Budget Christmas starters

A smooth, blended vegetable soup with blue cheese that's as good for a comforting meal as it is for a dinner party starter

Make the most of mushrooms with this comforting mushroom soup recipe made with cream, onions and garlic. Serve for lunch or as a starter with crusty bread

Serve this halloumi, carrot, orange and watercress salad with a mustard and honey dressing for an easy lunch or starter. It takes just 20 minutes to make and delivers one of your 5-a-day

Use up leftover mash to create a comforting, good-value family meal

A satisfying soup which is delicately spiced and works well as a rustic starter

Fresh mackerel is always a winner and grilling gives a deliciously charred quality. Pickled beetroot wedges add an extra tang in this party-perfect, budget-savvy starter

Save time and energy with these easy, no-fuss baked ham hock pots as a starter. They’re great to begin a Christmas menu and set the festive mood

Serve this smoked salmon dish as a starter on a special occasion such as at Christmas. With beetroot, rocket and walnuts, it‘s full of colour and texture.

Make this potted cheddar as a Christmas gift, or serve with drinks, crackers and crusty bread after dinner. Ideal for using up cheeseboard leftovers

Warm up on colder evenings with this vibrant soup, spiked with fiery chilli powder and harissa. The crispy croutons are optional but add a satisfying crunch

Rustle up these cucumber prawn cocktail cups for a speedy starter. Ideal at Christmas time, they‘re served on lettuce leaves and topped with crispy shallots.

A modern dinner party starter that’s great for a budget - salty feta, sweet grapes, tangy sumac and aniseed dill create contrasting yet complementary flavours

Make veg peelings the star of the show with these easy fritters. They're perfect the day after a big family dinner, such as at Christmas time

We've made leeks the star of our elegant, simple starter. Hazelnuts add crucial crunch and the anchovy dressing gives the dish an umami depth of flavour

Serve our rosemary polenta bites with peperonata as canapés or a starter ahead of a celebration. They're ideal for a special occasion such as Christmas

Make the most of leftover Christmas ham with this simple pea and ham soup made in the slow cooker that uses just six ingredients. Enjoy with crusty bread

Let this hearty celeriac soup warm you up on cold days. Top with our hazelnut crumble for added crunch and serve for lunch or as a starter to a winter menu

Add a little more oil to this smashed cannellini bean dip, if you prefer – the more you add, the silkier it becomes

Take the stress out of entertaining by getting ahead on your party nibbles. The filling in these pork lettuce cups can be frozen for up to two months

Create a velvety veggie soup with sweet parsnip and tart apple, balanced by ginger and cream. Sprinkle over nigella seeds and serve with crusty bread

Make some festive hummus, using chestnuts in place of the usual chickpeas. Serve with crudités for an easy Christmas starter, snack or buffet addition

Not just for stuffings and pâtés, pan-fried chicken livers make a good-value starter or light lunch

Make the onion topping for this simple gastropub-style starter up to two days ahead