Dinner ideas

If you can’t buy char-grilled zucchini, you can make your own; use a mandoline or vegetable peeler to thinly slice one large zucchini lengthways, then cook the slices on a heated oiled grill plate until browned lightly and tender. Pizza bases can be bought at any regular supermarkets. Note

Juniper berries are the dried fruit of the juniper shrub, an evergreen from the Northern Hemisphere, and are found in specialty herb or health food shops. Note

A sweet, zesty and crispy Thai dish that literally means 'crunchy noodles'.

Suitable to freeze at the end of step 2. Note

It is fine to use just 1 x 300ml carton of cream for this recipe. Porcini, also known as cèpes, are the richest-flavoured mushrooms. Though expensive, they are so strongly-flavoured only a small amount is required for any particular dish. They are available from specialty food stores and some supermarkets. Pancetta is an Italian salt-cured […]

Not suitable to freeze. Note

A healthy and simple mixed vegetable and stir-fried rice dish that can be spiced up with chicken or fish.

Chicken drumettes are drumsticks with the end of the bone chopped off. They are also sold as “lovely legs”. Note

A simple grilled chicken dish packed full of big flavours.

Try using a variety of mushrooms such as flat, cup, button, portobello, oyster and enoki, keeping small mushrooms halved or whole and large types sliced. Cooking the potatoes whole with the peel on keeps the potatoes dry and fluffy-doing this helps to create lightly textured pillows of gnocchi. Note

Vitello tonnato is a well-known Italian veal dish accompanied with a tuna mayonnaise. It is usually served cold or at room temperature, making the perfect appetiser for a Christmas lunch.

We used small (15cm/6-inch diameter) packaged pizza bases for this recipe. Note

Porcini, dried Italian mushrooms, are available from delicatessens, gourmet food stores and some supermarkets. Some butchers sell a pork and veal mixture, this is fine to use here. Buy 625g. Note

Delicious and fragrant lamb fillet in chilli and coconut milk from Australian Women's Weekly.

It’s easy to make pesto from different herbs or green leaves and with other nuts. A great combination is baby rocket and pistachio (it goes beautifully with chicken). A few other enticing blends include fresh coriander leaves with chilli instead of nuts, or sun-dried tomatoes processed with olives and walnuts. Note

Tender slow-cooked lamb shoulder with a sweet and delicious quince and honey rub.

Any similar-sized pasta shape such as casarecce, rigatoni or penne would be suitable for this dish. Note

As a rule, when steaming, the water should never touch the food. While a tight-fitting lid will keep most of the water in the pan or wok, if you’re steaming for long periods of time, it’s not a bad idea to check occasionally, that the water has not totally evaporated. Note

Kecap (ketjap) manis, a thick sweet soy sauce of Indonesian origin, is available at many supermarkets and Asian food stores. Note

You need to cook 1 cup (200g) rice for this recipe. Or, use two 250g sachets of pre-cooked jasmine rice. Nasi goreng seasoning is a spice paste found in sachets in the Asian food section of supermarkets. Note

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Get the milk and yogurt ready before tasting this hot and delicious Indian pork vindaloo.

Desiree, bintje or russet burbank potatoes are all good choices for this recipe. Note

A healthy and rich vegetable dish with smoky baked beans and tomato from Australian Women's Weekly.

Remember that when you put food onto skewers, not to squash everything together. Leave a little space between each item to allow the heat to circulate and to ensure everything cooks through. If you have time, soak bamboo skewers in water for 30 minutes to stop them from burning during cooking, or cover the ends […]

Moroccan-style couscous spiced with harissa; a great side served with saucy meat dishes.

A healthy and filling Mexican vegetarian dish with a rich and delicious spiced tomato and avocado salsa.

We used 16cm-round corn tortillas, which are packaged in cryovac. Unused tortillas can be frozen in freezer bags for up to three weeks. You can also soften tortillas by wrapping them in foil and heating them in a moderate oven for about 5 minutes or until hot. Note

A fragrant and delicious spiced lentil side dish from Australian Women's Weekly.

Sichuan is a province in southwest China known for its abundant use of chilli and eye-wateringly fiery dishes.

Quick and easy-to-make crispy roast potatoes with paprika aïoli from Australian Women's Weekly.

A modern take on the traditional French method of cooking “en papillote” (in sealed paper packets), this recipe uses aluminium foil rather than parchment to enclose the ingredients. Cooking this way intensifies the contained flavours. Note

A light and summery Moroccan-style beef salad packed full of apricots, sultanas, pine nuts, mint and dill.

Recipe is best prepared as required. Note

Pies can be cooked one day ahead; keep, covered, in refrigerator. Reheat pies in a single layer on oven trays, covered loosely with foil, in oven (180°C/160°C fan-forced) for about 10 minutes. Uncooked pies can be frozen between layers of freezer wrap for up to three months; thaw in refrigerator for 12 hours or overnight […]

To save time, buy shelled and deveined prawns and calamari rings from your local fish supplier. Some major supermarkets also have a fresh seafood section. Note

Saltimbocca is a classic Italian dish that literally translates as "jump in the mouth". It is usually made of beef or veal, and rolled with proscuitto and sage leaves.

Tortiglioni, a straight tubular pasta with grooves on the exterior, works well when baked with a chunky sauce, such as this one.

Create delicious Italian pasta at home with this beautiful ricotta and silverbeet gnocchi. Served in a fragrant tomato sauce, it's the ultimate comfort food for a cool evening in.

A crispy and delicious mashed potato casserole is the perfect accompaniment to roast dinners.

A classic Italian pasta dish with spaghetti alla napoletana sauce from Australian Women's Weekly.

If preferred, use boned lamb leg or shoulder. Make salad just before serving and drizzle with a little red-wine vinegar. Note

An exquisite and wholesome smoked chicken, radicchio and basil salad from Australian Women's Weekly.

Spice up your night with this Mexican chilli con carne with guacamole.

Crispy, crunchy and golden minted tuna triangles that are perfect for sharing with friends at the bach.

Tuna and swordfish fillets are both good substitutes for cod. Note

We used a large octopus in this recipe, but you could also use baby octopus. Ask the fishmonger to clean the octopus. Note

Before starting the recipe, boil the kettle so you have boiling water ready to prepare the noodles. Note

You could use pecorino cheese as a substitute for kefalotyri cheese. Note

Light and crunchy Asian greens salad with a flavourful sesame and ginger dressing.

Use any melon and berry combination; just make sure you use the same amounts. Note

Recipe can be prepared 4 hours ahead up to the end of step 4. Note

A quick and easy potato smash with beef and eggplant that is great for the kids.

Serve chicken with dressing. You need a large bunch of spinach weighing about 400g to get the number of large leaves required for this recipe. Note

Sticky, smoky American-style pork ribs with a zesty and crunchy slaw.

Cripsy, crunchy and delicious schnitzels crumbed in garlic, sage and lemon.

You can use drained gelatinous noodles instead of the cellophane noodles. Note

Quick and easy Asian-style stick pork stir-fry for those busy midweek nights.

Not suitable to freeze. Not suitable to microwave. Note

Make sure you cut all your vegies into similar size pieces. This ensures that they all cook at the same rate. If you cut your vegetables on the diagonal, it not only improves the attractiveness of the dish, it maximises their exposure to the heat. You could use chicken, beef or seafood in this recipe […]

As the sauce is heated, the alcohol can ignite. It generally burns off in a matter of seconds, but shaking the pan will extinguish the flame. Keep a lid nearby, exercise caution and don’t use your exhaust fan when making this sauce. Note

This is a classic Japanese dish that is traditionally served cold as a starter.

This recipe is best made close to serving. Not suitable to microwave. Not suitable to freeze. Note

Tender lamb backstraps with a crunchy sesame, chilli and parsley crumb.

An exquisite salad with slices of tender pork and sticky caramelised apple.

Vietnamese mint is not actually mint, but a pungent and peppery narrow-leafed member of the buckwheat family. Also known as laksa leaf and cambodian mint, it is available from Asian greengrocers. Any white fish cutlets are suitable for this recipe. Note

A crispy baked pumpkin and ricotta dish that is a great healthy side to go with meaty dishes.