detour. My kitchen

The recipes

120 dinner ideas that start with something familiar and take you somewhere new.

Lemon, basil & pistachio pasta

Bright lemon, a tangle of basil and buttery pistachios. A small change to your usual pesto, with a very good payoff.

25 minutes · Pistachios · A little extra

Miso butter mushroom pasta

Deeply browned mushrooms, a little butter and a spoonful of miso make a sauce with more depth than effort.

30 minutes · White miso · A little extra

Smoky tomato & chickpea orzo

A spoonable, one-pan supper with sweet tomatoes, chickpeas and a quiet smoky warmth.

30 minutes · Smoked paprika · Budget

Tahini & lemon spaghetti

Nutty sesame turns pasta water into a creamy sauce. A handful of herbs keeps everything fresh.

20 minutes · Tahini · Everyday

Sticky gochujang chicken bowls

Sweet, sticky chicken, fluffy rice and cool cucumber. A little heat; plenty to come back for.

35 minutes · Gochujang · Everyday

Peanut & lime chicken

A gently simmered peanut sauce with lime, ginger and enough richness to coat every grain of rice.

35 minutes · Peanut sauce · A little extra

Sesame & ginger noodles

Slippery noodles, crunchy cucumber and a ginger dressing. Equally good warm or at room temperature.

20 minutes · Toasted sesame oil · Budget

Miso broth with golden tofu

A gentle, savoury broth with browned tofu, greens and noodles you can slurp.

30 minutes · White miso · A little extra

Smoky black bean tacos

Warm tortillas, smoky beans and sharp lime. A cupboard supper with a fresh finish.

25 minutes · Smoked paprika · Budget

Crispy mushroom & lime tacos

Thinly sliced mushrooms, deeply browned edges and a sharp cabbage slaw.

30 minutes · Hard-seared mushrooms · A little extra

Harissa chickpea tacos

Warm chickpeas with a chilli kick, tucked into tortillas with lemony cabbage.

30 minutes · Harissa · Everyday

Ginger & coconut red lentils

Soft, golden lentils with ginger, coconut and a squeeze of lemon. Comforting, uncomplicated food.

35 minutes · Red lentils · Budget

Sweet potato & peanut stew

A tomato-based stew with sweet potato, warming ginger and a spoonful of peanut butter.

40 minutes · Peanut butter in a stew · Everyday

Roast carrots with lemon tahini

Sweet roast carrots, nutty lemon sauce and warm chickpeas. A very good reason to give vegetables the whole plate.

40 minutes · Tahini · Everyday

Miso-glazed aubergine bowls

Soft roast aubergine with a savoury-sweet glaze, rice and a bright cucumber side.

45 minutes · White miso · A little extra

Blistered tomato & garlic spaghetti

Sweet tomatoes, golden garlic and glossy spaghetti. A short ingredient list, a very useful little trick.

20 minutes · Blistering tomatoes · Everyday

Lemon pan chicken & peas

Golden chicken, lemony pan juices and peas over fluffy rice. Everyday ingredients, one new habit.

30 minutes · Making a pan sauce · Everyday

Crisp-edged noodles & broccoli

Soft noodles with golden edges, tender broccoli and a simple ginger dressing.

20 minutes · Crisping cooked noodles · Budget

Crushed chickpea & lime tacos

A warm, creamy chickpea filling with crisp cabbage, avocado and a squeeze of lime.

20 minutes · Crushing beans in the pan · Budget

Toasted-spice lentils & rice

Soft red lentils, sweet tomato and gently toasted spices. An easy cupboard dinner.

30 minutes · Blooming spices in oil · Budget

Crispy smashed potatoes & lemon beans

Crisp potato edges, warm white beans and a lemony finish. Comfort food with a bit more crunch.

45 minutes · Smashing potatoes before roasting · Budget

Lemon & caper cod

Flaky white fish, lemony butter and little bursts of briny capers, with peas and potatoes.

25 minutes · Capers · A little extra

Smoky salmon & sweet potato

Sweet potato wedges and salmon share a tray, with smoky spice and cool lemon yogurt.

40 minutes · Smoked paprika · A little extra

Miso-maple salmon bowls

A savoury-sweet glaze, fluffy rice and crunchy cucumber. A small spoonful of miso does the work.

30 minutes · White miso · A little extra

Lemony fish parcels

Tender fish, sweet cherry tomatoes and courgette, steamed together in their own juices.

30 minutes · Cooking in a parcel · Something special

Coconut & lime fish stew

A gentle coconut broth with white fish, ginger and spinach, finished with bright lime.

30 minutes · Coconut milk with fish · A little extra

Roast tomato & white bean soup

Sweet-edged tomatoes and creamy white beans, blended into a generous bowl of soup.

40 minutes · Roasting the soup base · Budget

Carrot, ginger & coconut soup

Sweet carrots, warm ginger and a splash of coconut milk. Smooth, bright and easy to spoon.

35 minutes · Fresh ginger · Budget

Lemony lentil & spinach soup

Soft red lentils, a handful of greens and a bright lemon finish. A useful cupboard lunch.

30 minutes · Lemon at the finish · Budget

Miso, potato & greens soup

Soft potatoes and white beans in a savoury broth, with greens folded in at the end.

30 minutes · White miso · Everyday

Lemon, pea & white bean rice

Fluffy rice with sweet peas, creamy beans and lemon. A quiet dinner with a fresh finish.

30 minutes · Resting rice before fluffing · Budget

Peanut broccoli & rice bowls

Tender-crisp broccoli, warm rice and a lime-peanut dressing with a little ginger.

25 minutes · Peanut butter dressing · Everyday

Egg, spinach & ginger rice

Freshly cooked rice, soft scrambled eggs and greens with a light ginger seasoning.

25 minutes · Folding eggs through hot rice · Budget

Warm white bean & tomato salad

Creamy white beans, sweet tomatoes and peppery leaves with a lemon dressing and toast.

20 minutes · Dressing beans while warm · Budget

Apple & chickpea crunch salad

Crisp apple, shredded cabbage and chickpeas in a bright lemon dressing. A substantial no-cook lunch.

15 minutes · Apple in a savoury salad · Budget

Cumin cauliflower & lentil salad

Warm roasted cauliflower, earthy lentils and sharp lemon with plenty of parsley.

35 minutes · Cumin-roasted vegetables · Everyday

Roast tomato & couscous salad

Fluffy couscous, sweet roast tomatoes and chickpeas, with feta crumbled over the top.

30 minutes · Using roasting juices as dressing · Everyday

Savoury mushroom & spinach oats

Creamy oats with browned mushrooms and greens. A warm bowl for a slow morning or a quick supper.

20 minutes · Cooking oats like a savoury grain · Budget

Lemon ricotta & tomato toast

Crisp toast, creamy ricotta and juicy tomatoes, sharpened with lemon and basil.

15 minutes · Lemon zest in ricotta · A little extra

Golden apple & cinnamon porridge

Creamy oats and golden apple pieces with cinnamon. Familiar breakfast, a little more texture.

20 minutes · Browning fruit in a pan · Budget

Smoky chickpeas on toast

Warm tomatoey chickpeas on thick toast. A familiar beans-on-toast idea with a smoky turn.

20 minutes · Smoked paprika · Budget

Fennel meatballs & tomato rice

Tender beef meatballs in tomato sauce, with a little fennel sweetness and rice to catch the juices.

40 minutes · Fennel seeds · Something special

Crisp beef & cucumber bowls

Golden-edged beef, fresh cucumber and rice with a simple ginger-soy sauce.

25 minutes · Letting mince brown before stirring · Everyday

Smoky beef & bean chilli

A mild, smoky beef and bean chilli with tomatoes, lime and a bowl of rice.

35 minutes · Smoked paprika · Everyday

Miso beef & mushroom bowls

Browned beef and mushrooms in a savoury miso glaze, spooned over rice with spinach.

30 minutes · White miso · A little extra

Grated-onion beef flatbreads

Small beef patties, cool yogurt and crunchy salad tucked into warm flatbreads.

30 minutes · Grating onion into the meat · Everyday

Crushed pea & lemon toast

Sweet peas, lemon and olive oil on crisp toast. A quick lunch with a little texture.

15 minutes · Crushing peas by hand · Budget

Lemony white bean pittas

Soft white beans, crunchy cucumber and juicy tomatoes tucked into warm bread.

15 minutes · Mashing beans into a spread · Budget

Lemon chickpea & carrot wraps

Mashed lemony chickpeas, grated carrot and crisp leaves in a simple lunch wrap.

15 minutes · Crushing the filling · Budget

Peanut tofu & cucumber wraps

Golden tofu strips, cool cucumber and a tangy peanut sauce in warm tortillas.

25 minutes · Peanut-lime sauce · Everyday

Smoky potato & chickpea pan

Small potato cubes and chickpeas, browned in one pan with sweet peppers and smoky spice.

30 minutes · Steam, then fry · Budget

Pea, lemon & ricotta fusilli

Creamy ricotta, sweet peas and lemon caught in the curls of hot pasta.

20 minutes · Loosening ricotta with pasta water · Everyday

Smoky white bean pasta

Creamy white beans and a smoky tomato sauce, with enough pasta to catch every spoonful.

25 minutes · Smoked paprika · Budget

Miso pea & mushroom orzo

Golden mushrooms, little pasta grains and peas in a savoury sauce.

30 minutes · White miso · Everyday

Paprika chicken & pepper rice

Juicy chicken, sweet peppers and a smoky tomato sauce over plain rice.

30 minutes · Blooming a spice in oil · Everyday

Lemon chicken, peas & potatoes

A simple pan of chicken and peas with tender potatoes and a bright lemon finish.

30 minutes · Finishing with lemon off the heat · Everyday

Cod with tomato & butter beans

Tender white fish cooked gently in tomatoes and creamy beans, ready for a piece of toast.

25 minutes · Poaching fish in sauce · Everyday

Cumin cod & warm chickpeas

Lightly spiced cod over warm chickpeas and spinach, with a spoonful of lemon yogurt.

25 minutes · Ground cumin · Everyday

Sesame salmon & cucumber noodles

Golden salmon over noodles with crisp cucumber and a fragrant sesame dressing.

25 minutes · Toasted sesame oil · A little extra

Harissa fish & chickpea tray

Soft peppers, chickpeas and white fish with a gently warm tomato sauce.

35 minutes · Harissa paste · A little extra

Ginger cabbage & garlic noodles

Soft noodles, sweet-edged cabbage and plenty of ginger, made from a short shopping list.

25 minutes · Browning cabbage in a hot pan · Budget

Lime coconut noodles with golden tofu

Golden tofu, crisp greens and noodles in a light coconut sauce with a fresh lime finish.

35 minutes · Coconut milk as a noodle sauce · A little extra

Mushroom & sesame noodle parcels

Mushrooms, pak choi and noodles baked in individual parcels that open at the table.

45 minutes · Baking dinner in a paper parcel · Something special

Crisp potato & pea tacos

Golden potato edges, sweet peas and a squeeze of lime tucked into warm tortillas.

35 minutes · Roughing up potatoes before frying · Budget

Orange chicken & avocado tacos

Orange-glazed chicken, avocado and sharp red onion in warm corn tortillas.

35 minutes · Reducing citrus into a glaze · A little extra

Roast cauliflower & pineapple tacos

Browned cauliflower and juicy pineapple, with a lime bean mash to hold everything together.

45 minutes · Roasting fruit alongside vegetables · A little extra

Charred corn & halloumi tacos

Golden halloumi, charred corn, avocado and pink onions for a generous taco spread.

35 minutes · Charring sweetcorn in a dry pan · Something special

Potato & pea tomato curry

Tender potatoes and peas in a thick, gently spiced tomato sauce, with rice alongside.

40 minutes · Thickening a sauce with potato · Budget

Ginger kidney beans & rice

A hearty pan of kidney beans in tomato sauce, with warm ginger and fluffy rice.

35 minutes · Grating ginger into the sauce · Budget

Roast aubergine over spiced lentils

Soft roast aubergine halves resting on tomato lentils, finished with lemon and herbs.

55 minutes · Roasting aubergine in halves · A little extra

Golden paneer & pepper curry

Golden cubes of paneer and sweet peppers in a tomato sauce finished with cream.

45 minutes · Paneer · Something special

Leek, potato & white bean soup

A thick, comforting leek and potato soup with white beans stirred through.

40 minutes · Blending beans for a creamy soup · Budget

Sweetcorn & potato chowder

Sweet corn and soft potatoes in a creamy soup with a little smoked paprika.

35 minutes · Mashing potatoes to thicken soup · Everyday

Lemon chicken & rice soup

Chicken, carrots and rice in a light broth, finished with parsley and lemon.

40 minutes · Cooking rice directly in soup · Everyday

Roast mushroom & wild rice soup

An earthy mushroom and rice soup, finished with cream and a pile of browned mushrooms.

65 minutes · Roasting the mushroom topping separately · Something special

Banana & peanut butter porridge

Creamy oats with banana stirred through and a swirl of peanut butter on top.

15 minutes · Mashing fruit into warm oats · Budget

Carrot & apple baked oats

Soft baked oats with grated apple, carrot and cinnamon, ready to scoop into bowls.

50 minutes · Baking porridge until sliceable · Everyday

Berry & ricotta French toast

Golden slices of French toast with warm berries and a spoonful of lemon ricotta.

30 minutes · Soaking bread in a simple custard · A little extra

Baked eggs with creamed leeks

Soft leeks, cream and eggs baked in little dishes, with sourdough for scooping.

45 minutes · Baking eggs in a vegetable sauce · Something special

Golden cabbage & white bean pan

Sweet-edged cabbage wedges nestled into lemony white beans, with bread for the juices.

30 minutes · Searing cabbage wedges · Budget

Courgette & sweetcorn fritters

Golden vegetable fritters with cool lemon yogurt and a tomato salad.

35 minutes · Squeezing water from grated vegetables · Everyday

Roast squash & lentil platter

Golden squash over warm lentils, with feta, pumpkin seeds and a lemon dressing.

50 minutes · Roasting squash in generous wedges · A little extra

Mushroom & spinach puff pie

Golden pastry over mushrooms, spinach and white beans in a savoury sauce.

80 minutes · Making a crisp pastry lid · Something special

Beetroot & goat’s cheese tart

A crisp pastry tart with sliced beetroot, tangy cheese and a peppery leaf salad.

50 minutes · Scoring a border into puff pastry · Something special