To open the meal
Starter recipes
A crisp salad in summer, a steaming soup in winter, baked scallops for special occasions: the starter sets the tone for the meal. Ideas for every day and for the holidays.
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- 60 recipes in 30 min or less
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Community favorites
The ones we serve again and again.
A starter for special occasions
Baked Scallops au Gratin
Sea scallops coated in a creamy sauce and baked in their shells until golden: the most-cooked starter on CookinBreak, and easier to pull off than it looks.
See the recipeSalads and fresh starters
Tomato-mozzarella, niçoise, tabbouleh, carpaccio: fresh flavor in a few minutes.
Tips that make the difference
What separates a recipe that works from one that falls flat.
Keep portions small
A starter should whet the appetite: plan on about half a main-dish serving.
Make it ahead
Soups, verrines and undressed salads can all be made before your guests arrive.
Dress at the last minute
Dressing added too early wilts a salad: serve it on the side or toss just before serving.
Cook with the seasons
Tomatoes and melon in summer, squash and leeks in winter: a seasonal starter has more flavor and costs less.
Soups and purées
Broccoli, pumpkin, red lentil: something to warm you up as soon as fall arrives.
Which starter before which main?
The starter balances the meal: light before a rich main, more indulgent before a light one.
| The main dish | The ideal starter | For example |
|---|---|---|
| Rich main (gratin, raclette, cassoulet) | Light and tangy | Raw vegetable salad, carpaccio, gazpacho |
| Light main (fish, grilled chicken) | More indulgent | Quiche, baked scallop shells, puff pastry bites |
| Holiday dinner | Elegant, made ahead | Verrines, foie gras, scallop carpaccio |
| Summer meal | Cold and fresh | Tomato-mozzarella, watermelon-feta, tabbouleh |
| Winter meal | Warm and comforting | Pumpkin soup, lentil soup |
Hot and gratinéed
Quiches, tarts, soufflés, baked scallop shells: starters straight from the oven.
Holiday starters
Foie gras, scallops, verrines: for a holiday dinner or a meal that matters.
Planning a full menu?
Tell Breaky AI which main dish you're serving: it suggests a starter that balances it, and a dessert to finish.
“I'm making tartiflette. What light starter should I serve before it?”
All our starters recipes
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Your questions
What's an easy starter to make for guests?
A tomato-mozzarella salad, a soup or some verrines take 15 to 30 minutes and can wait in the fridge. Baked scallops make more of an impression for barely more work.
What starter should I serve for a holiday dinner?
Foie gras, scallop carpaccio, salmon-shrimp verrines or baked scallop shells: the “Holidays” filter in the list brings together our festive starters.
Can I make soup ahead of time?
Yes: soup keeps 2 to 3 days in the fridge and freezes very well. Stir in the cream when you reheat it.