midweek meal recipe

Whip up this cheap, simple and satisfying meal in just 30 minutes.

Cheesy broccoli pasta bake

penne

broccoli,cut into florets

butter

plain flour

milk

tbsp wholegrain mustard

mature cheddar,grated

Cook the pasta, adding the broccoli for the final 4-5 mins and cooking until tender. Drain well, then heat the grill.

Heat the butter in a saucepan and stir in the flour. Cook for 1 min, then gradually add the milk, stirring well between each addition. Bring to the boil, stirring, then simmer for 2 mins, before stirring in the mustard, half the cheese and seasoning.

Mix the pasta and broccoli into the sauce and spoon into an ovenproof dish. Scatter over the remaining cheese and place under a hot grill for 3-4 mins until golden and bubbling.

Pan-fried salmon sits on a bed of sweet-and-sour leeks and lightly crisped kale in this healthy midweek recipe.

Quick pan-fried salmon with sweet-and-sour leeks

olive oil

leeks, finely sliced

brown sugar

1½ tbsp balsamic vinegar

salmon

kale

lemon

potatoes (optional)

Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a medium frying pan over a low-medium heat. Add the leeks and cook, stirring, for 10-12 minutes until soft. Add the sugar and vinegar and cook for 5 minutes or until sweet and sticky. Set aside.

Wipe the frying pan with kitchen paper, then add another 1 tbsp oil and heat until almost smoking hot. Add the salmon fillets and cook for 4 minutes, skin-side down. Turn and cook for 4 minutes more until golden and just cooked through. Boil a kettleful of water. Put the kale in a colander, then pour over the boiling water.

Put the salmon on a plate and cover with foil to keep warm. Add another 1 tbsp oil to the frying pan and, over a medium-high heat, stir-fry the wilted kale for 2 minutes. Add a good squeeze of lemon juice, then season with salt and pepper. Mix in the leeks and taste – it may need a little more vinegar. Divide the leeks and kale among plates and top with the fish. Serve with steamed potatoes if you like.

The lemon and capers in this easy smoked haddock fishcake recipe are complimented by the hot horseradish and zingy lemon mayo.

Smoked haddock fishcakes

potatoes, roughly chopped

undyed smoked haddock fillet

tbsp capers, drained and chopped

parsley

flour,

Lemon

For the horseradish mayo

mayonnaise

horseradish,

Lemon juice,

Cook the potatoes in a saucepan of boiling, salted water for 15-20 minutes or until tender. Drain well, mash and set aside, covered.

Meanwhile, preheat the grill to medium-high. Put the haddock in a roasting tin and brush with 1 tablespoon oil. Grill for 8-10 minutes or until just cooked through. Set aside to cool, then discard the skin and bones and flake into chunks.

Gently fold the haddock, capers, lemon zest, parsley and egg yolk into the mash, and season. Shape the mixture into 8 fishcakes and cover and chill for 20 minutes or overnight.

Meanwhile, spoon the mayo into a bowl. Mix in the horseradish, lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste. Cover and chill until needed.

Heat the remaining olive oil in a frying pan over a medium heat. Dust the fishcakes with a little flour and fry for 3-4 minutes each side, until golden. Serve 2 per person with the horseradish mayo, lemon wedges and a mixed salad, if you like.

This satisfying yet super-healthy recipe is all cooked in one pan for minimum washing up

One-pan chicken couscous

onion, thinly sliced

chicken breast, diced

good chunk fresh root ginger

harissa paste,

apricots

chickpeas,

couscous

chicken stock

Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan and cook the onion for 1-2 mins just until softened. Add the chicken and fry for 7-10 mins until cooked through and the onions have turned golden. Grate over the ginger, stir through the harissa to coat everything and cook for 1 min more.

Tip in the apricots, chickpeas and couscous, then pour over the stock and stir once. Cover with a lid or tightly cover the pan with foil and leave for about 5 mins until the couscous has soaked up all the stock and is soft. Fluff up the couscous with a fork and scatter over the coriander to serve. Serve with extra harissa, if you like.

Top 4 midweek meal recipe recipes from across the web

The most viewed midweek meal recipe recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 20,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine

Top Tags

Cheesy broccoli pasta bake

Quick pan-fried salmon with sweet-a...

Smoked haddock fishcakes

One-pan chicken couscous

Top 4 midweek meal recipe recipes from across the web

The most viewed midweek meal recipe recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 20,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engineic_arrow_forward_48px

Top Tags

Cheesy broccoli pasta bake

Quick pan-fried salmon with sweet-a...

Smoked haddock fishcakes

One-pan chicken couscous

The most viewed midweek meal recipe recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 20,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine