Midweek dinner

Meatloaf is a popular option for dinner, and it works great as leftovers for lunch. Photography by Rob Shaw.

When you want to skip the béchamel sauce step, using cottage cheese and grated mozzarella can speed up the process. Enjoy the combination in this quick version of lasagne. Brett Stevens/ bauersyndication.com.au

Rissoles and gravy is a great old-fashioned meal that children love, especially as this recipe has the addition of tomato sauce – which provides some sweetness. Rob Shaw/Bauersyndication.com.au

A family favourite – serve it with hot sauce for adults and leave as is for the children. Photography by John Paul Urizar/Bauersyndication.com.au.

An affordable, delicious family dish. Photography by Dean Wilmot / Bauersyndication.com.au.

Take your favourite midweek dinner, bolognaise, and use it to fill a delicious flaky pastry pie. Serve with mushy peas and you have a complete meal for culinary comfort. Photography by David Hahn / Bauersyndication.com.au.

Nachos tick all the boxes for a quick, tasty and cheap midweek dinner: they're filling, fast, crunchy and, with a dollop of sour cream, a little bit naughty. Photography by Rob Shaw / Bauersyndication.com.au.

Just six ingredients in this simple but satisfying mince and potato bake. Easy on the budget, and delicious. Photography by William Meppem/ bauersyndication.com.au

All the satisfaction of a classic mince pie, with the tart addition of tomato, all encased in a crispy filo shell.

Kumara & salami pasta bake

Moroccan beef pie

Parmigiana meatballs

Classic surf and turf

Indian lentils with spinach

Curried turkey with yoghurt

Kumara and zucchini fritters

Yellow coconut duck curry

Malay prawn curry

For the last five years, I have cooked this lasagne dish for an annual yoga retreat and it’s such a favourite that I don’t dare take it off the menu!

A scrumptious family dinner favourite, especially for the vegetarians. The title sounds complicated, but it isn’t really!

Spanish tortilla is traditionally made a day ahead and served at room temperature. It does, however, taste very nice straight from the pan and is perfect for slicing up and serving in a tapas style. Photograph by Stephen Goodenough.

Serve this delicious saucy dish with flavourful rice and a crisp green salad.

Without doubt, oxtail stew is my number-one favourite comfort food. I do have memories of recoiling in horror when my grandmother mentioned oxtail as a delicious meal option, but how wise she was. This rugged pot of finger-licking meaty goodness uses an old-fashioned cut that, after a few hours in the oven, becomes a rich, hearty, stand-out dish. It uses a whole bottle of wine but, believe me, the result is worth every drop.

Excess tomatoes? Use ripe summer tomatoes to make this delicious sauce that can be spread on pizza, used in pasta or as a meal base.

Mark Harman is executive chef of the recently opened Salt restaurant in Castor Bay, North Shore. The award-winning chef’s cuisine has received local and international recognition as he pushes the boundaries of international cuisine in competitive cooking. His many awards include the New Zealand Beef & Lamb Hallmark of Excellence Award, three Wellington Culinary Fare medals, including two golds for best overall dishes as well as gold in the National Culinary Fare. Mark has been in the industry for 18 years, working in fine dining establishments such as Sky City Dine Restaurant, Huka Lodge, Bellota and the luxury Amanyara Hotel in the Caribbean. In April 2012, Mark launched his own signature range of epicurean ready-made soups and pestos under the Seasons Gourmet brand – inspired by his desire to bring restaurant quality food to Kiwi homes.

This is a simple traditional pumpkin soup recipe without any milk or cream, except for a garnish and that is optional. You can remove the curry and ginger if you prefer plain flavours

This rustic recipe is our new family favourite. Perfect for a long and lazy Sunday. Photograph by Jani Shepherd and styling by Fiona Hugues – Gatherum Collectif.

Sweet, tender chunks of honey-roasted pumpkin, served with sage butter and caramelised cashews; it may be a side, but it will steal the show. Photograph by Todd Eyre. Props and styling by Cameron Woodcock.

A colourful salad with a lot of bite!

In these enlightened times we feast in all manner of ways on the 25th. But the traditional New Zealand Christmas dinner of a perfectly glazed ham, carrots, spuds and peas followed by a berry-packed and boozily indulgent trifle is still incredibly hard to beat. Sophie Gray aces a classic

This delicious and wholesome quinoa, ricotta and pumpkin tart is a simple, tasty dinner idea for any night of the week!

Succulent, juicy marinated lamb leg with a fresh mint sauce - the perfect idea for your next Sunday roast.

Feed the family with this mouthwatering, succulent feta and prosciutto chicken breast - wholesome and delicious.

Spice up the classic Sunday roast with this tender, succulent Greek lamb - full of delicious, mouthwatering ingredients.

Lighten things up with this fresh pesto zucchini pasta - a healthy and delicious dish for dinner tonight!

Fresh and succulent grilled fish and coleslaw tacos - a wholesome tasty dinner for the whole family.

Feed the family with this tasty lamb, rice and cauliflower salad - perfect for dinner tonight.

Fresh and delicious lemon grass beef, rice noodle and peanut salad - the perfect combination for dinner tonight.

Broth is traditionally a soup of meat and/or vegetables thickened with barley or grains of some sort. I use barley and red lentils in this hearty broth. Red lentils are perfect for thickening as they fluff up and dissolve into the liquid. You can use other varieties of lentils, but the soup will be a slightly different consistency.

This is an easy recipe, so don’t be deterred by the cooking time as it’s mostly in the simmering of the meat sauce, or ragu. The three-meat ragu gives you a rich, intense flavour, even more so if made a day ahead. This sauce is wonderfully versatile and can also be served with spaghetti or as a cannelloni filling. Or you could replace it with a vegetarian option, such as caponata (eggplant and celery) or peperonata (capsicum and onion), or go with a mix of steamed mussels, squid and prawns. As long as the baking technique is followed, the filling possibilities are nearly endless. The best lasagne is made with fresh sheets of pasta, so if you have time, make your own. If not, fresh lasagne is available in most supermarkets.

This intensely flavoured, French-style chicken casserole is so easy to prepare – and it’s all done in one pot. The secret is using the best Spanish sausages you can get. Pop all the ingredients in, pour yourself a drink and relax while your oven does the rest of the work. Photograph by Stephen Goodenough.

A number of years ago, my Frenchman wooed me with a glamorous chicken dish containing white wine, mustard and cream. Back then he cooked whole chicken legs and we ate them with a simple green salad, mopping up the creamy juices with a baguette. Now, to suit our kids’ sometimes picky palates and our busy lifestyle, I’ve transformed his dish into a chicken pie using thigh and breast meat. It freezes well and is handy to have when you need a fine and fancy dinner in a jiffy. Photograph by Jani Shepherd and styling by Fiona Hugues – Gatherum Collectif.

This is a relatively fast way to prepare an easy roast chicken dinner that’s full of flavour. Against the norm, I always cook my birds breast-side down as this way you get moist breast meat which has absorbed all the delicious flavours from the bottom of the tray. My mum taught me the ‘soy-sauce rub’ trick, which adds a lovely caramel dimension that is particularly good at this cooler time of year.

This is my version of the classic dish from Normandy in northwestern France, which is always well received when I serve it at dinner parties. It’s usually made with chicken, apples and Calvados but I prefer to keep my costly Calvados for a special-occasion tipple and use brandy instead. There are many versions of this dish – some add button mushrooms or cider or cream – and, for my part, I like to add crème fraîche, which makes a slightly tart but creamy sauce that I’ll almost guarantee will have your guests wiping their plates clean.

Escape to summer with Julie Goodwin's fresh and delicious fish tacos - quick and easy, and simply divine!

Spice up tonight's dinner with this cheat’s kibbeh recipe. Full of authentic flavour, this is a dish the whole family will love.

Succulent Thai fish burgers - a delicious, wholesome dinner the entire family will love!

Beautifully light and flavoursome, this fragrant saffron fish soup is packed full of goodness to set you on the right track to a healthy body and digestion. This delicious recipe is from Heal Your Gut from Lee Holmes.

Delicious and easy-to-make Middle Eastern za’atar bread. Michael Rantissi of Kepos Street Kitchen shares his recipe from his book Falafel for Breakfast.

This flavorsome tender beef stew is warm, nourishing, and perfect for the cooler nights in. Stephanie Alexander shares her recipe from The Great Australian Cookbook.

Warm, comforting and flavoursome - this herb simmered chicken is a dish the whole family will love! Perfect for dinner any night of the week.

This wholesome lentil and tomato bake is perfect for dinner this weekend. Hearty and delicious, this is a dish the whole family will love.

Get a taste of the sea with this seafood delight! These mini marinara pizzas are absolutely delicious, and the wholegrain dough gives them a crisp, crunchy base. This recipe is also suitable for diabetics.

Looking for wholesome, delicious dinner ideas? You can't go past this succulent pork and pineapple salad - the perfect flavour balance for dinner tonight!

Silky eggplant and crunchy cauliflower topped with spiced minced lamb - delish! This dish is a stand out winner for a quick and easy midweek dinner. And it's great for diabetics.

Grilled lamb cutlets, shredded brussel sprout salad, and crisp mashed potatoes make for a perfect midweek dinner for two. This recipe is suitable for diabetics.

Tender moist baked ocean trout with a fresh, zesty ruby grapefruit salad - a delicious and nourishing dish, perfect for dinner tonight!

This delicious and fresh green mango and squid salad is perfect for dinner tonight! Light, healthy and full of authentic Asian flavour - you simply can't go wrong!

Spicy, fresh and delicious! These beef slices make a great low carb lunch or dinner. This recipe is suitable for diabetics.

Welcome Spring with this delicious Spring vegetable tart - full of fresh, wholesome ingredients.

Spice up dinner tonight with these tasty salami and capsicum fritters!

Baked, tender sweet and sour fish is the perfect family dinner.

This delicious asparagus soup from Lee Holmes' book, Heal Your Gut, is full of healthy-bacteria boosting proteins that will set you on track to a better digestion. Plus, it tastes amazing - win, win.

Celebrate the scary season with these cute Witches potion and garlic wortweed rolls! Delicious and creative, these make for the ultimate Halloween treats!

Impress your dinner guests with this deliciously fresh inside out sushi. Stuffed with cucumber and carrots, it's the ultimate vegetarian lunch or snack.

Everyone loves a good burger, and everyone will love these beetroot and lentil burgers! Healthy, wholesome and mouthwatering-delicious!

Deliciously tender and flavoursome - these lamb cutlets with dukkah are the perfect addition to your next gathering or family BBQ! A dish everyone will love!

This tasty Mex street salad is messy, slaw-based, and full of delicious barbecued chicken...what’s not to love?! James Wirth shares his recipe from the cookbook This Could Get Messy.

Ciabatta dinner roles are perfect alongside soup, stews or casseroles to mop up the juices, or with olive oil and balsamic vinegar for dipping.

Bring the heat with this wonderful red curry risotto dish, complete with chunks of chicken and beans.

Spice up your lunch with this Turkish style pizza, with chunks of beetroot, cherry tomatoes, and tahini yoghurt spooned on top. This recipe is suitable for diabetics.

These delicious kaffir lime and curry fish parcels are a light and healthy meal, perfect for the warmer weather. And they are suitable for diabetics.

Excite your taste buds with these mouthwatering satay pork meatballs, fresh veg and noodles. A delicious dinner the whole family will love!

Delicious and succulent fish and chilli jam stir-fry - a mouthwatering combination of flavours and textures, and simply perfect for dinner tonight!

Tasty, wholesome salmon and asparagus quiche is the perfect idea for dinner tonight. Full of rich flavour and nutritious ingredients.

Pan baked chicken with sweet caramelised​ onion and golden maple parsnips - simple, delicious and ready in under an hour. And suitable for diabetics too!

Everything in this dish cooks in one pan and is then enlivened with a final garnish of mint, oregano and a squeeze of fresh lemon.

The combination of textures with the crispy sage leaves, soft polenta and delicate calamari make this dish the perfect choice for entertaining or special occasions.

The beans alone are a great flavour-packed dish, but the sausages make it a more robust meal.

This delicious minestrone soup with chickpeas and lemon is a starter that’s light and is complemented beautifully by toasted focaccia.

Layers of juicy pork intertwined with deep green silverbeet, pork braciole is is a delicious dish for the family and can be whipped up in 30 minutes!

Steaming hot, aromatic clams served with fresh, crusty bread makes for a comforting and chic mid week meal.

A leg of lamb symbolises comfort and familiarity and it always tastes delicious. This leg of lamb made exciting with a delicious citrus herb crust that will accentuate its succulent flavours.

The magic of chorizo dances in this delicious dish like no other, jazzing up the chicken and adding another level of flavour to the vegetables and rice

To make a really stunning mac ‘n’ cheese – one that deserves to be served with Champagne and serviettes – I add wine to the cheese sauce and chilli to the breadcrumb topping.