Vegetarian

A few years ago, chef Paul Ainsworth devised this dish as a simple side for his Italian-style restaurant, Caffè Rojano. The result was unexpectedly delicious; the parsnips, coated in breadcrumbs, turned delightfully crisp, resembling chips. They’re the ideal side with your Christmas meal and will no doubt become a staple for future celebrations

The perfect antidote to the rich, festive fare we all find ourselves indulging in at this time of year. It really brings the best out of simple seasonal ingredients.

A layer of crispy golden cheese takes a standard broccoli side dish to new heights

Recipes with minimal ingredients get a great boost from miso, which lends lots of flavour with minimum effort here

We all love a bit of theatre at the dinner table! This dramatic dessert is a great alternative to the flamed Christmas pudding. Setting the stack on fire melts the brandy butter balls over the brownies, making them deliciously squidgy

Peas not only lend colour and sweetness to this soup – when roasted with spices, they add texture as a crunchy garnish too

This simple tart is bursting with autumnal flavours. It works well as a midweek meal, served with buttery wilted greens, or you could make individual tarts for a supper-party starter.

Our crustless quiche combines gut-friendly Stilton with nutrient-rich eggs, spinach and mushrooms – just a wedge or two for lunch or supper will help to fuel the growth of gut bacteria.

Think you’re too busy to make mash from scratch? Chop your potatoes into 2.5cm chunks and cook them in a pan with the lid on – they’ll be ready in a fraction of the usual time.