Red pesto

Blend together pine nuts, sundried tomatoes, parmesan and olive oil to make a red pesto, perfect for stirring into pasta or to flavour chicken dishes

Chicken pesto orzo salad

Elevate standard pasta salad by using orzo and pesto. The dish also offers a good way to make the most of asparagus while it’s in season in the spring, too

One-pot green bean, potato & pesto pasta

For a speedy and nutritious midweek meal, combine pesto and greens with pasta and new potatoes – a light supper for long summer evenings

Easy pesto

Blend together pine nuts or cashews, basil, parmesan, garlic and olive oil to make your own pesto. It’s perfect for pizzas, pasta and sandwiches

Creamy mushroom & spinach pasta

Toss together tagliatelle, mushrooms and spinach in a parmesan and crème fraîche sauce to make a quick and low calorie dinner that takes just 25 minutes

Build your own pesto pasta salad

Rustle up this easy pesto pasta salad for the family. Customise it by adding your kid’s favourite veg

Orecchiette with butter beans, parsley, chilli & lemon

Make this simple pasta dish using whatever you’ve got to hand, including different pasta shapes, beans or chopped tomatoes. You can leave out the chilli if you prefer

Roast chicken with parmesan & thyme dauphinoise potatoes

Break away from your usual roast chicken and potatoes with this version that uses the meat juices to baste a creamy dauphinoise. It’s sure to impress for Sunday lunch

Baked eggs with spinach, tomatoes, ricotta & basil

Serve this Italian-inspired take on a shakshuka for an easy brunch. If you’re not vegetarian, you could also add chorizo

Wild mushroom mac ‘n’ cheese

Give mac ’n’ cheese a mushroom makeover for a freeze-ahead family meal. Using dried wild mushrooms means you don’t have to wait until they’re in season

Triple-cheese croquettes with cranberry sauce

Make the most of any leftover Christmas cheese with these croquettes. Once fried, they have a crisp shell and wonderfully oozy, melty middle

Smoked haddock dauphinoise

Add smoked haddock to dauphinoise to make an easier, freeze-ahead fish pie. It’s a great fuss-free dinner when you have family or friends over