Midweek dinner

Luca Villari raids the liqueur cabinet to add extra dimensions of flavour to this elegant dinner dish

Luca Villari raids the liqueur cabinet to add extra dimensions of flavour to this elegant dinner dish

On a warm summer’s evening in Canterbury, Sarah Bowman treats the family to a delightful, casual dinner of turkey burgers

Julie Biuso adds a dash of pizazz to vegetable sides, ensuring your summer dining table is alive with colourful, fresh and healthy flavours. Imaginative vegetable sides can turn a meal into a fabulous feast. We’re not talking plain boiled carrots – we’re talking flavour, colour and attitude. Bring in ginger, spices and chilli for a little zing; nuts for the crunch factor; edible flower petals for colour; then yellow and red capsicum to contrast with the green vegetables.

This is the Christmas recipe our Taste writers have received the most compliments for over the years.

The garlic crumbs in this recipe are also great in salads or winter greens, adding flavour and texture.

Thinly sliced belly is the most frequent way pork is served in Korea, but the piquant combination of gochujang, apple vinegar, garlic and ginger make an excellent pulled pork.

Find mozzarella a little bland? Toss it with herbs and oil.

Drain off any excess water by placing the ricotta in a strainer over a bowl and leaving it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before using. Note

If the chicken has gone cold, place it in a 180°C oven for 10-15 minutes. Choose “topless” pineapple, or use three or four chopped canned pineapple rings. Note

How to join a chicken: Remove string, place chicken on a board, and cut skin around leg with knife against carcass then press leg joint outwards to expose the joint. Cut through and slip point of knife under the hack to release the maryland (drumstick and thigh). Repeat with other side. Separate into thighs and […]

This gluten-free stuffing has endless variations. Add nuts or dried fruit, and other herbs and spices. To tie up a chicken, place it on its back. Pull skin over neck and secure by folding wing tips back over skin. Run string around wings and underneath to cross over back. Turn chicken over and bring string […]

To make lebanese bread crisp, place in a preheated oven at 190°C/170°C fan-forced 10 minutes. Note

This salmon patties recipe is the perfect blend of salmon and mashed potato. An easy go-to dish that is delicious when served with fresh salad and lemon wedges.

With the perfect blend of salmon and mashed potato, these golden salmon patties are so simple yet so delicious. A fresh green salad and lemon wedges make the perfect accompaniment.

Fast, healthy and filling. This salmon is pan fried until the exterior is crispy while the interior remains buttery soft. With the addition of salsa verde this dish makes the perfect pair!

Chicken tenderloins are the thin strips of tender meat loosely attached to the breast. Alternatively you could use chicken breast fillets, just cook a little longer (3-5 minutes), until cooked through. Note

Packed full of goodness, salmon is one superfood that you will love to eat. We've coated these tender fillets in a crispy sesame crust for maximum texture and flavour for your next family dinner.

Slow-cooking a shoulder of lamb makes the meat so tender that it virtually falls from the bone in large pieces. the juices from the lamb also impart a delicious flavour to the potato. Lamb shoulder is particularly sweet and moist, and is an economical cut. To prevent the garlic burning, leave it unpeeled. After roasting, […]

Trim about 5cm from the ends of the spinach stalks and throw them away. Check before adding any salt, as smoked chicken can be quite salty already. Note

Use button mushrooms only for the kids, as they might find the taste of some types, such as shiitake, too strong or dislike their appearance. Note

Roasting the vegetables for the ratatouille helps them caramelise and melt in the mouth. Note

Here is a new twist on the most staple of all winter dishes - spaghetti bolognese. We�ve added bacon and cream for a rich and tasty sauce. Seriously tasty yet seriously easy!

The acid from the vinegar helps to set the protein in the egg, so it holds its shape. If you’d like to remove the taste of vinegar, rinse cooked eggs in a bowl of hot water and drain. Note

Spaghetti with creamy coriander sauce

Delicious beef meatballs are simmered in an easy Italian tomato sauce to create homemade Italian comfort with this spaghetti and meatballs recipe brought to you by Australian Table.

When scrubbing, discard any mussels with damaged shells and any that don’t close when gently tapped. Pullout the piece of weed (the beard) from the side. Note

Spaghettini with walnuts and anchovies

If you don’t have any garam masala, use 2/3 teaspoon ground cardamom and 1/3 teaspoon ground cumin instead. If kaffir lime leaf is unavailable, substitute the grated rind of 1 lemon. Note

If your barbecue doesn’t have a flat plate, skewer the prawns first so they don’t fall through the barbecue grill. Note

It’s very important to bring chicken – or any meat or seafood – to room temperature before barbecuing, otherwise the outside will cook faster than the inside. Note

Tempeh is made from whole soy beans, which gives it more protein than tofu. You’ll find it in the chilled section at Coles Supermarkets. Instead of tempeh, try 300g thickly sliced Vegie Delights traditional Sausages Vegie to make this meal. Note

Drizzle a teaspoon or so of toasted sesame oil into the wok with the tofu for a delicious flavour boost. Note

Scrub kipflers clean with a brush and rinse before cooking. You’ll save time and effort peeling them, and gain extra texture, flavour and vitamins. Note

You'll have most of the ingredients for this simple, tasty stir-fry in your pantry.

Try combining either gruyere or jarlsberg with emmental. Note

Serve the lamb on steamed rice or noodles instead of lettuce, if desired. Note

Ground toasted rice is a traditional ingredient in Thai salads. It adds texture and flavour, but if you don’t have time, just leave it out. Health tip: Many herbs contain a high concentration of antioxidants, which neutralise harmful free radicals in the body. One cup of fresh herbs contains almost no kilojoules and can add […]

To prevent the fish mixture sticking to your hands when shaping the patties, keep a bowl of iced water nearby to regularly dip into. Note

The tartness of the sauce in this dish is a reminder to a son-in-law that any errant ways have been noted! Take care sliding the eggs into hot oil- stand well back and use an oven mitt. Note

White fish fillets, such as john dory or blue-eye, will work just as well in this dish as the more oily ocean trout or salmon. Note

Light, fresh and tasty, this healthy seafood dish is perfect for a quick family dinner that is both nutritious and delicious.

Taste canned tuna before adding any seasoning as it can be quite salty. Risoni is pasta that is the size and shape of rice, and it takes very little time to cook. Note

For juicy, tender veal, cook it until still a little pink. Cuts as thin as scaloppine are easy to overcook to the point of becoming rubbery, so cook the meat quickly in a very hot pan so it browns but doesn’t stew. Only return veal to the pan when the sauce has been sufficiently reduced. […]

Try chicken or vegetable stock in place of water for a stronger flavour. If you’re using curry powder, add a tablespoon of water so it doesn’t burn. Note

Using vegetarian chicken-style sausages, this quick, easy and super delicious vegetarian fried rice is loaded with vegetables, topped with crispy fried shallots and subtly spiced.

Salad onions have a softer flavour than regular onions. Alternatively, finely slice 1 leek and cook in the same way. Note

Not suitable to freeze or microwave. To make roasted ginger carrots, wash and trim 2 bunches of baby carrots. Toss the carrots in a small baking dish with 30g of chopped butter and 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Cut a peeled 5cm piece of fresh ginger lengthways into 10 ribbons using a vegetable peeler; add […]

Salmon can be poached several hours ahead, but white fish is best poached just before serving. Note

Not suitable to freeze or microwave. Note

Suitable to freeze. Not suitable to microwave. The lamb can be marinated overnight for extra flavour. If you like a bit of sweetness in your curries, you can also add currants to the rice. Note

Uncooked meatloaf suitable to freeze. Not suitable to microwave. Note

Not suitable to freeze or microwave. Note