442 starter recipes

Refined Verona-style antipasto with paper-thin prosciutto, crunchy celery root matchsticks, and Parmesan wedges on bitter radicchio for an elegant Italian starter.

Orange appetizers layered with thin red onion, parsley, cilantro, lime juice, and olive oil. A fresh, no-cook Moroccan-inspired citrus salad starter.

Individual cheese and mushroom souffles with Swiss cheese, sherry, and whole wheat flour. Puffy, golden, and impressive enough for a dinner party starter.

Sourdough blueberry muffins made with whole wheat flour and sourdough starter for a tangy, tender crumb. Mixed by hand and baked until golden.

Watercress goat cheese salad with pecan halves is a three-ingredient starter that takes 15 minutes. Peppery greens, creamy chevre, and crunchy nuts.

Greens with orange dressing pairs Belgian endive and watercress with a minimalist balsamic-orange vinaigrette and hazelnut oil. A light, elegant starter salad.

Pear and blue cheese pizza, a five-ingredient bistro-style flatbread with ripe pears, double-cream blue cheese, honey, and thyme. Ready in 30 minutes for an elegant starter or light dinner.

Chilled avocado soup blends ripe avocados with a lime-and-serrano-spiked stock into a silky, no-cream base, topped with cilantro cream and crisp julienned radishes. A cool, elegant Mexican-inspired starter.

Grilled baby artichokes piled onto meaty sauteed portobello caps and finished with a drizzle of vinaigrette. A simple, smoky, vegetarian starter that lets a few good ingredients shine.

Crispy Chinese-American shrimp toast: golden-fried bread triangles topped with seasoned shrimp paste, fresh ginger, water chestnuts, and toasted sesame seeds. A classic dim sum starter.

Pumpkin and avocado oil soup blends pumpkin, fennel and potato into a silky pureed soup, with buttery avocado oil standing in for butter. A light, velvety vegan starter finished with a drizzle of oil.

Chilled raspberry soup simmered with Burgundy wine and cinnamon sticks, strained smooth, and served cold with a swirl of cream. An elegant summer starter.

Chilled strawberry soup with buttermilk, orange juice, lemon, and mint, pureed smooth and served cold with a swirl of yogurt. A refreshing summer starter.

Creamy curried carrot soup with apple, brown sugar, cinnamon, and a yogurt swirl. Vegetarian, low-fat, and served chilled for a sweet-savory starter.

Pineapple salsa soup: chilled tropical gazpacho with pineapple, cucumber, yellow pepper, jalapeno, and lime. Bright vegetarian summer starter, no-cook and ready to chill.

Chinese crab combination soup with crabmeat, scallops, dried mushrooms, bamboo shoots, ginger, and silky egg ribbons in a savory broth. A restaurant-style starter.