5 Easy Starters Recipes For Christmas

These 5 easy starter recipes for Christmas will make your holiday cooking a breeze. With the pressure of making a fun and memorable meal for the guests and the family, you are probably freaking out. Here are some easy starter recipes for you to shine out. Holidays will now be fun for everybody, including you, even with all the cooking. Happy Holidays!

1. Passionate Citrus Cup.

These citrus cups are a fun and easy to make Christmas starter.

Ingredients

• 3 large oranges
• 3 ruby grapefruit
• 4 large ripe passion fruit
• ½ tsp. finely grated ginger
• 3 tbsp. organic sunflower oil
• Pinch caster sugar
• 6 mint leaves

Method

1. Strain the passion fruit through a sieve for about 1 ½ tbsp. juice.
2. Divide the oranges and grapefruit in four glasses.
3. Mix the passion fruit juice well with the other ingredients and drizzle over the fruit. Garnish with mint.

2. Frosted Fizz

This easy starter recipe will make you popular among your family and friends. And it takes just seconds to make.

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp caster sugar
• 7 clementines
• 8 oz pomegranate juice
• 1 oz orange liqueur
• 25 oz Champagne

Method

1. Cut a Clementine and rub the rim of the glasses with it. Frost by dipping the glasses in sugar.
2. Pour liquor, pomegranate and Clementine juice in a pitcher and divide the mix equally in six glasses.
3. Top with Champagne and serve

3. Leek and Potato Soup with Ginger Wine

Make this easy starter recipe to warm up your family for the Holidays.

Ingredients

• 4 1/2 cups leeks
• 4 tbs. soya margarine
• 2 crushed cloves garlic
• 1 cup diced potato
• 20 oz light vegetable stock
• 5 to 7 tbsp. ginger wine
• 6 tbsp. soya cream
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Paprika

Method

1. Remove the tops, tails and any tough outer leaves from the leeks. Cut horizontally into thin slices and rinse.
2. Saute leeks until soft. Add garlic and saute again.  Add potato and stock and bring to boil. Let simmer for 10 minutes.
3. Remove from heat and add four tbs. of ginger wine and soya cream. Cook until smooth. Add more ginger wine if needed.
4. Heat again stirring all the time. Sprinkle paprika and serve.

4. Chestnut and Rice Purse

These little purses of food served with the relish are easy vegetarian starters for the holidays. They are nice to look at and easy to eat.

Ingredients

• 2 to 2 ½ tbsp. olive oil
• 1 cup finely chopped leeks
•  4 oz Arborio risotto rice
• 1 oz dry white vegetarian wine
• 12 oz light vegetable stock
• 2 oz chopped chestnuts
• 2 tbsp. soya cream
• 10 oz filo pastry, cut into 24 x 12 cm squares
• 1 large roasted red pepper
• 2 tsp. fresh ginger, finely grated
• Pinch caster sugar

Method

1. Pre-heat oven to 400 F. Heat 1 tbsp. oil and lightly fry leeks, until soft and golden.
2. Stir in rice and add wine. Let boil. Add 5 oz. stock. Cover and let simmer until liquid is absorbed.
3. Add 7 oz. stock and chestnuts, bring to boil, cover and simmer for 10 to 12 minutes or until rice is cooked.
4. Stir in cream and set aside.
5. Lightly brush one filo-square with oil and place another on top to form a star and brush the tips.
6. Place 2 tsp. of mix in center and pull up the edges of star to form a purse. Bake on a tray for 15 minutes.
7. For relish: Mix pepper, ginger and sugar, blend well.

5. Almond and Tomato Bites

This is an easy Christmas starter recipe, quick to make and easy to follow.

Ingredients

• 1 finely chopped onion
• 1 finely chopped clove garlic
• 1 tbsp. vegetable oil
• 2.2 cups tomatoes
• 1.1 cups ground almonds
• 3.3 cups whole-meal breadcrumbs
• salt and black pepper
• freshly chopped parsley

Method

1. Saute onion and garlic in oil until softened.
2. Add tomatoes and cook for five minutes.
3. Pour the mixture into a bowl and add almonds and breadcrumbs.
4. Mix and season with salt and black pepper.
5. Form the mixture into small, bite-size balls. Garnish with chopped parsley.