Dinner ideas

Rich and delicious Indian korma with slowcooked tender lamb from Australian Women's Weekly.

A delicious baked pasta dish of chicken penne carbonara with crispy crumbs to keep the whole family happy.

Fast and fresh is what most of us are looking for in a mid-week dinner, this prawn spaghettini recipe is fast, fresh, tasty and healthy. Winner.

This healthy Sichuan beef stir-fry stuffed full of vegetables, is tasty to eat and very quick cook.

Grilled zucchini with chermoulla dressing, a pungent Moroccan herb sauce.

The garlic toasts can be made a day ahead; store in an airtight container. Note

Fennel adds a fresh astringency to a savoury prawn risotto.

You can also cook this recipe in a 180°C (160°C fan-forced) oven for about 2 hours. Freeze individual portions of cooled curry in airtight containers for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating. Note

Chana masala is a deliciously spicy vegetarian chickpea curry, best served with steamed basmati rice, yoghurt and naan.

Serve up this winter warming mixed mushroom risotto for dinner tonight. It's full of flavour and perfect if you're after a vegetarian meal that will be more than substantial.

You can also make the pastry using a food processor. Process flour and butter until crumbly; with motor operating, add the water and process until ingredients cling together. Or, you can buy ready-made frozen shortcrust pastry. Take leftover quiche to work the next day for lunch. It is great served either cold or warm. Note

You can buy artichoke quarters from most delicatessens. You could use steamed broccolini if artichokes are not available. If fresh broad beans are not available, buy them frozen. Note

Creamy rosemary risotto with roasted pumpkin, spinach and grated parmesan.

Healthy and hearty tomato & borlotti soup from Australian Women's Weekly.

Loaded with ginger, chilli and herbs, these sticky beef patties with Chinese broccoli make a delicious meal served with steamed rice.

Drain the morello sour cherries and reserve the syrup for use in the recipe. Note

Few can resist a perfectly roasted pork belly. This recipe is dead easy to follow and there is no reason why the result won't be crispy crunch crackling and succulent, tender meat that falls apart at the merest touch of a fork.

We used whiting in this recipe. This recipe goes well with low-fat natural yoghurt and lemon wedges. Note

This colourful, tasty salad makes a perfect side dish for a summer barbecue.

This colourful vegetarian paella strays slightly from the traditional form, but is well worth the adaptation.

Rich and fragrant Thai pork curry with pickled snake beans from Australian Women's Weekly.

Crispy and delicious chicken and ham patties that are great in burgers or for a snack.

OK these can be a little fiddly, but we've used ready made wonton wrappers here so that makes things a little easier, and just as delicious. Your guests will be impressed!

This spectacular dish is surprisingly simple, it's a great dish to serve up for a night of relaxed entertaining.

Suitable to freeze. Note

In Indian cooking, the word masala loosely translates as ‘paste’; the word tikka refers to a bite-sized piece of meat, poultry, fish or vegetable. A jar labelled tikka masala contains spices and oils, blended into a mild paste. Note

This delicious recipe uses orecchiette, a traditional pasta from southern Italy's Puglia region, where it is made from semolina, and is served with oil, sausage and leafy greens.

Make your own hand-cut garlic and herb wedges from Australian Women's Weekly.

A smooth, colourful and flavoursome zucchini, pea and corn purée from Australian Women's Weekly.

Freeze individual cooled patties in airtight containers for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the fridge; reheat in microwave or eat at room temperature. Note

This tart, citrus-based sauce is one of the mainstays of Japanese cuisine. It is usually made with a citrus fruit called yuzu, which is not easy to obtain outside Asia. It is a perfect accompaniment to char-grilled sliced beef, steamed fish, tofu and asian greens.

Crispy and crunchy oven-baked parmesan chicken with a curly endive and olive salad.

Some mussels may not open during cooking. You do not have to discard these; just cook a little longer, or carefully prise the shell open with a knife. Note

To roast cashews, place nuts in a dry small frying pan; stir over low heat until fragrant and just changed in colour. Remove nuts from pan immediately to avoid them burning. Note

Any leftover mashed vegetables can be used to make the tofu and vegetable patties, just be sure to use a total of ¼ cup (3 tablespoons) of mash along with the 2 teaspoons of rice flour. Note

Aromatic Thai-style green vegetable curry from Australian Women's Weekly.

This is such a useful little recipe, you can serve these crispy spiced fish pieces as a starter, main or as finger food to pass around at a party.

A rich oxtail stew with red wine and port; the perfect winter dish.

This easy chicken recipe is delicious served with a crisp green salad or beans.

Sticky lemongrass beef served in lettuce wraps.

Healthy and vibrant wok-tossed greens with oyster sauce from Australian Women's Weekly.

A light broth with slices of tender chicken, fresh peas and asparagus spears, this soup makes an excellent starter for a dinner party.

Thai chilli jam is a good condiment dolloped onto grilled meat, chicken or fish, and is also just as great when used as a curry paste or stir-fry sauce. A combination of garlic, shallots, chilli, tomato paste, fish sauce, galangal, spices and shrimp paste, it is sold under various names and can be found in […]

A delicious and fragrant tandoori lamb with cucumber raita from Australian Women's Weekly.

Anchovy and chilli lamb neck chops with creamy polenta from Australian Women's Weekly.

Spicy chorizo adds bite to the creamy mushroom sauce, to finish you can sprinkle finely grated parmesan cheese and coarsely ground black pepper over individual servings, if you like.

Mediterranean-style baked lima beans from Australian Women's Weekly.

Although it’s called pork neck, this marbled cut comes from the shoulder, suits high temperature cooking, such as barbecuing and roasting and is far nicer than many leaner cuts. If using wooden skewers, soak them in cold water for 30 minutes first. Pork can be marinated and threaded onto skewers a day ahead. Note

Onion jam can be made a day ahead; keep, covered, in the refrigerator. To serve warm, place in microwave-safe bowl, reheat in microwave on MEDIUM (50%) until warm. Note

This zesty crumbed fish is packed with flavor and crunch. Perfect for a simple dinner with family or friends.

Peanuts add extra crunch to this fresh and delicious beef and rice noodles dish. Perfect for those nights when you just want something light and tasty.

These tender beef steaks with creamy mushroom sauce go perfectly with homemade fries.

Any type of sashimi-quality white fish can be used for this recipe; we used kingfish. Note

Purchase frozen fresh prawn cutlets, not crumbed prawn cutlets; they come in 1kg (2-pound) `ready-to-cook’ packets. If you can’t find them, use frozen uncooked prawns, instead. Note

PASTRY For information on how to wash leeks, see page 112. Note

Quick, easy and delicious Japanese stir-fried pork and rice noodles will surely satisfy all of the family. Sprinkle some freshly chopped chilli if you like some heat.

Serve thick slices of this herby crumbed chicken with a big green salad for a delicious, speedy dinner.

Served in the most basic of bistros to the poshest of gastro pubs, the ubiquitous sausage and mash never fails to please. We've teamed it with a hearty onion gravy here, you're going to love it.

The piece of blade steak is also known as a “bolar of blade”, or just “bolar blade”; it is a shoulder cut. Beef silverside or rolled brisket are also suitable to use. Serve with spinach mash and steamed green beans. Not suitable to freeze. Note

Tender chunks of spiced, marinated chicken and yoghurt dipping sauce make these lemony chicken kebabs perfect for a weekend lunch with rice or bread and salad.

An Asian-styled pork dish with a traditional Thai dipping sauce from Australian Women's Weekly.

Moussaka is a classic Greek dish, that is well known for both its vegetarian and meat based version. We've gone vegetarian here and the result is healthy and delicious. Serve with a green salad.

Beef stroganoff is a dish served in a sauce with sour cream. It originated in Russia in the 19th century and has since become popular around the world, with as many variations as there are countries that eat it. Here we've used pork instead of beef, but chicken may also be used.

Barley is a wonderful, healthy and tasty way to thicken a delicious soup or stew such as this one.

For this recipe, we deboned a whole chinese barbecued duck, available from Asian barbecue takeaway stores. Choy sum, also known as chinese flowering cabbage, and tat soi, chinese flat cabbage, can be found at most greengrocers as well as Asian supermarkets

Try this cheesy, creamy chicken lasagne for a divine family meal, best served with a big green salad.

Turkey drumsticks are available from poultry shops and most major supermarkets. Turn this recipe into a tossed salad by mixing the sliced turkey through the ingredients, rather than serving it alongside the salad. Note

The rich flavour of fresh prawns stand up well to the robustness of a red curry. Serve with a steaming bowl of rice and an icy-cold beer and pretend you're on the beaches of Thailand.

Marinated in Japanese flavours, this deep-fried snapper is crisp on the outside and flaky on the inside.

Traditional Thai chicken broth with flavoursome coriander wontons from Australian Women's Weekly.

Filled with chopped bacon, onion and parmesan cheese, these moreish mushrooms make for a tasty brunch, lunch or light dinner with salad.

Papaya salsa makes a piquant dressing for this delicious grilled barramundi.

Topped with a baby kale salad, this easy vegetarian tart is so delicious with its buttery pastry crust and golden filling of roasted kumara and goat's cheese.

This recipe is from the well-known Four Seas Restaurant in Elizabeth Street, Redfern. Billy kee chicken is one of the most popular items on the menu. Note

This scrumptious beef and eggplant bake is similar to a Greek moussaka but with a cheesy polenta topping.

Trying meatless Monday? This recipe is a great option for any vegetarian occasion and is a real crowd pleaser.

A quick and easy vermicelli stir-fry with garlic beef and broccoli.

This is a clever way to make sure your kids get their vegies. You could also use other vegetables in here too ­ try grated carrot, zucchini or capsicum. Note

This slow-cooked curry is divine served with a dollop of yoghurt and warm chapatis.

New York steak, sometimes called boneless sirloin, is a tender and tasty cut. Serve it up with home cut chips, rocket salad and this slow-roasted tomato & jalapeño ketchup for a relaxed meal with friends.

The deep, earthy flavours of this pot roasted pork shoulder with mushroom, port and chestnut are redolent of winter evenings and roaring fires.

This easy, delicious meal is a fabulous way to enjoy fish.

Use canned or packaged consommé for a good flavour, but if you prefer, use chicken stock instead. Note

Fragrant and flavour-packed Moroccan chicken with couscous, raisins, apricots and mint.

These delicious risotto-filled zucchini flowers are a real treat for guests, though you could simply use lemon and chilli ricotta if you want a simpler recipe.

The rich, earthy flavour of field mushrooms and the light, green taste of grilled asparagus are very different, but both pair beautifully with this anchovy dressing.

Bollito misto, which translates as "boiled mixed meats", is a traditional North Italian dish served on New Year's Eve and other special occasions.

Satay originated in Indonesia, and today features prominently in Indonesian, Malaysian, Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese and African cuisines. This satay recipe is quick and deceptively simple, requiring few ingredients and minimal preparation and cooking time.