Sunday roast - light starter

[headintheproverbial]

Having people for Sunday lunch this week. I'd usually just do main and pudding but they are kindly bringing the pudding so feel I ought to give them a starter!

As we're having roast beef with all the trimmings I'd like this to be quite light. Any ideas? There are no special dietary requirements.

Had thought maybe a mackerel pate (I can make a decent crusty white loaf). Or any other ideas, ideally make ahead as I'll have enough last minute stuff with the roast?

I actually found 'pre dinner dinner nibbles' way more faffy...

Soup and bread are lovely but for many that would be a meal in itself and an end to their appetite rather than encourage it. Modern entertaining is less fussy - forget multiple courses, they are too try hard and completely unnecessary for lunch with friends.

Of course that's not the law - you do what you want, just don't feel obligated to provide a starter, it is not needed or expected!

My "pre-dinner nibbles" are bowls of marinated olives, crisps and nuts - maybe savoury popcorn. Guests help themselves while they drink a glass of something cold.

I don't agree with pp as a tiny bowl of soup with optional crusty bread is hardly 'filling' which wasn't the issue we were discussing as plastic and another pp stated earlier. It was more about ease of prepping and service.
I personally hate 'nibbles' that everybody has had their hands in...reminds me of peanuts in a pub. I think 'modern' nibbles tend to be quite fussy and alittle pointless. I always find lots of things mixing together makes me feel alittle queasy before the main and would prefer one nice refreshing course over filling up on nuts/crisps but than again I'm not the biggest fans of buffet foods...

Thanks for all the thoughts. Usually I wouldn't do a starter either but the guests are bringing pud so I felt a bit 'ungenerous' just providing the main!

Ps I've done make ahead gravy and so planned to do the starter while the meat is resting and the gravy warms through in the roasting dish gathering up the crusty bits.

My usual starter on a Sunday is a nice spicy Bloody Mary :)

Yeah I’d go nibbles. Prob a step up from nuts and crisps tho.

A few cold canapés so you can get on with roast. eg mozzarella pearl, cherry tomato, basil leaf & balsamic syrup on a stick or poss as you say a homemade pâté - maybe chicken liver or smoked mackerel, but serve on a tiny crostini or cracker with a sliver of cucumber, gherkin or cherry tomato. Have a pretty plateful that people can help themselves from.

I do a plate of smoked salmon on brown bread triangles with plenty of bubbles to drink

Prob a step up from nuts and crisps tho Ah now my nuts are naturally roasted and spiced by my fair hands, and I marinade the olives, the crisps are shop bought though - but they are of course the posh variety, sometimes I even provide homemade pork crackling....surely you can't step up any higher!

OP How about making some nice cocktails to start instead, I like the Bloody Mary idea or how about Peach Bellini's?

Thanks all. I made a crusty loaf and some of HFW's smoked trout pate. Just set it out on the island for folks to help themselves while sipping bubbles and I finished the roast. It all went! Think the informal 'nibbly' presentation was a great idea, thank you!!