Herbs

High on flavour and protein and low on carbs, this tuna bean and basil salad is perfect for a light yet satisfying lunch. Baby capers give it that little bit of extra punch.

This fragrant soup has a magnificent creamy texture thanks to the addition of the tofu.

This plate is ridiculously easy and quick to prepare, yet never fails to impress. The octopus needs just a minute on a hot grill to be cooked to perfection; a generous squeeze of lemon will finish it off beautifully.

Button or portobello mushrooms can also be used in this recipe. Note

This piquant mayonnaise can be served with any fish, hot or cold. A cooling cucumber salad would be a good accompaniment. Note

You’ll need 3 bunches of baby carrots. Note

Quail can be bought already boned, but with the bones remaining in the legs and wings. Ask the butcher or poultry shop to remove any remaining bones for you, if you like. We’ve chosen to leave all the bones intact in the recipe. Quail can be prepared for cooking a day ahead of the picnic, […]

Give your regular damper a herbal lift with this cheesy rosemary version. Serve it as a snack, or alongside your favourite hearty soup.

Whether for a family meal or dinner party, this mouth-watering dish will please anyone.

Using fresh coconut for dishes like this will enhance the flavour immeasurably, and you’ll find that many greengrocers and supermarkets now sell plastic bags of shredded or grated fresh coconut in their Asian ingredient section. Another option is to buy a halved coconut at the greengrocer or Asian food store, remove and shred the flesh […]

A fragrant and herbaceous vegetable tagine with olive & parsley couscous from Australian Women's Weekly.

The combination of chilli, lime and coriander is irresistible in this fragrant dish of rice noodles and thinly sliced steak.

Many varieties of already cooked white beans are available canned, among them cannellini, butter and haricot beans; any of these is suitable for this salad. Note

A colourful and fragrant Indian-style chicken salad from Australian Women's Weekly.

Lean and healthy grilled pork with a flavour-packed salsa verde.

Tender, delicious and full of colour, this warm beef salad is a fantastic option for a summer barbecue dinner. Char-grilled corn and a generous drizzle of homemade chimichurri really round out the dish!

This romantic steak dinner is absolutely delicious topped with pats of melting anchovy butter, sautéed mushrooms and steamed green beans.

A healthy Asian-style wombok and herb salad with beef and tamarind dressing.

There's no need to ever serve a boring side, these oregano potatoes will spice up any spread.

For a delicious family meal, serve this juicy pork drizzled in sage gravy with roasted potatoes and truss tomatoes.

Rice paper wrappers are available from the Asian food section in supermarkets. Filling ingredients can be prepared several hours ahead. Keep covered in the refrigerator. Rolls can be prepared up to 2 hours ahead. Place on a tray lined with plastic wrap, then cover with a clean, damp tea towel and keep refrigerated. Note

A barbecued chicken weighing about 800g (1½ pounds) should give you 2 cups of shredded chicken meat. Note

Freshly made mint sauce is the perfect dressing for this tender butterflied leg of lamb cooked on the barbecue.

This easy, spicy salad is full of zesty flavour and texture.

Basil is one of the easiest and most useful herbs to grow. You don’t need a large kitchen garden, a pot or a window box in a protected, sunny position is sufficient. Basil will grow year-round (depending on the climate) and you can freeze the leaves for later use. Note

Get out the pressure cooker and make this exquisite dish in no time.

A healthy and fragrant white bean salad with coriander, mint and lemon grass.

Herb-flecked and crunchy, this easy salad makes a tasty, filling lunch or side dish.

With a judiciously herbed crumb crust, tender lamb, this dish is sophisticated enough to serve at a dinner party but won't take you hours to make.

Perfect served hot or cold, this crustless salmon and herb quiche is just the ticket when you're after a light lunch. Serve with a green salad.

This salad takes the classic flavours of Provence and combines them to make an elegant and flavoursome starter that is still quite light. All the components can be made in advance and simply assembled when you are ready to serve.

This duck liver parfait is actually quite simple, especially if you buy the livers ready trimmed. The red onion jam is so delicious you might want to make double the quantity so there's some left for sandwiches later.

Our version of this classic takes its lead from the traditional versions of Languedoc and Castelnaudary, but we've given it an update to make it a simpler, quicker and healthier dish. Haricot, great northern, cannellini or navy beans can be used in this recipe.

Coq à la bière is a specialty of the beer-producing region of Alsace, but this recipe uses a pale ale instead of the traditional dark brew... and the result is a lighter, more delicately flavoured sauce that suits the chicken perfectly. Shallots, also called french shallots, golden shallots or eschalots, are small, elongated, brown-skinned members of the onion family that grow in tight clusters similar to garlic.

A roast joint should be rested before serving to allow the meat to relax. The heat of the oven causes the meat fibres to tighten, so as meat rests the fibres will relax, allowing the meat juices to redistribute themselves throughout the joint. Try to carve the joint across the grain so that each slice […]

Grilled vegetables and crispy-skinned salmon are made even more delicious with a zesty, spiced chermoula sauce.

These herby goat's cheese tarts make a delicious and elegant brunch or lunch with a crisp green salad.

Butter beans are also known as lima beans; you can use cannellini or similar white beans. Note

Succulent chicken breasts stuffed with ricotta and basil make a wonderful dinner party dish. Using a piping bag to fill the pockets with stuffing will make it easier.

Delight your guests with these crisp sheets of freshly made, herbed flat bread.

Red emperor can be used in place of mahi mahi, if you prefer. This corn and chilli salad goes well with Mexican food too ­ use it to accompany beef fajitas or bean and cheese burritos. Note

The food of Thailand takes first prize in the popularity stakes these days and no wonder: quick and easy to prepare, delicious recipes such as this are every cook's dream

Try something different with this herby crumbed steak, ideal served with chunky potato fries and green salad.

An uncomplicated recipe that can be prepared as an everyday meal, or a `glam’ one for special occasions. Note

This light garden salad of an exotic mix of herbs and crisp vegetables perfectly matches a hearty meal.

The evidence is in; tuna is excellent for your heart and brain function. Luckily it also tastes great, especially when accompanied by this wonderful basil pesto and smashed potatoes.

Refreshing and tasty, this salad would be excellent accompanied with grilled meat.

This light, fragrant dish is simply delicious sprinkled with micro cress and served with a loaf of warm crusty bread.

If you know your way around a frying pan, you can quickly make the dressing for this pasta while the pasta cooks and produce a meal in less than 15 minutes. Alternatively, get everything ready for the dressing and start frying the crumbs the minute you put the pasta in the pot.

For a tasty, comforting meal, try these silky prawn and coriander dumplings in a fragrant ginger chicken broth.

You can use brown sugar instead of the palm sugar. Green tea soba noodles are flavoured with powdered green tea and are available from Asian food stores and in the Asian food section of most large supermarkets. Use plain dried soba noodles, if you like. Note

To peel tomatoes, slice a cross in the bottom of each tomato, then place in a large bowl of boiling water for 1 minute, drain. Rinse under cold water, peel. Note

This colourful, nutritious salad would be perfect served with grilled meat.

Any thick crusty-style bread can be used for this delicious dish. Serve it as a decadent supper on cold winter nights.

Chimichurri salsa with t-bone steak

These fluffy potato gnocchi make classic Italian comfort food, served in a creamy basil pesto sauce.

Making the tapenade using a mortar and pestle will give it a lovely thick, yet smooth, texture. Try stirring a spoonful of tapenade into a pasta sauce or vegetable soup, spreading it on a slice of bruschetta or canapé base, or thinning it with mayonnaise for a dip or lemon and olive oil to flavour […]

Served alongside some sliced barbecued duck, this zesty Asian salad is full of spice and packs a punch.

These patties make great sandwich fillings along with the cucumber and lettuce or even baby spinach leaves. Use your favourite sliced bread, bread rolls or wrapstyle flatbread.

Fried shallot (homm jiew) and fried garlic (kratiem jiew) are used as condiments on the table or sprinkled over cooked dishes. Both can be purchased canned or in cellophane bags at Asian grocery stores; once opened, leftovers will keep for months if tightly sealed. Make your own by slicing shallots or garlic thinly and shallow-frying […]

Slice avocado just before assembling the salad. You can substitute prawns or lobster for the balmain bugs, if you prefer. You can use opal basil leaves, instead of the sweet leaves, if preferred. Tomatoes can be browned on an oven tray under a grill or in a hot oven. This recipe can be made with […]

Serve these moreish little bites at your next gathering and watch as they quickly disappear.

Fresh and tender Thai beef on a bed or noodle salad from Australian Women's Weekly.

Looking for a chicken meal with a difference? This simple, fresh salad combines chicken with the fragrant taste of coriander.

Crispy grilled chicken with a delicious flavour-packed Thai-style nam jim.

Warm, fragrant and delicious, this potato, prawn and scallop salad makes a great starter or lunch.

Served with grilled pita bread, this beautiful slow-cooked lamb stew is just what you need on a cold day.

These tasty chicken pockets are filled with melting cheese, chopped sage and pancetta.

This picture doesn’t lie – these eggs are simply delicious.

This stunning salmon dish is perfect for a special occasion such as Christmas.

Incredibly fresh, light and full of flavour, this salad makes for a very special weekend lunch dish.

Let the smell of baking bread and fragrant rosemary infuse your home as you whip up this delicious quickbread.

If you can find fresh orecchiette, use them instead of the packaged dried version. Note

Yeast-free. Note

Fragrant, healthy and fun Thai salad cups for dinner, lunch or as side dish.

A simple and delicious roast chicken with rosemary and garlic from Australian Women's Weekly.

Trout is such a delicious fish that the secret is to do not much more than cook it well. Here, we've complimented it with a simple lemon and thyme butter and served it with some baby leeks. A perfect dinner for two.

This is refreshing and light but deeply satisfying, and it’s fast! Ring the changes with prawns, if that’s what you have. I use Campbell’s fish stock when I don’t have my own and it works a treat.

A quick and easy dish that is still full of big flavours.

These bite-sized morsels of trout and pomelo salad are mouth-watering with hits of flavour from roasted peanut nam jim, fresh ginger, coconut and lime.

Make your own hand-cut garlic and herb wedges from Australian Women's Weekly.

Freeze individual cooled patties in airtight containers for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the fridge; reheat in microwave or eat at room temperature. Note

Thai chilli jam is a good condiment dolloped onto grilled meat, chicken or fish, and is also just as great when used as a curry paste or stir-fry sauce. A combination of garlic, shallots, chilli, tomato paste, fish sauce, galangal, spices and shrimp paste, it is sold under various names and can be found in […]

This zesty crumbed fish is packed with flavor and crunch. Perfect for a simple dinner with family or friends.

You can buy artichoke quarters from most delicatessens. You could use steamed broccolini if artichokes are not available. If fresh broad beans are not available, buy them frozen. Note

Chicken makes a great choice for Christmas as it is one of the more affordable meats. If you don’t normally buy free-range chicken, this is the time to spend a little bit more and get yourself a quality product. A festive flavour is brought in with pine nuts, currants and balsamic vinegar, but if your budget can’t quite stretch that far omit the nuts and use red wine vinegar in place of balsamic. There’s plenty of gravy to serve with steamed new potatoes.

PASTRY For information on how to wash leeks, see page 112. Note