Fragrant, sweet cloves add rich, spicy flavour to this simple rice dish. Rinsing the rice removes any excess starch and guarantees a fluffy result. Serve with lime wedges and a dollop of mango chutney.
A super-quick tomato sauce made using bottled passata does double duty in this restaurant favourite, acting as a sauce for both the chicken and pasta.
This classic is usually made with ground pork, often with the addition of potatoes for thickening. Mushrooms are unconventional, but tourtière fans will be happy with the extra flavour.
All you'll need to make this classic dish is some ground beef, a couple of onions and some pantry staples (including a spoonful of cocoa powder, which adds flavour and a deep reddish-brown colour). Serve with your choice of sour cream, shredded cheese, chopped cilantro and, for nostalgia, chopped cucumber. For a more modern touch, swap out cucumber for chopped avocado.
These crisp little rolls are great to have on hand for impromptu get-togethers.
Keep a close eye on the potatoes so you don't overcook them—as soon as a paring knife inserted in the centres of the potatoes slides out easily, they're done. Garnish the soup with freshly grated Parmesan, if desired, and serve with lemon wedges.
Challenge: If you think it's only the kids who get impatient when they're hungry and supper's not ready, meet my husband, George. He has to watch his fat intake, so I aim to serve lightened-up but satisfying suppers. Solution: I've found a way to feed George and myself quickly with a few of his favourite ingredients. Start with sausages: he adores them but can't have too many. He also loves stew, so a sausage-flavoured chunky tomato stew makes an ideal supper over polenta or linguine. It's quick enough to keep him happy, and because I use only 8 oz (250 g) lean sausage for four servings, I don't feel guilty. The plus is having leftovers to reheat for lunch or freeze for him to have on evenings when I'm out.
Jerusalem artichokes, also known as sunchokes, are subtly flavoured, with a texture somewhere between that of a potato and a water chestnut. Typically, they're enjoyed in a soup or a purée, so pairing them with pasta and crispy sausage is an unusual yet delicious change of pace. On another night, omit the pasta and serve the creamy artichokes and chorizo as a side dish.
Smaller versions of these savoury stuffed pies from Spain and Latin American make ideal snacks for tapas-inspired parties.
