Partied a little too hard over the weekend? We feel you. Here, we chart the ultimate recovery recipes that’ll have dinner on the table in mere minutes with minimal washing up. Enjoy!
You would be hard pressed to find a better toastie than our ham and pesto jaffle
These golden toasties are a go-to comfort food. Perfect during the weekend, or as an office lunch.
BLT with herby aioli and caramelised onion
Bacon, lettuce and tomato, only made more delicious by the addition of a homemade aioli and caramelised onions.
Super-green pesto pasta
“Eating your greens couldn’t be tastier” - Darren Robertson.
Chicken, celeriac and witlof Waldorf salad with candied walnuts
Don’t eat salad? You will after you try this. This is an edited extract from the e-book One Leaf At A Time by Kirsten Jenkins, $10, available at kirstenjenkins.com.au
Summer pasta salad with green goddess dressing
“This salad holds up well overnight” - Silvia Colloca.
Ultimate cheese toastie
Just when you thought you didn’t need another reason to make a cheese toastie, Billie McKay goes and raises the bar.
Poached chicken with warm spiced couscous salad
"It’s basically couscous with the moisture and flavour of chicken, rather than the dry couscous you’ve been brought up on – like those boiled brussels sprouts and broccoli. We’re bringing couscous into the 21st century and adding our chicken too," says Colin Fassnidge.
Fondue-style macaroni cheese
There is no such thing as too much cheese in this creamy macaroni bake.
Spiced pork chop schnitzel with pear and fennel slaw
A tasty and quick pork recipe accompanied with a healthy salad that'll make your mid-week easy.
Big weekend? Recover with this cheese toastie by Andrew McConnell
Oozy, cheesy, delicious.
Spaghetti bolognese frittata
An interesting take on a reliable family favourite.
20-minute bolognese
This bright and modern take on bolognese is ready in just 20 minutes.
Turkish gozleme with bitter greens and feta
This gozleme is the perfect combination of fresh greens and feta.
Pancetta and taleggio pasta bake
This baked pasta dish of cheese and pancetta will warm the heart and fill the stomach.
Cauliflower, pancetta and taleggio pasta bake
This creamy pasta bake is just a little bit fancier than your average macaroni cheese.
Macaroni cheese
Gruyere, parmesan and sharp cheddar give tonight's vegetarian macaroni bake a double dose of flavour.
Mac and cheese
Smoky speck, cheddar, gruyere and pure cream all go into Neil Perry’s mac and cheese ($12), served as a side at his Rockpool Bar and Grill. He even shares the recipes here, and suggests beefing it up with a layer of mushrooms.
Beer and bacon mac ‘n’ cheese
"This beer-infused mac 'n' cheese is the ultimate weeknight comfort food. Serve any leftovers for breakfast with a fried egg," says Warren Mendes.
Crunchy mac and cheese with bacon
Inspired by holidays to the USA, Katie Quinn Davies dishes up crunchy mac and cheese.
Welsh rarebit
The cheese toastie comes in many forms, from the French pan-fried cheese and ham sandwich known as the croque monsieur to the venerable English cheese and onion toasted sandwich, which is perfect served alongside a packet of cheese ’n’ onion chips and a pint of lager. It is in the Welsh kitchen, though, that it finds its apotheosis with the beer added to the cheese. Genius!
Shannon Bennett's wild mushroom spaghetti
This wild mushroom spaghetti by Shannon Bennett is a quick and easy mid-week recipe guaranteed to please the entire family.
Quick tomato and salami pizzas
Forget takeaway! These simple pizzas are ready in less than 10 minutes.
15-minute jacket sweet potatoes
These quick and easy jacket sweet potatoes are packed to the brim with spiced chickpeas, tomato and feta.
Prosciutto, cheddar and polenta frittata
With plenty of cheese and delicious prosciutto, this midweek meal is one the whole family will love. It's also makes for perfect lunch leftovers.
Peperonata and spaghettini frittata with harissa cream
"This recipe originally came about when I had a little leftover spaghetti in a peperonata sauce and was wondering how to stretch it to make another meal. This is the rather fabulous result – it’s become so popular at home, that I now cook the peperonata and spaghettini especially to make this frittata! You can break this up into stages if you like: the peperonata and spaghettini can be cooked and combined a day ahead, then all you need do is reheat them gently before making the frittata." – Belinda Jeffery
Got eggs? Got arrabiata souffle frittata
Got eggs? You've got yourself a meal. Warren Mendes shows you how to turn a carton of eggs into something everyone at the table will love.
Ham, leek and zucchini frittata
Gwyneth Paltrow's carbonara
"Carbonara is the perfect lazy dinner—it’s cozy, comforting, and shockingly easy to make. Not to mention the fact that everyone almost always has the ingredients on hand. Keep some chopped bacon or pancetta in the freezer so you can make this anytime, in just minutes," says Gwyneth Paltrow.
Massimo Mele's speedy carbonara with asparagus, pancetta and pecorino
Massimo Mele adds a delightful twist to classic carbonara with the inclusion of asparagus and salty pecorino.
Sweet potato and pancetta tart
Don’t be put off by making pastry – this one’s foolproof.
Gwyneth Paltrow's Singapore rice noodles
"These pan-fried noodles are gluten free, full of vegies, and kid-approved (my kids inhale this). The prep does take some time, but once you’re cooking, the dish comes together quickly, so be ready with all the ingredients. Add chicken, prawns or beef for a little extra protein, and if you don’t have a wok or a really big nonstick pan, use two smaller pans—these noodles don’t like to be crowded. Pan-frying noodles is not an exact science, so trust your instincts and add a couple more glugs of oil if things are looking dry or starting to stick," says Gwyneth Paltrow.
Creamed greens pasta bake
This no-waste, vegie-filled pasta bake can easily be made vegetarian – just omit the bacon.
Darren Robertson's cheese, greens and smoky bacon lasagne
"This is a super-tasty take on a much-loved dish... and it's full of greens!" - Darren Robertson.
Quick green pasta
“Everyone loves pasta, so treating it as your best friend and a vehicle for getting extra veg into meals is a good way to approach things. Flex the veg you use depending on what you’ve got. You want around 500g of veg in total, or more if you’ve got it." – Jamie Oliver
Broccolini and cos salad with pancetta, sourdough and almond crunch
This fresh and punchy salad comes with crunchy baked croutons.
Wilted greens, sauerkraut, leek and feta frittata
This greens and feta frittata can be enjoyed any time of day, hot or cold.
Tomato, pickled onion and goat's cheese frittata
"A frittata is an excellent no-waste dish as you can use up brilliant ingredients, from cheese to leftover vegies and herbs," says Ronni Kahn.
Roasted cauliflower frittata with garlic and parsley breadcrumbs
"Use vegies, half-used pieces of cheese and open jars of condiments for flavour-packed frittatas." – Phoebe Wood
Salmon, zucchini, lemon and dill frittata
This is the ultimate brunch recipe, with salmon, dill and eggs combined.
Lentil and zucchini fritters with cucumber salad
“Corn could stand in for zucchini here,” says Silvia Colloca.
Pumpkin and fennel with grape and tarragon dressing
If you use a chargrill pan rather than a barbecue for this recipe, roast the pumpkin at 220°C for 10 minutes or until tender before grilling.
Roast pumpkin with lentils, tahini and za'atar
This vegetarian salad is filled with pumpkin and lentils.
Simple miso chicken salad recipe
Miso chicken and soba noodles are the perfect salad combination.
Corn and haloumi fritters
"Buy seasonal and local. The produce will be fresher and last longer," says Lisa Margan.
Ricotta and mint fritters
Quick and easy to make, these fritters will easily become a dinner table favourite.
Every Sunday should end with this pork and fennel lasagne with bacon bechamel
This is the dinner from your lasagne dreams. Could there possibly be anything better than a bacon bechamel?
Maple bacon and celery caesar salad
"I love the salty, sweet and really savoury nature of this salad," says Kirsten Jenkins. This is an edited extract from the e-book One Leaf At A Time by Kirsten Jenkins, $10, available at kirstenjenkins.com.au.
Bacon and egg paella
“It pays to use Spain’s calasparra or bomba rice, or an Italian risotto rice – they absorb flavour while retaining great texture. They’re available from supermarkets” - Colin Fassnidge.
Pumpkin, pear and bacon soup
You've had the rest, now try the best pumpkin soup around.
Roasted bacon with buttered peas and spinach
You had us at roasted bacon.
Zucchini, bacon, bocconcini and mint brekkie bowl
Healthy, delicious and ready in no time at all. We're sold.
Bacon and herb focaccia
Wow your guests at your next dinner party with this show-stopping focaccia, guaranteed to impress.This recipe is an extract from Gill Meller's new book, Gather, available nationally now.
Steak sandwich with tarragon and roast garlic dressing
“Take the steak out of the fridge about 30 minutes before cooking to bring it to room temperature” - Colin Fassnidge.
Easy focaccia bread recipe with avocado and smoked salmon
Save a slice of this cheat's focaccia with avocado and smoked salmon pizza and enjoy it for lunch the next day!
Healthy salmon bowl with avocado and beans
Keep it light, fresh and zesty with this raw salmon bowl from Tom Walton.
Miso grilled avocado with sesame soba noodles
Soba noodles in spring is a real delight.
Green goddess, avocado and buckwheat bowl
Breakfast bowls are the perfect way to get all the good stuff together into one glorious creation.
Welcome the week with this raw vegie bowl with avocado and tahini dressing
“This cleansing meal is naturally good” - Hayden Quinn.
Baked tomato and provola risotto
Just as delicious as it is impressive, this baked risotto recipe will have everyone begging for seconds.
Baked gnocchi with pesto parmesan bechamel
If you've ever wondered how to make gnocchi even better, the answer is a homemade pesto bechamel and baking the dish to perfection. Comfort food at its best, this makes a top dinner on chilly autumn or winter weeknights.
