Christmas Starter

[Dunclane]

As we spend Xmas day at my best friends parents I have again offered to make the starter this year.

Last year I made a salmon terrine which went down well.

There are 9-10 of us in total, any ideas?

[bobbo89]

On Masterchef a few weeks back Michel Roux Jr made individual French pork pies stuffed with chestnut and apple which looked like a perfect Christmas dya starter to me.

Still on iPlayer but only for another day

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03jg7qv

[Dunclane]

I saw that episode and yes I agree they did look amazing. It it acceptable to not use fish of some sort though?

[Oscarmac]

Jamie Oliver seared encrusted carpaccio of beef. Get asked to do this every year we spend at my parents for Christmas. No good if Rib of beef for main but much lighter and less filling than you might think.

[Afanc]

Sounds good so I had a look for the recipe can be found here.

[bobbo89]

Dunclane said:

I saw that episode and yes I agree they did look amazing. It it acceptable to not use fish of some sort though?

I dont see why not, I've had pate's and game terrines many a time for Christmas day starter.

If you do want to serve fish though he also did a makeral tart which also looked very good! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSnx5XgTFhM

Edited by bobbo89 on Tuesday 10th December 13:47

[Wadeski]

Poch some small, thick fish fillets in a shellfish broth you prepared earlier. Takes a few minutes only.

plate the fish, warm up some spatzle or similar in the broth and combine it all.

all you need is a tupperware of the broth, a tupperware of the fillets, and a saucepan. maybe some herbs to garnish.

[Dunclane]

Ok stop it now I'm salivating at my desk!!

[Odie]

I did a collection of mini starters a couple of years back that went down really well, basically I made mini loafs and made extensive use of shot glasses.

each person had - prawn cocktail, pate, smoked salmon, melon balls, soup (in double espresso cups) iirc, im sure im missing a couple of things.

It was surprisingly simple to do and looked really different & cute on the plate.

[mattdaniels]

Twice baked cheese soufflé.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/double_baked_che...


Twice-Baked Cheese Soufflé by Matt_Daniels, on Flickr

Really yummy, quite light, and you can do most of the cooking the day before and just do the second bake on the day.

[Mobile Chicane]

Posh prawn cocktail, with something like crevette roses / langoustines.

[Boo152]

Smoked mackeral pate with fresh homemade bread.
Make the pate the day before - takes about 5mins using a food processor.

[escargot]

Mobile Chicane said:

Posh prawn cocktail, with something like crevette roses / langoustines.

I do this but with crayfish tails and smoked salmon. Works well.

I think this year I'm going to do a smoked salmon pâté wrapped in more smoked salmon. Just got to decide on the recipe now.

[bobbo89]

Salmon and prawns just seem a bit too standard to me, with Christmas dinner your pretty much sure what your main and pudding is going to be so it's nice to have something a bit different for a starter

[escargot]

OP: what about gravadlax? Still on the fish theme but a little bit different, doesn't take much effort but does have a wow factor, especially if you do a whole side. More importantly, it's delicious.

[evoivboy]

wild mushroom Gateau, thyme cream sauce

[Wadeski]

whats the "cake" bit made of? (the bit that isnt mushrooms - looks like some kind of pastry?)

[Dunclane]

Some really good suggestions, cheers all! That gravad lax does look good!

[calibrax]

This is what I've had every year since birth...



Wouldn't change it for the world. It's a tradition

[Dapster]

Puy lentil galettes from Yotam Ottolenghi - bloody lovely and easy as you like. If you are allergic to veggie food, then pan fry some lardons and chuck them into the lentils (as I do) - fantastic.

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2007/jan/2...