8 best side dishes for warm weather.A collection of delicious and less obvious side dishes originally created for specific recipes. But, they all share being able to work with a far wider range of dishes. Some are classics, others a little more leftfield and many are a good way to stop leftovers from going to waste. Issue no.1 of what I hope to be an occasional series and focuses on side dishes that work well in warmer weather. So, ideal for those who live in hot places or a

Indian methi chicken curry—chicken with fresh fenugreek leaves—is a dish traditional to a number of regions of India, each with their own take on it. It's not really a "curry" in the popular sense, in that the spices are mild and relatively minimal and the gravy lighter and less complicated to make than better-known Indian dishes. Yes, it's very easy to cook.

This Cape Malay seafood curry—technically it's fish and seafood—is a mild curry that is easy to make. It's less well-known than the famous lamb curries from the region, perhaps ironic given that it is more in keeping with the history of fishing at the Cape and today's healthier eating habits than lamb. It's relatively low in fat and brimming with vegetables too.

Cape Malay fish balls are highly adaptable. Not as well known as other Cape Malay dishes—such the famous lamb curries—these traditional fish balls made with a combination of white fish and smoked fish make tasty starters, great finger food at a party, and are also integrated into other delicious Cape Malay dishes.

Thai red curry is one of the best-known Thai dishes around the world. One of the four in the quartet of Thailand's most successful culinary exports, it can be vegan, pescatarian or carnivore. More importantly, if you use this recipe based on how street vendors produce it, it's easily adaptable to the needs of dining parties with different requirements.

This easy yakisoba can be made with pork, chicken, seafood or tofu—or a combination thereof— and is a mix of noodles, vegetables and a cooking sauce that gives the dish its name. It’s the perfect, quick meal to put together when you don’t have a lot of time to spare.

Cape Malay lamb chop curry is an updated version of a very traditional dish from Cape Town that makes good use of what doesn't make it onto the braai—that famed South African barbecue. Based entirely in the legacy of Cape Malay cooking with its Indonesian influences, it nonetheless has a few contemporary tricks up its sleeve.As always, vegan and vegetarian options are included.

These Basque fusion buns, which I am calling Bil-bao Buns, are a fusion of flavours from the north of the Iberian Peninsula and Asian cooking, most notably Japanese food. With two fillings—pancetta and tomato and prawn and green asparagus—they are a quick and easy to make, they're an easy meal that puts something a little different into a mid-week, no-fuss supper.

This easy Malaysian beef curry is very simple; easy to slow-cook, but ensure you allow enough time for it. The dense flavours of the beef and coconut are balanced by fresh green flavours, in this case green beans and choy sum, These are all wrapped in the heady flavours of lime, ginger, lemongrass, cloves and nutmeg, among numerous others.

Durban beef curry has a reputation for fieriness that has made it famous around the world. But, as this slow-cooked authentic recipe proves, it's not entirely about the hot spices and hearty beef that makes this curry a thing of beauty. A plethora of vegetables, herbs and spices are what come together to make it memorable, not to mention its unique history.

Cantonese glazed pork belly with vegetables, served with egg fried rice, is a dish from the archive of recipes my father collected in Hong Kong in the 1960s. The pork belly is first roasted or grilled with a glaze, very similar to char siu, before adding to wokked green vegetables and bamboo shoots and serving with egg fried rice.

A spicy Malaysian seafood noodles dish likely to appeal to anyone who enjoys laksa. But, whereas most laksas are more like a spicy soup with noodles, this dish has a thicker sauce coating the noodles, revealing delicious vegetables and seafood.

This weekend leftovers Durban curry turns remnants from a weekend roast or braai into a delicious weeknight meal whether chicken, lamb or beef—as I'm doing here—without it tasting like an afterthought. A modern tradition from South Africa's Eastern Seaboard, you can enjoy it anywhere there are leftovers

This Cantonese chicken with mushrooms, water chestnuts, bamboo shoots and a lot of other tasty ingredients was a dish my father learned in Hong Kong in the 1960s . It was one of the first Chinese recipes he taught me. Thus, it occupies a special place in my heart and memory. An easy, no-fuss wok meal. it's simple to knock up in practically no time at all.

An Indonesian chicken and cashew curry that will delight those who enjoy a little spiciness. Originally from Western Sumatra, the "wet" curry paste in this dish packs a punch, balanced by the citrus of lime and lemongrass, and the smoothness of coconut and cashews. Better still, it's quick to cook. Easily be adapted for seafood or vegan versions too.

This vegan mushroom masala from Durban has become a go-to weekday curry, easy and fairly quick to make. If you love mushrooms and a bit of spice, this should definitely be in your repertoire. It's also easily adapted for non-vegans.

Thai yellow curry is a dish that, like all the curries in the colour-led canon of Thai curries leaves the choice of protein up to you: it is variously made with chicken, duck, beef, tofu or seafood.

This panko chicken and mushrooms with udon noodles is another one of the fusion dishes that arose from Japanese culture in California, Mexico and Hawaii. Pure comfort food, it's easy to whip up with relatively little effort.

A Japanese chicken stir-fry dish, this easy yaki udon, takes less than 30mins to make, including the prep time. So, obviously it's become a weekday favourite that is both delicious and easy to chuck together when you're a bit worn out by a gruelling day.

This Malaysian prawn curry is another of the dishes from my father's travels in Asia in the 1960s recorded in his personal journals. It's quick, easy and delicious and easily adapted if you prefer chicken to seafood or want a vegan option.