Dinner ideas

These juicy, spiced chicken koftas make a great light lunch served with ripe tomato salad, tzatziki and fresh bread.

We used large (25cm/10-inch diameter) packaged pizza bases for this recipe. You will need to purchase half a large barbecued chicken weighing about 450g to get the amount of shredded meat required for this recipe. Note

Select mint leaves that are evenly coloured and have no brown tinge around the edges. A bunch of mint can be kept, stems in a jar of water and leaves covered with a plastic bag, in the refrigerator, up to five days. There are many varieties of mint, but one of the most common is […]

Veal and tomato dolmades, a family of stuffed vegetable dishes common in the Middle East and surrounding regions including the Balkans, the Caucasus, Russia, Central Asia.

Stir-fries are always an excellent choice for a mid-week dinner, being fast, fresh and full of flavour.

Barbecued pork neck with five-spiced star-anise glaze from Australian Women's Weekly.

An easy and delicious chicken, mixed vegetable and almond stir-fry for a quick mid-week dinner.

When you want to pull out a dish that's set to impress, whole fish always does the job. This baked baby barramundi with pumpkin seed pesto makes a spectacular centre-piece.

With crisp sugar snap peas and a punchy mint dressing, this lamb salad makes a delightful lunch or light dinner.

Fragrant with spices and sticky with orange juice, this crisp-skinned roasted whole duck makes a spectacular centrepiece for a special dinner.

Soba noodles are a low-GI japanese-style noodle made from a mixture of buckwheat and wheat, making them high in dietary fibre and protein. The sodium content is high, however, this is reduced significantly after cooking. Asparagus spears vary in thickness; if the ends are really thick, peel them from the bottom up to within 5cm […]

This recipe is best made close to serving. White balsamic vinegar is slightly sweet, and is available in the vinegar section in selected supermarkets and grocery stores. Note

Farfalle pasta, also called bow-ties or butterflies, have frilled edges and soft pleats to help contain the sauce; use orecchiette or fusilli, if preferred. Note

Serve this delicious stir-fry with hot hokkien noodles for a speedy, easy mid-week dinner.

Whip out the pressure cooker and make this exquisite curry in no time at all.

Peas and shucked broad beans bring a sweet, spring freshness to this creamy chicken risotto.

Create the ultimate summer BBQ dish with grilled lamb chops and sun-dried tomato pesto.

A fragrant Tandoori chicken salad topped with refreshing yoghurt from Australian Women's Weekly.

The gamey flavour of venison, naturally sweet beets and a tangy raspberry vinaigrette make for a spectacular salad.

For a quick, satisfying dinner, try these easy, cheesy pizzas topped with chargrilled eggplant, pesto, olives and smoky chorizo.

You will need about 800g fresh peas in the pod for this recipe. The mince mixture and gremolata can be prepared several hours ahead. Reheat mince just before serving. Note

You need to cook about 2 cups of jasmine rice the day before you want to make this recipe. Rice must be cold and quite dry, in order to prevent it sticking together in clumps when added to the wok. Note

Anchovy and chilli add flavour and spice to these delicious lamb chops, served with cavolo nero and smooth mashed potatoes.

Tagliatelle are long, flat strips of wheat pasta, slightly narrower and thinner than fettuccine.

We used large (25cm diameter) packaged pizza bases for this recipe. Note

Enjoy these juicy beef burgers with grilled eggplant, cooling yoghurt sauce and peppery rocket.

Delicious grilled vegetable & couscous salad from Australian Women's Weekly.

The veal can be marinated overnight. Note

We used bream fillets in this recipe but you can use other firm white fish, such as whiting or john dory. To segment the orange, use a small sharp knife to cut the top and bottom from the fruit. Cut off the rind including the white pith, following the curve of the fruit. Holding the […]

Crispy on the outside and melt-in-your-mouth on the inside, these croquettes can be more than just a starter when they're served with vegies or salad.

We used corella pears for this recipe. You will need a bunch of watercress weighing about 350g in total to yield the leaves required for this salad. Note

Simple yet brimming with flavours, this Asian-inspired dish is a wonderful way to enjoy fish.

If you’re serving this sauce with fish, replace the chicken stock with fish stock; for a vegetarian version, use vegetable stock. Velouté should be served as soon as it is made. Note

Spicy and fragrant chicken and vegetable curry with coconut and coriander from Australian Women's Weekly.

To make a simple pesto, pound 2 garlic cloves with a good pinch of salt in a mortar. Add 2 tablespoons pine nuts and a bunch picked basil leaves, pounding until a creamy paste forms. Blend in ⅓ cup olive oil and 2 tablespoons grated parmesan. Season with black pepper to taste. Note

A chilli coriander jam that is packed to the brim with red-hot chilli spice and aromatic coriander.

A Caesar salad with crunchy croutons, prosciutto and poached eggs.

Enjoy barbecued vegetables and salty slices of haloumi combined with a fresh and zesty dressing in this easy vegetarian dish.

A warming and zesty classic Mexican soup, called sopa de lima, from the Yucatan region.

Tangy garlic and lemon yoghurt makes a fabulous dipping sauce for these plump fried prawns.

Peking duck is Beijing's most famous dish. Traditionally, this dish is served with peking duck pancakes and hoisin sauce.

Packed with vegetables, this fragrant beef stir-fry makes an ideal weeknight dinner.

Mildly spiced tandoori chicken salad with pappadums and hot mango chutney.

We used snapper fillets in this recipe, but you can use any firm white fish fillets you like, bream, flathead, swordfish, ling, whiting, jewfish, blue-eye or sea perch are all good choices. Check for any small pieces of bone in the fillets and use tweezers to remove them. Note

Loaded with fresh mint and spices, these lamb koftas make a delicious family meal served with yoghurt and roasted carrots.

Hearty and meaty, these flavour-packed lamb and rosemary pies are perfect for a hungry family on a cooler evening or weekend. They'll taste amazing enjoyed straight from the oven.

A classic in the thrifty housekeeping repertoire, corned beef hash is as delicious as it is economical, especially topped with a soft-poached egg.

We used snapper fillets for this recipe but you can use any white fish fillet you prefer. Note

Home made fish and chips is a good healthy alternative to eating greasy ones, and it tastes just as good if not better.

A healthy and hearty warm pasta and lamb salad from Australian Women's Weekly.

Treat yourself to this simple fish and scallop stir-fry and brighten up an ordinary mid-week evening.

We suggest you make your own stock for this recipe; see the recipe on page 112. Arborio rice, otherwise known as white short-grain rice, is an excellent choice for this recipe due to its high starch level, making for a deliciously creamy soup. This soup is our take on the classic Greek avgolemono (which translates […]

Unfilled crepes can be frozen up to 2 months. Note

These noodles with lamb and spinach can be thrown together in minutes and be on the table soon after you arrive home from work. Quick, healthy and delicious.

Soak bamboo skewers in cold water for at least an hour before using to prevent them scorching during cooking. We used flathead fillets in this recipe. Note

Like a deconstructed version of the classic Greek dish, these moussaka stacks with lemon-yoghurt dressing are lighter than the original, and just as tasty.

These prosciutto wrapped lamb cutlets hide a delicious creamy and boldly flavoured centre. Serve with some grilled mediterranean vegetables for a tasty, low-carb meal.

Spice up your barbecue with this side of sirloin and sweet ginger rub. Remember to stand the meat for at least 15 minutes before slicing and you'll be rewarded with a moist and tender meat.

Crunchy, fruity and spicy, this black bean and mango salsa is gorgeous paired with fish.

Crispy and crunchy butterflied chicken from Australian Women's Weekly.

Try this tasty, speedy lamb and noodle stir-fry for an easy weeknight dinner.

With a pile of buttery mash and a serve of your favourite vegetables, these old-fashioned rissoles and gravy for dinner will please the whole family.

For crisp-skinned salmon, salt the skin before pan-frying or barbecuing, and cook skin-side down first. The salt helps draw any moisture out of the skin to make it crisp. Turn only once to complete cooking.

Tender whole baby snapper roasted with lemon and fennel makes a great centrepiece for a relaxed meal with friends.

This cheesy bake is packed with veggies and perfect for the whole family.

Healthy and lean veal steaks with Italian white bean salad from Australian Women's Weekly.

Satay sauce is a delicious creamy, sweet and salty peanut-based sauce that typically also contains soy sauce, coconut milk, ginger and garlic. It is used widely in Thai, Indonesian, Malaysian, Singaporean and Vietnamese cuisines.

Put the baking dish as close to the preheated grill as possible. This dish can be served as is, or accompany it with a salad, or soft polenta, and fresh crusty bread to soak up the juices. Note

Served with homemade baba ghanoush and zingy tabbouleh, these warm falafel wraps will be a popular dinner dish.

Tossed with omelette strips and hot chilli, this gingery fried rice makes a speedy, delicious weeknight dinner.

Frittata tastes great hot, cold or at room temperature; it’s perfect at breakfast time or for lunch and is a hit with kids and adults alike. For a splash of colour and extra flavour, cut up some fresh parsley, basil or chives (or a combination of all three) to sprinkle on top. Note

A rich and flavourful breakfast, lunch or dinner salad of bacon, egg and endive with shallot mayonnaise

The incredible fragrance and flavour of fresh ginger permeates this lovely stir-fry of tender pork strips and cabbage.

Marinate the lamb in a zip-top plastic bag to save washing up the bowl. Note

Carrot soup is always a family favourite. We've modernised this this version and packed it with spices and served it with smoked almonds, coriander and sliced red onion.

This easy, fragrant dish is perfect for a weeknight dinner. The Chinese barbecued pork adds a distinctive colour and taste and can be found at Asian grocery stores.

Tikka paste is a mild paste which, in Indian cookery, is made to its maker’s choice of spices and oils and sometimes tomatoes or coconut cream, it is frequently coloured red. It is usually used for marinating or for basting the food as it cooks, rather than as an ingredient. It is most often used […]