227 starter recipes

A chilled Hungarian-style cherry soup made with Bing cherries, claret wine, cinnamon, and lemon, thickened with egg yolk. Served cold as an elegant starter or light meal.

Silky pureed chestnut soup with roasted chestnuts, herbs, and a splash of marsala or sherry. Serve it hot for winter warmth or chilled for an elegant summer starter.

Chilled strawberry soup blended from fresh strawberries, yogurt, orange juice, and honey. A no-cook, 5-minute cold fruit soup that doubles as dessert or a refreshing starter.

Fennel Nicoise braises quartered fennel with tomatoes, white wine, and thyme for a silky Provencal side dish served cold. A do-ahead starter from the South of France.

Traditional German rye sourdough starter (Sauerteig): a three-phase rye flour and water leaven built over 3 days for authentic German rye bread baking. Maintainable and long-keeping.

Savory honeydew melon tossed with rice vinegar, fresh chile strips, and torn cilantro. A four-ingredient cool fruit salad that turns sweet melon into a Thai-inspired brunch starter.

A retro Southern appetizer of boiled shrimp suspended in seasoned consommé aspic with lemon, green onion, and a kick of hot sauce. Unmold onto crackers for a showstopping starter.

Chilled berry buttermilk soup with blueberries or strawberries, orange zest, and tangy buttermilk blended until smooth. A cold fruit soup that works as a refreshing summer starter or light dessert.

Classic German Birnensuppe: fresh pears simmered with cinnamon and aniseed, blended silky smooth, stirred with sherry-plumped raisins and lemon. Served ice cold as a light starter or dessert.

Elegant pureed soup with apples, maple syrup, cinnamon, lemon, and white wine. Thickened with arrowroot and finished with sour cream. Serve warm for a sophisticated starter or light dessert.

Chilled orange mango soup with pureed ripe mangoes, buttermilk, fresh orange juice, honey, and orange zest. A creamy no-cook cold fruit soup served as an elegant summer starter.

This elegant chilled tomato consomme blends ripe tomatoes, green peppers, and leek into a crystal-clear broth, served cold with fresh chives and pimiento for a light summer starter.

Casareccio is a rustic Italian wholewheat bread made with biga starter, yielding 3 crusty loaves with a chewy crumb. Fold in walnuts, pistachios, or black olives for your own twist.

Welsh mussel pate with herring roe, brandy, cream, and dill, baked in a bain-marie until set. A rich, briny seafood starter from the Menai Strait served on toast fingers.

Chilled cream of cucumber soup with sour cream, fresh dill, and parsley. A cool, refreshing summer starter that's better made the day before. No fuss, no stove time after dinner.

Citrus soup frappe: a chilled, lightly jellied dessert soup of orange, raspberry, and lemon juices laced with red wine, Sauterne, and kirsch. A vintage Continental starter or palate-cleansing finale.