White velvet soup with smoky almonds

Try a healthy twist on classic comfort food with this silky veggie soup, topped with almonds. It’s low in fat and calories but packed full of flavour

Goat’s cheese, pear & walnut tartines

Top toasted sourdough with goat's cheese, honey-roasted pears and walnuts to make these tasty tartines. They take just two minutes to prep and deliver one of your 5-a-day

Halloumi, carrot & orange salad

Serve this halloumi, carrot, orange and watercress salad with a mustard and honey dressing for an easy lunch or starter. It takes just 20 minutes to make and delivers one of your 5-a-day

Vegan rainbow spring rolls

Try these colourful vegan spring rolls as canapés for a party, vibrant with fresh veg and juicy mango. Serve with a sweet chilli dipping sauce

Stir-fried garlic green beans

These easy, healthy garlic green beans make a great accompaniment to a Chinese feast, and they’re made with just 4 ingredients in 15 minutes

Chestnut & shallot tatins with mushroom & madeira sauce

Take puff pastry and top with banana shallots and ready-cooked chestnuts for these stylish vegetarian tarts – a great dinner party starter

Curried lentil, parsnip & apple soup

This spicy soup combines red lentils, apples and parsnip for a smooth, warming soup – a low fat meal that you can make ahead and freeze

Baked camembert pie for sharing

Baked cheese gets even more indulgent. A layer of quince or cranberry jelly adds an extra dimension to this group-sized starter

Pear & manchego salad

Contains pork – recipe is for non-Muslims only

Spruce up a salad with a rosemary, honey and hazelnut crumb to accompany Spanish cheese, sweet fruit and bitter leaves

Walnut & stilton orzotto with roasted squash & Port sauce

MasterChef finalist, Alex Rushmer, shows us how to create a show-stopping vegetarian starter for the festive season