Starters-Christmas Lunch-Ideas please?

[stevedrummie]

Have been volunteered to cook lunch this year-am OK with the mains+pud but would like to do something a bit different for starters- hopefully quick+ easy to prepare (maybe in advance)..quite fancy salmon or other fish dish.
All ideas gratefully received!

Cheers all

Steve

[bazking69]

Do people really have a starter before the biggest main course meal of the year?

[Plotloss]

Glass of orange juice on a doyley.

Retro!

[Wadeski]

I'm buying a load of crayfish at Billingsgate and making crayfish ravioli. Everyone gets one or two in a crayfish and clam broth with a little chilli and lemongrass.

[Maxf]

I asked a similar question. Thinking of Lobster (or Crayfish) Ravioli - mmmmmm...

[Le TVR]

Last year did Sea Bass stuffed with braised fennel (grilled whole when stuffed)
Was quite popular, so may do it again.

[escargot]

Gravadlax... nice.

[ManicMushroom]

escargot said:

Gravadlax... nice.

is that like pictolax?

[ManicMushroom]

Wadeski said:

I'm buying a load of crayfish at Billingsgate and making crayfish ravioli. Everyone gets one or two in a crayfish and clam broth with a little chilli and lemongrass.

now that sounds nice, anyone know of a linky I can get a recipe for that sort of thing (aye I am a bit of a philistine when It comes to cooking anything remotley good)

[Romanymagic]

only three fish eaters in my group for Xmas day so will offer up a mixed seafood and smoked salmon platter in the middle of the table, for starters will do a light tomato and basil soup starter, keep the palate light, champagne accompanient, the fish fanciers (including me) can inccorporate a starter and fish course) then into mains.

[Gruffy]

ManicMushroom said:

Wadeski said:

I'm buying a load of crayfish at Billingsgate and making crayfish ravioli. Everyone gets one or two in a crayfish and clam broth with a little chilli and lemongrass.

now that sounds nice, anyone know of a linky I can get a recipe for that sort of thing (aye I am a bit of a philistine when It comes to cooking anything remotley good)

I have a great recipe for Crab & Lobster Ravioli:

3tbsp whipping cream
1tbsp egg white
(whip them together and then add…)
75g Lobster meat
100g crab meat
1/4 green onion
2tsp coriander
1/2tsp lemon juice
1tsp grated Ginger
Salt & pepper

If you're comfortable making pasta then there's really nothing that can go wrong with this one. It's lovely. You could substitute crayfish or salmon (puréed with the cream and egg white).

[Blatter]

Foix Gras with a bottle of Sauterne.

Use what's left of the Sauterne after dinner with Roquefort cheese !

[Wadeski]

Gruffy said:

yummy stuff

I've never made a crayfish ravioli before(i usually do squash, bean, or cheese) but if anyone has tried something similar to my idea below, please tell me if its likely to crash and burn!

My ravioli stuffing will be very simple; I was planning on rubbing the crayfish tail with salt, pepper, and maybe a little tomato puree, then VERY quickly searing it (20 seconds) before chopping into rough chunks. I was then going to pile the chunks into the ravioli with a dollop of creme fraiche and some parsley.

I was hoping to get a nice meaty texture inside the ravioli rather than a puree.

The ravioli will be served in a clear broth made of the crayfish heads and shells, clams, coriander, and a few spices.

i'll make one and if its horrible, get the food processor out - but if anyone has tried something similar before I would love to know their thoughts

Edited by Wadeski on Sunday 21st December 01:13

Edited by Wadeski on Sunday 21st December 01:13

[Gruffy]

Don't fancy the tomato puree myself but then catering to personal taste is one of the great things about cooking things yourself.

I find creme fraiche a little too wet for the thickness of pasta I like to use. Mascarpone (and a dash of lemon juice) works very well with crayfish, for my palate at least, and is a little drier.

[Gruffy]

Blatter said:

Foix Gras with a bottle of Sauterne.

Use what's left of the Sauterne after dinner with Roquefort cheese !

[captainzep]

Probably just some really good smoked salmon, brown bread, butter, and a wedge of lemon here.

Might make my own pate on Christmas eve, but smoked salmon is the likely dish.