You can pull this quick Thai green curry together in under 30 minutes. That doesn't make it any less authentic, quite the opposite. Whether the ever popular chicken version, seafood, tofu or a combination thereof, combined with vegetables and creamy coconut, it’s popular for many reasons. Just one of these is that it makes a perfect weeknight meal when you don’t want to spend too long in the kitchen.

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.

My father chanced upon this spicy Sicilian spaghetti with scallops in Palermo in the 1960s and it's been a family favourite ever since. It's brimming with flavours—scallops, anchovies, peperoncino, capers, shallots, and more—but takes less than 30 minutes to make. Above all, good quality olive oil is the star. It's a healthy, easy option perfect for hot weather.

This Lebanese white fish en papillote (i.e. cooked in paper) is a very easy recipe that, with the right side dishes, creates a very interesting meal, no mean feat if you also want to keep it very low-fat, as it is here. Rich, deeply flavoured regional grains and a succulent side salad offset the simple, delicate flavours of the fish.

This Ligurian pasta with mushrooms, capers and walnuts and other ingredients; ready in under 30 minutes; vegan, vegetarian or other

Tiger prawn nasi goreng, a version of this Indonesian quick-to-cook crowd pleaser of spiced fried rice, seafood, egg, salad and pickles

Mustard chicken with beetroot soured cream spätzle is a gorgeous combination of North German Baltic flavours

A fricassée with dumplings; fresh green flavours. Quick and ideal for mixed groups of diners—vegans, vegetarians and carnivores

This Singapore noodle hot pot is a simple but delicious soup-and-noodle dish easily turned vegan, vegetarian or pescatarian.

This quick and easy pescatarian dish of tuna and mushroom tacos is a blend of traditional Mexican cooking and the Cali-Mex traditions of...

spaghetti con tonno, literally spaghetti with tuna, is a quick and easy dish with a spicy pepper twist

An easy Indian Jalfrezi recipe with a South African angle that is extremely versatile but always delicious whether chicken, lamb or vegan