The weekend menu #2: easy recipes from great chefs

Who can be bothered to plan a three course meal at the weekend? Lovefood can, that's who! (With a little help from three of our best chefs)

This week we’ve gone veggie, starting with a cooling gazpacho from Alain Ducasse; a summer tart from Indo-Iraqi Jewish brothers Adrian and Michael Daniel; and an Eton Mess fit for the Caribbean from Catherine Hill.

We’ve thought about our menu suggestion carefully, ensuring that the dishes complement each other, and make the most of everything on your shopping list. There’s a shopping list to print off, and we’ve worked out how much the whole dinner will cost for four people, too.

Starter: cucumber and yoghurt gazpacho

A bowl of chilled gazpacho is the perfect summertime starter (just imagine the sun, if necessary). Here Alain Ducasse experiments with his ingredients, swopping the usual tomato out for cucumber, avocado, mint and apple – it’s a green dream. Prepare in advance or put it in the freezer for 15 to 20 minutes before serving.

Time taken to prepare: 15 minutes
Cost for four: £6.68

Main: parmesan tartlets with homemade pesto

A light summer tart, which avoids the usual heavy cream and egg filling. Making your own shortcrust pastry is a doddle, as is blitzing together a homemade pesto. Put three roasted tomato halves in each tartlet, drizzle over your pesto, and top with mozzarella slices before baking, and serving with an asparagus salad.

Time taken to prepare and cook: 3 hours 50 minutes
Cost for four: £13.29

Dessert: tropical fruit Eton mess

Ditch the red berries and try something new for a change! Catherine Hill swirls diced mango, papaya and passion fruit seeds through her virtuous Eton Mess, made using a combination of whipped double cream and fat-free Greek yoghurt. Top with passion fruit pulp and serve in pretty glasses if you’ve got guests.

Time taken to prepare: 10 minutes
Cost for four: £6.21

Total time spent in the kitchen: 4 hours 15 minutes

Total cost: £26.18 

...we've assumed that you have olive oil at home already.

Let us know if you make our menu – we’d love to hear how you get on in the comments box below! Even better, post photos of your creation onto our Facebook wall.

Also, what would YOU like to see in the weekend menu? A particular theme or ingredient, maybe? As ever, talk to us in the comments box below.

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