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.

Coronation Chicken Korma is my take on a Diasporan curry house favourite; that rich and mild curry beloved of millions around the world who may never experience an authentic version of this dish invented in the kitchens of Mughal palaces in the 16th century. No, not the authentic dish, but most certainly an authentic curry house version that took the world by storm in the 1970s.

Noodles with yakitori scallops and prawn skewers - delicious dish that is quick and easy to cook (well, once you've marinaded the main ingredients for hours). Perfect for hot weather. Filling yet very easy to digest. A not so traditional Japanese dish.

Delicious Thai massaman curry is filling, whether with chicken, beef or duck, but also delicate and fragrant with fresher Thai flavours of lime, lemongrass and a wealth of spices. An extremely mild curry, it's one that proves popular with a wide range of hungry diners, including children and it's easy to cook.

A chicken, butterbean and cauliflower curry comes from oThongathi, a place north of Durban up the coast best known for sugar cane. It's typical of the delicious, mild curries you can find in roadside places all along the coastal highway. It's sweet 'n sour qualities reflect the bounty of South African produce.

Durban in South Africa is known for its curries. The first in a colour-coded insider series on the Indian Diasporan traditions of the Durban curry focuses on the background to the fiery, red seafood and fish curries of South Africa's Eastern Seaboard and its iconic standard bearer, Durban king prawn curry

A quick and easy vegan Thai aubergine curry—essentially a classic Thai red curry—is a go-to baseline curry that can be knocked together in no time at all. And, you can easily add chicken or prawns for dining parties with mixed preferences.

An easily cooked Madagascan squid curry with flavours of tomato, ginger, chilli and peanuts, the building blocks of Madagascan cuisine

A creamy coconut curry, another Indian Diasporan dish from Africa's east coast. It's a dish most often made with chicken