I Shall Start with an Entree: 30 Starter Recipes for Your Dinner Party

A dinner party often begins with a small plate that sets the mood. In I Shall Start with an Entree, April Blomgren gathers 30 starter recipes, ranging from seafood bites and bright salads to warm, savory nibbles. The collection gives hosts plenty of different directions to consider when planning the first course.

Small plates with plenty of variety

The contents move among ingredients and styles rather than focusing on one kind of appetizer. Oysters appear in several forms, alongside pesto prawns, scallops with ginger and shallots, lime-and-soy calamari skewers, Parmesan mussels and crab-and-coriander tarts. Elsewhere, the list includes grilled figs, olive toasts, fried halloumi with lemon and mint, onion bhajees with mint yogurt, and chilled ginger and carrot soup.

Ideas for shaping the first course

That mix makes the book useful when you want to build a varied opening spread: seafood, vegetables, cheese and other savory starters all have a place. Choose a few contrasting dishes for a relaxed gathering, or browse for a single appetizer to begin a more formal meal. The recipes also offer inspiration for combining crisp, rich, fresh and tangy flavors across the table.

For dinner-party hosts and curious home cooks

This collection is aimed at readers seeking starter and appetizer ideas for entertaining. Its range of named dishes gives home cooks options to explore, whether the plan is a generous assortment of small plates or a simple first course before dinner.

For a table where the first bite matters, these 30 recipes offer a varied place to start. 🍽️