Indian High-Protein Dinners

For the shortest cooking window, choose Goan Prawn Curry at 25 minutes. It needs beginner skills and cooks in one pot or pan. Fresh or frozen prawns can suit this coconutty curry; follow the packet instructions for thawing and preparation. Its dairy-free and pescatarian tags make it a useful choice when those preferences overlap at your table.

For a solo dinner or a couple planning another meal, Keema Matar is a practical starting point: it takes 30 minutes, uses one pan and carries our meal-prep tag. Portion the finished lamb and peas according to your plans, cooling leftovers promptly before refrigerating. Frozen peas are handy here because you can take out only what the recipe needs.

Weeknight Chicken Tikka Masala is the other meal-prep choice, and its beginner skill level suits a cook still finding their feet with spiced sauces. Allow 35 minutes rather than treating it as a quick dinner. For a family table, serve its rice and naan separately so everyone can choose their accompaniments. The curry contains milk; its gluten-free tag does not automatically extend to the naan you serve alongside it.

For a mixed vegetarian and meat-eating household, Palak Paneer offers a shared vegetarian main without cooking a separate meat dish. Allow 30 minutes and confident cooking skills. If replacing fresh spinach with frozen, account for the extra moisture and follow the recipe's guidance on sauce consistency. Paneer contains milk, so this is not the dairy-free option in the collection.

Save Chicken Biryani for an evening with 75 minutes available and an adventurous cook at the hob. Its one-pot tag means fewer cooking vessels, not beginner-level preparation. Like the tikka masala, paneer and keema, it is tagged as a family favourite. All five recipes have medium spice ratings: check the chilli instructions before starting, and keep optional chilli additions separate for differing preferences.