30 super-simple dishes with the wow factor
Simply impressive
Quick and easy dishes that look and taste fantastic are the stuff of dreams for the home cook. Thankfully, those dreams can be a reality with our collection of super-simple, speedy recipes. We have everything from tasty midweek meals to dinner party ideas for every course, including simple yet stunning starters, main dishes everyone will love and divine desserts guaranteed to steal the show.
Click or scroll through our gallery to discover 30 simple recipes that bring serious wow factor to the table.
Chilli king prawns
These Chinese-style prawns make a speedy dinner for two in under 20 minutes. This simple stir-fry, with juicy king prawns tossed in Chinese-five spice and pepper, is perfect served with rice or noodles or even on toast. Add in chopped peppers, garlic, onion and chilli, then drizzle a little sesame oil over for a wonderfully nutty flavour.
Open lasagne with mushrooms
A vegan lasagne with a lighter touch, the 'cheese' here is made with soaked cashew nuts, nutritional yeast, garlic and cider vinegar to give a savoury taste that's similar to regular cheese. For non-vegans, you could use whipped ricotta instead. Piled up with fresh pasta sheets, sautéed mushrooms and kale, then served with a little truffle oil and toasted nuts, this dish looks impressive and is on the table in just 30 minutes.
Masala chicken pepper pie
What better comfort food than this fragrant, warming chicken curry, topped with crunchy filo pastry? The chicken filling is lightly spiced with gentle heat from the chilli in the tomato base, while cream adds richness. A generous final handful of fresh coriander really takes it to the next level.
Grilled nectarine and burrata salad
Pretty as a picture and packed with wonderful tastes and textures, this salad has crunch from the garlic croutons, creaminess from the burrata and intense fruitiness from the griddled nectarines. Dressed with a sweet, sour and sticky vinaigrette, it would make a perfect lunch or lovely side dish to pair with grilled meat or chicken.
Balsamic pork kebabs with pesto dressing
Here, cubes of pork leg are marinated in balsamic vinegar, sugar, garlic and smoked paprika to yield soft, tender meat. The recipe is very simple, but it's best to marinate the meat overnight for maximum flavour. The pork is threaded onto skewers with spring onions and dressed with pesto, making this a great barbecue dish, though you can also cook the kebabs in a griddle pan or under the grill, if you like.
Get the recipe for balsamic pork kebabs with pesto dressing here
Fried halloumi with lemony honey
What's not to love about fried halloumi, with its crisp exterior and melting, gooey centre? Once cooked, the salty cheese is dressed with lemon and honey, then scattered with sesame seeds and chilli salt. Add salad leaves to make a lovely starter or lunch or serve with several other small dishes to make a tapas-style meal.
Spaghetti puttanesca
This vibrant, thrifty pasta dish is quick to make and absolutely packed with flavour. The punchy puttanesca sauce just calls for fresh or canned cherry tomatoes, a hint of chilli, capers, black olives and anchovies (which add a deeply savoury note, rather than a fishy taste). The whole thing is ready in under 30 minutes, and tastes even better when garnished with a mass of freshly grated Parmesan.
Parmesan chicken traybake
This dish looks great, tastes even better and is all made in one roasting tin, with very little effort required. Chicken breasts are stuffed with red pesto, then coated in a Parmesan crumb. The vegetable base is simply cauliflower florets, peppers and onion. Once the chicken is cooked through and the crumb crisp and golden, it’s topped with fresh basil. Serve with steamed new potatoes.
Prawn noodle soup
This is the perfect speedy midweek meal – warming, delicious and ready in just 15 minutes. The key to this Singaporean-inspired laksa? Use a shop-bought Thai red curry paste. Add in creamy coconut milk, a hint of chilli, juicy prawns and noodles and finish with a squeeze of fresh lime for a fragrant, filling dinner.
Margarita chicken fajitas
For fajitas that really pack a punch, upgrade your usual method with this recipe, where the chicken is marinated in a heady mix of tequila, lime and orange. It does need time to marinate, but the rest is easy. The chicken is coated in a coriander and lime sauce and served on warm flour tortillas with mashed avocado, onion pickle, chillies and fresh lime.
Skirt steak with chimichurri
Skirt or hanger steak is a cheaper cut of meat that's absolutely packed full of flavour. Best served rare, it should be quickly cooked over a high heat, ideally on the barbecue or in a griddle pan. It’s the chimichurri sauce, though, with its intense blend of fresh herbs, garlic, chilli, oil and lemon that really sets this dish apart and will garner you a slew of compliments. The sauce works really well with chicken.
Mushroom and spinach en croûte
This stunning vegetarian centrepiece is ready for the oven in just 30 minutes. Shop-bought puff pastry encases a tasty mixture of mushrooms, spinach, ricotta cheese and Gruyère (use mature vegetarian Cheddar for strict veggies – Gruyère is made with animal rennet). The filling can be made in advance, too. Serve with a simple green salad.
Roast peppers with burrata
This dish may be simple, but it's bursting with the flavours of southern Italy. Soft, rich, creamy burrata matches perfectly with the spicy ‘nduja, while the tender, slightly sweet roasted peppers bring the dish together beautifully. Serve as a starter or light main with sourdough toasts.
Parma Ham and Cheddar toastie
A simple cheese toastie is taken to the next level with sweet, salty Parma Ham, lashings of cheese, apple and chutney. The clever trick here is to cook the sandwich in a frying pan, with a heavy pan pressed down on top, to ensure the filling is melting and delicious and the bread crisp and golden.
Pasta shells stuffed with herbed ricotta
Conchiglioni (giant pasta shells) don't need pre-blanching for this recipe, as the rich tomato sauce (made easy with bought passata) covers them sufficiently to cook them. Stuffed with ricotta, mozzarella and fresh basil, this is an easy one-pot dish that will please all the family.
Get the recipe for pasta shells stuffed with herbed ricotta here
Peanut satay chicken
Inspired by Southeast Asian flavours, this lovely chicken dish might sound complicated, but it can actually be on the table in just 30 minutes. The flavoursome satay sauce is made from crunchy peanut butter mixed with coconut milk, lime, ginger and lemongrass. Chicken is first coated in spices, then cooked and mixed with the sauce. Simply serve with a fresh, crunchy salad and white rice.
Roasted cod with a coriander crust
A delicious fish feast in just 20 minutes. Chunky fillets of cod are coated in a spiced coriander and garlic paste, topped with fresh bay leaves, then baked in the oven and served with a tahini sauce. You could replace the cod with salmon and any leftover sauce works a treat as a dressing for salad or vegetables.
Tomato, Gouda and pesto tart
A combination of buttery puff pastry, melted cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh tomatoes and basil makes this delightful tart a winner every time. It uses shop-bought pastry, so it's quick to assemble as well as being versatile – swap the Gouda for Cheddar and the sun-dried tomatoes for roasted red peppers, if you like. This tasty tart is best served warm from the oven with a green salad.
Sticky soy and honey roasted salmon
This easy one-tray dish is the perfect way to serve salmon, which is roasted atop four different greens – peas, asparagus, broccoli and sugar snaps (of course, you can vary according to your preference). The cooked dish is drizzled with a tasty sesame oil, lime and ginger dressing. If you find sesame oil too strong, substitute it with peanut or sunflower oil.
Sweet potato curry noodle soup
Inspired by a traditional Thai dish, this fragrant, spicy, hearty vegan soup is a meal in itself. It uses a bought red curry paste for ease, with ginger, coconut milk and stock completing the base. Add in some sweet potatoes, sugar snap peas and plenty of fresh lime and coriander for a flavour sensation.
Salade Niçoise
Bring the south of France to your table with this vibrant salad. Ready in a flash and with very little preparation needed, this classic dish is all about using the best ingredients you can find – tuna in olive oil, really great olives and juicy, ripe tomatoes. It's high in protein and packed with vegetables but feel free to add some boiled potatoes to make it even more substantial.
Sichuan water-cooked beef
Ready in 15 minutes, this theatrical dish is just the thing for an impressive dinner party main. The vegetables and sauce are cooked first, before being added to a heatproof serving dish. Then, slices of raw beef are layered over and sizzling hot oil is poured on top, to cook the beef. The end result looks great and tastes amazing.
Italian roast chicken with rosemary potatoes
Speedy and easy to make, this dish still manages to look and taste like it belongs on a restaurant menu. Chicken breasts are stuffed with mozzarella and basil, wrapped in pancetta or Parma Ham, then baked in the oven alongside juicy cherry tomatoes. The accompanying crispy, garlicky rosemary potatoes shouldn't be missed out – they're utterly delicious.
Get the recipe for Italian roast chicken with rosemary potatoes here
Roasted cauliflower shawarma with pomegranate and tahini
This show-stopping veggie centrepiece takes the humble cauliflower to the next level, Middle Eastern style. The cauliflower is coated in a spiced butter and roasted, then topped with a garlicky tahini sauce, pomegranate seeds, chilli, parsley and toasted pine nuts. It's best served hot from the oven, although you can make the butter and sauce ahead of time.
Get the recipe for roasted shawarma cauliflower with pomegranate and tahini here
Fish tacos
These Mexican-inspired tacos take the idea of a fish finger sandwich in a whole new direction. Thick slices of fresh fish are coated in a lightly spiced batter and fried until crisp and golden. They're then piled into flour tortillas with creamy chipotle mayonnaise, crunchy onions, cabbage, lettuce and a squeeze of lime.
Sweet potato shakshuka
This recipe puts a lovely spin on the classic Middle Eastern dish, using sweet potatoes in place of the traditional tomato base. Jammy eggs are nestled on a bed of cheesy, spiced sweet potato mash and the whole thing is topped with crunchy sweet potato skins, pickled red onions and chilli butter. We call that brunch perfection.
Pan-fried salmon with pine nut salsa
Sharp, sweet and aromatic, this punchy salsa features a mix of cooked celery, toasted pine nuts, olives, capers, currants, saffron, parsley and lemon and is just the thing for pepping up a salmon fillet. Serve with steamed new potatoes, quinoa or wholegrain rice for a simple, healthy meal that's full of flavour.
Get the recipe for pan-fried salmon with pine nut salsa here
Tomato galette
This gorgeous free-form tart couldn't be easier; it uses shop-bought pastry and there’s no fiddly tin-lining or blind baking involved. The tempting filling consists of courgettes, grated cheese, tarragon and tomatoes (it's especially good when heritage tomatoes are in season). Serve warm from the oven.
Mexican-style corn on the cob
Elevate your next barbecue with this twist on Mexican street food favourite, elote. Perfect as a starter or side, grilled corn is first coated in a lime, coriander and chilli butter, then topped with garlicky, herby, soft cheese and lots of fresh coriander. It's messy to eat, but worth every bite.
Chicken with pesto, Taleggio and roasted tomatoes
This is a tasty, easy traybake with enough wow factor for entertaining. Tender chicken breasts are spread with a cream cheese, Taleggio and pesto mix, then topped with paprika-dusted breadcrumbs and baked in the oven alongside sweet cherry tomatoes. If you can't find Taleggio (a washed-rind, fruity, mild cheese from Italy), use Camembert or brie instead.
Get the recipe for chicken with pesto, Taleggio and roasted tomatoes here
Now discover our collection of speedy meals to get you through the week
Last updated by Dominique Ayling.
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