Starters

[naomi24]

Does anyone have any good ideas for a lowish-fat, but delicious starter? The main course is wine and herb marinaded lamb shanks, garlic mashed potatoes and vegetables.

Thanks.

[eyebrows]

garlic bread

[Bohne]

Some grapes and cheese...
Not too much, though, or people will be full before the mail meal!

[Champagne]

Because you're providing carbs, veg and meat in your main course you have free range on what you can serve up for a starter.

Go for something light that refreshes the palate, and concentrate on the presentation of it. How about one of the following?:-

Couscous salad (http://www.womansday.com/recipes/10535/golden- couscous-salad.html)
Make just enough for all your guests to fit into a nice shaped small bowl, then turn out the couscous moulds onto the plates. Serve with a handful of wild rocket on the side drizzled with olive oil and lemon, and place two strands of chives over the mould. It will look very impressive!

or;

Tricolore Salad
- tomatoes
- avocado
- mozzarella
- fresh basil

Slice the tomatoes, avocado and mozzarella (try to slice everything in similar circles!). Then simply place in a circle on a plate, alternating the 3 colours. Finally, roughly chop/rip the basil and scatter over. Drizzle with olive oil and black pepper and then serve.

[Donquixote]

With a lovely rich main course like your lamb, i'd serve something light to start. Try this fennel tartlet, it's very light and the slightly anise favour will set the palette up beautifully for the lamb.
Slice a bulb of fennel into 8-10 slices, cutting through from top to bottom, keeping the slices in tact. Place them on a baking tray, drizzle with a little olive oil, and place in the oven at 180C until softened to the bite (10-12 minutes). Cut circles of puff pastry approx. 5" in size. Prick all over with a fork to stop them rising too much, eggwash and place in the oven until golden and risen. To serve, place the pastry disc in the centre of a plate, top with 3 or four slices of fennel, and a little goats cheese crumbled on top. It's nice just simply drizzled with a little olive oil, a grind of black pepper, and some dressed rocket.

[ethandron]

smoked mackerel salad. flake up some smoked mackerel fillets, mix in some creamed horseradish and put into little ramekins or pots and chill for a couple of hours. serve with melba toast or brown bread and butter. really tasty.

[Gef]

A real prawn cocktail. Lots of crisp leaves, chopped avocado, king (or tiger) prawns, lime jiuce with just a little mayonaisse mixed with tomato puree. Sprinkle on lime juice.

[arlibop]

king prawns quickly stir fried in a little oil garlic and fresh red chilli throw in a handful of chopped coriander just at the end and serve with a salad of baby leaves. delicious and quick when your guests arrive

[naomi24]

Thanks everyone. They sound so delicious, I want them all!

[billearly]

Asparagus with hollandaise sauce delicious