Christmas: Starters

Fitting in a Christmas starter before a magnificent Christmas lunch can feel like a bit of a challenge, so we’ve a selection of Christmas starter recipes for you to browse, with plenty of options to suit every appetite and menu.

If you’re looking for something light and elegant, classics like Arbroath Smokie Mousse or a traditional Prawn Cocktail are always popular choices. Prefer something you can prepare ahead? Pâtés and terrines work wonderfully at Christmas – serve them in small portions on the big day, then enjoy the leftovers later as relaxed TV suppers. Soups are another brilliant option, doubling up as easy starters and light festive lunches throughout the Christmas period – after all, the celebrations tend to last a good eight days!

For something simple and full of flavour, the Delia Online Cookery School Bruschetta makes an easy, crowd-pleasing starter. You can watch exactly how it’s made in our step-by-step video – just click the image to play and cook along with confidence.

Whether you’re planning an indulgent feast or a lighter beginning to your Christmas meal, our Christmas starter recipes and Cookery School videos make it easy to start your festive lunch in style.

Arbroath Smokie Mousse

This is unashamedly retro. In the 60s it was very popular – only then made with smoked haddock (which is...

This is unashamedly retro. In the 60s it was very popular – only then made with smoked haddock (which is still equally good). It’s cool, light and still evokes memo...

Prawn and Avocado Cocktail

There are some quite ordinary yet lovely things that end up being overlooked because they are not fashionab...

There are some quite ordinary yet lovely things that end up being overlooked because they are not fashionable, and this is one of them - avocado with prawns. We've ...

Bruschetta with Tomato and Basil

Bruschetta is a very special type of toasted bread, pronounced brusketta. When I first tasted the...

Bruschetta is a very special type of toasted bread, pronounced brusketta. When I first tasted the real thing in Tuscany, it was one of the most memorable eat...

Vegetarian

Celeriac and Chestnut Soup with Celeriac Crisps

Celeriac comes in difficult sizes for a recipe for four people, so I have used two small ones, which will m...

Celeriac comes in difficult sizes for a recipe for four people, so I have used two small ones, which will make enough for everyone to have seconds. Feel free to mak...

25 minutes - 30 minutes

Vegetarian

Celery Soup with Cashel Blue Cheese

English Fenland growers have developed new varieties of celery that can be grown in summer, and also overco...

English Fenland growers have developed new varieties of celery that can be grown in summer, and also overcome the severities of a British winter by growing English var...

40 minutes

A picture of a white bowl on a folded napkin containg chestnut soup with croutons and bacon on the top and a little sprig of thyme next to it

Chestnut Soup with Bacon and Croutons

A bone from a baked ham makes a good stock for this one – but if you use vegetable stock, it is still an ex...

A bone from a baked ham makes a good stock for this one – but if you use vegetable stock, it is still an excellent soup. You can buy the chestnuts ready peeled and ...

45 minutes

Coarse Country Pate

If you long to eat some of the rough country pâté available all over France, but in short supply here, why ...

If you long to eat some of the rough country pâté available all over France, but in short supply here, why not make some? You won't believe how blissfully easy it i...

1 hour 45 minutes

a picture of a white oblong dish of pate with a garnish on the top sitting on a square white china plate

Duck Liver Pâté with Armagnac

I wish we could buy duck livers all the year round, but thankfully they are at least around at Christmas, a...

I wish we could buy duck livers all the year round, but thankfully they are at least around at Christmas, and they make a wonderfully smooth, velvety pâté. At other...

Pheasant Terrine

This is excellent served as a light lunch with lovely crisp gherkins and lightly toasted bread. It also ...

This is excellent served as a light lunch with lovely crisp gherkins and lightly toasted bread. It also goes a long way at a help-yourself buffet party, or as a fir...

1 hour 45 minutes - 2 hours

Potted Haddie with Capers

Made with smoked haddock this is good as a light lunch with some home-made wholemeal bread or toast, it is ...

Made with smoked haddock this is good as a light lunch with some home-made wholemeal bread or toast, it is also a perfect starter for a Hogmanay or Burns Night supper....

A picture of a white plate with a bowl of the potted pork, and a glass jar of marmalade and a small plate of both. A little spoon resting on the side and a few pieces of toast in triangles

Potted Pork with Juniper and Thyme

It’s good to bring some forgotten traditional English recipes – like potted meats and terrines – into Chris...

It’s good to bring some forgotten traditional English recipes – like potted meats and terrines – into Christmas. If they’re tucked away in the fridge, there’s alway...

1 hour 30 minutes

Prawn Cocktail

This recipe is part of my 1960s revival menu. In those days it used to be something simple but really lu...

This recipe is part of my 1960s revival menu. In those days it used to be something simple but really luscious, yet over the years it has suffered from some very po...

Rillettes of Duck with Confit of Cranberries

This is one of my favourite starters: a terrine of tiny shreds of tender, succulent duck melded together li...

This is one of my favourite starters: a terrine of tiny shreds of tender, succulent duck melded together like a pâté, then served with the dazzling depth of colour and...

cooked red peppers and fennel in a white serving dish on a wooden serving board

Roasted Red Peppers

This delightful combination of flavours makes a very attractive first course. I love to serve the pepper...

This delightful combination of flavours makes a very attractive first course. I love to serve the peppers on a faded antique plate that I have, which shows off thei...

Vegetarian

Roquefort and Potato Scones with Sage

I have been making these delicious cheese rolls with Roquefort. Not obviously a Christmas recipe perhaps...

I have been making these delicious cheese rolls with Roquefort. Not obviously a Christmas recipe perhaps but perfect to go with soup at a Christmas dinner party; or...

35 minutes - 40 minutes

Vegetarian

Scallop Cream Soup

This really is one of the most luxurious and delicate soups imaginable. It is very easy to prepare and c...

This really is one of the most luxurious and delicate soups imaginable. It is very easy to prepare and cook, but perfect for a special occasion. Crisp, golden crout...

30 minutes - 40 minutes

A picture of four scallops in their shells sitting on a white plate

Scallops in the Shell

Fresh scallops are very plump and good around Christmas time, and this is my own favourite way of serving t...

Fresh scallops are very plump and good around Christmas time, and this is my own favourite way of serving them. The recipe has the advantage of requiring no last-mi...

Smoked Bacon and Lentil Soup

This is a very substantial soup, best made with whole lentils which are a greeny brown colour and don't nee...

This is a very substantial soup, best made with whole lentils which are a greeny brown colour and don't need any soaking. The Delia Online Cookery School: Make sure...

1 hour

Arbroath Smokie Creams

This is a very old favourite that never fails to delight. It’s easy, can be prepared in advance and fulf...

This is a very old favourite that never fails to delight. It’s easy, can be prepared in advance and fulfils all the criteria of a really top notch first course. Rem...

30 minutes

Souffled Sole Creams

This recipe is blissfully easy and all of it can be prepared in advance. In fact, I find it works best i...

This recipe is blissfully easy and all of it can be prepared in advance. In fact, I find it works best if you prepare the purée the day before. Dry white wine can b...

30 minutes

Soupe Flamande

Like parsnips and celery, sprouts also heighten considerably in flavour after a hard frost. I like to cu...

Like parsnips and celery, sprouts also heighten considerably in flavour after a hard frost. I like to cut them on the whole stalk and leave them attached outside th...

20 minutes - 25 minutes

Vegetarian

A picture of a cream bowl with soup and croutons and some winter berries on the table

Stilton Soup

Not simply a recipe for leftover bits of Stilton, this one, but a delicious creamy soup that can enhance an...

Not simply a recipe for leftover bits of Stilton, this one, but a delicious creamy soup that can enhance any dinner or supper party. Be careful not to boil the soup...

30 minutes - 40 minutes

Vegetarian

a picture of a cooked souffle with sauce and garnish

Twice-baked Roquefort Souffles

You can now watch how to make Twice-baked Roquefort Souffles in our Cookery School Video, just click the im...

You can now watch how to make Twice-baked Roquefort Souffles in our Cookery School Video, just click the image to play.

Vegetarian

a picture of pear and walnut salad on a white plate

Warm Pear and Walnut Salad

You might think that being continuously enthusiastic about new recipes would get harder with time. Not a...

You might think that being continuously enthusiastic about new recipes would get harder with time. Not a bit of it – there are always more and more delectable combi...