Everyday heroes: the ready and reliable recipes I reach for all week long

"First up, a hero recipe and real crowd-pleaser: lentils braised with onion, celery, carrot and herbs lentil ragu, if you like. Make a double quantity so you have enough for several meals. It can be mixed with pasta or rice; fish, or small rounds of baked goat's cheese can be substituted for sausage; or you can make it a vegetarian bake topped with mashed potato. Thomasina Miers's chilli con carne"

"Make a double quantity so you have enough for several meals. It can be mixed with pasta or rice; fish, or small rounds of baked goat's cheese can be substituted for sausage; or you can make it a vegetarian bake topped with mashed potato. Thomasina Miers's chilli con carne can be approached in much the same way as the lentils, or turned into a moussaka-type bake by"

Lentils braised with onion, celery, carrot and herbs serve as a hero recipe and crowd-pleaser that can be doubled and used across several meals. The lentil ragu can be mixed with pasta or rice, topped with mashed potato, or have sausage replaced by fish or small rounds of baked goat's cheese for a different protein. Chilli con carne can be treated similarly or turned into a moussaka-style bake with bechamel; a vegetarian version is also available. Sausage ragu pairs with pasta or polenta. Baked chicken thighs with tomatoes pair well with a green bean, lettuce and parmesan salad. Minestrone can be fortified with pasta or rice.

Read at www.theguardian.com