pregnancy friendly

This is Mary's classic lasagne recipe which has been perfected over the years. For the best results leave the lasagne to stand for six hours before cooking. 

Each serving provides 861 kcal, 50g protein, 56g carbohydrates (of which 17g sugars), 47g fat (of which 23g saturates), 5.5g fibre and 1.4g salt. 

Lasagne al forno

olive oil

beef mince

onions, roughly chopped

celery, diced (optional)

garlic cloves, crushed

flour

150 milliliters/¼ pint beef stock

tbsp redcurrant jelly (optional) or 1 tsp caster sugar

tomato purée

thyme

tomatoes

butter

750 milliliters/1¼ pints hot milk

Dijon mustard

Parmesan,

salt and black pepper

lasagne

75 grams/3 ounces mature cheddar, grated

You've tasted sweet and sour chicken at the takeaway, but you can make it far better at home and it's much healthier! The Hairy Bikers show you how.

Each serving provides 310 kcal, 20g protein, 40g carbohydrates (of which 32g sugars), 7g fat (of which 1g saturates), 4g fibre and 0.9g salt.

Sweet and sour chicken

pineapple

boneless, skinless chicken breasts

sunflower oil

onion,

red pepper, deseeded and chopped

green pepper, deseeded and chopped

tbsp cornflour

spring onions, trimmed and thinly diagonally sliced

300 milliliters/10fl oz fresh pineapple juice

grams/1 ounces piece fresh root

tbsp dark soy sauce

tbsp white wine vinegar

tbsp soft light brown sugar

tbsp tomato ketchup

dried chilli flakes

black pepper

This vegetarian low-calorie chickpea curry makes a wonderful, easy after-work meal, and is ready in less than 20 minutes. It's also vegan if you leave out the egg. 

Each serving provides 441 kcal, 26g protein, 92g carbohydrates (of which 8.5g sugars), 20g fat (of which 3.5g saturates), 15g fibre and 0.6g salt. 

With a GI of 45 this meal is <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/diets/high_protein_low_GI_diet">high protein, low GI</a>.

Chickpea, spinach and egg curry

eggs

tsp cumin seeds

tsp black mustard seeds

tbsp medium curry powder,

garlic

ginger

tin chopped tomatoes

tin chickpeas,

lemon juice

milliliters/3½fl water

baby leaf spinach

tbsp chopped fresh coriander, to garnish

Indulgent and creamy with lashings of nutmeg, Simon Hopkinson's foolproof rice pudding recipe is the perfect comfort food.

Rice pudding

grams/1½oz butter

grams/3½fl oz pudding rice (or Spanish paella rice)

75 grams/2½oz caster sugar

litre/1¾pints full-fat milk

150 milliliters/5fl oz double cream

vanilla extract

salt

plenty nutmeg

You can make these easy falafels in minutes for a delicious quick dinner. Top with chilli sauce, yoghurt, pickles or hummus to customise. It's a simplified falafel recipe for those on a budget with limited kit – it's so much cheaper than buying ready-made. See also our <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/chickpeas_with_harissa_99809">easy chickpea stew recipe</a> and <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/easy_hummus_96922">easy hummus recipe</a> for more ways to shuzsh up that tin!


Falafel

400 grams/14 ounces tin chickpeas

spring onions, finely chopped

tsp cumin

lemon, zest only

dessertspoons plain flour

lemon, juice only

½ cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced

tomatoes, roughly chopped

round lettuce, washed, leaves

pitta breads

plain yoghurt

chilli sauce

hummus

Three easy, tasty ways with a chickpeas tin- falafel, hummus and with harissa.

Pimp my chickpeas tin

These meat-free pasties are relatively quick and easy to make, but are full of flavour with smoked cheese, mustard and spring onions. 

Smoked cheese and onion pasties

250 grams/9 ounces floury potatoes, peeled

milk

cheese,

tsp English mustard

x 320 grams/11½oz ready-rolled puff pastry

egg,

Pigs in blankets are too delicious to be reserved for a one-off Christmas side dish - try them as a party snack or with roast chicken.

Pigs in blankets

bacon

sausages

cocktail sticks, to secure the bacon

Homemade onion bhajis are well worth the effort, they're great as a starter for an Indian feast.

Onion bhaji

free-range eggs

onions, sliced

tsp coriander

cumin seeds

tbsp vegetable oil, plus extra if required

These vegetarian enchiladas are a money-saving gem and they take just a few minutes to make.

This meal provides 648 kcal, 28g protein, 74g carbohydrate (of which 15g sugars), 26g fat (of which 12g saturates), 18g fibre and 3.2g salt per portion.


Quick beany enchiladas

grams/3½oz onion

grams/3½oz peppers

beans

tbsp lime

x 40 grams/1½oz ready-made flour tortillas

75 grams/2½oz mature cheddar,

A crowd-pleasing easy chicken curry, packed with Chinese flavours. Serve over rice.

Each serving provides 487 kcal, 37g protein, 66g carbohydrates (of which 10.5g sugars), 7g fat (of which 1.5g saturates), 4.5g fibre and 2g salt. 

Chinese chicken curry

250 grams/9 ounces long grain or basmati rice

500 grams/1lb 2 ounces skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces

tsp Chinese five-spice powder

vegetable oil

brown onions, thickly sliced

tbsp ginger

tbsp garlic

tbsp mild curry powder

600 milliliters/20fl oz chicken stock

water chestnuts

peppers,

Vegetable curry is a good choice when you’re on a diet because vegetables are so low in calories, which means you can have a generous portion. This very low-calorie dish provides three of your five-a-day. It's also vegan.

Each serving provides 300 kcal,11g protein, 40g carbohydrate (of which 27g sugars), 8g fat (of which 0.5g saturates), 12.5g fibre and 1.3g salt.


Butternut squash curry with cauliflower 'rice'

cauliflower florets

tsp rapeseed oil

onion (75 grams/2½oz peeled weight), chopped

250 grams/9 ounces butternut squash,

garlic clove, finely chopped

tbsp curry paste (see tip)

150 milliliters/5fl oz vegetable stock

grams/1½oz baby spinach, washed (frozen is also fine)

This vegan mushroom stroganoff is served with a flat ribbon pasta, such as pappardelle or fettuccine. It’s rich and full of flavour and quick to cook – ideal for a midweek supper.

Vegan mushroom stroganoff 

160 grams/5¾oz dried pappardelle or fettuccine pasta

shallots,

garlic cloves, finely chopped

mushrooms

tsp smoked paprika

tamari

125 milliliters/4fl oz vegetable stock

milliliters/4fl oz plant-based crème fraîche or single cream alternative

½ lemon, juice only

Have this cheap and cheerful store-cupboard-ingredient recipe up your sleeve for a last-minute brunch or lunch for two.

Each serving provides 480 kcal, 28g protein, 35g carbohydrates (of which 8g sugars), 24g fat (of which 6.5g saturates), 5g fibre and 1.8g salt.

Corned beef hash 

onion, finely chopped

can new potatoes, drained

corned beef

Worcestershire sauce

A quick and easy way to make this takeaway favourite in the microwave.

Watch the video for three easy microwave meal ideas. Get the <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/microwave_carrot_and_74360">carrot and ginger rice recipe here </a> or find the <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/microwave_jambalaya_72083">microwave chicken and chorizo jambalaya recipe here.</a>

Microwave egg ‘fried’ rice 

grams/4½oz rice

spring onion, finely chopped

peas

tsp reduced salt soy sauce

free-range egg

coriander

Cook jambalaya, carrot and ginger rice and egg 'fried' rice in the microwave.

Three microwave rice dinners

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.

Banh mi 

garlic clove, crushed

½ thumb-sized piece fresh root ginger,

½ tbsp soy sauce

fish sauce

lemongrass paste

tsp runny honey

pork

tbsp rice wine vinegar

golden caster sugar

sea salt

carrot,

radishes, thlnly sliced

baguettes

Japanese Kewpie mayonnaise, to serve

hot sauce, to serve (optional)

Sausage and onion hash with a couple of eggs cracked over is definitely worth getting out of bed for.

Breakfast hash

tbsp groundnut oil

herby sausages, skinned

onion, sliced

½ large potato, including skin

Sausage and onion hash with a couple of eggs is definitely worth getting out of bed for.

How to make homemade pumpkin pie in eight simple steps - no need to be spooked! Choose small, sweet pumpkins rather than using a large watery jack-o'lantern.

Pumpkin pie

sweet shortcrust pastry case (or

grams/1lb pumpkin

75 grams/3 ounces soft dark brown sugar

cinnamon

nutmeg

½ tsp ground allspice

½ tsp ground cloves

½ tsp ground ginger

275 milliliters/10fl oz double cream

Mary Berry’s mother Marjorie cooked this every year on Christmas Eve. Mary still does it today with happy memories of childhood. Make it up to 36 hours ahead before cooking and keep in the fridge. 

Top 40 pregnancy friendly recipes from across the web

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

Top Tags

Lasagne al forno

Sweet and sour chicken

Chickpea, spinach and egg curry

Rice pudding

Falafel

Smoked cheese and onion pasties

Pigs in blankets

Onion bhaji

Quick beany enchiladas

Chinese chicken curry

Butternut squash curry with caulifl...

Vegan mushroom stroganoff

Corned beef hash

Microwave egg ‘fried’ rice

Banh mi

Breakfast hash

Pumpkin pie

Mary Berry's fish pie

Pumpkin soup

Chicken and leek pie

How to make steak and ale pie

Tarka dal with rice

Chicken egg-fried rice

Mulligatawny soup

Basic buttercream icing

Succotash

Savoury French toast

Chicken katsu

Banana bread

Fudge

Sweet potato and chickpea curry

Cheesy leeks

Sticky toffee pudding

Beetroot chutney

Cherry pie

Nigel Slater's apple crumble

Steak pie

Top 40 pregnancy friendly recipes from across the web

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

Top Tags

Lasagne al forno

Sweet and sour chicken

Chickpea, spinach and egg curry

Rice pudding

Falafel

Smoked cheese and onion pasties

Pigs in blankets

Onion bhaji

Quick beany enchiladas

Chinese chicken curry

Butternut squash curry with caulifl...

Vegan mushroom stroganoff

Corned beef hash

Microwave egg ‘fried’ rice

Banh mi

Breakfast hash

Pumpkin pie

Mary Berry's fish pie

Pumpkin soup

Chicken and leek pie

How to make steak and ale pie

Tarka dal with rice

Chicken egg-fried rice

Mulligatawny soup

Basic buttercream icing

Succotash

Savoury French toast

Chicken katsu

Banana bread

Fudge

Sweet potato and chickpea curry

Cheesy leeks

Sticky toffee pudding

Beetroot chutney

Cherry pie

Nigel Slater's apple crumble

Steak pie

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