Family recipes
Free family recipes, from weeknight fakeaways to Sunday roasts and proper puddings: each with the full method, and how to adjust it for vegetarians, allergies and fussy eaters.
- Big-batch bolognese for the freezer: A slow-simmered family bolognese made in a double batch: spaghetti tonight and two or three boxes in the freezer for jacket potatoes, lasagn...
- Big-batch chicken and spinach curry: A gently spiced, tomatoey chicken curry with plenty of spinach, made in a big pot so half goes in the freezer for a no-effort fakeaway night...
- Big-batch chicken, leek and bacon casserole: A creamy-tasting (but cream-free) casserole of chicken, smoky bacon, leeks and mushrooms in a thyme and mustard gravy. Eat half with new pot...
- Big-batch Greek beef stifado: A Greek island stew of beef and whole shallots slow-cooked in red wine and tomato with cinnamon and allspice. Even better the next day, and...
- Big-batch sausage and lentil ragù: Sausage meat and green lentils simmered in a rich tomato sauce: hearty, cheap and stretches a pack of sausages a long way. Pasta tonight and...
- Bigos: Polish hunter's stew: Poland's much-loved slow stew of sauerkraut, fresh cabbage, pork, smoked sausage and mushrooms, rich, tangy and smoky. It gets better each d...
- Brazilian chicken stroganoff with rice and potato sticks: Brazil's favourite family dinner: chicken and mushrooms in a creamy tomato sauce, served with white rice and topped with crunchy potato stic...
- Brazilian coconut chickpea moqueca: Moqueca is a bright, coconutty stew from Bahia in Brazil, usually made with fish. This plant-based version uses chickpeas and sweet potato,...
- Bubble and squeak with fried eggs: Leftover roast potatoes and veg crisped up in a pan and topped with runny eggs. Best on Monday.
- Build-your-own pizza night: Pizza bases, tomato sauce, bowls of toppings and everyone builds their own. Hot and ready in ten minutes.
- Butter chicken: Tender chicken thighs in a smooth, rich, tomatoey sauce. Blended until silky, so no lumps of onion to spot.
- Butternut squash, spinach and ricotta lasagne: Layers of sweet roasted squash, lemony ricotta and spinach, and a creamy white sauce, baked until bubbling. A cosy weekend bake for autumn.
- Cajun chicken burgers with corn on the cob: Butterflied chicken breasts rubbed with a smoky homemade Cajun spice mix, grilled and stacked in soft buns with cool, crunchy toppings.
- Cajun salmon with corn on the cob and pepper rice: A smoky Cajun spice rub turns simple salmon fillets into a bold Southern-style plate, with buttery corn and colourful rice.
- Cantonese soy sauce chicken with rice and greens: Chicken thighs gently poached in a fragrant soy master stock with star anise, cinnamon and ginger until mahogany-coloured and silky. A Hong...
- Cauliflower and chickpea shawarma bowls with tahini: Cauliflower and chickpeas roasted crisp with Lebanese shawarma spices, piled up with salad, hummus and warm pitta and drizzled with a lemony...
- Cauliflower cheese supper: A bubbling cheesy cauliflower bake with baked potatoes so it's a proper main course.
- Chakhokhbili: Georgian chicken stew with tomatoes and herbs: From Georgia in the Caucasus, a bright stew of chicken slowly cooked with heaps of onions and tomatoes, then finished with a big handful of...
- Chana masala: A cheap, filling chickpea curry with a gentle kick. Easily turned down for small tongues by leaving out the chilli.
- Chapli kebabs with naan and kachumber salad: Big, flat, crisp-edged beef patties from Peshawar, packed with tomato, herbs, crushed coriander and pomegranate seeds. Serve in warm naan wi...
- Char siu pork with rice and greens: Cantonese barbecue pork, roasted in a sticky honey, hoisin and five-spice glaze until lacquered and charred at the edges. Served with rice a...
- Cheese and ham omelette with chips: A classic café tea: a soft, folded omelette filled with melting cheese and ham, with oven chips and beans.
- Cheese and ham toasties with tomato soup: Crisp buttery toasties with a bowl of smooth homemade tomato soup for dipping.
- Cheese and onion potato pie: A Lancashire-style crustless pie of fluffy cheesy mash and soft onions, baked with sliced tomatoes on top until golden. Cheap, cosy and love...