Don’t do meat or dairy? Gluten-intolerant? There’s no need to miss out. These Jo Pratt recipes for genius family suppers include easy swaps to please everyone.
Tuscan bean and sausage stew
For the best results use good-quality pork sausages, ideally with some Italian flavourings such as fennel seeds. If you can’t find any you could always add a scattering of fennel seeds or a sliced fennel bulb with the onions.
Baked pea and paneer samosas
These are a huge hit in my house and simple enough to make using everyday ingredients. Once cooked, the samosas can be served hot or cold as a snack, starter or lunch with chutney and raita, or with a curry.
Sticky pomegranate chicken with jewelled quinoa
You can cook the chicken straightaway but it’s definitely better to leave it overnight to marinate. Chicken thighs are best as they stay nice and juicy – opt for larger ones if possible.
Chicken and black bean Tinga tacos with watermelon salsa
Tinga is a Mexican dish where chicken is cooked with onion, tomatoes and chipotle sauce then shredded when cooked. I like to do a half chicken and half black bean combo to mix things up and reduce our meat intake. Put everything on the table to make a sharing supper for everyone to dig into.
Popcorn cauliflower bites
These popcorn cauliflower bites make a brilliant party food snack, or a starter when entertaining. To avoid last-minute rushing, coat the cauliflower florets in the crumbs and keep chilled, in a single layer on a tray. Then all you need to do is fry them.
Creamy mango, passion fruit and lime pots
Cashews make a brilliant dairy-free alternative to whipped cream. Because they’re mild in flavour they are also an ideal base to add fruit purées to, letting the fruit do all the talking.
Lemon and raspberry loaf
This is ideal for anyone who can’t have dairy and it’s totally vegan friendly. You can even go gluten-free (see below). Move over lemon drizzle!
Chocolate meringue mousse cake
This chocolate meringue mousse cake can be made a few hours in advance or even the night before. It gets more dense with time but leftovers can still be enjoyed a couple of days later.
Now buy the book with £6 off
Our recipes are from The Flexible Family Cookbook by Jo Pratt, which is published by Frances Lincoln, price £20. To order a copy for £14 until 13 September go to whsmith.co.uk and enter the code YOUFLEX at the checkout. Book number: 9780711251687. For terms and conditions, see whsmith.co.uk/terms.
