442 starter recipes

Hungarian sour cherry soup (meggyleves) with sour cream, flour, and sugar. A traditional chilled fruit soup that's tangy, creamy, and served cold as a starter or dessert.

A simple overnight yeast sponge starter made with just flour, water, and active dry yeast. The base for flavorful homemade bread with better texture and deeper taste.

Chilled raspberry dessert soup with strawberry wine, maple syrup, and lemon, thickened with arrowroot. Served cold with sour cream and fresh berries for an elegant summer starter.

Rich garlic soup pureed with 28 cloves of slow-caramelized garlic, onions, bouquet garni, and cream. A French-style starter that's silky, deeply savory, and surprisingly mellow.

Light wheat pizza dough with whole wheat flour, cornmeal, and a sponge starter for extra flavor. A hearty crust with nutty grain notes for homemade pizza night.

Pâté de poulet en gelée layers poached chicken, broiled chicken livers, poached vegetables, and apple in individual aspic molds. Elegant French cold starter set in savory gelatin.

Scalloped salmon or trout baked in shells with sauteed fennel, bacon, and a mustard béchamel. An old-school British fish starter with anise sweetness and smoky depth.

Salmon tartare with hand-chopped raw salmon, kalamata olives, fresh oregano, shallots, and lemon. Mediterranean appetizer served with toast points and lemon wedges. No-cook elegant starter.

Silky chilled fennel soup, fennel simmered with shallots and garlic, pureed with lemon and dill, then blended with cool yogurt. A light, tangy, anise-kissed soup served cold as a refreshing starter.

Mushroom-stuffed eggs baked on a bed of sauteed mushrooms with grated cheese. A Marguerite Patten classic that turns simple deviled eggs into a warm, elegant vegetarian starter.

Sourdough bread made from starter batter mixed with flour, shortening, and baking soda. A quick-rise loaf brushed with milk for a golden crust, ready in under an hour.

Melon, hearts of palm, and prosciutto salad on mesclun greens with red-wine vinaigrette. An elegant Italian-inspired starter with sweet cantaloupe, salty prosciutto, and tender palm hearts.

A vibrant Moroccan-style salad of grilled and skinned bell peppers, fresh tomatoes, and Spanish onion dressed in a simple garlic, olive oil, and vinegar vinaigrette. Served chilled for a refreshing side dish or starter.

Yeasted anise biscotti from Genoa, made with a sponge starter for a lighter, bread-like crumb. Twice-baked with butter and aniseed, these are nothing like ordinary biscotti.

A savory cheesecake appetizer with crumbled bacon and sauteed onions in a rich cream cheese filling on a walnut cracker crust. Serve with crackers for a showstopping starter.

Sourdough rye bread with caraway and poppy seeds, made from a homemade starter built over four days. Two round loaves with a tangy crumb and egg-washed crust.