As the summer evenings stretch out, the last thing anyone wants is to be stuck in the kitchen for hours. For those seeking inspiration for fast, flavourful midweek meals, a new collection of recipes promises to be a lifesaver.
Featuring dishes from acclaimed cookbook authors like Rukmini Iyer, Yotam Ottolenghi, and Meera Sodha, this list of eleven dinners is designed for maximum impact with minimal fuss. From vibrant rice bowls to pantry pasta, these recipes turn simple ingredients into satisfying suppers in no time.
Speedy Bowls & Global Noodles
Leading the charge is Rukmini Iyer's cashew rice bowls with stir-fried tofu, broccoli and kimchi. This dish combines a clever microwave method for cooking rice with a quick stir-fry, resulting in a balanced meal that Iyer confirms was "an absolute hit with my children." The recipe is flexible, working just as well with a rice cooker.
For an instant noodle upgrade, Junda Khoo's Maggi goreng offers serious speed, completed in just three steps. The secret, as with any good stir-fry, is having everything prepped and ensuring your wok is smoking hot before you start. One enthusiast was so taken with the dish they reportedly ordered 200 packets of the specific noodles to keep making it.
One-Pot Wonders & Pantry Saviours
Minimising washing up is a universal goal, and the one-pot orzo with peas, mushrooms and bacon is a gift to whoever handles the dishes. This simple recipe rewards patience—properly browning the mushrooms and softening the onions builds a deep, satisfying flavour base.
Similarly, Alice Zaslavsky's pantry puttanesca is a true weeknight saviour. While it takes liberties with the classic (adding butter and tinned tuna), the result is a deeply flavourful pasta sauce made from cupboard staples. Any ridged or twisted pasta will work perfectly to catch every bit of the sauce.
For a nutritious, comforting option, Masterchef Australia winner Justin Narayan's dal bhat is a family recipe passed down from his mother and grandmother. Made with red and yellow lentils and a trio of vegetables, it's a quick, wholesome dish he recommends serving with roti or steamed rice.
Chef Specials & Breakfast for Dinner
Yotam Ottolenghi's spaghetti with white fish and nori butter is a clever twist on spaghetti alle vongole. Umami-rich seaweed butter replaces the clams, coating sustainable white fish like barramundi. It's a sophisticated yet straightforward dish that brings restaurant-quality flavour home.
Eggs get a glamorous makeover in Meera Sodha's crisp-fried Malaysian eggs (telur masak kicap). Featuring eggs with lacy edges and a slightly set yolk, the star is a generous garlic and sweet soy (kicap manis) sauce, perfect for spooning over hot rice.
Finally, Nigel Slater's ricotta and spring onion pancakes champion the "breakfast for dinner" ethos. Ready in just ten minutes, these savoury pancakes, flecked with tarragon, offer a deliciously quick alternative to their sweet, Bill Granger-inspired cousins.
With recipes spanning herby chickpea stews, charred corn salads with halloumi, and even elevated beans on toast, this collection proves that a delicious, home-cooked summer dinner doesn't have to be a time-consuming ordeal.
