Christmas pâté recipes

James Martin's luxuriously rich dinner party starter can be made up to two days in advance for fuss-free entertaining - serve with toasted brioche, cornichons and chutney.

Five minutes is all you need to whip up this creamy fish dish, great served as a dip or starter

Serve this easy vegetarian pâté as a starter at a dinner party. It's a great partner to toast, mini crispbreads and cornichons

Impress dinner guests with homemade port and chicken liver pâté, which takes just 30 minutes to make. Enjoy as a starter with our rosemary crackers

An impressive starter from Gordon Ramsay, that's surprisingly simple to put together. Make it a few days ahead to allow the flavours to develop

This relaxed mackerel pâté starter can be whizzed up in just 15 minutes - and it won't break the bank either

This delicious, unashamedly rich starter is the sort of dish that makes entertaining stress-free, as it can be made up to three days ahead

Cheaper than smoked salmon, this smoked trout dip makes a smart party nibble or simple starter

A rich, sweet pâté recipe using pineau - a sherry-like aperitif - great as a dinner party starter.

Whizz up sustainable smoked fish with horseradish, lemon and cream cheese, plus a little spinach for colour, then serve with toast as a light starter

Whizz up this fish dip with hot tangy mustard notes, cream cheese, lemon and dill - great for a last minute party dish

Serve a pick-and-mix lunch plate of smoked fish dip, oatcakes, celery, artichokes and coleslaw

A vegetarian lunch plate of a creamy feta dip with oatcakes, homemade coleslaw, crudités and artichokes

Prepare these vegan pâté and candied walnut canapés ahead of time. When the party starts, all you need to do is plate them up

A modern take on the traditional devilled egg and an ideal Easter snack. Top with chicken crackling for an extra bit of crunch

This impressive and delicately-flavoured starter is perfect for dinner parties without splashing the cash. Make-ahead, easy-to-do and no cooking required

A chunky fish terrine that's easy to make and delicious with toasted sweet bagels

This easy vegetarian dip is a healthy alternative to hummus and great with crudités in a lunchbox or served as a vegan pate as part of a snack selection.

Pair beetroot with crab to make this healthy and vibrant pâté. Serve with crudités and crisp breads for dunking

This speedy pâté is ready in 15 minutes, the perfect last minute starter

This low-fat, easy pâté is a perfect vegetarian starter

This mixture, from Gordon Ramsay, makes a great base for a variety of mousses and other desserts