Ideas for starter for Christmas Day lunch

[TheIckabog]

DSis and I are hosting Christmas lunch this year. My mum has always hosted and without fail has done either prawn cocktail and smoked salmon or mini ‘fish pie’ served in a scallop shell as a starter so this year we’d like a change!

What do you do for starters? Ideally we need something that could be made ahead, something suitable for a vegetarian (or can be adapted for a veggie) and also suitable for a 95-year-old!

[LateMumma]

We've done mini crab cakes - either Nigella or Mary berry recipe, I can't remember, but they were a massive hit. Also had teacups of chestnut soup but no bread as very filling.

[BashfulClam]

My mum always did prawn cocktail . Now that mr an DH host I make lentil soup as he doesn’t like seafood. We don’t have bread and it’s just half a bowl each. Pate is too rich for a starter for me.

[RomaineCalm]

@VirginiaWolverine

What I actually do is have vast quantities of canapés at noon and then the actual meal with no starter a couple of hours later.

We do similar. Big breakfast. Canapés and fizz around 2pm with dinner around 6pm.

[Roystonv]

Figs with gorgonzola?

[MotorwayDiva]

Curried apple and parsnip soup
Figs wrapped in parma ham stuffed with stilton
Pate
Stilton parcels
Serve a sorbet afterwards to cleanse the palate

[PotteringAlong]

Ooh @MotorwayDiva have you got a recipe for the soup?

[Sparkletastic]

Another vote for fizz and canapés

[MotorwayDiva]

@potteringalong it's the one on BBC good food but I don't put lentils in and use any cooking apples

[allthegoodusernameshavegone]

Champagne to start

[caffeinebuzz]

Another vote for fizz and canapés a couple of hours before the main event.

[EugenesAxe]

For Christmas I’d keep things earthy but lightish and might pick something like:

Pear, chicory, walnut & creamy blue cheese (St. Agur or piccante dolcelatte) salad, with a dressing put on at the last minute (oil, wine vinegar about 4:1, about 1tsp Dijon mustard and salt/pepper - but taste!).

Twice baked cheese soufflé with salad

Agree, baked Camembert but with pomegranate. This is a nice recipe with pomegranate, hazelnuts and pear.

[Lockdownhairdontcare]

We do canapés and cranberry gin fizz upon arrival at 3.30pm then main and dessert about 90min later then cheeseboard and chocolates around 9pm.

[deflationexasperation]

Be careful op, very careful. It tried to stray from smoke salmon and asparagus and it didn't work too filling.

[TheIckabog]

Thanks for the suggestions all. I’m afraid the idea of canapés would be far too adventurous for our parents! They like structure and routine- they would be aghast at not having 3 sit down courses at Christmas lunch!

Lots of lovely suggestions on here, I’ve had a look at them all and they’re making me hungry for Christmas lunch already!

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

If everyone likes prawn cocktail or fish then why not keep the tradition going ?
As a vegetarian alternative , you could do avocado in the sauce ( if its suitable )
One of the nicest parts of Christmas Diner (I think) is knowing exactly what I'm going to have . Nothing new fangled .
DS is the only non-vegetarian in our household but when I have hosted DParents and DBro DSiL , we've always done a turkey ( DBro buys from a specialist butcher ) Quorn Roast , all the sides .

I just like to know that I;ll like what I'm eating on The Day , it's not a time for adventure !

[XiCi]

I agree 70isaLimitNotaTarget I dont think Christmas dinner would be the same without prawn cocktail starter. It's practically the law . I like that its something weve carried on from childhood Christmas dinners. So nostalgic.

[QuidcoQueen]

Breaded brie with a cranberry dip.

[BeingLonely]

Soup, bruschetta, salmon, melon balls.

My MiL used to do ritz crackers with cream cheese on top. Hated that

[GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER]

No actual starter (who’d have enough room for lots of roasties as well?) just M&S canapés, usually fishy, a couple of hours before, but we don’t have our Christmas dinner till around 5. A much more civilised hour IMO and far less of a rush for the cook.

[Benjispruce2]

Canapés with champagne before sitting at the table. More relaxed, less cutlery!

[Benjispruce2]

And yes, dinner after 4.

[Carrotcakeforbreakfast]

I tend to just put a few little bowls around with nice nuts, olives etc and champagne.
No starter.

Just a massive main and pudding.

[ifiwasascent]

We normally have prawn cocktail but me and DH are hosting this year and are doing procesco and canapés instead

[VestaTilley]

Always prawn cocktail and smoked salmon here!

[MyNameForToday1980]

We had smoked salmon, tiger prawns and lobster tail last year, it was light enough (low carbs, quite small portions of each), but it was really hard to find a sauce/dressing which went with all three (esp as smoked salmon is comparatively oily), so ended up with a pink grapefruit / orange vinaigrette.