T. S. Elliot was wrong: January is the cruellest month, not April. We’re skint and we’re fat. We want to be active but it’s cold outside. We’ve vowed to be healthy but the tins of Quality Street are still half-full. And how can you survive on poached chicken and lettuce when you crave cheese on toast and pies? And that’s all before we even consider the prospect of 20 more days without booze!
I can help, offering a selection of recipes that at least involve no fuss in preparing. Oven on, tray in, forks at the ready. There are chicken tray bakes, of course, and fish, plus a few vegetarian but deliciously comforting ideas. Most require simply assembling ingredients in a tray and baking, some need minimal prep beforehand, but all are highly rewarding!
Chunks of chicken breast and vegetables in a tray bake, that’s a recipe good for a weeknight dinner and impressive enough for easy entertaining. Only one pan to wash up!
For when you crave sausages: a combo of good quality sausage, pear and root vegetables baked with chestnut mushrooms and rosemary. That’s an easy one pan dish that hits the comfort spot.
Sausage, pear and parsnip bake
RECIPE
Kimchi baked salmon is the perfect pairing of mild fish and spicy fermented cabbage. Salmon fillets roasted in a bed of kimchi, traditional Korean fermented cabbage, it only takes about 20 minutes to prepare the whole dish.
Another salmon option: salmon and sweet potato baked in tahini sauce. It’s a quick and easy, delicious supper with flavours inspired by Sami Tamimi and Yotam Ottolenghi’s recipes.
Tahini salmon and sweet potato
RECIPE
Baked orzo pasta with mushrooms and pancetta is one of the nicest and easiest pasta bakes. Orzo can be placed in a dish dry and covered with liquid before going into the oven. It tuns out creamy like risotto – no wonder since orzo is pasta in the shape of rice.
Orzo with mushrooms and pancetta
RECIPE
Chicken with grapes and olives oven baked with a few chestnut mushrooms looks autumnal and tastes divine. Sweet and salty combo is not just for caramel ice cream, you see!
Chicken with grapes and olives
RECIPE
Herby courgette pasta bake, with roasted garlic and Pecorino, simple and super-tasty. Courgettes are available all year, and the best thing to do with them is to bake them with pasta.
Herby courgette pasta bake
RECIPE
Another easy vegetarian meal of cherry tomatoes, tinned chickpeas and feta cheese. A delicious tray bake with chunks of feta roasting upon the vegetables, spiced and sweet with honey and chilli dressing.
Tomato and chickpeas with feta
RECIPE
My favourite: spicy, cheesy lentils bake. You can cook the lentils from dried or use tins or pouches. In the latter case the meal is put together in 15 minutes. The recipe also lets you use up the bits and pieces of leftover Christmas cheese.
Spicy cheesy lentil bake
RECIPE
Potato, chorizo and cauliflower tray bake, a one pan dish seasoned with cinnamon and smoked paprika. That’s another easy dinner, with minimal washing up. Chorizo and potatoes take about an hour 20 minutes to bake in the oven, become crisp and super tasty.
Potato and chorizo tray bake
RECIPE