Prepare starters meticulously, always using knife when extracting core (4)
I believe the answer is:
make
'prepare' is the definition.
(I know that prepare is a more specific form of the action create from raw material)
'starters meticulously always using knife when extracting core' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'when' could be 'e' (I've seen this in other clues) and 'e' is located in the answer.
The remaining letters 'mak' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for make that I've seen before include "Create; a brand" , "Keep the wolf from the door?" , "Manufacture, form" , "Create or cause to happen" , "Hurry up! (slang)" .)