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Easter is a perfect time of year to gather friends and family for a festive lunch or satisfying supper – after a day of egg hunting, of course! These simple, elegant recipes are sure to please.

Salad ingredients can easily be added and substituted – use your imagination!

Pulses, legumes, grains and seeds are great off-the-shelf staples that add bulk, fibre and valuable nutrients to your diet. Try these light and hearty recipes to kickstart a new way of cooking.

A surplus of kale in the garden inspired this innovative take on an old favourite.

Chunky-cut vegetables in this relish make a hearty, satisfying addition to many meals.

For flavour, colour and versatility, this is the pickle of all pickles!

Equally at home accompanying chicken, fish or meat, this slaw recipe by New Zealand Women's Day is easy to throw together, simple and delicious. It's also bursting with nutritional value.

Kumara hold more moisture than potato, so I season them and bake whole in the oven, before peeling the skin and smashing the flesh. Doing this dries them out a bit more so you’ll have gorgeous fluffy mash. Note

Fill up on this hearty vegetarian delight bursting with bright flavours and colours.

The popular superfood quinoa dives in to save lunch yet again with this Italian style salad. Filled with tomatoes, capsicum, boccincini and a zesty dressing your taste buds and stomach will be thanking you.

To grill pancetta, arrange on a baking tray and grill for 5-10 minutes, until crisp. Cool. Note

Not suitable to freeze or microwave. Note

Suitable to freeze. Rice suitable to microwave. Note

Not suitable to freeze or microwave. When cooking cauliflower, a light-handed treatment is best. It contains sulphur compounds similar to that of cabbage, which break down as they cook, releasing an odour that strengthens the longer they are cooked. Note

Not suitable to freeze. Cauliflower suitable to microwave. Note

Not suitable to freeze. Suitable to microwave. Note

Not suitable to freeze or microwave. If cooking chicken the day before, reserve some of the cooking liquid to pour over the sliced chicken meat before refrigerating. Note

Not suitable to freeze. Note

Not suitable to freeze. Note

Try this traditional, triple-tested pilaf by the Australian Women's Weekly for a classic, healthy and exotic vegetarian dish full of wonderful spices and flavour.

Not suitable to freeze or microwave. Note

Not suitable to freeze or microwave. Harissa is available at selected supermarkets and delicatessens. Note

Not suitable to freeze or microwave. Note

Not suitable to freeze or microwave. Note

Not suitable for freeze or microwave. For variation, you can add sliced mushrooms when cooking the bacon, or green onions or corn with the capsicum, if desired. Note

Not suitable to freeze or microwave. Note

Not suitable to freeze. Not suitable to microwave. Note

Not suitable to freeze or microwave. This salad, without the dressing, can be made several hours ahead and refrigerated, covered. Note

Add a little extra honey to dressing if it is too tart. Toast almonds in a dry frying pan over a medium heat for 2-3 minutes until golden. Note

You will need about 2 cups (400g) uncooked jasmine rice for this recipe. The rice is best cooked the day before you want to cook the nasi goreng – spread it in a thin layer on a tray, cover and refrigerate overnight. Note

Suitable to freeze. Not suitable to microwave. Note

Serve this salad as an accompaniment to grilled fish or roast chicken, or with crumbled goat’s cheese as a main meal.

A simple recipe for a classic spread, a jar of lemon curd is always a welcome sight in the fridge.

Not suitable to freeze. Brussels sprouts suitable to microwave. Note

Chilli and herb swede crush

Spreads tastes so much sweeter when you've made them yourself with less preservatives and more of the good stuff like quality rhubarb and strawberries.

To poach an egg, bring a shallow saucepan of water to the boil. Reduce heat to a gentle simmer and add 2 teaspoons of white vinegar. Stir to create a whirlpool. Break egg onto a plate and slide into water. Cook for 3-4 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon. Note

Cool, fruity and refreshing, this beautiful pomegranate cosmopolitan is perfect for a night out with your friends or relaxing afternoon drinks on a hot Summer's evening.

Not suitable to freeze. Not suitable to microwave. Note

Uncooked meatballs suitable to freeze. Broccoli suitable to microwave. Note

For the perfect balanced lunch, add fresh fruit, grissini (bread sticks) and water. Not suitable to freeze. Pasta suitable to microwave. Note

Not suitable to freeze or microwave. Note

Not suitable to freeze. Note

Not suitable to freeze. Suitable to microwave. Risoni is a small rice-shaped pasta very similar to orzo. If unavailable, use any small soup-style pasta. Alternatively, pearl barley, rice or quinoa can also be used in this salad. Note

A tasty and textural vegetarian pasta everyone can enjoy.

You won't miss the bacon, we swear.

Cut any leftover ginger into 2cm lengths; freeze in an airtight container. Chill leftover oyster sauce to use later in stir-fries. Note

Snipping noodles makes them easier to mix through the other ingredients. Note

This will certainly satisfy your protein requirements for the day. Bring family and friends together with a steaming serve of this Spanish classic and enjoy.

Ratatouille is a staple of vegetarian cooking and now, in a a tart, it's even better.

Love bruschetta but find it a bit too messy to eat for lunch? This salad is perfect for you with doughy bread pieces, balsamic vinegar and a medley of juicy tomatoes.

It's pickling season.

With just enough spice and the right amount of herbs, this tasty Asian chicken noodle salad is packed full of flavour, perfect for a summer lunch or dinner.

Replace trussed cherry tomatoes with regular cherry tomatoes. Scatter over some fresh basil leaves. Note

Panko are Japanese dried breadcrumbs, available from the Asian food aisle of supermarkets. Use packaged dried breadcrumbs; the colour and texture will vary. Note

Put a healthy swing on hot chips with these beautiful home-baked kumara chips. We've used sweet potato in this recipe to lower the starch content, but maximise flavour. Enjoy!

Dress salad just before serving. Toast nuts by gently tossing in a dry frying pan for 1 minute. Note

If making ahead, cover with plastic wrap and chill to prevent pastry from drying out. Note

What could possibly be more Australian than this beer damper? You'll be surprised at the subtle yet delicious flavour your best ale will create in this traditional bread.

The dressing can be added before chilling the salad. Toss noodles through just before serving. Note

Sliced fresh chilli can be used instead of dried flakes. If liked, stir 1/4 cup cream though mixture. Note

To remove veins from prawns, remove heads and “hook” out the vein (dark spot where head is removed) with the tip of a knife or toothpick – pull gently. Note

Test by spooning 1 teaspoon of marmalade onto a cold plate. Push with your fingertip and if it wrinkles it is ready. If not, continue boiling until setting point is reached. Alternatively, if setting is taking too long, it may be that the fruit is slightly over or under- ripe, affecting the amount of pectin […]

Place baking dish on a tray in oven as it may bubble over. Note

The 'spice' referred to in this spicy beef pilaf is not chilli, rather it is the combination of traditional aromatics that are used to create this wonderful, fragrant dish.

Wombok, or chinese cabbage, is identified by its elongated shape and overlapping leaves. It has a mild flavour and a wonderful crunch, perfect for stir-fries and salads. Note

Use leftover roasted potato and pumpkin from any roast meat meal. Note

Make this a main meal salad by tossing through a well-drained 400g can tuna or salmon. Note

Cooking with green tomatoes is a great way to use up those pieces that just won't ripen, either on the vine or off. Serve with cold meats and cheese or on sandwiches and burgers.