Lacquered duck with grilled figs

The sweet, rich flavour of chargrilled figs combined with pungent spices is spectacular with duck – serve simply with a peppery leaf salad

Spicy fish cakes with mango dipping sauce

These Indian-flavoured salmon and haddock breaded patties can be made in batches and frozen

Bitter orange & poppy seed cake

This easy all-in-one cake is made with yogurt for a light texture.

Imam bayildi with BBQ lamb & tzatziki

There are hundreds of versions of this Turkish aubergine dish. It is authentically quite oily, but reduce the oil if you prefer

Salmon coulibiac

This majestic fish pie makes a brilliant dinner party centrepiece which can be prepared ahead

Sesame, sunflower & poppy seed bloomer

Escape to the kitchen this weekend to whip up this traditional English loaf

Hot paprika potatoes with garlic mayo

This spicy accompaniment to barbecued steak tastes even better eaten outside

Mulled spiced Pavlovas

Traditional flavours of cloves, spices and orange zest work scent these fabulous winter Pavlovas topped with boozy mulled figs

Gunpowder chicken with dried red chillies & peanuts

This classic dish from the Chinese province of Sichuan isn’t as spicy if you remove the chilli seeds – complete with a sticky, sweet and rich sauce

Chicken & almond pastillas

Morocco’s very own version of the pasty – spiced meat and apricots are wrapped in crisp filo pastry and finished with cinnamon sugar

French rhubarb tart

Take your time with this pretty in pink dessert and you’ll have a fruit pie worthy of any Parisian patisserie shop window

Spice-rubbed chicken with pomegranate salad

Apply a light touch to your Indian meal with a sweet pomegranate and mint dressing instead of heavy curry sauce