Hey all.

My wife and I are having a couple of friends over for a dinner party in a few weeks. We were planning the menu yesterday but are a bit stumped on what to serve as a starter. I was hoping you good folk could give us a hand!

We have the main and dessert sorted. I'm responsible for the main course, which is a Jamie Oliver recipe - roasted monkfish wrapped in parma ham. It has lemon and rosemary in it also.

My wife is taking care of the dessert and it is some form of chocolate pot/mousse affair.

We're stuck on what to do for a starter. We'd like something that can be prepared in advance if possible, so minimal messing about on the night. When giving dinner parties in the past, we've usually done a meat based main course, so have opted for fish based starter. However, now that we're doing a fish main, we're confused as to what is a good idea for starter!

They/we are not fussy eaters so most things are going to be suitable. The only stipulation I would have to put on it is that it the starter is not any form of salad as I am not a fan.

Many thanks in advance.

What about asparagus- just about to come into season. Really beautiful with some hollandaise (you can buy it ready made) or just melted butter and lemon.

Delia's Halloumi cheese with caper sauce?

2 pks halloumi cheese sliced & dusted in cornflour
Fry the slices in sunflower oil until golden - heat oil first.

Sauce:

6-8 tablespoons olive oil
2 minced cloves garlic
2 tablespoons capers ( rinsed if using salted ones)
2 tbspn grain mustard
Juice of 1 lime
Chopped coriander (approx 1-2 tablespoon)
Mix all together to create sauce

After frying cheese lay on a bed of green salad/rocket & drizzle with the sauce.
Obviously salad can be omitted in your case as this is a substantial starter & salad in for decoration tbh.
You will need some crusty bread to mop up sauce.


Good for veggies & meat eaters.

I've typed the recipe from how I whip it up but it's originally from Delia's Summer collection.

That is so weird- I was thinking of suggesting that Delia one too- its an old fave of ours- but went for the asparagus instead!!

Homemade (or shop bought) pate with some nice bread. Sorry i've never made my own, so cannot offer a recipie.

Might be a bit early for asparagus, ususally at the end of April but perhaps the whether has brought it on early (thought mine is a way off yet.) Nice wrapped in parma ham also.

As an easy starter I love this Jamie Oliver salad: http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/s...d-in-the-world

It's a bit different with the use of figs and I think it's delicious. Also, it's not too heavy when part of a 3 course meal.

First asparagus cut in Ross on Wye last week! We are going to Ludlow at Easter to get some from the farmers market for easter Sunday lunch.

We love the asparagus too, really! If my husband And I get up late on Saturday or Sunday we usually have one or the other as a late breakfast/light lunch!

Well, there you go. Mine are obviously just lazy and I shall give them a good talking to!

It is very early though. Must have been the lovely warm weather last week. I have real veg envy of your homegrown stuff. Is it hard to grow? I know it takes a few years to get going.

If you're wanting something to prepare in advance that's really easy do a soup. I'm not a big fan of soup myself but it's easy. Do something a bit different like sweet potato and chorizo with chili flakes.

Or do something like a goats cheese mousse.

If you want to keep the fishy theme, you could go for a smoked mackerel pate and melba toasts, which can all be prepared well ahead of time.

Bruschetta, which is about as simple and as delicious as you can get!

How about individual tartlets. Goat cheese and asparagus would be nice, serve it with some rocket on the side.

You could also have a shared starter;

Olives
Pesto filled cherry tomatoes
Grilled flatbread torn up with some kind of creamy dip
Cured meats
Bread will olive oil/vinegar dip

I think a shared starter is a good idea. Antipasti style.

Or even just a simple salad starter. Avacado sliced on a bed of rocket, chopped baby plum tomatoes and thinly sliced radish, drizzle a bit of olive oil and sprinkle on some toasted sesame seeds. A simple yet very tasty starter.