28 vegetarian starter recipes
Whether you're hosting a party or fancy a light dinner, try our best meat-free starter recipes, from grilled vegetable antipasti to gazpacho with cheesy croutons
Looking for vegetarian starter ideas? Try our meat-free recipes to begin your dinner party, including plant-based options for vegans. Then check out our vegetarian entertaining ideas, vegetarian canapés and vegan starters.
Our vegetarian starters include a variety of delicious dishes you can serve at your next dinner party, including satisfying soups, crunchy salads, meltingly cheesey plates and a selection of light bites.
Listen to the olive podcast where Janine Ratcliffe chats to author, cook and photographer Nik Sharma talks about making humble veg the star of the plate and how he uses a science-based approach to getting maximum flavour when cooking.
Easy veggie starter recipes
Cauliflower fritters
These easy fritters are quick and easy to make, and are great served before a meal. The dill and garlic mayonnaise dip really takes them to the next level, too.
Beetroot, goat’s cheese and candied walnuts
Make a plate of earthy beetroot, paired with salty goat's cheese and sweet candied walnuts, for a stylish veggie starter to present at your next dinner party. This recipe is from Fenn in London.
More like this
Grilled goat’s cheese with hot honey and pink peppercorns
Throw together this impressive-looking starter in just 20 minutes start to finish. Grilling the goat's cheese gives it extra oomph, along with the drizzled hot honey.
Fried corn ribs
These fried corn ribs from sustainable dining restaurant Fallow are a delicious vegetarian starter or snack to serve with drinks.
Mushroom pâté
Serve this vegetarian starter at your next dinner party – mushrooms, shallots, garlic, thyme and sherry give it real depth of flavour.
Wild garlic soup
Put the spotlight on this spring ingredient in a vibrant vegetarian soup, swirling through high-quality crème fraîche and serving with hot buttered toast for a comforting lunch.
Winter panzanella
Kickstart your dinner party with this seasonal panzanella, it has plenty of root veg and tangy blue cheese.
Crudités with chipotle aïoli
Taking just 15 minutes to put together, this easy starter is great for dinner parties over the summer. Use any crisp, fresh vegetables that are available.
Indonesian sweetcorn fritters with chilli and tomato sambal
Serve these vegetarian Indonesian sweetcorn fritters as a snack or as part of a meal. They're sweet and crunchy and served alongside a spicy tomato sambal made of chillies, shallots, lime, oil and green or red tomatoes.
Roast beetroot soup with caramelised onion and blue cheese toasts
Get your dinner party off to a vibrant start with our creamy beetroot soup topped with crunchy, cheesy mini sourdough toasts. Try our veggie soup recipe for a warming starter.
Grilled vegetable antipasti
Kick off a classic Italian meal with these gorgeous grilled veggies. Serve with fresh focaccia and olives and for an impressive dinner party starter that everyone can tuck into.
Wild mushrooms and horseradish labneh on toast
Vegetarians will love this wild mushrooms on toast dish – levelled up with a homemade labneh, garlic and herbs.
Rarebit mushrooms with pickle dressing
Flat mushrooms topped with mustardy rarebit and served with a quick red wine vinegar dressing makes for an ideal dinner party starter. It's gluten free, too!
Burrata with savoury granola
Give your burrata an upgrade by topping with a nutty granola. This smart dish makes for a quick and easy start to your meal as you can make the granola ahead of time.
Potato and paneer kebabs
Make these potato and paneer kebabs – where the paneer is marinated in lemon juice and gunpowder spice – for a simple vegetarian starter or light lunch.
Vegan broccoli tempura with ponzu dipping sauce
Want a vegan snack that friends and family can enjoy before the main course? Impress with our broccoli tempura with ponzu dipping sauce, a vibrant meat-free option.
Crispy okra
Okra – also known as ladies' fingers – is a vegetable most often seen in Indian and Caribbean cuisine. Coat it in semolina, deep-fry and serve with a yuzu ponzu dip for an exciting veggie starter.
Vegetarian halloumi shawarma
Calling all cheese lovers! Our halloumi shawarma serves three but can easily be doubled if you're feeding a crowd. Accompany with a fresh salad and flatbreads for a mezze-style vegetarian starter.
Leek, pea and spinach soup
A soothing starter ready in less than 30 minutes, impress your dinner guests with a bowl of freshly homemade soup. Serve with lots of crusty bread and you’re onto a winner.
Chickpea fritters with yogurt, green chilli and cucumber salad
Lightly spiced and packed with chickpeas, these vegetarian fritters are ready in just 30 minutes. Serve with a dollop of yogurt and fresh cucumber salad.
Spicy cheese and pickle wraps
Pickles are wrapped in crispy cheese in this delicious vegetarian canapé.
Warm hummus with pine nuts, raisins and olives
Want to impress with a mezze-style spread? Try making your own hummus and jazz it up with pine nuts, raisins and olives. Serve with pittas and let everyone dig in.
Gazpacho with cheesy pesto croutons
Our tomato gazpacho makes for a refreshing veggie starter, while cheesy pesto croutons an a little indulgence. This recipe serves four, and can be made ahead as it needs to be chilled before serving.
Confit garlic with roasted tomatoes on toast
This simple vegan starter requires only five ingredients and is easy to make. Roast the garlic ahead of time, then top the toasts just before serving.
Charred onions with balsamic, walnuts and ricotta
Brush sweet onions in a balsamic honey glaze, bake until tender and serve with dollops of creamy ricotta for an easy veggie starter that the whole table can tuck into.
Roast broccoli wedges with kecap manis and peanuts
Make broccoli the star of the show with this vegan entertaining dish, ready in 40 minutes. The scattering of spring onions and peanuts adds a salty kick.
Vegan Mexican charred sweetcorn soup
Seasoned with sweet smoked paprika, ground cumin and dried ancho chilli, this fragrant soup makes for a punchy start to your veggie dinner.
Sweet potato and miso soup
Want a warming vegan starter? Rustle up a batch of our velvety sweet potato and miso soup ahead of time, then top with crispy miso kale before serving for an umami kick.
Sautéed greens
For a typically Aegean vegetarian starter, try this mix of sautéed greens, walnuts, yogurt and tart sumac.
Marinated melon and bocconcini
Go retro with this 80's-inspired starter. You only need a few ingredients to create this colourful veggie salad.
Mediterranean roast peppers with olives and goat’s cheese
Easy to make and ready in just 45 minutes, this Mediterranean-style starter combines sweet peppers with salty olives and creamy goat's cheese. A fuss-free starter than spends most of its cooking time in the oven.
Asparagus and ricotta salata tartlets
These tartlets are a brilliant addition to any dinner party. Ready in 30 minutes, the mild brininess and nuttiness of the cheese pairs beautifully with the asparagus.
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