15 meals from storecupboard staples

Added crunch

Who said cereal is just for breakfast? Cut fish fillets into strips and dip in whisked egg and cornflakes, arrange on a baking tray and cook in a hot oven until golden.

See also: Curry special

Pimp my pulse

'My storecupboard favourite is cumin and lentil soup,' says Tamsin Burnett-Hall, author of Weightwatchers’ Fast & Fabulous cookbook. 'Rinse 150g (5oz) dried red lentils in cold water, place in a lidded saucepan with 1 chopped onion, 1tbsp ground cumin and 1.2 litres chicken stock. Bring to the boil and simmer, covered, for 15 minutes until tender. Season and add a squeeze of lemon juice (from a bottle is fine).'

See also: Curry special

Multiple ways with chickpeas

Chickpeas can bulk out salads, rice dishes and curries when other ingredients are scarce, or blend with crushed garlic, lemon juice and olive oil for a quick dip to serve with warm pitta.

See also: Curry special

Posh tatty

A crispy roast potato or a spicy wedge is a tasty midweek treat, but for unexpected guests, slip your spuds out of their jackets and make gnocchi by peeling and dicing 500g (1lb 2oz) waxy potatoes and boiling until tender. Drain and mash thoroughly and sprinkle with 200g (7oz) plain flour.

Form a firm dough and knead for a few minutes before rolling into a sausage and cutting into 3cm pieces. Simmer in salted water for a minute or two until they bubble to the surface.

'I like mine stirred through with 2tbsp pesto and a can of sweetcorn,' says food writer and mum of two Katie Bryson, who posts speedy recipes on her blog feedingboys.wordpress.com.

See also: Curry special

Great grains

Soak cous cous in stock for 10 minutes, fluff with a fork, and add any of the following: roast odds-and-ends of veg; sultanas and spice; cherry tomatoes and feta.

See also: Curry special

Jar head

While we might spread Marmite onto toast and squirt ketchup onto hot dogs, Nigella likes to dollop her yeast extract onto spaghetti and chef Paul Rankin adds a dash of tomato sauce to winter soups.

'I use Horlicks in my brownies,' says chef Paul Hartley, author of The Horlicks Cookbook. 'Melt 200g (7oz) chocolate in a bowl over a pan of water and stir in 250g (8oz) butter. Once melted remove from the heat. In a bowl, sift together 350g (12oz) sugar, ¼tsp baking powder, 25g (½oz)cocoa powder, 65g (2oz) plain flour and 4tbsp Horlicks.

'Fold into the melted chocolate to form a paste, add 4 eggs, and mix until glossy. Line a baking tray with parchment and spreadout the mixture and cook in a medium oven for 20 minutes until a slight crust has formed. Leave to cool completely before cutting.'

See also: Curry special

Cheats' pizza

Spread tinned tomatoes on bread with a sprinkling of cheese, and toast for instant pizza, or add to kidney beans, chopped veg (or mince if you have it), a glug of leftover red wine and storecupborad spices, for a quick chilli.

See also: Curry special

Lunch on tap

'Black olives make a wonderful tapenade if mixed with capers and tinned anchovies. Add nuts and seeds for a base for risottos, pasta or as a dip,' says recipe writer Helen Best-Shaw, who blogs at FussFreeFlavours.com.

See also: Curry special

Oat so good

Porridge oats can be combined with beaten egg and breadcrumbs as a crunchy coating for meat and fish, or as a topping for macaroni cheese. If you’ve run out of flour, you can also use half oats/half flour in tarts and scones.

See also: Curry special

Quick curry

'I like to use tinned tuna in masala,' says Manju Mahli, author of the Easy Indian Cookbook. 'Fry 1 finely chopped onion and 2 finely chopped cloves garlic in 2tbsp oil, for 5 minutes. Add ¼tsp chilli powder, ½tsp ground coriander and ½tsp ground cumin and stir well.

'Tip in 1 fresh chopped tomato and 1tbsp tomato puree and mix thoroughly. Add a 200g (7oz) tin tuna and cook for 2 minutes. Serve on buttered toast or use as a sandwich filling.'

See also: Curry special

Jammy devil

Not just great on toast, a jar of jam also makes a great glaze for pork or chicken. Mix a dollop with finely chopped onion, Worcestershire Sauce and a shake of Tabasco (to your taste), and spread over the meat before roasting or barbecuing.

See also: Curry special

Just desserts

'Honey and nuts stirred into yogurt is an easy storecupboard/fridge pud,' says foodie and smallholder Fiona Neville, from cottagesmallholder.com.

'Fill the base of a ramekin with broken biscuits, add the yoghurt mix, and sprinkle with sesame seeds.'

See also: Curry special

Fruit loop

Whiz up a smoothie using tinned peaches or frozen summer berries, with 1 banana, 100ml (3fl oz) yoghurt and 100ml (3fl oz) milk.

See also: Curry special

Bare essentials

'My Bare Cupboard Pasta makes dinner out of almost nothing!' says Jules Clancy, author of 5ingredients/10minutes.

'Bring a saucepan of salted water to the boil and cook 200g (7oz) pasta according to the packet instructions. Meanwhile, fry 1 large sprig of rosemary and 1-2 finely chopped garlic cloves in 3tbsp oil until the garlic is golden and the rosemary is crispy. Take out the rosemary, drain the pasta and toss in the oil, and season.'

See also: Curry special