Entertaining well needn't be an ordeal. Here are five super starters that will wow guests, leaving you hands-free to focus on your main course.

Chickpea and falafal
• Drain 1 can of chickpeas and roughly mash, along with paprika, crushed garlic, a glug of olive oil and a squeeze of lemon juice. Season to taste and drizzle with warm chilli oil.  Serve warm with toasted falafel balls and crisp breadsticks.

Goat's milk cheese ciabatta with roast butternut
• Rub thick slices of ciabatta with garlic, then toast and top with rounds of creamy goat’s-milk cheese and slices of roast butternut. Scatter over chopped coriander and chopped red chilli and drizzle with olive oil.

Tomato, ham and ricotta on crostini
• Wrap whole ripe tomatoes in slices of bacon or Parma ham. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar and olive oil and oven-roast until oozing and sticky. Serve topped with crumbled ricotta, with crostini or warm, crusty French loaf on the side.

Salmon with coriander and croutons
• Cut a fillet of salmon into thin slices and toss in a hot sesame seed oil infused with chilli, rice-wine vinegar and chopped coriander. Serve with thin toasted croutons.

Prawns with salsa verde
• Pan-fry prawns in smoked paprika, dried chilli and olive oil and serve with a warm salsa verde of chopped capers, olives, dill, parsley and garlic, with a squeeze of lemon juice and a drizzle of olive oil.

MORE QUICK STARTERS TO TRY:

• The modern smoked-paprika charred chicken sandwich

• Roasted vegetables on toasted ciabatta

• Baked avocado and prawns

• Norwegian salmon ceviche

• Cucumber-and-tomato salad