Christmas Dinner Easy Starter Ideas

[Letsskidaddle]

Ideally can be pre-made a couple of days beforehand or even frozen and thawed/cooked on the day OR so easy it can be done whilst the main event is cooking.

Thanks 😊

Soup
pate
prawn cocktail
goat cheese tartlet ready made or made and frozen in advance

keep it simple!

Whizz a tub of cottage cheese together with a piece of peppered smoked mackerel filled, add lemon juice.
Smoked mackerel pate served with posh crackers.
Can be made 3 or 4 days in advance and kept in the fridge

We always just get a range of seafood. Smoked salmon, prawns, crab meat. Get out of the fridge, get some crackers, butter, bread and put it all on a platter with some cocktail sauce and maybe a few slices of cucumber and some lemon quarters, and everyone helps themselves.

Whizz together in a food processor some smoked salmon, Philly cheese, horseradish,and a squirt of lemon - smoked salmon pate. If you want to be fancy, roll a spoonful of the pate in a strip of smoked salmon. Give each person 3 or 4 rolls with a bit of salad garnish.

We don’t do a starter so we can make the most of the main course as I make lots of sides.
I know some of these have been mentioned but just listing what I would make if I was doijng a starter:
a light pate, probably fish based, served with home made Melba toast (worth the effort)
Prawn cocktail
melon & Parma ham
Something with smoked salmon - I like the sound of this but haven’t made it.

Soup is the easiest starter to make ahead but I find it too filling ahead of a full on roast.

Smoked salmon on brown bread with a small side salad.

This is my go to.

On Christmas day I make it extra indulgent by making it with full fat cream cheese, double cream and butter, and adding a bit of horseradish.

Nothing. But we never have Christmas dinner until around 5, so I usually serve some canapés (typically fishy M&S ready made) a couple of hours before. (Also typically, late breakfast and no actual lunch).

This sounds lovely will try this x

I like smoked salmon cream cheese and dill crackers handed round with the champagne before we sit down.

Get some soft white bread and cut out star shapes. Paint each side with melted butter and put on a tray in the oven until just golden, turning once.
Store in an airtight box for 24 hrs.

Take one star and place a small spoonful of home made or bought salmon pate, top with another star. on side of plate add a small pile of smoked salmon. Add a daintily cut small lemon wedge and cross two chive leaves on top of the stars. Finish with a grind of black pepper and a pinch of paprika or cayenne sprinkled over.

I do garlic and chilli prawns. Take one chilli or more if you like spice, and slit it on one side. Crush garlic, I usually use a couple of cloves but you know your families tastes.

Put a slug of good olive oil in a frying pan, add the chilli and cook for about a minute. Then add the garlic and prawns. Cook until the prawns are done. Serve with green leaves. Takes about 5 minutes including prep.

These sound amazing, thanks 🤩

Soup, you can make it weeks in advance and freeze it then just needs heated

Last couple of years I’ve catered for 10 and just done a cuppa soup for everyone - everybody’s face was hilarious but hopefully I won’t have to do Christmas dinner this year. I cut up some slightly old bread and offered them leak and potato or asparagus.

Or in a soup maker does it all for you 😄

I don't do a starter as no-one would eat dinner but I do like the idea of a nice small bowl of soup ,nothing heavy, certainly not lentil . Add a nice bread roll and black pepper. Perfect.
I do a Philly cheese,onion and ketchup dip in the food processor (sounds revolting and I was "eh?" before I tried it, but it's delicious. We're vegetarian so no salmon mousse here.)

My son would say " perfect starter is a selection box" the savage !

Please elaborate on the dip, I am intrigued! 😅

Smoked salmon, creme fraiche, bread/crackers. Served on a large platter for people to help themselves before we sit down for lunch.

It's full fat plain Philadelphia cheese a finely chopped strong onion, blend in the food processor till smooth (I like mine very smooth,DH is a fan of onion pieces but he isn't the chef), then add ketchup to taste, it'll be pale pink . Cover and chill . We serve with carrot batons,celery or crisps. When I first tried it I thought "no way" but it was really nice.
Best eaten straight away 😁,it goes a bit watery and separate after a couple of days .

We do canapes instead of a starter