Want to spend less time cooking during the week? Use your weekend to give yourself a head start. When you prep ahead, your midweek meals will be a breeze, thanks to these simple but oh-so satisfying recipes, from big-batch traybakes, hearty soups and magic ways with mince to easy, cheesy pastas and rich and fragrant curries. Pull all your ingredients together, ready to cook when you are, or cook, pre-portion and freeze for a later date. Easy as!
This quinoa salad is quick and easy, delicious and filling, and the beauty of it is that you can enjoy it just as it is or use it to create several different meals. It lasts for a week in the fridge, and can be the base for a super-speedy tuna or chicken salad. Ideas for the week: Leftover roasted vegetables, feta and toasted seed mix Canned tuna in olive oil and olives Leftover roast chicken, avocado and roasted almonds
The humble cauliflower takes a starring role in Emma Knowles' nourishing khichari, guaranteed to warm your bones on the chilliest winter's day.
“A family favourite! I’ve left the spice out of this recipe to keep it family friendly, but feel free to serve with some harissa or chilli oil if you want to add a kick. And trust me on the pickle juice in the sauce! Leftover meatballs also make for a great pita wrap with some hummus, salad and pickles.” – Tom Walton
"We gave this comforting cheesy dish a fancy look by piping the mash, but it will taste just as good if you simply spoon it over the mince." - Lucy Nunes
“We call this a stew instead of a curry. It was popular in colonial times for its mild flavours and combination of meat and veg in a thin gravy. It’s perfect for a family meal!” – Helly Raichura
“One-tray baking is such a satisfying way to cook. It’s versatile and makes it much more achievable to cook larger amounts to give you leftovers. Use a large baking tray for this recipe, or split over two smaller trays. Feel free to use other vegies you may have on hand, like wedges of cabbage, cauliflower or zucchini, so they aren’t wasted.” – Tom Walton
"Perfect for a traditional Good Friday meal (or any day of the week), this pie is pure comfort, with varied flavours and textures making each mouthful a delight. Feel free to vary the ingredients according to what’s available at the market or fishmonger." – Michael James
"This dish combines two all-time favourites: cheesy cauliflower and garlic bread, creating the ultimate comfort winter bake." – Lucy Nunes. You'll need an 8-cup (2L) capacity baking dish.
“Nothing screams comfort like a cheesy lasagne, and this one gives you extra ragu for another day. My best tip for less-waste, less-fuss cooking is to make a double batch. You’re going through the process anyway, so put twice as much in the pan.” – Tom Walton
Let’s go retro, people! This old-school dish was a hit in the ‘70s, and we’ve brought it back with this quick and easy version that’s a breeze to prepare.
This is Khanh Ong's ode to the classic Korean side. Kimchi is the magic ingredient in your fridge. Use it to make cheesy bakes like this beauty, perfect for feeding hungry hordes, add it to salads or soups, or pop it on a toastie for something super-special and delicious.
“While this broth may not be a super-speedy midweek meal, the payoff comes in the form of rich, deep flavours and a big batch of soup that freezes well for up to three months. It's perfect to have on hand for those times when cooking seems just too hard but only homemade comfort good will do. Chicken soup cures all, and this Middle Eastern-inspired version is no exception." – Emma Knowles
Ricotta and spinach cannelloni is such a classic combination. You can't go wrong with this comforting midweek pasta meal. To make dinner even easier, why not make the cheese sauce filling ahead, to save time?
This easy Thai red curry recipe is the ultimate weeknight dinner option. Ready in under 30 minutes, this creamy and spicy fish curry uses fresh salmon fillets simmered in a coconut milk base with aromatic Thai ingredients like makrut lime leaves, fish sauce and curry paste to create those iconic delicious flavours. Served with light and fluffy rice, this quick and easy salmon curry recipe is your next staple.
"This one dish unites my obsessive love of all things spicy and tingling (that’s the Sichuan pepper at work) with all things creamy and cheesy. My dan dan meat sauce is a riff on the traditional noodle dish, which is famous for its deeply savoury, mouth-numbing meat sauce, redolent with Sichuan pepper." – Marion Grasby Recipe note: You’ll need a 5-cup (1.25L) capacity casserole. This recipe is an edited extract from The Essential Wok Companion by Marion Grasby, published by Oriana Press, RRP $70.00. Available exclusively from cookdinehost.com
