With red wine, French bread, onions and gruyere cheese you're already on to a winner, but it's the homemade beef stock that makes this French onion soup one of the best.

Using your own spice mix for chilli con carne is a revelation if you've only used packet mix previously. Rich, spicy and full of flavour, this Tex-Mex-style chilli is perfect served on rice with sour cream.

A rich and intense beef stew from Trinidad that boasts five spices, as well as chilli, hot curry powder, ginger and garlic. Best to have some yoghurt or milk on hand!

Minute steak is a thinly cut slice that can come from any part of the cow, but is most often rump. It's a tasty and economical cut that can, and should be, cooked very quickly hence its name.

These quick and tasty protein-packed beef and hummus wraps channel Middle Eastern vibes to create a delicious lunch or dinner that's easy to make and will please the whole family.

This traditional Cornish lunch dish is the ultimate comfort food with a crisp, golden crust surrounding a hot potato and meat filling.

Quick, simple and nutritious, this chilli beef stir-fry is the perfect mid-week dinner on those days when you feel like something spicy.

The classic French combination of tender veal cutlets and creamy, fragrant anchovy garlic butter is perfect for a special dinner with friends.

Mixed mushrooms add flavour, texture and complexity to this spicy beef and noodle stir-fry, as well as a welcome boost of important nutrients. Winning all round.

Rare roast beef makes a wonderful salad, especially paired with peppery rocket and red onions. A mustard and buttermilk dressing adds a delightful piquant finish to this salad.

One of the most popular Japanese grilled meat dishes, teriyaki is so easy to prepare at home. Here, we accompany it with fresh baby corn, broccoli and trimmed sugar snap peas. Serve with a bowl of steamed rice.

If there's a single dish that sums up childhood for many of us, it's spaghetti and meatballs. It's so ingrained in our culture there are even songs written about this dish. Reconnect with an earlier you, sit down with a big bowl of spaghetti and meatballs.

Bean thread noodles, also known as wun sen, glass or cellophane noodles, are made from mung beans. These delicate, fine noodles must be softened in boiling water before use.

An exotic spice-rub makes this beef fillet extra tender and mouthwateringly delicious. Served on a bed of chickpea and preserved lemon salad, the whole meal is just a taste sensation.

Crispy, spicy-sweet and delicious noodle stir fry with beef and bok choy from Australian Women's Weekly.

Tender morsels of meat and sweet chilli sauce combine to make these barbecued beef ribs finger-lickingly good. Be sure to prepare enough per person, or you'll have people fighting over the last bone!

Is your family sick of meat and veg? Try this easy, delicious new recipe for Thai beef with noodles. Fresh, fragrant and full of crunch and flavour.

Ricotta cheese takes the place of bechamel sauce to make this a truly quick and easy lasagne without sacrificing flavour or texture.

A rich beef lasagne with the added flavour of garlic, mushrooms and wilted spinach, this classic family dish is sure to be a hit. Serve with garlic bread and a green salad for the full retro experience.

Beef in Chinese recipes is generally cut into very fine slices. Put the beef into the freezer for 30 minutes to make slicing easy. Note

An exquisite Mediterranean variation of a classic beef steak stuffed with artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes and bocconcini.

Peppered beef

Soup can be made two days ahead. Note

Yummy Mexican wraps with tender spiced beef strips, chilli beans, shredded lettuce and coriander.

A perfect grilled porterhouse steak atop a pile of creamy blue cheese mash served with delicious caramelised red onions.

This recipe is not suitable to freeze. Note

Use regular beef mince, not lean, for a nice, juicy patty. Note

A bold and hearty stew that celebrates the warmth of fresh spices and tender beef cheeks. This winter staple is best made in an electric pressure cooker which significantly cuts down on the cooking time.

to freeze Complete recipe to the end of step 3. Cool sauce to room temperature. Transfer to an airtight container. Label, date and freeze for up to three months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat in a saucepan and continue from step 4. Stir in ⅓ cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves just before serving, […]

This is Vietnam’s famous beef noodle soup. Note

These slow-roasted beef shanks will melt in your mouth.

Delicious little French croquettes with a tangy caramelised onions from Australian Women's Weekly.

A rich, warming and filling slowcooked Italian beef casserole from Australian Women's Weekly.

This curried beef and lentil dish is simple, spicy and so easy to make.

Canned green peppercorns are the soft, un-ripe peppercorn berry preserved in brine and sold in cans. It has a flavour that’s less pungent than the berry in its other forms. Note

Super fast and easy Asian beef stir-fry topped with crunchy sesame seeds.

A creamy beef and coconut cream soup that packs a big spicy punch.

Pho, the well-known vietnamese noodle soup, is usually eaten for breakfast, but is great to eat at any time of the day. Note

Empanadas are crispy pastries stuffed with spicy beef, tomato and potatoes.

Many countries have similar kinds of dishes: Spain has a cocido with chickpeas, the French have the pot-au-feu - the origins are always peasant food where cheap cuts of meat and seasonal vegetables are cooked together in one big pot.

A steak sandwich is one of the most satisfying lunches out there, and this one is a little fancy with beetroot salsa and creamy aïoli.

A rich and warming casserole that is perfect for cold winter nights.

Using a slowcooker takes this delicious Italian meatball and pasta dish to the next level.

Meatballs simmered in a sweet and sour sauce are the ultimate comfort food.

Italian-style slow-cooked osso bucco that will melt in your mouth.

Sweet potato fries loaded with delicious pulled beef short ribs, candied jalapenos, chimichurri and mozzarella.

A classic cheeseburger with caramelised onion, gherkin, tomato and lettuce.

Pies will keep refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 2 days. They can be frozen uncooked or cooked. Uncooked pies can be baked from frozen. Thaw pies before re-heating. Note

Meat & three veg

If you have time, marinate the steaks, covered, for several hours or overnight in the refrigerator. Note

If you can’t buy hokkien noodles, use fresh wide egg noodles. Note

Pasilla chillies, also known as 'chile negro' because of their dark brown colour, possess a rich flavour that adds a smoky depth to the overall recipe.

These small French croquettes make for great snack or cocktail food.

Feed lots of hungry mouths with these tasty sandwiches. You can use any bread you like such as fresh sourdough, sliced ciabatta or crusty white rolls, as we have here. Note

A simple slow-cooked version of the classic beef and vegetable casserole.

Use regular mince, not lean, for a more juicy result. This starter is quite hearty and you may only require a lighter main such as a soup or salad. This would serve 4 as a main meal. Note

A quick, simple and delicious Mexican-style pizza; great for busy midweek evenings.

Fajita seasoning spice mix adds an authentic Mexican flavour to foods; it is a blend of herbs and spices, and may include cumin, chilli, garlic, capsicum, oregano, coriander and onion. Use a mild chilli seasoning, if you prefer. Beef eye fillet can be expensive, buy beef strips or stir-fry beef to make this a cheap […]

You can use gravy beef for this recipe, if you prefer. Note

Coleslaw is a great crunchy addition to sandwiches. It can have just about anything in it as long as shredded cabbage is the chief ingredient. Most coleslaws also have grated carrot and a mayonnaise or vinegar (or both) dressing. Note

Cook steaks to seal until moisture begins to pool on top surface (about 2 minutes). Turn only once. Cook on second side until cooked to taste. Note

Freeze beef for about an hour­ this will make it easier to slice. To obtain ginger juice, squeeze grated fresh ginger into a sieve set over a bowl. A piece of ginger measuring about 10cm in length will yield 2 tablespoons of grated ginger; this amount of grated ginger should in turn yield the 2 […]

A popular Moroccan spicy tomato stew - the addition of eggs make this a great breakfast dish to share.

This meal has a medium GI. Note

other ideas: tiny blini or rösti, polenta squares, upturned mushrooms, baby cos or betel leaves, crisped won-ton wrappers or tortilla wedges. Note

You can use either savoy cabbage or wombok (also known as chinese cabbage) in the coleslaw. Stout is a strong tasting dark-coloured beer that goes well with beef. Note

Suitable to freeze at the end of step 2. Note

Not suitable to freeze. Note

Pilaf can be prepared several hours ahead. Transfer pilaf to an ovenproof dish, cover with foil and refrigerate. Warm in oven as required. Note

Dip your fingers in cold water when shaping meatballs to keep the raw mixture from sticking to your hands. Note

Kecap (ketjap) manis, a thick sweet soy sauce of Indonesian origin, is available at many supermarkets and Asian food stores. Note

Make your own rosemary and lemon cured beef to sit atop crisp sourdough toasts with sour cream - perfect for a canape or starter at your next dinner party.