Cheat’s taramasalata
Whizz up a quick taramasalata with this easy recipe. Rosie Mackean’s cheat’s version of the beloved…
Gluten-free
🍽 Serves 6⏱ 15 min hands-on◆ Easy
Collection
Summer starter recipes
Bring warmth and colour to the table with our summer starter recipes.
Make the most of summer produce with easy starter ideas using courgettes, aubergine, fresh tomatoes and sweet peppers. We’ve even included some sweet-savoury dishes with grilled peaches and juicy strawberries. These recipes are perfect for laid-back lunches and dinners in the garden, and many of them are make-ahead too. Fingers crossed for good weather.
Our best-ever summery starters include refreshing chilled soups like watermelon gazpacho and vichyssoise. Serve up platters of sharing dishes for a casual gathering, like these golden fish croquettes and addictive aubergine moussaka rolls. Planning a more formal do or dinner party? There’s plenty of ideas below to impress your guests.
See our summer of sport recipe ideas if you’re getting friends together to watch some of the year’s big sporting events.
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Courgette, feta and blackcurrant salad
This elegant salad of courgette and feta (or ewe’s curd) with blackcurrant purée makes the perfect…
Gluten-freeVegetarian
🍽 Serves 4 as a starter or side⏱ 40 min hands-on◆ Easy
Pea, courgette and parmesan cheese soup
When summer provides a bounty of fresh vegetables, make this wonderfully green pea and courgette soup…
🍽 Serves 6 as a starter⏱ 30 min hands-on · 25 min oven◆ Easy
Lobster crumpets
Jack Croft and Will Murray of London restaurant Fallow share the secrets of their incredible lobster…
🍽 Serves 4⏱ 1 hour 20 min hands-on · 1 hour oven◆ Challenge
Chilled cucumber and yogurt soup with prawns and dill
Rosie Mackean’s chilled cucumber and yogurt soup is a simple yet elegant summer starter. Serve with…
🍽 Serves 6⏱ 25 min hands-on · 5 min oven◆ Easy
Gazpacho
Minimal effort in the kitchen is required to enjoy this cold soup. On the table and…
Dairy-freeGluten-free
🍽 Serves 4⏱ 15 min hands-on◆ Easy
José Pizarro’s gazpacho with roasted grapes
Spanish chef José Pizarro’s twist on traditional gazpacho is topped with roasted grapes for a burst…
Dairy-freeFreezable
🍽 Serves 4⏱ 15 min hands-on · 1 hour 30 min oven◆ Easy
Smoky chickpeas with coriander tahini
Chef Sami Tamimi’s recipe for crispy, smoky chickpeas served with a tahini and coriander sauce is…
Dairy-freeGluten-free
🍽 Serves 4 as a side or part of a spread⏱ 10 min hands-on · 30 min oven◆ Easy
Marinated peppers with gordal olives and anchovies
Looking for an easy summer starter? Serve up Rosie Mackean’s Spanish-style marinated peppers with gordal olives…
Dairy-free
🍽 Serves 6⏱ 15 min hands-on · 20 min oven◆ Easy
Lollipop chicken
Lollipop chicken is an Indo-Chinese dish of deep-fried chicken wings. Here’s what makes this lollipop chicken…
🍽 Serves 4 as a starter or side⏱ 30 min hands-on · 20 min oven◆ Medium
Asparagus and egg mayo toasts
This asparagus and egg mayo toasts recipe by dinner party queen Rosie Mackean is the ideal…
Dairy-freeVegetarian
🍽 Serves 6⏱ 15 min hands-on · 15 min oven◆ Easy
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