Easy family favourites for the new term

Make midweek dinners stress-free with simple stews and filling pasta dishes, says Angela

We’ve spent more time than ever in our kitchens at home this year, but as we go back to the routines of work and school, now is a good time to make life easy. My recipes this week can be cooked quickly or in advance: I often increase the quantities and make more for leftovers to freeze and serve with braised leafy greens another day. Although the season is turning towards autumn, the time for heavier, heartier meals isn’t here quite yet; these filling suppers to feed the family after a long day still have a lightness to them, to see you through September.

My smoked harissa spiced prawns with lemon zest are still a nod to summer. I like to use chopped celery softened into a soffritto-style base instead of onion, and I don’t like to throw away the celery stalks – they’re a great garnish. For the sausage stew overleaf, buy good sausages full of flavour, and cook them slowly. Worcestershire sauce and red wine enhances the flavour, and you could swap the butter beans for cannellini or kidney beans.

Spaghetti alla puttanesca is a classic dish from Naples with a salty-sweet, umami flavour, made with handy ingredients – tomato, garlic, chilli, anchovies, capers and olives; but you can also use puttanesca sauce as a rich base for chicken, as I have this week.

Finally, while there are some fantastic Indian restaurants in this country, making your own tender lamb curry at home is easy. My style of cooking is predominantly Italian, but at home I cook from all kinds of cuisines, depending on what I fancy. I don’t ever go for really spicy curries; this one won’t blow your head off, but it’s got a gentle ginger spiciness – you could make a raita with yogurt and cucumber to serve alongside it, for cooling contrast.