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

Green garden veg pie

Ingredients

• 50g butter
• 2 tsp mustard powder
• 600ml milk
• 200g mature cheddar , grated
• 2 large potatoes , sliced into rounds
• 1 head broccoli , cut into little florets
• 200g frozen peas
• small bunch chives , snipped
• 50g flour
• 1 head cauliflower , cut into little florets

1. Melt the butter in a saucepan, then stir in the flour and mustard powder and cook for 1 min. Gradually stir in the milk until smooth with no lumps, then keep stirring until the mixture begins to bubble and thickens to a creamy sauce. Remove from the heat, then stir in all but a handful of the grated cheese.
2. Heat oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7 and bring a large pan of water to the boil. Cook the potato slices for 5 mins, tip in the broccoli and cauliflower for another 3 mins, then finally add the peas for 1 more min. Drain all the veg and pat dry. Reserve enough potato slices to cover the top of the finished dish, then gently stir the rest of the vegetables into the sauce with the chives.
3. Tip into a deep ovenproof dish, arrange over the reserved potato slices, then sprinkle with remaining cheddar. Bake for 20-25 mins until the topping is golden and crisp, then serve straight from the dish.

Roasted butternut squash with goat's cheese

Ingredients

• 2 small butternut squash
• garlic clove , crushed
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• a pinch dried chilli flakes
• 1 tsp thyme , chopped
• courgette , cut into 2cm chunks
• red pepper , cut into 2cm chunks
• 2 small red onions , cut into thin wedges
• 200g cherry tomatoes
• 50g pine nuts
• 100g goat's cheese , crumbled
• 1 tbsp breadcrumbs
• 1 tbsp parsley , chopped
• 1 tbsp parmesan

1. Heat the oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Cut the squash in half and scoop out the seeds then cut criss-cross patterns over the cut-side of each one. Mix together the garlic, 2 tbsp olive oil, chilli and thyme and brush this mixture over the flesh. Bake for about 30-40 minutes until the flesh is tender.
2. To make the filling, put the courgette, pepper and onion in a roasting tin and drizzle with 1 tbsp olive oil. Season and roast for about 20-25 minutes until tender and starting to brown at the edges. Add the cherry tomatoes and pine nuts and cook for another 10 minutes.
3. Mix the breadcrumbs, parsley and parmesan. Arrange the roasted vegetables and goat's cheese in the squash halves, scatter with the breadcrumb mix and bake for a further 10 minutes or until golden and bubbling.

Pizza margherita in 4 easy steps

Ingredients

FOR THE BASE

• 300g strong bread flour
• 1 tsp instant yeast (from a sachet or a tub)
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp olive oil , plus extra for drizzling

FOR THE TOMATO SAUCE

• 100ml passata
• handful fresh basil or 1 tsp dried
• 1 garlic clove , crushed

FOR THE TOPPING

• 125g ball mozzarella , sliced
• handful grated or shaved parmesan
• handful cherry tomatoes , halved

TO FINISH

• handful basil leaves (optional)

Ingredients

FOR THE BASE

• 300g strong bread flour
• 1 tsp instant yeast (from a sachet or a tub)
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp olive oil , plus extra for drizzling

FOR THE TOMATO SAUCE

• 100ml passata
• handful fresh basil or 1 tsp dried
• 1 garlic clove , crushed

FOR THE TOPPING

• 125g ball mozzarella , sliced
• handful grated or shaved parmesan
• handful cherry tomatoes , halved

TO FINISH

• handful basil leaves (optional)

1. Make the base: Put the flour into a large bowl, then stir in the yeast and salt. Make a well, pour in 200ml warm water and the olive oil and bring together with a wooden spoon until you have a soft, fairly wet dough. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 mins until smooth. Cover with a tea towel and set aside. You can leave the dough to rise if you like, but it's not essential for a thin crust.
2. Make the sauce: Mix the passata, basil and crushed garlic together, then season to taste. Leave to stand at room temperature while you get on with shaping the base.
3. Roll out the dough: If you've let the dough rise, give it a quick knead, then split into two balls. On a floured surface, roll out the dough into large rounds, about 25cm across, using a rolling pin. The dough needs to be very thin as it will rise in the oven. Lift the rounds onto two floured baking sheets.
4. Top and bake: Heat oven to 240C/fan 220C /gas 8. Put another baking sheet or an upturned baking tray in the oven on the top shelf. Smooth sauce over bases with the back of a spoon. Scatter with cheese and tomatoes, drizzle with olive oil and season. Put one pizza, still on its baking sheet, on top of the preheated sheet or tray. Bake for 8-10 mins until crisp. Serve with a little more olive oil, and basil leaves if using. Repeat step for remaining pizza.

Troubleshooting

If the dough is too wet: Add a bit more flour and work it in. If dough is too stretchy to roll out: Leave it to rest for 10 mins or so, then try again. You need far more pressure when rolling dough than when rolling out pastry. If the base isn't cooked: Baking the pizza on top of a preheated sheet or tray should prevent this. However, it could be too thick or have too much topping. If the topping is cooked before the base, cover with foil and give it another 5 mins.

Choose your toppings

Fancy a bit more topping? Here's some suggestions. Olives, ham and chargrilled artichokes; Spicy sausage, chilli or jalapeños and sliced tomato; Spinach, garlic, gorgonzola cheese and a whole egg cracked on top; Creamy mascarpone, pesto, roasted red peppers and sliced mushrooms. Or if you are not sure what you fancy - why not do half and half.

Garlic & rosemary bread

Leave the dough a bit thicker, brush with oil and stud with rosemary sprigs. Bake for 15 mins or until risen and golden. Brush with garlic butter.

Calzone

Pile sauce and toppings onto one half of the dough circle, brush the edge with a little water, then fold and pinch to make a pasty shape. Bake until golden as before.

One-pot mushroom & potato curry

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp oil
• 1 onion , roughly chopped
• 1 large potato , chopped into small chunks
• 1 aubergine , trimmed and chopped into chunks
• 250g button mushrooms
• 2-4 tbsp curry paste (depending on how hot you like it)
• 150ml vegetable stock
• 400ml can reduced-fat coconut milk
• chopped coriander , to serve

1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan, add the onion and potato. Cover, then cook over a low heat for 5 mins until the potatoes start to soften. Throw in the aubergine and mushrooms, then cook for a few more mins.
2. Stir in the curry paste, pour over the stock and coconut milk. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 10 mins or until the potato is tender. Stir through the coriander and serve with rice or naan bread.

Make it vegan

Just substitute your favourite vegan brand of curry paste.

Spicy root and lentil casserole

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp sunflower or vegetable oil
• 1 onion , chopped
• 2 garlic cloves , crushed
• 700g potatoes , peeled and cut into chunks
• 4 carrots , thickly sliced
• 2 parsnips , thickly sliced
• 2 tbsp curry paste or powder
• 1 litre/1¾ pints vegetable stock
• 100g red lentils
• a small bunch of fresh coriander , roughly chopped
• low-fat yogurt and naan bread, to serve

1. Heat the oil in a large pan and cook the onion and garlic over a medium heat for 3-4 minutes until softened, stirring occasionally. Tip in the potatoes, carrots and parsnips, turn up the heat and cook for 6-7 minutes, stirring, until the vegetables are golden.
2. Stir in the curry paste or powder, pour in the stock and then bring to the boil. Reduce the heat, add the lentils, cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes until the lentils and vegetables are tender and the sauce has thickened.
3. Stir in most of the coriander, season and heat for a minute or so.Top with yogurt and the rest of the coriander. Serve with naan bread