Easy Wow Factor Starter

[WeAreBongo]

Could anyone think of a simple starter that is very quick and easy to prepare, is light, and most importantly, tastes amazing? I thank you!

[bazza26]

i would like to maybe have a nice starter pan fried goats cheese on thin slices of beetroot and rocket and drizzled with walnut oil

[spanner7853]

bruschetta with capricorn goats cheese (much milder and doesn't stick to the roof of your mouth like some Goats cheese)

[thugulike]

lobster and mango salad topped with a little caviar (if you're feeling flush) Very easy but very wowish.

[shaneystar2]

Cantaloupe Melon and Parma ham ..cut down through wedges of melon leaving the skin on ..drape the ham artistically over the melon and drizzle with a mixture of sherry ,honey and orange juice.

[WeAreBongo]

Some good ideas...by all means keep them coming!

[chazza]

Sometimes I cheat and buy those little breaded camemberts from the cheese section in tescos and do them in the oven!

Other than that, a nice pate with some toast and redcurrant jelly?

[Hellyon]

Tub of creamy goats cheese (can't remember what it's called - if you can't get it ordinary cream cheese will do) chopped up smoked salmon, pepper, a little lemon and a spoonful of creamed horseradish sauce. Stir together to create 'pate' serve in little scoops with toast.

Or blinis with caviar - warm blinis spread with cream cheese put a little 'dollop' of lumpfish caviar on the top and serve like canapes.

[nickmo]

Hi W - hefty cheese starters and you wanted a light one? - try one of :

Fresh salad - have fennel,melon balls and mixed beans with honey and lemon dressing.

Or melon with prawns and strawberries (but wait for the summer for that one or you'll be buying tasteless inported strawberries at the moment - pontless things....)

Or melon, prawns and smoked salmon - dress with a herb oil and serve on a bed of shredded lettuce with giant croutons.

Or sardine pate - tin of sardines, olive oil, lemon juice, fromage frais - stick in a blender, season and serve on toast rounds.....topped with preserved lemon slices.

How about a hot salad - Lambs liver salad with golden beetroot and sherry dressing....Or smoked chicken diced into herbs.....or calamari on a bed of rocket.....

Posh scrambled eggs - serve with smoked salmon, diced smoked bacon, chorizo, langoustine....on dead posh toasted seed bread cut to rounds and prepped with a garlic salt....

Teeny brushetta - topped with your fave tapanades...

Gazpacho - blitz a tin of tomatoes with some lightly fried onions, herbs and seasoning plus a dash of sherry - No need ot cook the tomatoes of course - strain and serve chilled with garnish of chopped chives.

Hope that helps..

[jack daniels]

after reading all of those - how about something very simple & popular like prawn cocktail? just serve it differently - now there's food for thought LOL

[Jugglering]

If you like garlic and chick peas, you may enjoy this one;-

1 400g can cooked chickpeas, rinsed and drained
4 tbsp sesame seeds
2 cloves garlic, crushed
Juice of 1 lemon
2 tbsp tahini (sesame seed paste)
4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
3 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
freshly ground black pepper

In a large mixing bowl, mash up the chick peas with a fork or potato masher. Put the sesame seeds into a heavy frying pan (no oil) over a low heat and stir them around until they are golden brown and starting to pop. Mix them into the chick pea mash. Beat in the garlic, lemon juice, tahini and then gradually add the oil. Mix in the parsley and season with the pepper and place in a serving dish. Serve up with hot toast and allow guests to help themselves.

It sounds like a lot of work, but it is really easy and has a large wow factor.....

[WeAreBongo]

Thank you all for your suggestions. Good selection there, will try a couple out before I decide which one to use for my dinner party!