Top 10 recipes we make at RecipeTin Meals, the RecipeTin Eats food bank. Quick, easy, freezable, economical!
Recipe video above. It's your favourite Bolognese - in the form of a juicy pasta bake! Do a quick simmer - or go all out and slow cook for a couple of hours for a richer sauce and melt-in-your-mouth beef. **FREEZER BEAUTY!** Can even bake from frozen (see notes).
Recipe video above. These are my idea of "perfect" meatballs. I make them extra soft and juicy by using bread instead of breadcrumbs, and the grated onion is my secret tip for adding extra flavour into this. Plus, no need to sauté diced onion before mixing it in! Served with a rich tomato sauce made extra tasty by cooking it in the same pan that the meatballs are browned in.
Recipe video above. One of the greatest comfort foods of all time! A ground beef (mince) filling in a tasty gravy, topped with mashed potato. Make it a Shepherd's Pie simply by swapping the beef for lamb.
Recipe video above. If you want lip smackingly delicious Lo Mein noodles just like takeout, you just need to get the SAUCE right! The noodle part is easy - you can literally use any noodles, even pasta (yep, seriously). Also, switch out the vegetables with 5 cups (packed) of any chopped vegetables of choice.
Recipe video above. This will be an eye opener for you - an incredible creamy coconut curry made with just TWO spices! Hugely economical, this is essentially a streamlined version of Indian Dahl, delivering a similar intoxicating curry flavour but a whole lot less complicated.
Recipe video above. This pizza dough can be made by hand with 5 minutes of kneading, or in 40 seconds flat using a food processor (see 2nd recipe card below). It makes a pizza crust like you get at Italian wood fired pizzerias - puffy edges with a chewy crumb, enough structure so you can pick up slices rather than being a sloppy mess. But not dry and stiff like a thin cracker! Best to use weights provided, if you can. Makes 3 pizzas.
Recipe video above. A fully loaded, completely delicious Chicken Fried Rice! Serve it as a side - or have it as a main! (See here for a classic side dish Fried Rice).
Recipe video above. Choose ONE Filling! The spice mix adds terrific flavour - great with vegetable, chicken, beef, pork and turkey. Freezer friendly!
Recipe video above. That perfect combination of sweet, savoury, spicy and tangy with crispy Chinese chicken bites. This is a Chinese takeout favourite that pushes all the right buttons!
Recipe video above. Crispy chips loaded with juicy Mexican shredded chicken, plenty of melted cheese and toppings of choice. Your new favourite way with nachos! This chicken is a terrific all-purpose Mexican chicken, especially great in Tacos.
Recipe video above. Spicy Thai Noodles, a popular Thai take-out dish from the streets of Thailand! Make sure you have all ingredients ready to toss into the wok as once you start cooking, things happen quickly! Spice level: moderate to high (it's SUPPOSED to be spicy!)
Recipe video above. Everybody's favourite Chicken Pot Pie! A creamy chicken and vegetable filling with a hint of thyme, topped with puff pastry. The smell when this is baking is SO GOOD! Makes 4 large, 6 medium or 1 large pie. Brilliant freezer standby meal.
Recipe video above. Crispy Turkish flatbreads stuffed with juicy fillings! Choose ONE Filling - either Spinach and Feta, or spiced Lamb OR Beef with spinach and peppers. Can stretch to 5 gozlemes. Works with GLUTEN FREE flour too!
Recipe video above. A traditional French dish, this is essentially a quick chicken stew with a creamy white mushroom sauce. It's a bit like a white sauce version of the famous French Coq au Vin – but it's much faster to make!This is a wonderful rustic family meal that's quick enough for midweek, or to elevate to restaurant level by using homemade chicken stock.
Everything you know and love about the flavour of Chicken Enchiladas.....but in the form of a rice casserole! And all made in ONE POT on the stove! I like the flow of this recipe because you don't need to measure everything out in advance. After cooking the bell pepper (capsicum) add the passata and chicken broth, then while that comes to a simmer you can gather all the spices. Saves time! This recipe makes a LOT. Because it is carb heavy, I think it is enough to feed 6.
Recipe video above. Forget skewers - THIS is how you get a satay fix! This Malaysian Chicken Satay Curry features chicken marinated in a homemade satay seasoning, simmered in a heady peanut satay sauce that's coconuty and heavily seasoned. Truly restaurant quality. Yet -simple. No hunting down unsual ingredients!Spice level: Pretty warm buzz but not that spicy. If concerned, read note 1 & 3 for how to play it safe with the chilli!Adapted from a Satay recipe by a Malaysian chef and the Satay Sauce from Chinta Ria, a popular Sydney Asian restaurant - refer Note 10.
Recipe video above. This is a Western style curry, and it's the easiest chicken curry I know how to make with the least ingredients possible without sacrificing tastiness! Very mild, not spicy at all (assuming curry powder is mild).
RECIPE VIDEO ABOVE. Juicy strips of beef smothered in a sour cream mushroom gravy - a quick dinner everyone will love! KEY STEPS: Sear beef super quickly for maximum juiciness and use a large skillet (for quick sear + fast sauce reduction). Stroganoff calls for good beef but if you only have a budget cut, use this easy Chinese method to tenderise the beef (it's called "velveting"). It's life changing - and perfect for Stroganoff.
Recipe video above. Considered by many to be the mother of all stews, Beef Bourguignon is a French dish made with beef, bacon lardons, carrots, onions and mushrooms slow-cooked in a rich red wine sauce. For the most magnificent stew of your life, start this 2 days before you plan to serve it, do not shortcut pan roasting ingredients individually, and use homemade beef stock if you can!
Recipe video above. My everyday Bolognese recipe I make over and over again. This Meat Sauce has terrific depth of flavour for such a quick recipe - though if you have the time, it's stellar cooked slowly for a couple of hours. My 3 "secret" tips are: Worcestershire Sauce, Beef Bouillon Cubes and a touch of sugar.
RECIPE VIDEO ABOVE. Juicy strips of beef smothered in a sour cream mushroom gravy - a quick dinner everyone will love! KEY STEPS: Sear beef super quickly for maximum juiciness and use a large skillet (for quick sear + fast sauce reduction). Stroganoff calls for good beef but if you only have a budget cut, use this easy Chinese method to tenderise the beef (it's called "velveting"). It's life changing - and perfect for Stroganoff.
Recipe video above. A great quick ramen noodle recipe that requires very little prep. The trick here is to caramelise the beef well - makes all the difference! TIP: Don't cook the ramen noodles any longer than it says to on the packet! So basically, this HAS to be a super quick recipe :) Now available: Chicken and vegetable version!
Recipe video above. You're my favourite pudding - and always will be.... My favourite part is poking holes in the pudding and pouring over the hot butterscotch sauce so it soaks in, making it so ultra moist... And then of course serving it with even more sauce!
Recipe video above. A traditional Indonesian fried rice recipe which is often served with a fried egg for a protein boost to make it a meal, but I usually serve it as a side dish. The magic ingredient in this is kecap manis, a sweet soy sauce which is available in large supermarkets and of course in Asian stores. Feel free to swap out the chicken for other proteins! Shrimp/prawns, tofu, beef and pork are all great alternatives.
Recipe video above. Everybody's favourite Spring Rolls, made at home! Nothing like the ones at suburban Chinese takeout joints with unidentifiable mushy fillings and overly greasy. These are shatteringly crisp and golden, just like they should be, and you will actually be able to taste the filling!
Recipe video above. At “posher” establishments, Mongolian Lamb arrives at the table on a hot iron plate, sizzling and spitting for theatric effect. Sizzle aside, this homemade version is a near perfect replica. Even the velveted texture of the lamb!The sauce is sweet and savoury, with Chinese Five Spice and Hoisin the dominant flavours. It's completely addictive!Also excellent made with beef - see Note 1.
Recipe VIDEO above. Made entirely in the oven (no stove!), the rice in this recipe is outrageously delicious! It's buttery and garlicky, tender but not mushy. The secret tip is to briefly bake onion with garlic and butter before adding the rice, liquids and chicken - it adds a great flavour base!
Recipe video above. One of the pantry-pasta greats. I love this recipe because it really showcases what great food you can make using canned tuna! Fabulous flavour beyond just canned tuna thanks to the anchovies, the freshness of lemon and tangy capers. The oil from the can of tuna is used as the sauce so don't be tempted to use tuna in brine!
Recipe video above. The best ever Sweet and Sour Pork recipe is loaded with tricks the Chinese have been using for centuries: double dredgeand double fry for extra crispy, cornflour instead of flour, economical pork used for juiciness, but tenderised with baking soda so you'd swear they're pricey chops, and a sauce that's not sickeningly sweet. Don't let the list of ingredients daunt you. There's a lot of repeat ingredients!OVEN option provided in notes. Because sometimes, you just have to....
Recipe video. This is based on a popular southern Thailand street food that's typically made with a butterflied chicken grilled over smokey coals. It's sweet but has complexity owing to the simple but clever marinade.Here, I'm making a home version using the marinade for bone-in chicken thighs instead and baked it in my boring oven. I miss the charcoal flavour but it's still lip smackingly delicious! The tumeric powder really makes it. :)
Recipe video above. Coq au Vin is the well known French stew where chicken pieces are braised in a luscious, glossy red wine sauce with bacon, mushroom and onions. Like Beef Bourguignon, the beauty of this dish lies in its simplicity: remarkably few ingredients and simple process with results fit for a king – or queen! For the best results, start this 2 days before serving: 12 - 24 hour marinade for the chicken (essential), then rest the finished stew overnight to let the flavours develop even further (recommended but not essential).Recipe source: Another classic French recipe brought to you via Chef Jean-Baptiste Alexandre, our culinary collaborator for all things French. Because I like to do traditional recipes properly!
Recipe video above. You love Beef Stroganoff...now try CHICKEN! Golden seared chicken with a creamy mushroom Stroganoff gravy, I like making this with whole chicken thighs so I can brown it nicely which leaves brown bits in the pan that makes an incredible flavour base for the sauce!
Recipe VIDEO above. Make this iconic curry at home!!! It's a stunner - and although there's an extensive looking list of ingredients, it's astonishingly straight forward. Far better than paste in a jar, less oily than restaurants, and you can get everything you need from supermarkets!Spice level: Low. Marinating time: 3 - 24 hours
Recipe video above. Thai Chicken Peanut Noodles is what you make when you've got less than 15 minutes to get dinner on the table and you need a Thai fix! Using chicken mince means no meat prep - and you can switch it out with literally any ground meat (beef, turkey, pork). It might not be authentic Thai ... but it's fast and 100% delicious!NOTE: Trick here is to work quickly so the sauce isn't all absorbed by the noodles which will make them bloated and clumpy. If your noodles do absorb all the sauce, just add a splash of water to thin it out.
Recipe video above. Think of it as a sliceable version of Chocolate Self Saucing Pudding - with a LOT more chocolate fudge sauce! The perfect cosy dessert for cool winter days that's easy to make.
Recipe video above. Take everything you know about samosas - the curried mashed potato filling, the crispy pastry - put it in giant pie form, add a stack of extra vegetables and voila! Vegetable Samosa Pie! This is a big, vegetarian main course dinner that's something different yet also familiar, and wonderfully versatile - stuff with any veggies you want.Simplify SPICES: I've stayed true to traditional Samosa filling, so there's a fairly lengthy list of spices. It can be drastically simplified - see Notes 1 to 3.SPICINESS: Very mild - just a slight warmth. Dial it up if you want, or omit it!Blind baking / Crispy Base: See Note 5.Those who tried the South Indian Eggplant Curry I shared last week will love the common ingredients in this!
Recipe video above. This is a recipe for a real Malaysian restaurant quality laksa made by sprucing up store bought laksa paste! You can't just dump store bought laksa paste into coconut broth! The key is to freshen up the paste by sautéing it with garlic, ginger, chilli and lemongrass. Makes a world of difference! This makes 2 large bowls. Because large is the only way to go with Laksa!
Recipe video above. Cream and lemon is a luscious combination and is stellar served over crispy chicken! It's super easy and fast to make, and the sauce is absolutely to die for. A little dusting of flour creates a terrific crispy coating on the chicken and gives the sauce something to cling to.
Recipe video above. A quick to make pizza bread, made for tucking into lunchboxes or a great savoury snack for morning tea. It's something I created as an economical alternative to pizza bread from Bakers' Delight, a popular Australian bakery chain. Use store-bought pizza sauce and pre-shredded cheese for convenience (true to name!), and whatever toppings your heart desires. Sour cream and olive oil keeps the crumb moist so it will stay fresh for 4 days in an airtight container.
Recipe video above. This makes a light, crispy fish batter like you've never had before! Stays crispy for a good 15 - 20 min, though my fish disappears long before that.The yeast and carbonation in beer makes the batter puffy just like you get at good fish 'n chip shops. Meanwhile the rice flour + shock of ice cold batter hitting the hot oil makes it super crispy. Normal wheat flour doesn't cut it – the batter goes soggy within minutes!You can't taste the beer at all, and the alcohol gets cooked out. Serve with ultra crispy French fries for the ultimate homemade Fish & Chips experience.
Recipe video above. The best ever Sweet and Sour Pork recipe is loaded with tricks the Chinese have been using for centuries: double dredgeand double fry for extra crispy, cornflour instead of flour, economical pork used for juiciness, but tenderised with baking soda so you'd swear they're pricey chops, and a sauce that's not sickeningly sweet. Don't let the list of ingredients daunt you. There's a lot of repeat ingredients!OVEN option provided in notes. Because sometimes, you just have to....
Recipe video above. WORTH MAKING - don't let the length of the ingredients deter you!! This is a big, hearty salad that may well be the best kale salad you've ever had. Big call I stand by! :)Filled with good-for-you nutrition yet anything but bland, that creamy tahini sauce totally makes it, thanks to the parmesan. Crunchy seasoned chickpeas add starchy bulk, flavour pops and texture, the cherry tomatoes add juicy bursts and the chicken provides protein. Oh yeah, and there's kale in it too! :) Powerhouse greens!
Recipe video above. This is a recipe for naan bread that's fluffy, bubbly and chewy, just as it should be. Nobody will ever mistake this for just another basic flatbread! Perfect for slopping up your favourite Indian curries – yet so good that you'll happily devour it plain, straight out of the skillet.Bearing in mind that we aren't cooking in nuclear-level 480°C hot tandoors, see in post for background notes on how I find this recipe to most closely replicates restaurant naan. Makes: 6 naans, ~15-16cm / 6 - 7" diameter. For more Indian recipes, browse the Indian collection.
Recipe video above. The trick to ensuring the melted butter stays firmly sealed inside Chicken Kiev? Partially freezing the chicken. Stops the chicken from moving as you handle it for coating / cooking which ensures the chicken remains sealed and keeps the molten river of garlic butter inside!For a real Kiev experience, you do need to deep fry. BUT for the very best healthier baked option, see Note 6.
Recipe video above. Crispy baked chicken thighs and drumsticks that magically makes its own gravy - all in one pan! Terrific last minute chicken dinner that takes minutes to prepare and is zero maintenance to cook. The flavour in the gravy is phenomenal because it's flavoured with the chicken juices!
All about tinned fish with tips for serving canned seafood as a meal for a picnic as well as how to incorporate it into recipes
Recipe video above. This super crusty homemade bread recipe is going to blow your mind! The world’s easiest yeast bread that’s just like the very best artisan bread you pay top dollar for, with an incredible crispy, chewy crust, and big fat holes like sourdough. Recipe is forgiving so don’t fret if things don’t go perfectly, it will be salvageable. SEE NOTES for options like no dutch oven, different yeast, MAKE AHEAD up to 3 days! And tomorrow, make the Cheese Bread version!
Recipe video above. Crunchy wedges seasoned so they taste like the wedges you can get from the freezer section at the supermarket! I found that the trick to make crunchy wedges is to use the right amount of oil. Too much results in soggy wedges and the seasoning comes off!
Recipe video above. The ultimate potato bake, created by the French!!! Potato + cream + cheese with a hint of garlic and thyme = pure heaven. Based on Julia Child's Potato Dauphinoise recipe. This is THE perfect make ahead potato dish, the most luxurious of all potato casseroles, the better version of Scalloped Potatoes!Authenticity note: traditional Dauphinoise in France does not contain cheese. But I could never imagine making it without..... It makes it better. You know it does!
