Five minutes is all you need to whip up this creamy fish dish, great served as a dip or starter
Author: Barney Desmazery
Start your Indian meal in style with Meena Pathak's tangy dip - serve with plain poppadums
Author: Good Food team
A quintessentially Sicilian veggie dish of aubergines, tomatoes, raisins, capers and pine nuts - serve with toasted ciabatta
Author: John Torode
Using mild cheese means everyone in the family can enjoy this classic starter
Author: Good Food team
If you love liver parfait, try Gordon Ramsay's step-by-step recipe to get a rich, silky smooth result
Author: Gordon Ramsay
Stuffing the cavity of a halved avocado has to be one of the easiest ways to serve it, and this crab filling can be made ahead
Author: Barney Desmazery
Bring a Spanish flavour to the table with this intense, smoky starter. Just add crusty bread to serve
Author: Good Food team
A soufflé to start always gives your dinner party a 'wow' factor and this make-ahead recipe gives you more time to be the perfect host
Author: Sara Buenfeld
Swap prawn and iceberg lettuce for crabmeat, crunchy raw fennel and avocado, topped with classic Marie Rose sauce
Author: James Martin
This speedy salad can be whipped up as an impressive starter - the fish is completely lifted by contrasting flavours
Author: Good Food team
Crack the buttery crust to reveal delicious blue cheese flavoured with sherry and green peppercorns - it's great on toast
Author: Cassie Best
These non-scary, freezer-friendly soufflés can be baked ahead, then reheated in the oven before serving
Author: Sara Buenfeld
With a double layer of goat's cheese and a coating of cream, these bistro-style bakes are authentically rich
Author: Barney Desmazery
Try an authentic version of this classic Chinese takeaway dish, with natural sweetness and a warm chilli flavour to spice things up
Author: John Torode
Fresh-tasting rice paper rolls packed with shellfish, light vermicelli noodles, carrots, cucumber and herbs, with a sweet ginger chilli dipping sauce
Author: Barney Desmazery
This stunning starter can be assembled ahead, then topped with dressed leaves just before serving.
Author: Mary Cadogan
This simple breaded cheese can be made ahead and frozen, ready to use as a starter for a dinner party with friends
Author: Good Food team
Pear, blue cheese and toasted nuts is a combination made in heaven
Author: Sara Buenfeld
Follow our step-by-step guide to plating up this elegant bistro-style dish of homemade paté and fragrant leaf salad
Author: Barney Desmazery
Angela Nilsen applies her magic touch to the infamously tricky soufflé - this low-fat version is incredibly easy and can be prepared ahead
Author: Angela Nilsen
A hot grill is the key to success here - crisp bacon and a succulent scallop. A classic that everyone should try
Author: Mary Cadogan
Grilled chicken kebab skewers marinated in fragrant Asian spices make the perfect easy canapé
Author: Caroline Hire - Food writer
Use bulgur wheat as the base for this Middle Eastern salad of superhealthy greens, feta cheese and spices
Author: Barney Desmazery
Cook scallops in the professional way then plate up restaurant-style with breadcrumbs and a smear of vegetable purée
Author: Barney Desmazery
The rich basil sauce helps balance the tangy ricotta and earthy mushroom flavours of this easy vegetarian starter
Author: Good Food team
This comforting snack is super-quick and easy, perfect for suppertime snacking.
Author: Good Food team
This French-inspired warming soup uses chutney to add a delicious sweetness
Author: Good Food team
Vanilla pairs beautifully with the creamy mellow flavour of cauliflower and the sweetness of caramelised scallops
Author: Maria Elia
Creamy coconut broth with plump orange mussels makes an easy but impressive starter for two
Author: John Torode
A fresh, seasonal starter that's simple to make and looks pretty on the plate
Author: Mary Cadogan
A traditional starter dish infused with the tastes of Italy - perfect with warmed bread
Author: Good Food team
Rustle up these Asian inspired noodle and edamame bean lettuce cups for a low-calorie dinner - ready in half an hour
Author: Cassie Best
Gordon's make-ahead terrine is the perfect starter when you're entertaining a crowd
Author: Gordon Ramsay
This no-cook starter is easy, impressive and a deliciously fresh way to start a meal
Author: Mary Cadogan
Earthy beetroot works perfectly with creamy goat's cheese for an easy but impressive starter
Author: Good Food team
These Indian-flavoured salmon and haddock breaded patties can be made in batches and frozen
Author: Roopa Gulati
These double-baked cheese and mushroom soufflés, from Mary Berry's BBC2 series Simple Comforts, are deliciously luxurious. They're served in a creamy spinach sauce for an extra layer of indulgence.
Author: Mary Berry
This help-yourself veggie starter of tempura-like lightly battered cauliflower is also good as a nibble with drinks
Author: Good Food team
Simply plonk this in the middle of the table and let your friends get to work, with chunks of bread for scooping
Author: Sarah Cook
This is called Kashmiri tamatari ghosht and is a traditional favourite, especially served with Indian bread and basmati rice
Author: Good Food team
Ever the versatile fish, this fresh, no-cook salmon starter can be made a few days ahead
Author: Matt Tebbutt
You can prepare all the elements of this stylish starter a few hours ahead, so you can be cool and collected on the night
Author: James Martin
Upgrade this simple starter to a dinner party main with a splash of dry sherry and a bed of spaghetti
Author: Silvana Franco
From Rick Stein's French Odyssey, steak tartare has to be one of France's signature dishes. The premium beef is simply seasoned and served with an egg yolk.
Author: Rick Stein
Seafood matches perfectly with bittersweet citrus fruit, like pomelo or grapefuit. Add chilli and a tamarind dressing for a bold Thai salad
Author: Jane Hornby
These are some of the quickest canapes to make, but are best made to order to prevent the poppadoms from going soft
Author: Good Food team
Gordon Ramsay's sophisticated starter is fabulously buttery and crisp - serve before his Stir fry of duck
Author: Gordon Ramsay
This impressive starter is perfect for entertaining guests and can be made ahead for extra ease
Author: Jane Hornby
Use a hearty shortcrust base then top with creamy cheese and crunchy walnuts and contrast with watercress salad
Author: Sara Buenfeld
This wonderfully light salad is packed with easy-to-find seasonal ingredients and makes a great Christmas starter
Author: Good Food team