Christmas Starters & Canapes

Anna Tobias, the chef behind stylish Bloomsbury restaurant Café Deco, offers a recipe for trout pate that makes a delicious alternative to the usual smoked salmon

In an extract from the Pompette cookbook by Pascal and Laura Wiedemann, the Oxford-based restaurateurs teach us how to make this traditional French appetiser

This vegan recipe from Marc Summers, founder of the Middle Eastern-inspired vegetarian restaurant Bubala, transforms aubergines into a moreish, creamy dip

This butternut squash soup is the perfect easy lunch or dinner. The coconut and lemon juice adds an unexpected lightness to its delicate spicy flavour

Restaurateur, writer and broadcaster Russell Norman, who opened popular London trattoria Brutto in 2021, gives a recipe for Florentine savoury pancakes from his book Brutto: A (Simple) Florentine Cookbook, which celebrates rustic Italian cuisine

Danish chef Trine Hahnemann shares the delicious dishes she cooks for her family at Christmas, including this Danish julesalat

Dan Toombs presents a novel way to make chicken samosas, from his new book, ‘Curry Guy Chicken: Deliciously Spiced Recipes From South And Southeast Asia’

Danish chef Trine Hahnemann shares the delicious dishes she cooks for her family at Christmas, including this home-cured salmon

Restaurateur, writer and broadcaster Russell Norman, who opened popular London trattoria Brutto in 2021, selects recipes from his latest book,
Brutto: A (Simple) Florentine Cookbook, which celebrates rustic Italian cuisine, including this starter to savour

Kick off your Christmas feast with this sophisticated starter

In her new cookbook Supper, Flora Shedden sets out recipes that will make staying in worthwhile. These heavenly fried croquettes are the ideal appetiser for an indulgent supper at home

Fans of cheese straws will love these elegant pre-dinner nibbles

Start a Christmas feast in Italian style with this dish by chef Giorgio Locatelli

The perfect winter warmer, this celery and chestnut soup by chef Rowley Leigh is guaranteed to satisfy any cravings, deliciously paired with onion bread

These little crostini are a great bite for guests to have while they wait for the main event.

Merlin Labron-Johnson whips up these charming cheese confections, perfect for entertaining

A showstopping Christmas bread wreath to serve at a festive feast

A fried cabbage recipe for a Danish summer dinner party from Trine Hahnemann. "Cabbage is eaten a lot in the Nordic countries. I love the flavour of the caramelised, almost burnt edge combined with sweet and fresh tasting inside leaves."

Serve this with pre-dinner drinks, the crispy squid piled high around the dips

Three seafood canapé recipes for parties; coconut prawns, tuna sashimi and scallops with pea purée