442 starter recipes

Cold strawberry soup blended with buttermilk and a touch of sugar. Only 4 ingredients, no cooking required. A light, tangy summer starter or dessert, garnished with fresh mint.

Light salmon mousse made with canned and smoked salmon, Greek yogurt, ginger, and whipped egg whites, served with a grapefruit-walnut oil salad. An elegant British-style starter.

Elegant French-style sea consomme blending beef stock and clam juice with a squeeze of lemon, topped with salted whipped cream. A 15-minute starter that feels luxurious.

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.

Amish friendship bread is a quick fruit bread made from sourdough starter passed between friends. A community-tradition recipe that turns fermented batter into two cinnamon-spiced loaves.

Chestnut-stuffed mushrooms on buttery whole-wheat croûtes: pan-fried mushroom caps filled with a chunky chestnut, onion, and nutmeg stuffing, grilled until bubbling. A festive vegetarian starter.

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.

Silky, bright lemon soup made with fresh lemons, carrots, celery, and chicken broth, finished with cream. Serve hot or chilled for a refreshing starter that wows at any gathering.

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.

Hungarian-style chilled cherry soup with whole cherries, red wine, cinnamon, cloves, and lemon, thickened with quick tapioca and topped with sour cream. A classic Eastern European summer 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.

This recipe is a faily old (circa 1983) but reliable one, somwhere in between competition and eating and chili. It would be a good starter for any novice cook.