25 easy-peasy dinner recipe ideas

• Prawn cocktail-style wraps with avocado and red pepper mayonnaise

  Light and refreshing, these easy-to-prepare wraps get a spicy kick from homemade red pepper mayo.

  Go to the recipe for prawn coctail-style wraps

• Chicken & white bean salad

  Use leftover chicken to make this healthy, protein-packed salad. Or, for a vegetarian version, simply omit the chicken and add extra beans.

  Go to recipe for chicken and white bean salad

• Tuna panzanella

  Cubes of crusty day-old bread, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion and basil come tossed in a simple vinaigrette. Meanwhile, tuna gives this classic Italian salad a tasty - and filling - twist.

  Get the recipe for tuna panzanella

• Hummus and tzatziki veggie platter

  You can create this fresh and filling Mediterranean medley in less than half an hour. Serve the chickpea and cucumber-yoghurt dips with vegetables such as carrots and radishes, along with pita bread and olives. This platter also makes a great party appetizer.

  Get the recipe for the hummus and tzatziki veggie platter

• Prawn rolls

  Thanks to pre-cooked prawns, you can make these fresh sandwiches in 10 minutes flat. Lemon juice lightens the mayonnaise dressing, while cayenne gives it a little kick. Plate them with a side of crisps for a satisfying, no-fuss meal.

  Get the recipe for prawn rolls

• Cantaloupe-basil soup

  This pretty chilled soup makes an elegant first course at a summer dinner party or a light main dish, especially when topped with chilled, cooked prawns.

  Get the recipe for cantaloupe-basil soup

• White bean bread salad

  You don't even need to toast the bread for this rustic salad. Instead, opt for a stale baguette that can stand up to the zingy vinaigrette and fresh vegetables.

  Go to the recipe for white bean bread salad

• Creamy ranch rotisserie chicken salad

  Peppery radishes and creamy, herb-flecked dressing bring new life to leftover rotisserie chicken. Serve over a bed of greens or on bread, like a sandwich.

  Get the recipe for creamy ranch rotisserie chicken salad

• Open roast beef and pesto sandwich

  Turning on the oven loses its appeal during the dog days of summer. So consider making this simple, open-faced roast beef sandwich dressed up with garlicky pesto, slices of juicy tomato and a pile of peppery arugula.

  Go to recipe for open roast beef and pesto sandwhich

• BBQ chicken sandwich

  Barbecue sauce and ranch dressing combine to make one mouthwatering (no cook!) sandwich.

  Get the recipe for BBQ chicken sandwich

• Mango-pineapple scallop ceviche

  The tangy-sweet flavours of this cold seafood dish really stand out after the scallops have been marinating in the fridge for a couple of hours. Enjoy this citrusy ceviche with a side of savory plantain chips.

  Get the recipe for mango-pineapple scallop ceviche 

• White bean-avocado soup

  Dinner couldn’t be easier - just a handful of ingredients go into a blender, then into the fridge for an hour. Serve this creamy chilled soup, which gets a nice pop of flavour from a little lime juice and hot sauce, with tortilla chips for a light hot-weather meal.

  Go to recipe for white bean-avocado soup 

• Chopped greek salad with chicken

  Why do salads taste better when they're chopped? This Greek diner-style salad has all of the usual ingredients plus a tangy red wine vinegar dressing.

  Get the recipe for chopped greek salad with chicken

• Gazpacho soup with prawns

  Consumed in large quantities during Spain’s hot summer months, this cold, tomato-based soup has an acidic bite that’ll get your taste buds tingling. Top with chopped deli-bought cooked prawns to add more substance to the meal.

  Get the recipe for gazpacho soup with prawns

• Rotisserie chicken tostadas

  Cut down your cooking time - and the heat in the kitchen, by picking up a rotisserie chicken from the deli counter for this zesty Mexican meal. Homemade guacamole and mango-tomato salsa brighten up the tostadas in colour and flavour.

  Get the recipe for rotisserie chicken tostadas 

• Hoisin veggie-tofu lettuce cups

  Looking for a simple, stove-free dinner alternative? Try these Asian-style lettuce cups packed with tasty goodies including red pepper, carrot, corriander, mint, crushed peanuts, hoisin sauce, ginger and crumbled tofu.

  Get the recipe for hoisin veggie-tofu lettuce cups

• Jicama-cucumber salad

  This five-ingredient salad is the ultimate in crisp and cool with its tumble of jicama and cucumber tossed in lime juice. But it also brings the heat with a generous sprinkling of red chili flakes. Roasted pumpkin seeds add yet another dimension to this ideal summer dish.

  Get the recipe for jicama-cucumber salad

• Curried chicken salad bites

  Spice up your usual chicken salad sandwich with curry powder, scallions and dried cranberries.

  Get the recipe for curried chicken salad bites

• Asian spring rolls with peanut dipping sauce

  Not your everyday fare, these Asian shrimp, herb and noodle wraps will delight your friends and family with their clean, fresh flavours. The tangy peanut sauce acts as the perfect foil for these no-cook rolls.

  Get the recipe for Asian spring rolls with peanut dipping sauce 

• Watermelon, mint and basil salad

  Ideal for scorching summer days, sweet, juicy watermelon goes perfectly with salty Cotija cheese and the strong herbaceous flavors of mint and basil. A citrus vinaigrette puts the finishing touch on this fruity salad.

  Get the recipe for watermelon, mint and basil salad

• Peanut tofu wrap

  Here's a filling vegetarian meal that takes seconds to assemble - it won't last much longer on your plate, either!

  Get the recipe for peanut tofu wrap 

• Cucumber and yoghurt gazpacho

  Think of this refreshing soup as a cure for those days when you've overindulged a bit too much, or when it's too hot to think of turning on the oven.

  Get the recipe for cucumber and yoghurt gazpacho

• Herbed prawn and goat cheese wraps

  Tangy goat cheese is a perfect match for sweet prawns. Save time and buy your shrimp already cooked and deveined.

  Get the recipe for herbed prawn and goat cheese wraps

• Smoked salmon, sun-dried cranberries and goat cheese wrap

  At first, this combination of flavours might seem odd, but it's a creative (and delicious) twist on a salmon- and cream cheese-topped bagel.

  Get the recipe for smoked salmon, sun-dried cranberries and goat cheese wrap 

• Leftover chicken lettuce cups

  Turn leftover chicken and a few pantry staples into an impressive-looking salad served in lettuce leaves.

  Get the recipe for leftover chicken lettuce cups

• Next Up: 5 refreshing cocktails

  Frosty spirit mixers are always popular - and chilled wines, sangrias and beer are also welcome.

See also:

• 10 tasty dishes for BBQs and picnics
• 15 hangover cures: food to help you feel better