227 starter recipes

Gazpacho blond: golden version of the classic cold soup made with yellow tomatoes, yellow bell peppers, and champagne vinegar. Stunning chilled summer starter with red tomato and black olive garnish.

Chez Melange gazpacho is a chilled tomato and tri-color pepper soup brightened with cucumber, dill, cilantro and a touch of beef stock for savory depth. No-cook summer starter.

Chilled Molokai sweet potato soup with fish: a silky Hawaiian chilled soup of purple Molokai sweet potato, leeks, and limu seaweed, topped with chilled poached snapper. An island-inspired starter.

Crayfish and poached quail egg salad pairs court-bouillon-poached crayfish with delicate soft quail eggs over greens, dressed in a truffle and dill vinaigrette. An elegant composed seafood starter.

Cucumber yogurt soup is a cool, no-cook summer starter blended with fresh dill, garlic, scallions, and tangy yogurt. Light, herbaceous, and ready in 10 minutes plus a chill. The answer to a sweltering afternoon.

Chilled cucumber soup, a creamy cold starter of cucumbers simmered with leek, celery, and sherry, thickened and enriched with light cream, then brightened with a splash of orange juice. Cool and elegant.

Asparagus vichyssoise made in the microwave with fresh asparagus, potatoes, and skim milk. This light, low-fat cold soup is blended silky-smooth and chilled overnight for a refreshing make-ahead starter.

Rustic Italian yeast bread made with durum semolina flour and loaded with sautéed butternut squash, roasted red peppers, tomatoes, and onions. Uses a biga starter for deep flavor and makes four golden loaves.

Chilled cantaloupe soup blended with fresh mint, white wine, and yogurt. A no-cook summer starter with just 5 ingredients that needs only a blender and a couple hours to chill.

A chilled Scandinavian-style fruit soup simmered with prunes, raisins, apples, cherries, and citrus, thickened with tapioca and finished with grape juice. Serve cold as a refreshing starter or light dessert.

Flaked salmon mixed with red curry paste, mayo, yogurt, avocado, apple, and lime juice, piled onto crispy fried poppadoms. A British-Indian starter that's cool, crunchy, and ready in 30 minutes.

Composed citrus salad arranges fresh orange and grapefruit segments over salad greens with a bright teriyaki-ginger-honey vinaigrette. Light, elegant, and a perfect winter starter when citrus is at its peak.

Broiled eggplant topped with a creamy Mediterranean walnut sauce spiked with crushed fennel seed and garlic. A rustic vegetarian starter or side dish that makes produce-section eggplant taste like a proper restaurant plate.

Wine fruit cup with sliced plums, nectarines, and golden raisins soaked in a spiced white wine syrup infused with anise, cinnamon, and lemon. A chilled starter that doubles as a light summer dessert.

Yum Hoi Mang-Pu, a Thai mussel salad tossed with lemongrass, shallots, fresh mint, fiery bird's-eye chilies, lime juice, and fish sauce. Crisp, fiery, and sour, served over lettuce as a starter.

Chilled blueberry buttermilk soup with orange zest and fresh juice, served icy cold with an orange slice and berry garnish. A refreshing Scandinavian-inspired starter or light dessert that's ideal for hot summer days.