coconut dhal

ngredients

• 250g red lentils (also called masoor dal or Egyptian lentils)
• 400ml coconut milk
• a handful of fresh curry leaves (find these in the herb section, an Asian grocers, or use coriander leaves)
• flatbread , to serve
• 2 medium chopped tomatoes
• 1 tsp turmeric
• 2-3 long pointy green chillies , sliced
• 2 tsp black mustard seeds
• 2 onions , one finely chopped, one sliced

1. Put the lentils, coconut milk, the chopped onion, tomatoes, chillies and turmeric in a pan with 300ml water, season and simmer for 20 minutes, until the lentils are tender.
2. Fry the sliced onion in 4 tbsp oil until crisp, add the curry leaves (or coriander) and mustard seeds and sizzle together.
3. Pour over the lentils. Serve with flatbread

Cauliflower, egg & potato curry

• 3 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 large onion , peeled and diced
• 1 plump red chilli , seeds removed if you want, finely chopped
• thumb-sized piece of root ginger , peeled and grated
• 2 large waxy potatoes (such as Desirée), peeled and cut into bite-sized chunks
• 2 tbsp curry paste (Patak's Cumin & chilli is good)
• 1 medium cauliflower , broken into florets
• 400ml can coconut milk
• 6 hard-boiled eggs , halved lengthways
• 2 tbsp toasted flaked almonds (optional)
• large handful of roughly chopped fresh coriander
• 4 garlic cloves , finely chopped

1. Heat a large, deep non-stick frying pan, wok or shallow saucepan over a low heat. Add the oil, stir in the onion and fry over a medium heat for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and starting to turn golden.
2. Stir the chilli, garlic and ginger into the onion mixture and fry for 2 minutes. Raise the heat a little, add the potatoes and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently, until the outsides are just softening. Stir in the curry paste, cook for 1 minute, then toss in the cauliflower and stirfry for a further 1 minute to coat.
3. Pour the coconut milk into the pan and stir thoroughly. Add some salt, raise the heat and bring to the boil, stirring frequently, then half cover the pan and reduce to a slow simmer. Cook the curry for 20-25 minutes, stirring often, until the sauce has thickened slightly and the vegetables are tender.
4. Half bury the eggs yolk-sides up in the sauce, then cover and continue to simmer gently for a further 1-2 minutes to heat through. Serve with a scattering of toasted almonds, if liked, and coriander.

Asparagus cream pasta

Ingredients

• 1 bunch asparagus
• 142ml tub double cream
• 2 garlic cloves , peeled, but left whole
• 50g parmesan , half grated, half shaved
• 250g tagliatelle

1. To prepare the asparagus, cut off and discard the woody ends, then neatly cut the tips away from the stalks. Keep the tips and stalks separate. In a small saucepan bring the cream and garlic to the boil. Take off the heat, remove the garlic, then set the pan aside.
2. Cook the stalks in boiling salted water for about 4-5 mins until tender, drain, then tip into the cream with the grated parmesan. Blitz with a hand blender until smooth.
3. Cook the pasta according to pack instructions, then throw in the tips 2 mins before the end of cooking time. Gently reheat the cream, drain pasta, then tip into a bowl with the cream. Toss, divide into pasta bowls, top with parmesan shavings and serve.

Easy peasy lentil curry

ngredients

• 2 tbsp sunflower oil
• 2 medium onions , cut into rough wedges
• 4 tbsp curry paste
• 850ml vegetable stock
• 750g stewpack frozen vegetables
• 100g red lentils
• 200g basmati rice
• turmeric
• handful of raisins and roughly chopped parsley
• poppadoms and mango chutney, to serve

1. Heat the oil in a large pan. Add the onions and cook over a high heat for about 8 minutes or until they are golden brown. Stir in the curry paste and cook for a minute. Slowly pour in a little of the stock so it sizzles, scraping any bits from the bottom of the pan. Gradually pour in the rest of the stock.
2. Stir the frozen vegetables, cover and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the lentils and simmer for a further 15-20 minutes or until the vegetables and lentils are cooked.
3. While the curry is simmering, cook the rice according to the packet instructions, adding the turmeric to the cooking water. Drain well.
4. Season the curry with salt, toss in a handful of raisins and chopped parsley, then serve with the rice, poppadums and chutney.

Roasted tomato, basil & Parmesan quiche

ngredients

• 300g cherry tomatoes
• drizzle olive oil
• 50g Parmesan (or vegetarian alternative), grated
• 2 eggs
• 284ml pot double cream
• handful basil leaves, shredded, plus a few small ones left whole for scattering

FOR THE PASTRY

• 280g plain flour , plus extra for dusting
• 140g cold butter , cut into pieces

1. To make the pastry, tip the flour and butter into a bowl, then rub together with your fingertips until completely mixed and crumbly. Add 8 tbsp cold water, then bring everything together with your hands until just combined. Roll into a ball and use straight away or chill for up to 2 days. The pastry can also be frozen for up to a month.
2. Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface to a round about 5cm larger than a 25cm tin. Use your rolling pin to lift it up, then drape over the tart case so there is an overhang of pastry on the sides. Using a small ball of pastry scraps, push the pastry into the corners of the tin. Chill in the fridge or freezer for 20 mins. Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6.
3. In a small roasting tin, drizzle the tomatoes with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Put the tomatoes in a low shelf of the oven.
4. Lightly prick the base of the tart with a fork, line the tart case with a large circle of greaseproof paper or foil, then fill with baking beans. Blind-bake the tart for 20 mins, remove the paper and beans, then continue to cook for 5-10 mins until biscuit brown.
5. When you remove the tart case from the oven, take out the tomatoes, too.
6. While the tart is cooking, beat the eggs in a large bowl. Gradually add the cream, then stir in the basil and season. When the case is ready, sprinkle half the cheese over the base, scatter over the tomatoes, pour over the cream mix, then finally scatter over the rest of the cheese. Bake for 20-25 mins until set and golden brown. Leave to cool in the case, trim the edges of the pastry, then remove from the tin. Scatter over the remaining basil and serve in slices.

Perfect pancakes

Ingredients

• 100g plain flour
• 2 eggs
• 300ml semi-skimmed milk
• 1 tbsp sunflower oil or vegetable, plus extra for frying
• pinch salt

1. Blending in the flour: Put the flour and a pinch of salt into a large mixing bowl and make a well in the centre. Crack the eggs into the middle, then pour in about 50ml milk and 1 tbsp oil. Start whisking from the centre, gradually drawing the flour into the eggs, milk and oil. Once all the flour is incorporated, beat until you have a smooth, thick paste. Add a little more milk if it is too stiff to beat.
2. Finishing the batter: Add a good splash of milk and whisk to loosen the thick batter. While still whisking, pour in a steady stream of the remaining milk. Continue pouring and whisking until you have a batter that is the consistency of slightly thick single cream. Traditionally, people would say to now leave the batter for 30 mins, to allow the starch in the flour to swell, but there's no need.
3. Getting the right thickness: Heat the pan over a moderate heat, then wipe it with oiled kitchen paper. Ladle some batter into the pan, tilting the pan to move the mixture around for a thin and even layer. Quickly pour any excess batter into a jug, return the pan to the heat, then leave to cook, undisturbed, for about 30 secs. Pour the excess batter from the jug back into the mixing bowl. If the pan is the right temperature, the pancake should turn golden underneath after about 30 secs and will be ready to turn.
4. Flipping pancakes: Hold the pan handle, ease a fish slice under the pancake, then quickly lift and flip it over. Make sure the pancake is lying flat against base of the pan with no folds, then cook for another 30 secs before turning out onto a warm plate. Continue with the rest of the batter, serving them as you cook or stack onto a plate. You can freeze the pancakes for 1 month, wrapped in cling film or make them up to a day ahead.

Sweet & savoury

Onion, cheese & bacon Fry a chopped onion, then add chopped streaky bacon and cook until golden. Tip onto pancakes, grate over cheddar, fold up and eat hot. Tropical fruit & ginger: Fresh tropical fruits, stem ginger syrup and Greek yogurt.

Roasted butternut squash salad with soy balsamic dressing

Ingredients

• 2kg butternut squash , peeled and cut into 2cm cubes
• olive oil
• 100g Puy lentils
• 100g rocket
• 1 tsp sesame seeds , toasted
• 6 spring onions , sliced

SOY DRESSING

• 5 tbsp olive oil
• 3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 red chilli , seeded and chopped
• 1 garlic clove , finely chopped
• 1 tsp clear honey

1. Heat the oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Put the squash on a baking sheet, drizzle with 1 tbsp olive oil and season. Roast for 20 minutes or until tender, shaking the tray a couple of times to keep it from sticking. Simmer the lentils for about 15 minutes or until al dente, then drain.
2. Whisk together the dressing ingredients. Put the rocket in a shallow serving bowl and arrange the lentils and squash on top. Pour the dressing over and top with sesame seeds and spring onion