23 Starter Recipes That Will Make For A Delectable Party Menu!

Posted: December 22, 2015

This comprehensive list of party starter recipes will come in handy for the upcoming party season. Check them out!

New Year is just around the corner. While some of us can’t wait for the party to begin, there are others who dread cooking if the party is at home with a long guest list. Ordering out is an option but again the quality of food, diverse menu, sky high prices owing to peak time, food being not sufficiently hot till the time of serving, customization etc makes the job quite challenging and it is next to impossible to please every one.

That is when you feel like the problem is back to square one and you will end up preparing the food at home itself. Though it sounds exhausting, stress not. There are life saving hacks in a party menu too, especially in starter recipes, we just need to be smart enough to tweak it!

All of us know the buffets that are usually offered at various restaurants mainly consist of numerous starter recipes, which will satiate most of your hunger and you won’t dig deep into either main course or desserts, unless you have a sweet tooth like me!

Apply the same technique at home as well, have more starters in variety and quantity and cut down on main course and desserts. As far as desserts are concerned you can still order them like cup cakes, chocolate mousse, tarts etc a day before too, to make it convenient for you.

Concentrate on starter recipes as they do not take much time to prepare, have more options to explore, you can sneak some of the readymade fast foods to make the recipes simpler; you can handover some tasks to your family members or helpers without worrying much as some starters fall under no cooking-only assembling category.

Another good alternative is to plan a good mix of readymade stuff like namkeen and chips along with a very few elaborate starter recipes where you actually spend time on cooking. I guess these are enough reasons to make a party menu rich in starter recipes. Let’s check out some easy ways out now!

Few ideas for readymade starters would be different kinds of namkeen like mathri, bhakarwadi, khaakhra, bakery cookies, murukku, corn puffs, plantain chips, salted nuts etc. Also for kids you can keep some popcorn with caramel topping, butter & jam sandwiches or chocolate flakes ready. See some more options below for simple, fun party starts recipes.

Deep Fried – Watch calories, but indulge occasionally at a party!

Bondas/Punukulu

Recipe courtesy Sailus Food punugulu

Palak Pakora

Recipe courtesy Archana’s Kitchen party starters

Aloo Bonda

Recipe courtesy Rakskitchen 8814754043_f6d5233f52_z

Onion Pakoda

Recipe courtesy Foodviva onion-pakoda

Diamond Cuts – Sweet

Recipe courtesy Sharmi’s Passions 10019088943_7c27d094ee_o

Diamond Cuts – Spicy

Recipe courtesy Tickling Palates Maida Khara Biscuits recipe_thumb[2]

Onion Rings

Recipe courtesy Tasty Appetite or four

More offbeat Varieties – when you are bored with the same cutlets!

Masala Idlis

Recipe courtesy Sharmi’s Passions 18726900020_7ddee5b7b8_o

Quick Paneer Tikka

Recipe courtesy Veg Recipes of India quick-paneer-tikka5

Hung Curd Dip with Bread Sticks

Recipe via Passionate about Baking party starters

Garlic Bread

Recipe courtesy Raks Kitchen 8199887152_d095998f09_o

Bread Uttappam

Recipe courtesy food and flavours by Shilpi IMG_6113-a

Peanut Sundal

Recipe courtesy Sailus Food peanut-sundal

Ragi Rava Dhokla

Recipe courtesy Archana’s Kitchen Ragi_Oats_Dhokla_Recipe_Gujarati_Farsan_Snack-1_thumbnail_1280x800

Khakra Chaat

Recipe courtesy Archana’s Kitchen 244b5dae760521e76fdae71a187b423f_L

Honey Roasted Nuts

Recipe courtesy Sailus Food honey-roasted-mixed-nuts

Bread Veg Pizza

Recipe courtesy yummytummy Aarthi

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Bread Upma

Recipe courtesy Veg Recipes of India bread-upma-recipe19

Salads – Let us think about some nutrition too!

Corn Salad

Recipe courtesy Chitra’s Food book 11301419406_b0153b0eec_z

Pasta Salad

Recipe courtesy veg recipes of India pasta-salad-recipe

Pineapple Paneer Salad

Re cipe courtesy Sailus Food party starters

Vegetable Salad

Recipe courtesy veg recipes of India veg-salad-with-nuts

Fruit skewers

Recipe courtesy yummytummy Aarthi

Don’t forget to enjoy that party too!

Header image source: mix veg pakodas by Shutterstock. All other images used are properties of their respective owners, and have been used to illustrate the dish only. Visit the recipe links for the actual recipe in question.