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Vegetable gyoza

Try our take on veggie gyoza. These dumplings can be cooked from frozen and easily adapted with your own fillings. You can also use shop-bought gyoza skins

Author: Barney Desmazery

Mexican seafood cocktail

Make this classic starter from Mexico's Pacific coast. Prawns and scallops are used here, but any seafood or fish will work well

Author: Edson Diaz-Fuentes

Crayfish cocktail with horseradish cream

Give the classic prawn cocktail a twist by pairing crayfish tails with tangy horseradish and creamy avocado in this delicious dinner party starter

Author: James Martin

Thai mango, chilli & lime cups

Serve these quick, zingy vegetarian nibbles at your next party

Author: Good Food team

Chorizo croquetas with aïoli

Try a new way to use chorizo, with these fabulous croquetas served with garlic mayonnaise. They require a little effort, but make a great starter or party snack

Author: Diana Henry

Kipper pâté

Whizz up sustainable smoked fish with horseradish, lemon and cream cheese, plus a little spinach for colour, then serve with toast as a light starter

Author: Good Food team

Golden pilaf with sizzling merguez

Merguez sausages add some mild spice to this baked basmati rice dish with nuts and mint, but leave them off if you want to make it vegetarian

Author: Jane Hornby

Crab & cucumber crumpets

Spruce up crumpets with a creamy crab, cucumber and dill topping. It's ready in 15 minutes, making it ideal for a Christmas starter or light lunch

Author: Barney Desmazery

Broccoli caesar salad

Make this broccoli caesar salad for an easy, sophisticated starter. Ready in just 10 minutes, it's ideal for a dinner party or Christmas lunch

Author: Barney Desmazery

Pinwheel pizzas

Use a packet bread mix to roll up individual pizza buns filled with tomato, basil, mozzarella and pepperoni

Author: Sara Buenfeld

Whipped brie salad with dates & candied walnuts

This sumptuous salad is perfect for a group starter and can be whipped up the night before

Author: Good Food team

Lime & coconut dhal

A vegetarian dip with a fresh zesty flavour, your party guests will hover around this one

Author: Good Food team

Charred leeks with anchovy dressing

We've made leeks the star of our elegant, simple starter. Hazelnuts add crucial crunch and the anchovy dressing gives the dish an umami depth of flavour

Author: Sophie Godwin - Cookery writer

BBQ halloumi skewers

This oregano seasoning is based on a Brazilian recipe using 'queijo de coalho' and works really well with halloumi. Serve with a selection of dipping sauces

Author: Jennifer Joyce

Festive seafood sharing platter

Spend less time cooking on Christmas Day with this simple yet luxurious starter. It requires almost no hands-on time and uses shop-bought elements for ease

Author: Esther Clark

Baked artichoke dip

Reader Margaret Cody shares her moreish party dish- the creamy vegetarian filling baked into a round loaf will go down a storm with guests

Author: Good Food team

Halloumi, pomegranate & walnut salad

Enjoy our easy halloumi, pomegranate, fennel & walnut salad as a festive starter or light lunch - it takes just 15 minutes to make

Author: Anna Glover

Salmon & prawns with dill & lime aïoli

For a simple, smart starter, just mix mayo with garlic, herbs and a squeeze of lime and serve with seafood and brown bread

Author: Good Food team

Celebration fish platter with spiced cucumber salad

This indulgent sharing platter makes an impressive dinner party starter with trout pâté, crisp coated mackerel fillets and smoked salmon

Author: James Martin

Chilli oysters

Bring the heat with our simple oyster starter. Top your seafood with fresh ginger, chilli and a squeeze of lime for a fiery pre-dinner treat

Author: Miriam Nice

Brie wrapped in prosciutto & brioche

This decadent bake from Paul Hollywood combines slightly sweet French bread with a creamy ham and cheese filling

Author: Paul Hollywood

Vegetarian spring rolls

Make your own veggie spring rolls for a Chinese-inspired banquet. These are quick and easy to make, along with the spicy dipping sauce

Author: Ailsa Brown

Carrot pakoras

Forget food waste and use up bits of limp veg to make these sensational pakoras. Broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, courgettes and cabbage also work well

Author: Tom Kerridge

Sicilian stuffed sardines

Fresh sardines are plentiful and thrifty- this sunshine recipe teams them with fennel, parsley, mint, sultanas, pine nuts and more

Author: Barney Desmazery

Boom Bang a Bang chicken cups

Classic British Coronation chicken gets a makeover, served in Little Gem lettuce leaves with peanut and coconut sauce

Author: Sarah Cook

Asparagus with spiced butter & brown shrimp

Try this easy asparagus dish with potted shrimp-inspired topping in pools of mace-spiked butter. It makes a memorable starter for a dinner party or smart lunch

Author: Rosie Birkett

Festive filled brioche centrepiece with baked camembert

Great British Bake Off's Kimberley Wilson has created this stunning celebration bread with individually filled buns and a melting cheese middle - made for sharing

Author: Kimberley Wilson

Baked feta with sumac & grapes

A modern dinner party starter that's great for a budget - salty feta, sweet grapes, tangy sumac and aniseed dill create contrasting yet complementary flavours

Author: Cassie Best

Salmon tartare with apple, dill & gherkins

Push the bar up with your starter this Christmas with this super-light and fresh salmon tartare with apple, dill & gherkins. It has bags of flavour

Author: Brett Redman

Carpaccio scallops

Impress guests with this starter, or fish course, that's perfect for a dinner party. Scallops and radishes are served in a delicate Vietnamese sauce

Author: Jeff Tan

Ham hock terrine

Cured slow-cooked pork is a great foundation for a coarse pâté style starter and can be made in advance

Author: Good Food team

Garlic eyeballs with creamy chive dip

These dough balls are easy-peasy, so get the kids to help you make them for your Halloween party

Author: Lesley Waters

Toasted malt loaf with pressed ham terrine & spiced apple compote

This sophisticated dish makes an elegant dinner party starter, balancing the sweetness of the apple and malt loaf with a tangy vinaigrette

Author: James Martin

Roast beef platter with chilli, pine nut & parsley dressing

Roast a joint of sirloin until rare, serve sliced with a light vinaigrette and tell everyone to get stuck in

Author: Mary Cadogan

Mini prawn & sweetcorn cakes

These fritters are lightly spiced with cumin. Serve as a starter or nibble

Author: Cassie Best

Tear and share feta flatbreads

Scatter classic antipasti over flatbreads for a simple and delicious starter that's great for sharing. Using quality ham makes all the difference

Author: Tom Kerridge

Charred asparagus, smoked salmon, shrimp & rye crumb

Impress guests with this deceptively simple starter that's packed with the lovely flavours of salmon, shrimp, asparagus and apple. Make it in just 20 minutes

Author: Tom Kerridge

Peppered mackerel & pink pickled onion salad

This starter, with its quick pickled onion is impressive, but takes little time as it's part of making the dressing. You can do it while the turkey is cooking

Author: Sophie Godwin - Cookery writer

Vegan terrine

Impress guests with this vibrant vegan starter. Plant-based soft cheese, herbs and beetroot combine to make the terrine, topped with a walnut brittle for texture

Author: Sophie Godwin - Cookery writer

Scallop & apple salad with hazelnut dressing

Fat, juicy scallops are always a treat- the secret is not to overcook them and to team with contrasting sweet flavours

Author: James Martin

Deep fried Brussels with black pudding & apple

Deep-fried Brussels are a taste revelation, they're dangerously addictive with our mustardy vinaigrette. Serve as a speedy yet elegant starter

Author: Sophie Godwin - Cookery writer

Comté cheese soufflé

Raymond Blanc's recipe for this sumptuous dinner party starter, with a luxurious cheesy sauce, is guaranteed to impress - use gruyère or emmenthal cheese, if you prefer

Author: Raymond Blanc

Prawns & radishes with chilli mayo dip

For an light Asian inspired starter, try these cooked prawns and crunchy radishes dipped in garlic and chilli mayonnaise

Author: Jennifer Joyce

Cranberry & chestnut falafel

Add a bit of seasonal spirit to your chickpea bites with fruit and nuts. Serve with a creamy yogurt dip and fresh coriander

Author: Jane Hornby

Harissa beef skewers with avocado dip

These tasty spiced skewers work just as well with lamb or chicken. For a vegetarian alternative, use chunky pieces of halloumi cheese

Author: Cassie Best

Spiced bloody mary shots

Try a spicy twist on a bloody mary with za'atar and chilli. With the classic tomato juice, vodka and lemon juice flavours, serve as a starter or cocktail

Author: Miriam Nice

Ham hock & pistachio roll

If you're looking for a Christmas classic with a twist, this French ham hock and pistachio terrine, transformed into a modern make-ahead starter is for you

Author: Barney Desmazery

Seared scallops with leeks & lemon chilli butter

Scallops love a bit of lemon and chilli plus, they are ready in a flash. The perfect way to impress last-minute guests

Author: Jane Hornby

Smoked mackerel & horseradish cups

Quick and impressive, John Torode's no-cook, mackerel pâté starter won't keep you in the kitchen for long

Author: John Torode

Griddled pears with goat's cheese & hazelnut dressing

Impress guests with this deceptively simple starter, made with pears, goat's cheese, watercress and hazelnuts. It's ready in just 15 minutes, and perfect at Christmas

Author: Barney Desmazery