Workday lunches

A quick and easy beef and vegetable stir-fry from Australian Women's Weekly.

Lemon juice gives this cream of chicken soup a citrus lift, cutting through the richness of the soup.

This soup makes a fantastic meal for winter nights.

If snake beans are unavailable, use green beans. Note

Chicken can be crumbed one day ahead; keep, covered, in refrigerator. Cook chicken just before serving. Note

Served with udon noodles and a punchy ginger and hazelnut dressing, this pork salad is deliciously satisfying.

This is another classic from the southwest of France and the trick is to not overcook the breasts of duck.

Roast lamb is an all-time family favourite, and for good reason. This delicious version will satisfy the gluten-free, paleo, low-carb, or just plain hungry.

Tangy and fragrant Vietnamese pork steaks with noodle salad from Australian Women's Weekly.

An easy dish of turkey meatballs with simple tomato sauce for all ages to enjoy.

The barbecue is the perfect way to cook a butterflied leg of lamb. Have your butcher trim, split, and debone a whole leg for you.

Mini parmesan scones with goats cheese & tapenade make delicate, tasty little canapes.

These smoked trout tarts with peas and dill make a great lunch. If you'd like to make finger food sized versions for a party, just quarter the filo sheets at the beginning, use a mini-muffin tin and cut the cooking time to 10-12 minutes.

Salted capers are a good choice for this delicious salmon with lemon and caper butter as the texture holds up beautifully when finely chopped. Serve with a peppery watercress salad on the side.

This incredibly simple fish curry uses ginger, garam masala, paprika and turmeric to add flavour without heat, and buttermilk for a smooth, creamy finish.

Broad beans are also known as fava beans. They are high in fibre and a good source of vitamin C and folate. This recipe is delicious, and would also be excellent with a good squeeze of lemon on top.

Super simple and seriously zesty, this lemon and lime rice salad makes an excellent side dish for lunch or dinner.

A fragrant and fresh Vietnamese coleslaw with a sweet and sour lime dressing.

This recipe is so fast and easy! Great for a simple dinner or quick lunch.

Taking the name from Baltistan, a mountainous region in northern Pakistan, balti curries often include paneer.

This speedy soup is wholesome, filling and delicious with crusty bread rolls.

Recipe not suitable to freeze. Note

In southern Italy and Sicily this dish is called braciole and in the northern regions it is called involtini; our version of this classic veal dish also has a burst of sage.

Patties can be prepared several hours ahead. Keep covered in the refrigerator. Cook as required. Note

You can use any type of sliced bread. Note

A fresh and bold Asian broth with crispy pork belly that melts in the mouth.

A simple but luxurious pasta that makes a wonderful starter or a gorgeous light dinner.

The polenta and dressing can be made a day ahead; refrigerate, covered. Vegetables can be cooked a few hours ahead; keep wrapped in a damp cloth in the fridge. Note

A healthy and warming winter vegetable sauté with prosciutto and hazelnuts.

A healthy warm bean and lentil salad drizzled with vinaigrette from Australian Women's Weekly.

For a packed lunch, prepare this salad the night before; it is best dressed just before serving. Place beetroot in base of lunch container, top with mesclun, potato and beef; pack dressing separately. Store in the fridge; bring to room temperature before serving. Note

A sophisticated and elegant dish that can be served as a starter or as a very light lunch or main.

Frozen edamame, soy beans in the pod, are available from Asian supermarkets. You will need about 300g (9½ ounces) in the pod. You can also use frozen broad (fava) beans; you’ll need to discard the outer skin after the podded beans have been brought to the boil. Note

Picnic noodle cake can be prepared a day ahead. Keep covered in the refrigerator. Note

Rich and luxurious Italian three-cheese ravioli with brown butter from Australian Women's Weekly.

Home-made wontons are surprisingly easy to make, and entirely worth it for the freshness of the flavours.

An Italian soup with fusilli, cannelini beans and parmesan cheese.

Alternatively, the frittata can be made in a 24cm/9½-inch non-stick ovenproof frying pan, cooked, covered, over a medium-low heat for 12 minutes, then transferred to a hot grill (broiler) for 3 minutes or until browned lightly. You will need an ovenproof frying pan if it goes under the grill (or cover the handle with a […]

These tender, barbecued lemon and garlic pork ribs are literally finger-licking good, perfect for lunch with friends.

There is nothing quite like taking a freshly baked loaf out of the oven. We've gone with the fancy plait here, but all you need is a basic recipe and you can explore all sorts of variations like the ones we've detailed below.

Soft and savoury, the light allium flavour of leek makes for a particularly toothsome quiche.

Chermoulla is a marinade of fresh and ground herbs and spices often used in the cooking of North Africa. This tender chermoulla lamb is gorgeous served with chickpea salad and pitta bread.

An exquisite and nourishing dish of salmon tartare on lentil salad served with fresh bread and lemon wedges.

For a more intense flavour, marinate the lamb 1 hour. Note

You could use whole, cleaned whiting for this recipe if you prefer, just extend the cooking time a little to compensate.

Wrap individual wedges in plastic wrap and freeze for up to three months. Defrost as required either overnight in the refrigerator or in the microwave on HIGH (100%) for 1 minute. Note

A beautiful, bright and healthy lamb, burghul and grilled zucchini salad.

Tuna sold as sashimi has to meet stringent guidelines regarding its handling and treatment after leaving the water. Regardless, it is still probably a good idea to know your fishmonger quite well, or to seek advice from local authorities before eating any raw seafood. Note

Quick, easy and fun chicken curry pot pies to impress the kids.

This brightly coloured and healthy terrine makes a lovely light lunch, served with salad, or a perfect starter.

Make your own spicy and delicious Thai cucumber pickle with this quick and easy recipe.

There are few platters more impressive than those piled high with fresh, local seafood. Finish off the jewels of the sea with delicious dipping sauces; serve with chilled white wine, or go all the way with a bottle of bubbles.

A spicy Indian-style tandoori lamb dish with grilled eggplant; great for barbecues in the summer.

This salad could hardly be simpler, but the combination of shredded chicken, fresh figs and bitter leaves makes for a quietly spectacular dish.

You can use 375 grams of minced lamb instead. Add it at the same step of the recipe and cook it, stirring with a wooden spoon, breaking up any large lumps, until browned. Note

A healthy and filling warm lamb sausage and ravioli salad from Australian Women's Weekly.

Take your rissoles in a tasty new direction with chicken mince, and the delicious flavour of crumbly feta and acidic tomatoes.

Tender and slow-cooked beef in red wine sauce with roasted tomatoes from Australian Women's Weekly.

A delicious slow-roasted honey and soy pork neck with complex Asian spices and flavours.

Do not overwork the dough or it will toughen. Note

A healthy and delicious snack; wholemeal fruit and coconut loaf from Australian Women's Weekly.

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

Sumac, a purple-red astringent spice, can be teamed with almost anything ­ from fish to meat. It is also great sprinkled over vegetables. You can find sumac at any Middle-Eastern food store.

This recipe is good served warm or at room temperature. If not serving immediately, do not toss the ingredients together or the pasta will absorb the dressing. Note

Dukkah-crumbed chicken served on hummus and tabbouleh topped pitta bread.

Chop chicken into bite-sized pieces for younger toddlers. Adults can add chopped red onion, coriander (cilantro) and capsicum to the salsa for extra colour and flavour. Note

You can use 1½ cups (240g) of fresh or thawed frozen corn kernels instead of canned if you prefer. Note

Vietnamese duck salad with rice noodles, sprouts, mint, coriander, and lemon grass.

For a sophisticated Japanese entrée, try this sashimi dish served with fiery daikon, toasted nori and black sesame.

The perfect French sharing platter: croûtes with beef and horseradish cream.

Crispy, crunchy and tender twice-cooked duck from Australian Women's Weekly.

Spinach and snow pea salad makes the perfect side for these juicy tuna kebabs with miso and mirin.

Full of flavour, colour and crunch, this Asian-inspired salad is a cinch to make and perfect for a speedy mid-week meal.

A ricer or mouli, available from kitchenware stores, will give the best result for smooth potato puree and therefore a lighter gnocchi. Burnt butter and sage sauce is an easy and delicious accompaniment.