Violet Lakin

This fantastic healthy pasta bake adds plenty of veg and flavour to a classic macaroni cheese. With spring onion and garlic in the cheese sauce, along with mustard and lemon, you can reduce the amount of cheese needed. Feel free to swap in your favourite green veg.

This simple chicken pitta makes a filling lunch or a quick and easy dinner when you want a tasty meal that takes less than 10 minutes to cook.

A regular on the Tel Aviv snack scene, sabich combines hot, salty, fried aubergine and cold salad with creamy, nutty hummus and zingy crunchy pickles. We’ve left out the Israeli mango pickle, as it’s hard to get in this country but if you do find some, you won’t regret it.

A Vietnamese sandwich (banh mi means bread in Vietnamese) that’s become a street food sensation. Packed with deliciously sweet and spicy pork belly, quick pickles and topped with chilli sauce it’s an absolute treat to eat and easy to prepare in advance for friends or family.

Freshly made potato farls are served with a rich and creamy mushroom sauce, a great brunch option.

Look for floury potatoes - otherwise known as baking potatoes - as they have a lower moisture content and are perfect for the mash in this classic colcannon dish.

A simple but effective method for golden pan-fried hake with a quick sauce that pairs well with a dollop of creamy mash.

This Mexican tortilla soup is often made with pasilla chillies, but I like it with chipotles. I’ve also had this soup with cooked shredded chicken and even crisp pieces of pork skin.

John Torode's chicken and prawn packed tom yum soup has all the hot and sour flavours you'd expect. Packed with herbs, spices and vegetables.