442 starter recipes

Chilled fruit gazpacho with tomatoes, honeydew, cantaloupe, mango, nectarines, and cucumber in fresh orange juice with basil, mint, and a jalapeño kick. A stunning summer starter.

Friendship cake made with brandied fruit starter, butter pecan cake mix, and instant pudding for a dense, moist Bundt cake loaded with pecans and boozy fruit.

Yeast ferment starter made with potato water, mashed potato, sugar, and dry yeast. Speeds up bread dough rising and adds soft texture to homemade yeast breads.

Homemade onion rye bread made with a sponge starter, rye and bread flour, and sauteed onions kneaded into the dough. Crusty outside, soft and fragrant inside.

Chilled citrus berry soup blended from blueberries, yogurt, orange juice, and lemon zest. No-cook summer starter or light dessert that comes together in five minutes.

Basic miso soup with wakame, onion, carrot, and a swirl of miso paste stirred in off-heat for an authentic Japanese starter ready in 20 minutes.

Traditional Amish Friendship Bread starter that lives on your counter for 10 days, then splits into four batches to share. The foundation for sweet, tangy quick breads.

Elegant seafood appetizers with bay scallops, Granny Smith apples, and mushrooms in white sauce, served in individual ramekins. Breadcrumb topping broils golden. Sophisticated starter for special dinners.

Elegant baked monkfish and shrimp in individual ramekins with a curried saffron cream custard. A stunning starter or light lunch for two when doubled up. Serves 4.

Sweet pea soup with pear, potato, and watercress, finished with a lemon-pepper sour cream drizzle. Serve hot, chilled, or at room temperature for an elegant starter.

Creamy sweet potato soup with shallots, nutmeg, dry sherry, and half-and-half, topped with chopped walnuts. A velvety holiday starter soup that's elegant enough for Thanksgiving.

A silky no-cook chilled soup blending canned apricots and pears with yogurt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Light, refreshing, and ready in minutes. The perfect summer starter.

Velvety cold curried carrot soup with coconut milk, ginger, and lime, topped with crisp shrimp. A showstopping chilled soup starter that's worth every minute of chill time.

Rich pureed chestnut soup spiked with amaretto, swirled with cream, and seasoned with nutmeg and cayenne. An elegant starter that turns fresh roasted chestnuts into liquid velvet.

Menai Pride mussels pate baked in a bain-marie with herring roe, brandy, double cream, and egg yolks. A traditional Welsh seafood starter served with toast fingers.

Chilled cucumber cream soup with whipping cream, chicken broth, and butter. Cooked cucumbers and onions are blended silky smooth, then served cold for a refreshing summer starter.