442 starter recipes

Creamy leek soup blends sauteed leeks and onion with vegetable stock, then enriches with a butter-flour-milk-cream bechamel. Smooth, silky pureed soup for a cool-weather starter or light lunch.

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.

Yeasted chocolate bread made with a honey sponge starter and semi-sweet chocolate rolled jelly-roll style into 8 individual mini loaves. Brushed with egg glaze and best served hot from the oven.

Bloody Mary bread uses V8 juice and a splash of vodka in a bread machine dough for a savory, tomato-tinged loaf with a soft crumb. A conversation starter at any brunch table.

Steamed mussels in a curried white wine broth with tomato, garlic, fresh dill, and a splash of cream. A 20-minute French-Indian seafood starter served bowl-style with crusty bread for dipping.

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.

Korean cold cucumber soup combines paper-thin cucumbers, soy sauce, vinegar, and toasted sesame in chilled chicken broth. The hour-long marinade pulls flavor into every slice for a clean, bracing summer starter.

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.

Chilled fruit soup with tender apple chunks, plump raisins, and warm cinnamon sticks simmered in apple cider. A splash of brandy and brown sugar add sophistication. Serve cold as a refreshing starter or dessert.

Chilled cantaloupe soup pureed with cinnamon, orange juice and lime, served ice-cold in frosted bowls with fresh mint. A no-cook summer starter that takes 15 minutes plus a chill in the fridge.

Cold cucumber soup blends cucumbers with yogurt, walnuts, and fennel into a creamy chilled summer starter. Bulgarian-style tarator inspired soup with fresh dill garnish. No-cook and ready after a 2-hour chill.

This colourful starter makes a great supper or lunch dish served with new green peas or a leafy salad. Its bright colours make it appealing to both adults and children and it easy to make.

A savory salmon cheesecake appetizer baked on a buttery cracker crust with cream cheese, sour cream, and a hint of garlic and lemon. Slice it thin and serve with crackers for an unforgettable party starter.

Tejleves is a classic Hungarian milk soup with noodles simmered in sweetened whole milk. This simple, comforting 25-minute recipe is a staple of Hungarian home cooking, loved as a light meal or warming starter.

Monastery oatmeal bread made with a sponge starter, rolled oats, and whole wheat flour for a hearty, deeply flavoured loaf. Two free-form ovals with a rustic oat-dusted crust, perfect for toast or sandwiches.