Dinner ideas

This is one of my all-time favourite pastas. I know it looks like a lot of anchovies, but trust me and cook them down slowly. This could well become your favourite pasta, too.

Pappardelle with silver beet, goat's cheese, chilli and lemon

There is only one thing that needs to be said here - my mum makes the best spaghetti bolognese in the world! If there's a guaranteed go-to dinner that will please young and old, this is it.

Not suitable to freeze or microwave. Note

This traditional Indian vegetarian dish is packed full of flavour and the goodness of legumes. Dhal can be enjoyed any time of the day, but it's especially great eaten straight off the stove on a cool evening.

As well as adding a delightful red hue to a dish, paprika is full of the flavour of the peppers it was ground from. It comes in several varieties - sweet, smoky or spicy. We've used a combination of spicy and sweet here, with great results.

John dory is a mild tasting fish that lends itself well to a multitude of flavours. We've given it an Asian influence here, teaming it with chilli and coconut rice.

The traditional paella pan is shallow and wide. If you don’t have one, use one large or two smaller frying pans ­ the mixture should only be about 4cm (1½ inches) deep. This recipe is best made just before serving. Note

Fresh, light and tasty, barbecued salmon fillet with yoghurt dressing and fennel salad makes a wonderful lunch for weekend entertaining.

Speedy and moreish, the whole family will love this easy chicken pasta.

Once fish has cooked and mussels have opened, serve topped with fennel mix and garlic croûtons. Scatter with chopped parsley in place of the fennel fronds if you like.

Although ingredients in five-spice powder vary from country to country, it is usually a fragrant ground mixture of cinnamon, clove, star anise, sichuan pepper and fennel seeds.

Give your roast lamb rack an Indian flavour with this delicious and fragrant spice paste. You could also use it as a spice rub for any other kind of meat.

Coated in mildly spiced crispy breadcrumbs and served with a lime-coriander yoghurt, these fish fillets with kumara fries will be loved by the whole family.

This recipe is quick, simple and healthy. A great combination for a light meal on the go.

A rich source of protein and naturally low in fat, seafood is easy to prepare, quick to cook and can be served a wide variety of ways. Look to oily fish such as salmon, tuna and sardines for your Omega-3 needs, while oysters are naturally very high in zinc. If you like, use brown rice […]

Can be made two days ahead; keep, covered, in the refrigerator. Note

Crunchy iceberg cups filled with Thai-style soy and chilli infused chicken salad.

Served with coriander couscous, this speedy Moroccan dish will be devoured by the whole family.

This is a good salad for a barbecue as it keeps well and is not fussy about the temperature at which it is served.

Tasty pork and fennel sausages make a fabulous base for this pasta topping. You can stir through a small tub of ricotta to add creaminess if you like.

This easy stir-fry makes for an speedy weekday meal.

Surprisingly light for a cream based pasta, this bacon and broccoli pasta is quick, filling and just the ticket on a busy weeknight.

When making the dressing, use the `pulse’ button on the blender to just combine the ingredients and lightly chop the dill cucumbers and capers. Using a salad spinner is the quickest and easiest way to wash and dry the lettuce leaves. Note

This meal is so easy to whip up on a chilly weeknight. It's also delicious reheated for lunch the next day.

These beef burgers with roast tomato and caramelised onion will quickly become a family favourite.

To make this mouth-watering recipe a light main course for two, serve it with steamed rice or noodles.

Meatballs suitable to freeze. Spinich suitable to freeze. Note

An Italian-style raw beef carpaccio with a fresh Thai basil salad.

Use light coconut cream for a lower-fat version. Note

Harissa is a North African paste made from dried red chillies, garlic, olive oil and caraway seeds. It is available from Middle Eastern food shops and some supermarkets. Note

Spicy and redolent with garlic, these chilli prawn pizzas are a crowd-pleaser. You can add some torn buffalo mozzarella if you like, and the finished pizzas are great topped with baby rocket tossed in olive oil and lemon juice.

Get a healthy dose of high-quality protein, vitamins and minerals (including potassium, selenium and vitamin B12) plus a super dose of omega-3 fatty acids, all wrapped up in classic Thai flavours.

As an alternative to the Asian flavours used above, a glaze of orange, ginger and maple syrup also goes beautifully with this ham. Combine 1 cup maple syrup, 1 cup fresh orange juice, ⅓ cup orange marmalade, ¼ cup grated fresh ginger and 2 teaspoons finely grated orange rind in small saucepan; bring to the […]

Colourful and delicious roasted beetroot and red onion dip from Australian Women's Weekly.

Delicious served with crisp lettuce leaves, these quick stir-fried prawns make a tasty starter or light meal.

You need half a large barbecued chicken (approximately 500g) to get the amount of shredded meat required for this recipe. Note

A light, fresh and fragrant Thai herb and mango salad from Australian Women's Weekly.

Hearty, zesty and creamy, this delicious Milanese style risotto is the ulimate comfort food for a hungry family.

Larb is a classic Thai salad that can be made with minced tofu, chicken or beef as well as duck or pork. It is traditionally flavoured with fish sauce and lime juice and is served at room temperature, usually on salad leaves.

Serve this beautiful green quiche with salad for a light lunch or dinner.

Make sure the meatballs are completely submerged in the liquid during cooking. To freeze; complete recipe to end of step 2. Pack into freezer-proof containers, leaving a 2.5cm (1 inch) space to allow for expansion. Seal, label and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge. Reheat in a saucepan or microwave […]

This dish goes well Note

You can use the chopped meat from one barbecued chicken in this recipe instead of the tenderloins. Add it at the end of bacon becoming crisp and stir until hot. Recipe can be made several hours ahead to the end of step 5. From cold, bake, covered, at 200°C (180°C fan forced) for 30 minutes […]

A healthy and refreshing Turkish lamb and yoghurt salad from Australian Women's Weekly.

Garam masala literally means “blended spices” in its northern Indian place of origin; it is based on varying proportions of cardamom, cinnamon, clove, coriander, fennel and cumin, roasted and ground together. Black pepper and chilli can be added for a hotter version. Note

Tonkatsu, a Japanese food of a breaded, pork cutlet, deep-fried and served on a bed of cabbage.

This deliciously sweet dried fruit chutney goes perfectly on sandwiches, with roast meat, or on the side of a spicy Indian curry.

Cavolo nero is also called tuscan cabbage. It has long, narrow, wrinkled leaves and a rich and astringent, mild cabbage flavour. It doesn’t lose its volume like silver beet or spinach when cooked. We used one bunch. Note

Sticky and delicious; make your own American-style pork spareribs with barbecue sauce.

Make this delicious and fun birthday treasure chest for your child's party!

Kangaroo meat is lean and healthy. High in protein and iron and low in fat, kangaroo meat is a great alternative to more popular red meats. It is the ultimate free-range, organic meat containing no chemicals or antibiotics.

This recipe can be frozen. Just complete the recipe to the end of step 2. Cool to room temperature. Spoon into freezer-proof containers, leaving a 2.5cm space to allow for expansion. Seal, label and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge. Reheat in a saucepan or microwave on medium power (50%) […]

A healthy and delicious zucchini quinoa salad with candied walnuts and haloumi.

Baking a leg of lamb in a salt crust means the meat is steamed as you bake it, leaving it incredibly tender and allowing the herbs to fully permeate the leg.

A colourful and fragrant couscous dish with grilled zucchini and spiced pumpkin.

Thick, garlicky skordalia is the perfect dressing for these juicy blue-eye skewers with smashed potatoes.

Delicious hot or cold, for breakfast, lunch or dinner, a frittata is the way to go for a quick and easy meal.

A delicious trio of toppings; cream cheese and pesto, yoghurt, coriander and chilli and mustard and walnut toppings.

A tender, sweet and smoky barbecued beef dish.

This soup is made without fail every winter; it's a great family meal.

You can replace the two individual rices in this recipe with one of the commercial blends of basmati and wild rice available in some supermarkets. Cook a 500g package of the combined rices according to the manufacturer’s instructions on the packet. Note

Add a little bit of bite to your regular chicken pot pies with these delicious curry versions. Best of all, leftover pies freeze beautifully and can be popped straight into the oven after you get home from work.

This marinade is suitable for lamb. Note

This fresh, crunchy classic is popular for good reason. Perfect for lunch or a light dinner.

Succulent pork chops are paired with a zingy apple and cabbage salad with toasted walnuts in this easy, scrumptious dish.

If the handle of your frying pan is not heatproof, cover it with aluminium foil before placing it under the grill. Frittata is delicious served warm, but if you like it cold or want to take it to work, make it the evening before, keep it in the fridge overnight, then wrap it in plastic […]

This spicy masala marinade recipe works beautifully for all kinds of seafood, including prawns. Serve with pappadums for extra flash.

Sweet and delicious Chinese pork in orange & tamarind broth from Australian Women's Weekly.

A quick and easy veal tortellini with fresh tomato sauce from Australian Women's Weekly.

These sausages with a difference make a great dish for a relaxed meal with friends, allowing you to serve something special that isn't formal.

We used a thin tomato pasta sauce, also known as sugo or passata, which contains only tomatoes and onion. Note

Traditionally known as chengdu chicken, this Szechwan stir-fry is full of complex flavours.

A healthy steak and chips option from Australian Women's Weekly.

A tender and refreshing Turkish lamb, mint and spinach stir-fry from Australian Women's Weekly.

This tender barbeque turkey takes its flavour inspiration from mixed cuisines. Mexican style salsa, with Indian spices makes an exciting, explosive flavour combination in this marvellous dish.

Colourful asparagus, teardrop tomato and rocket salad with a basil pesto dressing.

Not suitable to freeze. Note

Do something good for your heart and busy schedule with this easy Japanese dish. Salty miso paste is at home in miso soup but also a tasty marinade for grilled eggplant.

A delicious Thai red chicken curry and coriander chicken with steamed jasmine rice.

Sweet, sticky and delicious Asian noodle stir-fry that is a fast and easy mid-week dinner.

Give your crumbed cutlets a Middle Eastern nudge by blending your breadcrumbs with paprika and cardamom. Teamed with couscous and orange, you'll have something healthy, delicious and just a little bit different from the usual chops and veg.

Perfect as lunch, a light dinner, afternoon tea or in a lunch box, roast pumpkin and zucchini frittata is a healthy, delicious and flexible dish.