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35 vegetarian starter recipes

A plate of roasted figs on labneh with walnuts on top

35 vegetarian starter recipes

Janine Ratcliffe

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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.

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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.

Ukrainian cauliflower Fritters

Balkan tarator

Whip up this classic Balkan dip, tarator, made with creamy yogurt, fresh mint, crunchy walnuts, and garlic. For an authentic touch, serve it with warm crusty bread and a čokanj of rakija (Balkan brandy) on the side.

Crisp feta parcels with sesame and hot honey drizzle

Feta is lovely when cooked, breaking down into creamy softness. Here it’s wrapped in filo and fried to give a gorgeously crunchy contrast.

Triangles of crispy feta on a blue serving plate

Lazy confit tomatoes and garlic with feta dip

Here we’ve used a French cooking technique, 'confit', to cook tomatoes, making them jammy and sweet.

A sharing plate of confit tomatoes with bread on the side

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.

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.

Grilled gost's cheese salad on a white plate with a bowl of hot honey next to it

Fried corn ribs

These fried corn ribs from sustainable dining restaurant Fallow are a delicious vegetarian starter or snack to serve with drinks.

Tomato tartare with olive oil toast

This veggie riff on a steak tartare makes for an elegant starter to feed four. For the best flavour, use tomatoes when they are at their ripest towards late summer.

An elegant tomato tartare round with chives on top

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.

Bowls of green wild green soup topped with a swirl of crème fraîche

Roasted figs with labneh and spiced candied walnuts

Figs have a beautiful floral aroma when in season and only require gentle roasting to intensify their flavour. Combine them with sweet, sticky candied and smooth labneh for a satisfying meat-free starter.

A plate of roasted figs on labneh with walnuts on top

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.

Beetroot carpaccio

This beetroot carpaccio with stracciatella make a brilliant starter. Serve it on a big platter for sharing and hand round extra pistachio pesto for people that want it.

A sharing plate of beetroot carpaccio, drizzled with pesto

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.

Two bowls of beetroot soup, topped with sourdough toast and blue cheese

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.

Grilled Vegetable Antipasti Recipe

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.

Burrata Cheese Recipe with Savoury Granola

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.

Broccoli Tempura with Ponzu Sauce

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.

Vegetarian Shawarma Recipe with Halloumi

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.

A bowl of leek, spinach and pea soup, topped with seeds

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.

Chickpea Fritters with Yogurt, Green Chilli and Cucumber Salad

Spicy cheese and pickle wraps

Pickles are wrapped in crispy cheese in this delicious vegetarian canapé.

Board of cheese wrapped pickles next to a dip

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.

Easy Hummus Recipe Topped with Pine Nuts, Raisins and Olives

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.

Gazpacho Recipe with Cheesy Croutons and Pesto

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.

Roasted Cherry Tomatoes on Toast with Garlic Confit

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.

Balsamic Onions Recipe For an Easy Side Dish with Ricotta and Walnuts

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.

Oven Roasted Broccoli Recipe with Kecap Manis and Peanuts

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.

Vegan Mexican Sweetcorn Soup Recipe with Ancho Chillies

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.

Sweet Potato Soup Recipe with White Miso

Sautéed greens

For a typically Aegean vegetarian starter, try this mix of sautéed greens, walnuts, yogurt and tart sumac.

A plate of greens topped with Greek yogurt and pomegranate seeds

Marinated melon and bocconcini

Go retro with this 80's-inspired starter. You only need a few ingredients to create this colourful veggie salad.

Colourful melon and mozzarella balls in a black salad bowl

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.

Goat's Cheese Stuffed Peppers Recipe with Olives

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.

Board of asparagus and ricotta salata tartlets

Blood orange, burrata and fennel salad

This seriously swanky starter is made with some of our favourite winter produce: tart blood oranges and crisp fennel, doused in a lovely tangy dressing.

Authors

Janine Ratcliffe in a short sleeved long dress sitting on a chair beneath palm trees on a balcony

Janine RatcliffeFood director

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