This Durban vegan eggplant curry —usually simply called brinjal curry after the lead vegetable's name in various Indian languages —uses baked or grilled eggplant (aubergine) to bring a deep, slightly smoky flavour to a curry brimming with the flavours of onions, pepper, chillies, tomatoes, coconut, and sweet potato in a rich mix of spices. It can be cooked fiery hot in accordance with the cliché about Durban curries or as a milder affair.

This stir fried monkfish with Sichuan pepper is not one of the traditional Chinese recipes my father picked up on his travels in Asia and later taught me, but something I created after being reminded of the joys of monkfish in Scotland. But, it owes everything to him. Here the buttery monkfish works perfectly with spiky ginger, elegant star anise and tingly Sichuan pepper. Accompanied by egg fried rice and a side dish of bok choy and sweetcorn.

Another in my series of a fusion approach to the British tradition of the Sunday roast, this Thai Sunday roast—with chicken—is a fusion Sunday meal influenced throughout by Thai cooking, an easy way to make a Sunday fixture a little different. A spiced Thai rice stuffing, sweetcorn fritters, peanut and ginger roast potatoes and Thai style vegetables.

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