casual recipes

This casual meat-free main is a cheap and cheerful way to fill up your friends

Refried bean quesadillas

sunflower oil

onion,finely chopped

garlic cloves,finely chopped

cumin seeds

can pinto

tsp smoked paprika

flour tortillas

cheddar or gruyère,coarsely grated

coriander leaves

tub fresh tomato salsa,plus extra to serve

soured cream,to serve

Heat the oil in a large frying pan and cook the onion and garlic for 2 mins. Add the cumin and cook for 1 min more. Tip in the beans, paprika and a splash of water. Using a potato masher, break the beans down as they warm through to make a rough purée. Season generously.

Spread the refried beans onto 4 of the tortillas and scatter over the cheese and coriander. Spoon over the salsa, then top with the remaining tortillas to make 4 sandwiches. Wipe the frying pan with kitchen paper and return to the heat or heat a griddle pan. Cook each sandwich for 1-2 mins on each side until the tortillas are crisp and golden and the cheese is melting. Serve warm, cut into wedges, with extra salsa and soured cream for dipping.

These American-style crisp chicken pieces are the perfect laid-back food to share, great for a movie night

Buffalo wings with blue cheese dip

tbsp butter

tbsp hot sauce

tbsp white wine vinegar

grams/2lb chicken wings

¼ tsp celery salt (optional)

flour

celery sticks, to serve

buttermilk

soured cream

blue cheese

garlic

¼ tsp sweet paprika

Slowly melt the butter, hot sauce and vinegar in a medium saucepan, then pour into a large bowl. Mix all the ingredients for the blue cheese dip together with a pinch of salt. Cover and chill until needed.

Trim the end off each chicken wing, then cut each in half through the joint. Tip the wings into a bowl. Add the celery salt (if using), seasoning and enough flour so they’re all evenly coated.

Heat 4 tbsp oil in a large, deep frying pan and add the wings (do this in 2 batches if your pan isn’t big enough). Fry them, stirring frequently, until they are cooked through and browned all over, about 10 mins for each batch. As soon as they are cooked, transfer them to the bowl of butter sauce and stir well. Repeat with the second batch. Serve the wings on a platter with any extra buttery sauce poured over and the blue cheese dip and celery sticks on the side

Keep a few portions of this vegetarian classic in the freezer and you'll never be stuck for a satisfying supper

Spinach & ricotta cannelloni

olive oil

garlic cloves, crushed

tbsp caster sugar

tbsp red wine vinegar

tomatoes

basil leaves

tubs mascarpone

tbsp milk

parmesan (or vegetarian alternative), grated

x 125 grams balls mozzarella, sliced

spinach

x 250 grams tubs ricotta

nutmeg

dried cannelloni

First make the tomato sauce. Heat the oil in a large pan and fry the garlic for 1 min. Add the sugar, vinegar, tomatoes and some seasoning and simmer for 20 mins, stirring occasionally, until thick. Add the basil and divide the sauce between 2 or more shallow ovenproof dishes (see Tips for freezing, below). Set aside. Make a sauce by beating the mascarpone with the milk until smooth, season, then set aside.

Put the spinach in a large colander and pour over a kettle of boiling water to wilt it (you may need to do this in batches). When cool enough to handle squeeze out the excess water. Roughly chop the spinach and mix in a large bowl with 100g Parmesan and ricotta. Season well with salt, pepper and the nutmeg.

Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Using a piping bag or plastic food bag with the corner snipped off, squeeze the filling into the cannelloni tubes. Lay the tubes, side by side, on top of the tomato sauce and spoon over the mascarpone sauce. Top with Parmesan and mozzarella. You can now freeze the cannelloni, uncooked, or you can cook it first and then freeze. Bake for 30-35 mins until golden and bubbling. Remove from oven and let stand for 5 mins before serving.

Use up leftover mash to create a comforting, good-value family meal

Peppered mackerel fishcakes

cold mashed potato

spring onions

horseradish sauce

tbsp plain flour

breadcrumbs

salad and lemon wedges,

In a large bowl, mix together the potato, spring onions, horseradish and mackerel, then shape into 8 even-size cakes. Roll the fishcakes in the flour, shaking off any excess, then dip in the egg, followed by the breadcrumbs. Cover and chill until ready to cook. Can be prepared up to a day ahead, or frozen.

Gently grill or shallow-fry the fishcakes for 5-6 mins on each side until crunchy, golden brown and hot all the way through. Serve with salad and lemon wedges.

Slow-cooked, meltingly tender beef and a sprinkling of crunchy peanuts to finish - it's curry heaven

Beef massaman curry

unsalted peanuts

coconut milk

tbsp massaman curry paste

stewing beef steak,

waxy potatoes,

onion,

kaffir lime leaves

cinnamon

tamarind paste

tbsp palm or soft light brown sugar

tbsp fish sauce

jasmine rice, to serve

Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6, then roast the peanuts on a baking tray for 5 mins until golden brown. When cool enough to handle, roughly chop. Reduce oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4.

Heat 2 tbsp coconut milk (use the cream on top if there is any) in a large casserole dish with a lid. Add the curry paste and fry for 1 min, then stir in the beef and fry until well coated and sealed.

Stir in the rest of the coconut with half a can of water, the potatoes, onion, lime leaves, cinnamon, tamarind, sugar, fish sauce and most of the peanuts. Bring to a simmer, then cover and cook for 2 hrs in the oven until the beef is tender.

Sprinkle with sliced chilli and the remaining peanuts, then serve straight from the dish with jasmine rice.

Top 5 casual recipes recipes from across the web

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Top Tags

Refried bean quesadillas

Buffalo wings with blue cheese dip

Spinach & ricotta cannelloni

Peppered mackerel fishcakes

Beef massaman curry

Top 5 casual recipes recipes from across the web

The most viewed casual recipes recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engineic_arrow_forward_48px

Top Tags

Refried bean quesadillas

Buffalo wings with blue cheese dip

Spinach & ricotta cannelloni

Peppered mackerel fishcakes

Beef massaman curry

The most viewed casual recipes recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine