocktail for us, this is really useful to refer to:

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2014/aug/20/how-to-make-perfect-prawn-cocktail-recipe

Cheeseboard, cocktail samosas filled with paneer or halloumi.

We are just doing nibbles for starter this year.

But. I like:

Grilled aubergine with honey and chilli
Spiced Butternut squash with salted limes and tahini yogurt
Caponata
Pepperonata
Chargrilled broccoli and dolcelatte tartlets
Roasted tomatoes and yogurt

But yes, a prawn cocktail is really easy to make, if all your guests like prawns.

Presumably not the veggie ones.

I’d do little puff pastry tarts.

prawn cocktail with melba toast!

Prawns,avocado, smoked salmon and caviar.

Fish starters here ,so choice of dressed crab , prawn cocktails or smoked salmon . I love starters , probably the best part of any meal .

We don't have a starter either but if I had to pick right now I'd have
Pate on some nice bread.

I could probably manage a vol au vent...

Gravadlax with mustard and dill sauce.

We serve with homemade Melba toast.

Prawn cocktail for us too. Make earlier and put in fridge

Bloody Mary soup. Make a tomato soup that includes celery and some Worcester sauce, garnish with celery leaves. Put a shot of vodka in a glass on the table for each guest and they can pour over the soup before eating! Absolut used to do a chilli pepper vodka that worked very well. Completely optional to add the vodka but it tastes great!

We have prawn cocktail, Jerusalem artichoke soup for the vegetarians and a charcuterie selection for DS who hates both of the other choices.

Bloody Mary soup. Make a tomato soup that includes celery and some Worcester sauce, garnish with celery leaves. Put a shot of vodka in a glass on the table for each guest and they can pour over the soup before eating! Absolut used to do a chilli pepper vodka that worked very well. Completely optional to add the vodka but it tastes great! Not sure if tomato and celery will be ok for your Crohns guest though.