78 starter recipes

This extravagant salsa is the perfect conversation starter at dinner parties. Can be served with tortilla chips and on burgers.

Puff-top shrimp bisque: individual soup cups crowned with golden puff pastry lids, hiding a creamy shrimp and zucchini bisque. Impressive starter for two.

Curry-spiced soup blending dried apricots with fresh cucumber and orange zest for a refreshing hot or cold starter with Middle Eastern flair.

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

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

Vegetable miso soup brightened with sweet green peas, scallion, jalapeño, garlic, and dulse seaweed. A fresh, 30-minute twist on the classic Japanese starter.

Italian-style winter salad of shaved fennel, juicy orange slices, pink grapefruit, red onion, and bitter radicchio dressed with citrus-spiked olive oil. A bright, anise-scented cold-weather starter.

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.

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.

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.

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.