Dinner ideas

You can add herbs, lemon slices or peppercorns to the poaching liquid. For a lunchbox version, add cooked rice vermicelli to the salad and use as a filling for rice-paper rolls. Note

To save time, ask your butcher to score the rind and truss whole loin with string. For a crisper crackling, keep pork uncovered in fridge overnight, to dry out rind. Note

A hearty family classic makes a great meal on cold nights.

To protect fish flesh from drying out or overcooking when steaming, leave skin on. The flesh will be beautifully moist and you can remove the skin to if you like. Note

Sure to become a firm family favourite, this dish combines the comfort of meatballs with the adventurous flavours of North Africa.

Invigorate your senses with this flavoursome Moroccan chicken dish. Filled with spices, salty olives and zesty lemon, this is one juicy meal you won't forget any time soon.

This Asian inspired steamed baby snapper with ginger is the perfect way to enjoy this delicately flavoured white fish. The coriander, chilli and peanuts team up to create the perfect trifecta of taste, aroma and texture.

This beef and noodle stir fry is delicious and can be on the table in just over 30 minutes. Serve with lime cheeks and a bowl of thinly sliced red thai chilli so the family can adjust the heat according to individual taste.

Creamy and comforting, this asparagus, chicken and mushroom pasta bake is a great mid-week dinner recipe. It's also handy on a busy weekend when you've got lots of mouths to feed.

Imagine you're on holiday at your favourite Asian destination as you whip up our stir-fried seafood with ginger. If you fancy some heat, add a few slices of red chilli and enjoy with an icy-cold beer or white wine.

Tasty, fresh and incredibly healthy, this is the kind of chicken and corn soup that leaves you feeling energised, refreshed and ready for anything.

This gnocchi recipe is a little more forgiving that its potato based cousin. Nervous cooks should dive confidently into this spinach and ricotta with sage butter version. The result will be as light and delicate as you could wish for.

Avocado, bean and rocket salad makes a great side for these tasty lamb chops served with a cherry tomato and olive salsa. Light, simple and perfectly satisfying.

Marinating the lamb takes this tasty and healthy salad to new levels. For best results, grill the meat so it is still pink in the middle, and leave it to rest before slicing. Use plump, ripe and juicy tomatoes and a good quality fetta.

Slow-roasted leg of lamb, slathered in an anchovy and garlic paste and cooked on a bed of Jerusalem artichokes, red onions and lemons makes for a majestic Sunday roast.

Give your steak that something special and top it with our deliciously flavoured herbed butter. For a the perfect crispy side, look no further than pommes frites. The secret is to twice-cook them for extra crunch.

This celestial ham will be the winning centre-piece of your Christmas table. Sweetly spiced by the whole cloves. The deliciously sticky glaze contrasts beautifully with the salty meat.

This hearty bolognese cannelloni will have the entire family running to the dinner table. It is comfort food at its best and tastes just as good the next day. Enjoy with a side salad and a glass of red.

Savoury mince on toast is an all-time family favourite; kids and adults of all ages love it. Serve on buttered toast or, to extend the meal even further, mix the mince with cooked pasta. Use any vegetables you like.

What better way to enjoy the delights of fresh spring vegetables than this pasta primavera with its tangy herb and mustard dressing. Store leftovers in a tupperware container for a delicious and healthy lunch the next day.

Both the kids and adults will love these beef fajitas packed with tender slices of beef, grilled capsicum, salsa and iceberg lettuce. Enjoy assembling them at the dinner table.

We used blue-eye fillets in this recipe, but you can use any firm white fish fillets you like. Serve with fresh lime slices, and accompany with fresh rice noodles stir-fried with grated zucchini and cabbage.

Snugly wrapped in banana leaves, these fragrant fish parcels are tender, spicy and perfumed with lime and lemongrass. Serve with steamed rice and Asian greens.

We used blue-eye fillets here, but any firm white fish fillets will go beautifully with this crisp Asian inspired salad.

Fish fingers are is an easy and delicious way to get some fish into the kids. Yes, you can buy them from the supermarket, but our version taste a whole lot better, and are much healthier.

Ratatouille is a classic French dish, low in carbs and popular for its hearty flavour and attractive, rustic presentation. It is the perfect accompaniment not only for chicken but also for meat and fish.

Serve these baked mussels topped with this delicious crispy tomato topping as part of your hors-d'oeuvre platter at your next gathering.

Chicken thighs are the perfect cut for this recipe. The meat casseroles beautifully, leaving a sweet and tender family meal favourite. Serve with a generous helping of new potatoes.

Small baked pies filled with a rich beef stew infused with the deep and dark flavours of stout beer.

Nothing adds flavour quite like tarragon does. This delicious chicken with tarragon and peppercorn dressing recipe will prove just how perfectly this herb can finish off a dish. Chicken and chips never tasted so good.

Fried rice is the perfect way to use up leftover rice. A few minutes in the frypan, together with some fresh and healthy ingredients, and you'll soon have a filling and healthy dish for the kids.

We adore these crispy skinned fish fillets nestled on a pile of colourful vegetable ribbons and finished with a drizzle of lemon caper butter. We've used bream, but snapper or sea bass will do the trick just as well.

Make your own delicious and healthy treats of zucchini lentil pasties. Have them cold on a picnic or warm for a meat-free dinner or after school snack. Smaller ones can be made for cocktail parties.

Mozzarella is rather delightfully known as 'fior di latte', literally meaning 'flower of the milk'. It provides a wonderfully creamy and mild balance to the spice in this rosemary and tomato barley risotto.

The pancetta and pea combination lift an otherwise ordinary dish to new heights. Serve with mashed potato and sweet potato for a crowd pleasing family meal.

Perhaps the most famous of Russian soups, borscht can be served in a variety of ways. When the Ukraine was the beet-growing centre of the Russias in centuries past, this soup became a traditional part of the region's daily diet.

Fire up your oysters with a shot of mirin and fierce wasabe. Finely chopped cucumber adds a cool edge to this spicy little concoction. Great as a starter, or for handing round a platter with a difference at a party.

The Thai name for this crying tiger dish is 'seua rong hai'. It translates to ‘crying tiger’, as the dipping sauce is supposed to bring tears to your eyes. But don’t be nervous! It's actually not that hot.

Rare, grilled steak with sichuan pepper is gorgeous served with a spicy mushroom, fennel and onion salad. A light, savoury and satisfying meal.

The utterly delicious iskender kebab is most famous in northwestern Turkey, and is traditionally served on a bed of lavash bread and smothered in a spicy tomato sauce and yoghurt.

This Asian-style sweet corn soup is based on a clear broth made fragrant with fresh ginger and bulked up with ribbons of egg and green onions.

The kingfish is deservedly known for its sweet, rich flavour and firm flesh with few bones. It is well suited to a range of cooking methods. Here, it is grilled and served with tamarind flavoured vegetables.

This Chinese barbecued pork and mushroom stir fry contains the lovely red-coated sticky pork, commonly known as char siu, that is a staple of Cantonese cuisine. It is widely available in Asian food stores.

Beautifully light yet perfectly hearty, consider this char-grilled chicken, vegetables and haloumi salad as slightly more exciting mediterranean alternative to your meat and three veg family meal.

If you're looking to splash out and spoil that special someone, what better way than to prepare this delicious lobster with champagne sauce? The sprinkle of chopped dill adds the perfect finish to this luxurious dish.

Not only are these Italian-style lamb cutlets served with mediterranean vegetables packed full of vitamins, they are a one pot dish. Win, win.

Rabbit is not easy to come by; if your local farmers' market doesn't have it you can order on-line from a number of game meat specialists in Australia. It is a tough meat, but turns beautifully tender when slow cooked. You'll be glad you tried it.

If you're a fan of the classic Swiss style of serving cheese, this camembert fondue ticks all the boxes. Enjoy plunging crispy slices of toasted baguette into this creamy, oozy disc of deliciousness.

Fried rice is a traditional dish of pre-cooked rice stir-fried in a wok, often mixed with other ingredients, such as eggs, vegetables, and meat. We think our best ever pork fried rice is as good as any you'll find at a Chinese banquet.

When it comes to this chilli crab dish, the reward is worth the effort of getting to that sweet and tender meat, which is deliciously complimented by the spices and fresh coriander. For best results, serve with plenty of napkins and a crisp white wine.

Cioppino is an Italian-American fish stew originating in San Francisco's fishing community. It is traditionally made from 'catch of the day' seafood and has become a popular staple at Italian restaurants in the area, and for good reason. It's delicious!

Stuffed with the meat of spicy Italian sausages and slowly roasted on a bed of onions, pears and cider, this slow-cooked pork neck is rich, fragrant and absolutely full of flavour.

For such an incredibly simple dish, this chilli and garlic spaghettini is just loaded with flavour, and crunch thanks to the toasted breadcrumbs. A great pick-me-up dish when you're short on time.

Apple sauce certainly has its place when it comes to roast pork, but our pork loin with fresh peach chutney will give you a new twist on this old favourite. Don't worry, we haven't forgotten the crackling!

These gorgeous little rhubarb frangipane tarts are simple to make but taste divine. Appealingly tart rhubarb is dripping in syrup and nestled on a layer of sweet frangipane. Serve warm with cream.

Surf and turf is a hearty combination of the jewels of both land and sea. Not for vegetarians, this version combines marinara mix (ask your fishmonger to put it together for you) with a juicy steak. The result is divine.

Any pretence of refined dining can be abandoned when it comes to these succulent spicy pork ribs. Cutlery will only hinder your enjoyment so dig in with fingers, make sure there are plenty of napkins, and enjoy!

Fill up on something substantial and incredibly tasty after a long weekend walk with this warm potato and chorizo salad. With spinach, red onion and cherry tomato too, it's full of nutrients as well as energy.

There's loads of flavour in this quick, throw-it-together spaghetti with leeks, bacon and chilli. This is the perfect recipe to have on hand when you need to cook a mid-week dinner in a hurry.

Smoked chicken has a lovely robust flavour and a soft texture. It marries beautifully with the white wine risotto cakes. This dish makes a lovely light lunch and is perfect for dining alfresco style.

Lamb cutlets go beautifully with this black-eyed bean salad. The beans are the dried seed of a variant of the snake or yard bean, and can be found at your local supermarket.

Pork kway teow is a popular dish with distinctive Asian flavours and is very quick and easy to prepare. Add extra chillies to spice things up, or go easy on the heat, depending on your taste.

Veal pizzaiola is, roughly translated, veal served pizza style, in other words topped with a tasty tomato sauce, herbs and, sometimes, cheese. This spicy veal pizzaiola recipe uses veal cutlets rather than the more commonly used schnitzel cuts.

This lean and tender baked eye fillet will literally melt in your mouth, while the herbs and spices that make up chermoulla are busy having a party there.

This spinach, bacon and pine nut pasta can be on the table in under 20 minutes. Pappardelle is a wide ribbon pasta perfect for this kind of dish but you can substitute fettuccine or tagliatelle, if preferred.

Delicious seafood chowder, rich with all the flavours of the ocean and spiced with hot paprika makes a deeply satisfying lunch dish. Definitely serve with crusty bread to help you wipe the platter clean.

Serve this healthy and delicious crisp-skinned snapper with stir-fried vegetables and black beans accompanied with a small bowl of finely chopped red chilli in soy sauce. It will add some extra zip to the fish.

These braised veal shanks come in their own pretty little paper packages and make a delicious winter meal. Serve with mashed potato and plenty of greens.

It doesn't get much better than our roasted pork belly with plum sauce. The added aromatics and spices result in a rich and exotic sauce with a depth of flavour you just don't get with a regular gravy. Oh, and crackling. Enough said.

Home made puree is a great first food for babies, and apple is an eternal favourite. You can make this same recipe using pear if you prefer.

These tasty smoked trout fish cakes are delicious served with a big wedge of lime to squeeze all over them. With salad and bread on the side, they make a great lunch or light dinner.

This baked potato packed with salmon and peas constitutes a great little meal combining all the 4 food groups in one stomach satisfying, kid friendly package. Smoked or tinned salmon works equally well.

Soupe au pistou is a classic Provençale recipe, usually made with white and green beans, and flavoured with pistou, a French spin-off of its near-neighbour Italy's pesto. Not dissimilar to Italian minestrone, this soup also benefits from being made a day in advance.

Add a touch of India to your week-day fish meal with this masala flavoured dish. Served with green beans and rice, it can be on the table in under 30 minutes. We've used cod here, but any firm white fish will do.

Nutritionists suggest that we consume at least two servings of fish per week. What better way than these individual fish pies, topped with creamy mash.

This rich Spanish chicken stew is infused with saffron, a popular spice in Spanish cooking. The best saffron is the most expensive spice in the world as it must be harvested by hand.

Once again we must thank the Italians. This time, it's for mustard fruits which provide a sweetness along with a uniquely spicy accent to any dish they are added to. Here, it's roasted pork.

This bright and zesty salad will tickle your taste buds. Smoked chicken and asparagus salad with a buttermilk dressing makes a great lunch or light dinner.

Fire up the barbecue with these juicy marinated lamb chops. Served with crisp and colourful vegetables and a dollop of your favourite mustard, they're sure to please.

On the days where only comfort food will satisfy the hungry masses, this delicious fish pie topped with the creamiest of mashed potato and baked to brown, crisp perfection will fit the bill like no other.

Chive wontons in Asian broth is surely the perfect example of Chinese comfort food. One taste of this soup, and you'll understand precisely why 'wonton' translates, quite literally, to 'swallowing a cloud'.

Increase your oily fish intake with our salmon fillets with wasabi and coriander butter. Adjust the wasabi amount to taste, and serve with fresh lime and a side salad for a light and healthy meal.

Green olive salsa, with fresh, fragrant oregano and lots of lemon juice, makes a great topping for a juicy barbecued veal cutlet. Served with kipler potatoes, this is a great recipe for when you feel like a bbq with a difference.

Serve this spicy, sticky baked quail for a mouth-watering starter or light meal.

The elegant taste of veal is perfectly offset by this salsa verde accompaniment. The key to cooking this tender meat is not to overdo it. Fry until just done, and you'll be rewarded with the most delicate of flavours.

Serve these crispy Asian-style fish cakes with spicy dipping sauce for a tantalising starter or light meal. If you like the extra kick, add some more chilli.

Give your family a taste of Asia with this heavenly hoisin pork recipe. Served alongside crispy green vegetables it is healthy and delicious. Any leftovers can be used up for school lunchbox sandwiches.

This pasta with smoked salmon is a quick and easy go-to dish when you're after something speedy. Smoked salmon off-cuts are inexpensive and sometimes available from seafood stores, some supermarkets and delicatessens.

These stir-fried greens with mixed mushrooms are deliciously healthy. The unmistakeable Asian flavours lift an otherwise ordinary dish to a tasty and satisfying light lunch or dinner.

Risoni is a small, rice-sized pasta often used in Italian soups; it goes perfectly with a marinara sauce accompaniment as its texture allows the delicious seafood to remain the 'hero' of the dish.

We love this succulent lemon and garlic rack of pork. Score the fat on top diagonally before baking, and you'll be rewarded with an extra crispy crackling that is easy to snap into pieces and share.

Affectionately known in some parts as 'chops with handles' or 'meat lollipops', lamb cutlets are always a hit with the kids. Accompanied here with the Greek style mashed potato dip, skordalia, there'll be no complaints.

This healthy and filling warm beef and rice salad packs a punch with a chilli soy dressing and crisp vegetables. It makes a great lunch, and packs well if you're looking for something to pop in a lunch box.

This is a lovely one-pot set and forget meal that will taste even better then next day. Serve on a cold winter's evening with creamy mash and a lovely glass or two of red.

As a side dish, or light and healthy lunch or dinner, try out this roast pumpkin and goat cheese salad. It's a perfectly satisfying meat-free dish, packed full of vitamins, minerals and flavour.

These marinated Mongolian lamb cutlets are beautifully succulent and full of flavour. Serve them with a fresh green salad or grilled vegetables for an easy mid-week meal.

If you're looking for a super easy dessert, something to whip up in a matter of minutes, this mixed berries with sponge fingers recipe is perfect. Like a deconstructed trifle in a pudding glass.

There is nothing quite like the aroma of this beef and vegetable curry simmering on the stove, except perhaps the satisfaction of having made it yourself from scratch.

Lentils have a nutty, earthy flavour that helps ground the strident richness of the sausages and pungency of the mustard and spices in this robust salad.

Angel hair pasta, also known as barbina, or "capelli d'angelo" in Italian, are long, delicate strands of spaghetti-like pasta. This tomato, tuna and capers angel hair pasta recipe is fresh and tasty.