Pepper recipes

Mini Quiche Lorraines

Lightly cooked Chinese leaves retain their freshness and colour, and give a slight flavour of mustard to this clear, shimmering broth of chicken and vegetables.

Chicken and Chinese leaves Broth

Cheese and Spinach Flan

This flan freezes well and can be reheated. It makes an excellent addition to a festive buffet party.

Cheese and Spinach Flan

Stuffed Breasts of Lamb

A tasty and extremely economical dish of Syrian origin, stuffed lambs' breasts are roasted and finished in an apricot sauce.

Stuffed Breasts of Lamb

Tofu Stir fry with Cashews

Soft tofu soaks up the flavour of a tangy, Oriental-style marinade of soy sauce and dry sherry and is then stir-fried with a crisp mixture of vegetables and cashew nuts and served with noodles.

Tofu Stir fry with Cashews

Lentil Stuffed Zucchinis

Sauteed Brussels Sprouts

Golden fried Brussels sprouts mingle with crisp morsels of bacon and water chestnuts in this crunchy dish, while wholegrain mustard and a hint of orange add an aromatic touch and bring out the flavour.

Sauteed Brussels Sprouts

Smoked Salmon Rolls

Orange and Sesame Carrots

The natural crunch and sweet taste of young carrots is enhanced by cooking them in orange juice.

Orange and Sesame Carrots

Spicy Broccoli and Cauliflower

Sauteed Potatoes

These rosemary-scented, crisp golden potatoes are an extra-special treat at Christmas time.

Sauteed Potatoes

Mushroom and Mixed Nut Roast

Sausage Capers

Serve Sausage capers with mashed potatoes to mop up the delicious sauce.

Sausage Capers

Layered pease pudding

Green split dried peas and the milder yellow variety make up the contrasting layers in this adaptation of a traditional warming winter dish.

Layered pease pudding

Creamed Chicken Livers

This savoury mixture is an unusual may of preparing chicken livers; serve it on toast for a brunch or supper snack, or with boiled rice and tomatoes for a main dish.

Creamed Chicken Livers

Cool Cucumber Soup

This is a great soup to make on a steamy summer's day since it requires no cooking at all. Just assemble the ingredients and mix them together, then it is ready to eat and enjoy.

Cool Cucumber Soup

Cracked Wheat Pilaf with Mushrooms

Onion and Feta Cheese Flan

The flan case for this recipe is quickly made using a scone-style dough, and the subtle flavour of fresh thyme makes an ideal accompaniment to the thick, creamy texture of the Greek cheese filling.

Onion and Feta Cheese Flan

Vegetable lasagne

The generous amount of garlic used in the sauce does not give an extravagantly garlicky flavour, but Serves to intensify the taste of the vegetables in this variation on a filling pasta favourite.

Vegetable lasagne

Crab Cakes with Avocado Salsa

Baguette with Egg, Dill Pesto and Prosciutto

Salt and Pepper Squid

Leek and Onion Tart

This unusual recipe isn't a normal tart with pastry, but an all-in-one savoury slice that is excellent served as an accompaniment to roast meat.

Leek and Onion Tart

Zucchinis, Apples and Peksillade

Persillade, a wonderfully scented combination of chopped parsley and garlic, contributes a classic French flavouring to this fruity dish of fried zucchini, tomato, onion and apple.

Zucchinis, Apples and Peksillade

Yugoslavian Lamb Chops with Paprika

Lamb chops are given a facelift the Yugoslavian way; gently simmered in tomato and paprika sauce with leek, they should be served with rice or noodles.

Yugoslavian Lamb Chops with Paprika

Cheese Aigrettes

These fluffy little aigrettes can be served as a first course for 6. With a spicy tomato sauce they will make a light lunch for 4.

Cheese Aigrettes

Bean hotpot

Parsnip Flan

Salmon with Tropical Fruit Salsa

Hearty steaks of grilled salmon are given a tropical taste when served with an exciting salsa - a finely chopped sauce mixture of exotic mango and papaya, laced with lime, ginger and cooling mint.

Salmon with Tropical Fruit Salsa

Mini Lentil Burgers with Tomato Relish

Mini Leek and Onion Tartlets 2

The savoury filling in these tartlets is traditional to France where many types of quiche are popular. Baking in individual tins makes for easier serving and looks attractive on the buffet table.

Mini Leek and Onion Tartlets 2

Mushroom, Leek and Cashew Risotto

Lentil and potato stew

Whole button onions add a hint of sweetness to this warming winter stew, thickened and coloured by the lentils which absorb its hearty flavour as they swell.

Lentil and potato stew

Goats Cheese and Apple Tarts

Red Capsicum Pikelets with Prosciutto

Tapas of Almonds, Olives and Cheese

These three simple ingredients are lightly flavoured to create a delicious Spanish tapas medley that is perfect for a casual starter or nibbles to serve with pre-dinner drinks.

Tapas of Almonds, Olives and Cheese

Roast Pheasant with Port

Roast Stuffed Lamb

This lamb is stuffed with a tempting blend of kidneys, spinach and rice.

Roast Stuffed Lamb

Fresh vegetable soup

Broccoli, button onions and mushrooms are among the vegetables of diverse colour and texture in this chunky soup, but its distinctive character comes from the tarragon whose flavour pervades the creamy base.

Fresh vegetable soup

Empanadas

Chicken Saute with Basil

Beef Rolls

Corn and Red Capsicum Tarts

Devils on Horseback

There are two versions of this party piece. One has oysters wrapped in bacon before being cooked, while the other has prunes instead of oysters. The prunes are sometimes cooked in wine, their stuffed with mango chutney or an almond. The addition of hot Tabasco sauce turns Angels of Horseback into little devils.

Devils on Horseback

Shrimp and Corn Cakes with Lime Mayonnaise

Stuffed whiting

The delicate, small-flaked whiting flesh, so easy to digest, gives its juices to the filling and stays moist in the white wine that lends the dish a sharp edge.

Stuffed whiting

Florentine Scones with Mortadella and Artichoke

New England Corn Chowder

Substantial and warming, this soup was inspired by a traditional recipe from New England which makes good use of the local sweetcorn, while cream and potatoes add to its rich texture.

New England Corn Chowder

Brussels Sprouts Creole

Fish Gougere

Fish gougere is made from cheese-flavoured choux pastry. Quicker and easier to do than you might imagine, it makes an interesting light dish. Gougere is cheese-flavoured choux pastry, unusual, with a luxury touch, but very cheap to make. Combined with the fish it makes a delicious light lunch dish.

Fish Gougere

Mediterranean Fish Cutlets

Scallops with creamed celeriac

Prosciutto with Melon

Crab Stuffed Mushrooms

Goat's Cheese Souffle

This recipe works equally well with strong blue cheeses such as Roquefort.

Goat's Cheese Souffle

Anchovy Eggs Mornay

Anchovy eggs mornay are an interesting new way of serving eggs in cheese sauce.

Anchovy Eggs Mornay

Bean Soup

Another Gazpacho Soup

This crunchy, floating salad, one of many versions of the celebrated Spanish soup, is incomparable on a hot day.

Another Gazpacho Soup

Chestnut and Mushroom Loaf

Chestnut and Celeriac Puree

This smooth, velvety puree of celeriac and chestnuts, cooked in vegetable stock, is perfect on a cold winter's night as a wholesome, comforting accompaniment to hot or cold roast meat or game dishes.

Chestnut and Celeriac Puree

Lentil dhal and spiced cabbage

In India and Southeast Asia dhal, a spiced puree of lentils or beans may be an accompaniment or, as here, the focus of a meal. Serve it with rice to improve the quality of protein in the lentils.

Lentil dhal and spiced cabbage

Peppers with artichoke stuffing

Stuffed smoky-flavoured peppers make perfect lidded pots to fill with a mouth-watering artichoke, onion and macaroni stuffing. The addition of Greek fetta cheese continues the Mediterranean theme.

Peppers with artichoke stuffing

Seafood gumbo

Gumbo is another name for okra pods, whose sticky-juice thickens this Caribbean fish stew.

Seafood gumbo

Stuffed Flounder with nutmeg sauce

When freshly grated, nutmeg has no trace of bitterness. Here, it lends its distinctive flavour to both filing and sauce, but with a lightness to match that of the Flounder.

Stuffed Flounder with nutmeg sauce

Mini Quiches (Caramelized Onion and Bacon)

Making two trays of quiches takes no extra time, as they can be baked side by side.

Mini Quiches (Caramelized Onion and Bacon)

Chicken with Red Wine Vinegar

These chicken breasts with their slightly tart taste are inspired by a famous French chef and make an original, light and tasty Christmas meal. You could substitute tarragon vinegar, if you prefer.

Chicken with Red Wine Vinegar

Apple and carrot soup

Apple is an unusual ingredient in a soup, but its smooth, acid pulp thickens and sharpens this delicate combination of carrot and chicken.

Apple and carrot soup

Spiced Carrot and Orange Soup

Game Terrine

Any game can be used to make this country terrine hare, rabbit, pheasant or pigeon -so choose the best meat your butcher has to offer.

Game Terrine

Stuffed Celeriac

A rather different way of serving this vegetable, slices are stuffed with a mixture of other vegetables. Serve as a garnish to roast meat. Make salad from the trimmings.

Stuffed Celeriac

Cracked Wheat and Fennel

This salad incorporates both sweet and savoury flavours. It can be served either as a side-dish or as a starter with warm pitta bread.

Cracked Wheat and Fennel

Chilli with rice

This substantial dish combines sweet peppers and tomatoes with fiery chilli and cayenne pepper to make a sauce for fibre-rich lentils, beans and chickpeas.

Chilli with rice

Lentil cottage pie

Cabbage steamed with fennel seeds makes a crunchy contrast to the pies. You can make one large pie instead of individual ones..

Lentil cottage pie

Baked Cod Plaki

Basque Cod Casserole

Mackerel Kebabs with Parsley Dressing

Oily fish such as mackerel are ideal for broiling as they cook quickly and need no extra oil.

Mackerel Kebabs with Parsley Dressing

Minorcan Vegetable Soup

Onion Bhajis with Tomato and Chilli Sauce

Chicken and zucchini soup

Slivers of zucchini, chunks of green pepper and ripe tomato marry well with morsels of chicken in a broth that is subtly enhanced by a trace of Tabasco.

Chicken and zucchini soup

Vichyssoise 3

Lemon and Cucumber Cocktail

Roasted Pepper Salad

This colourful salad is very easy and can be made up to a day in advance, as the sharp-sweet dressing mingles with the mild pepper flavours.

Roasted Pepper Salad

Macaroni Cheese

Tuna and cucumber rings

Haddock and goat's cheese souffle

Robust as a mature hard cheese in its flavour, the soft goat's cheese marries well with the strong taste of the smoked fish in this souffle.

Haddock and goat's cheese souffle

Coq au Vin

Coq au vin is a classic dish; red wine adds flavour to cheap chicken.

Coq au Vin

Mini Quiches (Corn and Red Capsicum)

Italian Meatballs

Vegetable Gougere

This makes a light vegetarian supper or a main meal served with baked potatoes.

Vegetable Gougere

Vegetables with Aromatic Seeds

A healthy diet should include plenty of vegetables to provide fibre as well as vitamins and minerals. Here, spices transform everyday vegetables.

Vegetables with Aromatic Seeds

Creamy Spinach Puree

Creme fraiche, the thick French soured cream, or béchamel sauce usually gives this spinach recipe its creamy richness, but try this quick, light alternative.

Creamy Spinach Puree

Mexican Meatballs

Charred shrimps with Capsicum Mayonnaise

Cod Croquettes

Haddock with Potatoes and Onions

Salmon Steaks With Sorrel Sauce

Salmon and sorrel are a traditional combination - the sharp flavour of the sorrel balances the richness of the fish. If sorrel is not available, use finely chopped watercress instead.

Salmon Steaks With Sorrel Sauce

Crostini with Capsicum Roulade

Oregano and Prosciutto Pinwheels

Salmon Satay with Ginger Lime Mayonnaise

Oriental Duck Consomme

Christmas need not be about just traditional European flavours. This soup is both light and rich at the same time and has intriguing flavours of Southeast Asia.

Oriental Duck Consomme