One-Pot Vegetarian Dinners

Start with the time and equipment you have for these vegetarian dinners. Trofie al Pesto Genovese takes 20 minutes on the hob and cooks pasta, potatoes and green beans together. Cut the potatoes evenly so they cook consistently, and follow the recipe’s order rather than adding everything at once. Keep a little cooking water before draining to loosen the pesto if needed.

For a solo supper with another meal in mind, choose Weeknight Chana Masala, which carries our meal-prep tag. Portion out what you want for dinner, then cool and refrigerate the remainder promptly. For a couple, compare the recipe’s yield with your appetites before scaling. When reducing this chickpea curry, use a suitably smaller pot and watch the sauce as it simmers.

For a family table, Swiss Älplermagronen is one of this collection’s tagged family favourites. Put its cool apple sauce on the table separately so everyone can choose their own spoonful. Keep the potatoes and macaroni in manageable pieces for the people eating, and let the cheese settle slightly before serving. This is a mild option when hotter curries would divide the table.

For mixed diets, Thai Green Curry with Crispy Tofu carries verified vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and dairy-free tags, but its hot spice level deserves attention too. Agree on the heat before cooking rather than trying to remove chilli later. If swapping its green beans for broccoli, cut small florets and check tenderness as you cook; the substitution may change timing.

For an oven evening, One-Pan Greek Baked Orzo keeps tomatoes, olives, spinach and feta together in one pan. Choose a pan with room for the orzo to expand, following the recipe’s size guidance. Swap cherry tomatoes for chopped larger tomatoes if that is what needs using, then check the liquid as it bakes. Serve olives separately if they split opinion at your table.