Recipe is best prepared as required. Nashi are also known as Asian pears but are now widely cultivated in Australia. They are round in shape with a very juicy, crisp, sweet, white flesh. You can substitute any other variety of pear, if preferred. Note

If you can’t find piquillo peppers, use roasted or grilled capsicum instead. Note

An easy way to tenderise octopus the night before cooking is to tightly wrap it in plastic wrap and freeze. If time is short, bash it with a meat mallet until it is no longer bouncy. Note

This simple broad bean and feta salad makes a great bed for these lemon pepper pork cutlets.

Pomegranate and fennel salad makes a fresh, fruity side for this tender pineapple-glazed ham. This simple meal makes a great alternative Christmas lunch or festive meal.

An exquisite Asian crisp duck breast with orange and daikon salad from Australian Women's Weekly.

This colourful pork and seafood salad is bursting with exciting flavours and textures.

A minimalist Italian-style tomato, mozzarella and prosciutto salad from Australian Women's Weekly.

Blood oranges are available in winter, at other times use navel oranges. Note

Not suitable to freeze. Not suitable to microwave. Note

Can be made a day ahead up to step 2, and left covered in the fridge. Note

The firm, waxy texture of kipflers are gorgeous in this filling and tasty warm potato salad from Australian Women's Weekly.

Healthy, colourful and vibrant; this roast beef and vegetable salad is a great quick dish.

medium GI Note

Not suitable to freeze. Not suitable to microwave. Note

The trick to becoming a stir-fry pro, is making sure you have all the ingredients ready to-go before you begin frying.

You can also use bintje or desiree potatoes for this recipe. Note

Throw together this delicious dinner in just minutes with the help of a ready-made roast chook and the punchy flavour of blue cheese.

Prepare the bacon, lettuce and dressing on the morning of the picnic. Assemble the salad at the picnic. The ice cubes will “hold”the colour in the dressing. Note

Fresh broccolini and snow peas with that perfect al dente 'snap' and drizzled with oyster sauce make great sides for fish, chicken and meat cooked with Asian flavours.

Silverbeet, shallots, carrot and mushrooms can be combined several hours ahead. Keep covered in refrigerator. Add dressing and noodles just before serving. Note

This sweet and sour noodle salad is great for lunch or a light dinner.

Like mushrooms, witlof is grown in the dark to retain its pale colour. Sometimes spelled witloof, and in some places known as belgian endive or chicory, this versatile and bittersweet vegetable is as good eaten cooked as it is raw. You need to purchase a large barbecued chicken, weighing approximately 900g, for this recipe. Note

The night before, prepare the salad and keep, covered, in the refrigerator. Note

Sticky glazed pork with a quick and simple cucumber and cashew salad from Australian Women's Weekly.

Cuttlefish or scallops would be an excellent substitute for the squid. Note

Serve with salads that shouldn’t be overpowered by olive oil. Note

Fresh spinach and ricotta agnolotti is found in most supermarkets’ refrigerated sections. You can substitute ravioli or tortellini for the agnolotti, but none should contain meat or poultry in their filling. Note

To segment oranges, cut top and bottom from oranges with a small sharp knife. Cut remaining rind and white pith from oranges, following the curve of the fruit. Holding the oranges over a bowl, cut down both sides of the white membrane to release each segment. Squeeze membrane to release any juices into the bowl. […]

With juicy, tender pieces of scallop and crab you'll keep coming back to this spicy warm noodle salad for a flavoursome and quick meal.

If you segment the oranges over a small bowl, you can use the fresh juice for the orange balsamic dressing on this fresh and tasty kumara and orange salad.

Coconut-poached chicken on thai vermicelli salad sounds exotic, and tastes delicious, but mostly makes use of pantry staples. A great mid-week dinner.

Add some juicy seared scallops to a classic Asian salad with chillies, coriander, mint and fish sauce.

The best of sweet and spicy flavours combine in this one delicious noodle dish. Silken salmon and honey are mixed with chilli, garlic and soy for an authentic Asian taste.

A delicious and easy recipe for spiced lamb and a spinach and couscous salad. Perfect for lunch, and make plenty because you'll definitely want to fill a lunchbox with it the next day!

Teriyaki sauce adds salty richness to this Japanese-style duck, and the flavour is complemented beautifully by the crisp wombok and daikon salad.

Bright, crunchy and very tasty, soba salad with seaweed, ginger and vegetables is a highly nutritious meal. The contrast between the snap of the veges and the bite of the soba noodles is fabulous.

Honey cider dressing adds a real splash to this tasty goat's cheese, fig and prosciutto salad. Baby rocket leaves make the perfect peppery base.

Roasting really intensifies the flavour of tomatoes, so one of the delights of this roasted tomato salad is actually being able to taste the subtle differences between different varieties of tomato.

Crisp, aniseedy fennel and earthy brown lentils are fabulous combined with sweet beetroot and peppery rocket.

Fresh ginger dressing really brings this prawn and avocado salad to life. Perfect for a light lunch on the deck with friends, served with crusty bread and dry white wine.

A fragrant and bright Moroccan salad with crisp carrots and an orange flower water dressing.

A filling salad perfect for a healthy lunch or dinner.

Nutty parmesan is the perfect accompaniment to fresh, crisp sliced fennel.

This capsicum, fennel and red onion salad is delicious served warm as a side dish with a roast joint of meat. If you prefer capsicum skinned prior to cooking, just hold over a gas flame, using tongs, until the skin blackens, allow to cool and slide off.

A true pea lover, and yes they do exist, might assert that peas straight from the pod cannot be bettered, but this fresh and herby mixed pea salad with mint dressing certainly does its best.

A light and flavoursome Middle Eastern couscous dish with olives and herbs that can be served as a side or as a light meal.

We used red sensation pears for this delicious pear and fennel salad with honey mustard dressing, but any firm-fleshed pear will do. The combination of astringent fennel, tartly sweet pear and mustardy dressing is sensational.

The perfect Mediterranean salad for light dinners or lunches.

This rocket, avocado and macadamia salad is a study in contrasting textures and tastes; peppery rocket leaves, creamy mild avocado and crunchy macadamia nuts. Divine.

This simple little bitter lettuce salad is the perfect side dish to serve with rich stews and pies.

Tender chilli and garlic octopus with coriander, lemon and rocket is a great barbecue dish or perfect for a light lunch.

A quick, simple and delectable rocket salad that's the perfect accompaniment to any meal. Peppery rocket needs very little added excitement, just a little red onion and a classic vinaigrette.

Packed with spicy vegetables, juicy chicken and seasoning, whip up this salad in fifteen minutes.

Olives, artichokes, red onion and basil make sure this warm gnocchi salad is just bursting with colour and flavour. It makes a great lunch, starter or light dinner.

Smoked chicken lends its unique taste to this crisp pear and radicchio salad with a red wine vinaigrette. If the flavour of smoked chicken isn't a favourite, use a store-bought barbecue chicken in its place.

This Middle Eastern-style salad is a spicy and fragrant delight.

Light, fresh and packed full of goodness, this tasty Thai salmon salad is perfect for those watching their weight or looking for a healthy lunch option.

The delicate flavour of tarragon is beautiful paired with the bitter leaves of a mixed mesclun salad.

Couscous makes a perfect, fluffy base for the strong flavours of tomato and rocket. Add the dressing and herbs with as heavy a hand as suits your palate, the grains will soak it all up.

Delicate shreds of lettuce tossed with spring onion and a zingy red wine dressing make this deceptively simple spring salad a mouthwatering side dish.

Delicious crispy pork belly is ideal paired with fresh wombok, this crunchy salad is the perfect complement to the sweetly rich meat.

Hot-smoked trout is exactly what it sounds like, trout that has been cured in a hot smoker, a method that is used to preserve fish, meat, cheese and nuts while bestowing a distinctive flavour of wood-smoke.

This herbaceous and light Thai chicken and lychee salad is a study in contrasts, of both flavour and texture; tender and crisp, sweet and spicy, it's got it all.

A kind of variation on sang choy bow, these little parcels of spicy chicken salad in witlof leaves make a great starter or platter of finger food for a party.

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.

This fresh and fragrant Thai chilli lime chicken salad is crisp, fresh and full of flavour.

If you fancy trying something a bit out of the ordinary, this Tahitian fish salad is simple to make and absolutely bursting with flavour. It makes a colourful and delicious lunch.

A fresh, colourful grilled vegetable salad with haloumi cheese; perfect for summer lunches.

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.

Delicious Thai chicken with a peanut crust and a light cucumber and herb salad. This makes an excellent light dinner on a hot day, or a main for lunch with friends.

This Asian style duck and rice noodle salad is served warm to keep the duck meat at its succulent best. The spicy and astringent flavours of the dressing cut through the richness of the meat.

You can use feta or any soft, crumbly cheese instead of the goat cheese, and toasted pecan halves make a nice change from walnuts. This roasted capsicum pasta salad makes a great lunch-box meal too.

A quick, easy and delicious lunch or breakfast to throw together, this salmon and asparagus salad includes hard boiled egg for a protein packed meal.

Lap cheong are a form of dried sausage that don’t require refrigeration and can be found with fried shallots in the Asian section of larger supermarkets. Note

There are more than 40 varieties of the paprika pepper grown in Turkey, Hungary, Iran and Spain, but the differences among them are very subtle.

Orange blossom water, also known as orange flower water, is available from specialty food stores, delicatessens and some health food stores. Note

You will need a piece of pumpkin weighing approximately 750g for this recipe; we used butternut, but you can use whatever pumpkin variety you like. Note

A simple, crunchy and flavourful sweet chilli chicken salad from Australian Women's Weekly.

Merguez sausages, from North Africa, are traditionally made with lamb and seasoned with garlic and hot spices. They can be found at most delicatessens and sausage specialists. Golden beetroots have a slightly sweeter flavour than the purple-red variety and can be found at most greengrocers. When trimming the beetroots, leave a little of the stalk […]

Panzanella is a refreshing Tuscan summer bread salad. We’ve put our own spin on it by using little cubes of radish sandwich instead of the traditional bread pieces. Note