Starter to go with seafood and shellfish

[Dexy007]

Hello, attending BBQ (summer here!) tomorrow and have been asked to bring a starter that will complement a platter of prawns, oysters, smoked salmon.

We already have big salads and meat for the main. I'm drawing a blank - help!

Aw no I was going to say salad!

I think something aubergine based maybe? Can you bbq them?

Does it have to be a proper starter or could you do a few canapes?

Chilled soup, vichyssoise or gazpacho would go with shellfish. As it’s a BBQ you could serve it in glasses.
Another option would be bruschetta, a selection of mushroom, tomato & olive, caramelised onions, etc.

Brown bread rolls and butter, chilled cucumber and vodka 'soup' shots, asparagus to go on the barbecue with hollandaise for dipping.

It could be canapes....yes...

I thought of gazpacho but discounted it. Maybe I should think again!

Asparagus not in season here (might be hard to get).

Aubergines would work...possibly a Baba ganoush?

A platter of chorizo, Parma ham, mozzarella, olives, peppers etc - all things which would taste good with seafood ?

I was just looking at ottolenghi simple ...what do you think about

Roasted whole cauliflower with green Herby tahini dipping sauce

And

Brussel sprouts with burnt butter and black garlic

?

Cocktail sausages cooked in a honey and mustard dressing ?

Sliced tomatoes, sliced mozarella and sliced avocado with a little bit of young, green olive oil drizzled over ?

Brushchetta as has been mentioned with pork and mushroom pate on them ?

Deliberately burned, blackened tomatoes seared so they are nice to eat.

(Just for fun, cook some normal sausages, split them down the middle then pipe some mashed potato in them. Say you couldn't think what to bring so you went retro !)

Make a cheese ball. Get lots of cream cheese. Mash it into a ball shape then roll it in crushed Ritz crackers and crushed salted nuts. People eat with by getting a savoury biscuit and taking pieces off the ball with it.

It really doesn't sound like a starter is required. Would the host reconsider and you could be responsible for one of the side dishes?

I would just brings something dips and chips - ask host if they want you to bring salad sides instead?

Brussel sprouts with burnt butter and black garlic not at a bbq no