I'm having people over for dinner tonight, but one of my guests has had emergency oral surgery and is currently rocking stitches in her gum. I'm wanting to find a starter/nibble that she can eat so she doesn't feel left out, our main is pumpkin risotto with sage and browned butter, and desert is lemon fritters with pomegranate molasses and ice cream. Any ideas?

Instinctively I was going to say arancini but you are serving risotto.
I hadn't thought until now about the texture of nibbles and most are crunchy.
How about blinis (freezer section in supermarket) topped with smoked salmon/creme fraiche. They are always popular and easy.
Bocconcini with cherry tomato and basil on little skewers.
Still thinking...

If you have access to fresh herbs, what about a Persian Kuku, which is similar to a frittata but with a huge proportion of finely chopped herbs. I serve it as an appetiser cut into small squares, sometimes with a spoonful of thick plain yoghurt on top. Let me know if you would like a recipe.

Or without herbs, a Spanish tortilla is nice, also cut into small squares. You will need very good olive oil and plenty of seasoning.

Curried eggs spring to mind but they're retro and don't tie in with your other dishes.

[www.browniebites.net]

[lilluna.com] done smaller with a dollop of something

First to my mind is soup.

What about old fashioned Curry Eggs?

I would do blinis which can have many soft toppings. Otherwise mini croquettes, you can have smoked fish ones,

I ended up doing mini corn and coriander fritters with an avocado salsa, so similar to the blinis idea. My guest ate well, and took the leftover risotto to make into risotto cakes for her dinner tonight to have with some smoked salmon. I did also consider frittata/tortilla, and I'd love a good recipe for kuku please TPANDAV! Ooooh and I do love a nice devilled egg, might make some for lunches this week!

Here's a basic recipe for a herb kuku. I often use fresh mint and/or dill instead of the coriander.

Persian Herb Kuku

40g butter
2 large lettuce leaves, finely chopped
6 spring onions, finely chopped
2 med. leeks, finely chopped
6 tab parsley, finely chopped
3 tab coriander, finely chopped
3 tab spinach, finely chopped
6 eggs
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp dried dill
1 & 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper freshly ground
3 tab walnuts, chopped
2 tab raisins or sultanas

Melt half of butter in a large frying pan, add lettuce, spring onions, leeks, parsley, coriander and spinach, fry gently 5 minutes stirring often.

Meanwhile break eggs into large bowl and add remaining ingredients apart from butter, combine well but do not whisk (you don't want bubbles).

Use the remaining butter to grease the bottom and sides of a large casserole dish or cake tin (not loose bottomed), heat oven to 180C.

Combine fried ingredients with egg mixture, pour into greased dish, bake about 25 minutes or until set and very lightly golden.

Serve either as an appetiser cool and cut into small squares, or as a part of a meal of mezes warm and cut into wedges.

Thick plain yoghurt is a nice accompaniment.