75 complete recipes

Protein Made Simple

75 Easy Recipes for Everyday Cooks

Learning to cook becomes easier when a recipe explains what to look for. A dry pan changes how tofu browns; a little patience keeps scrambled eggs tender; a thermometer makes a chicken cutlet less mysterious. Protein Made Simple puts those small decisions alongside familiar ingredients and clear portions.

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75 complete recipes, each with its own original illustration.

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Original hand-drawn illustration of ricotta scrambled eggs with cherry tomatoes.

Breakfasts That Teach the Basics

Ricotta Scrambled Eggs with Cherry Tomatoes

Ricotta makes a soft scramble without a long ingredient list.

2 breakfast plates, each with half the eggs, ricotta, tomatoes and toast · 30 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of peanut oat porridge with warm apple.

Breakfasts That Teach the Basics

Peanut Oat Porridge with Warm Apple

Milk, oats and peanut butter make a porridge that needs watching more than equipment.

2 porridge bowls, each with half the peanut oats and warm apple · 25 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of spinach tofu scramble in toasted pita.

Breakfasts That Teach the Basics

Spinach Tofu Scramble in Toasted Pita

A block of plain firm tofu can be crumbled with your hands, so this filling needs no careful knife work beyond a little onion.

2 filled whole-wheat pitas, each with half the tofu-spinach mixture · 35 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of chickpea flour crepes with tomato yogurt.

Breakfasts That Teach the Basics

Chickpea Flour Crepes with Tomato Yogurt

Chickpea flour makes a thin, egg-free batter that can be cooked in a small frying pan.

6 thin chickpea crepes with tomato yogurt; 3 crepes and half the yogurt mixture per person · 1 hr 5 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of salmon and potato breakfast hash with dill yogurt.

Breakfasts That Teach the Basics

Salmon and Potato Breakfast Hash with Dill Yogurt

Canned salmon turns a potato hash into a meal without requiring a beginner to judge a raw fish fillet.

2 hash plates, each with half the salmon, potatoes and dill yogurt · 55 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of soft polenta with white beans and cheddar.

Breakfasts That Teach the Basics

Soft Polenta with White Beans and Cheddar

Instant polenta is useful when you want a soft grain base without a long simmer.

2 deep bowls of bean polenta, each with half the cheddar · 30 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of yogurt flatbreads with cumin lentil dip.

Breakfasts That Teach the Basics

Yogurt Flatbreads with Cumin Lentil Dip

Yogurt flatbread dough is a manageable first bread project because it needs no yeast or proving stage.

4 small flatbreads and lentil dip; 2 breads with half the dip per person · 1 hr

Original hand-drawn illustration of tuna, celery and sweetcorn jacket potatoes.

Cold Lunches and Simple Assemblies

Tuna, Celery and Sweetcorn Jacket Potatoes

A microwave can cook the potato while you mix a tuna filling at the counter.

2 medium baked potatoes, each filled with half the tuna mixture · 35 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of chicken and apple rye sandwich.

Cold Lunches and Simple Assemblies

Chicken and Apple Rye Sandwich

A cold chicken sandwich starts with chicken that is already fully cooked and safely chilled.

2 sandwiches, each made with 2 rye slices and half the chicken-apple filling · 20 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of tofu and crunchy cabbage sesame box.

Cold Lunches and Simple Assemblies

Tofu and Crunchy Cabbage Sesame Box

Brown tofu, cold brown rice and a crisp cabbage salad make a lunch box with separate textures.

2 lunch boxes, each with half the tofu, cold rice, shredded vegetables and sesame dressing · 1 hr 40 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of lentil tomato and mozzarella picnic bowl.

Cold Lunches and Simple Assemblies

Lentil Tomato and Mozzarella Picnic Bowl

Lentils give a picnic bowl substance, but they need to be tender and cold before they meet the cheese.

2 generous picnic bowls, each with half the lentils, tomato, cucumber and mozzarella · 2 hr

Original hand-drawn illustration of sardine and cucumber lemon crispbreads.

Cold Lunches and Simple Assemblies

Sardine and Cucumber Lemon Crispbreads

Sardines bring a ready-cooked filling to a crisp lunch without another pan.

8 topped crispbreads; 4 per lunch serving · 15 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of turkey, avocado and kidney bean salad.

Cold Lunches and Simple Assemblies

Turkey, Avocado and Kidney Bean Salad

This salad combines ready-cooked turkey with canned kidney beans, avocado and crisp lettuce.

2 large salads, each with half the cooked turkey, kidney beans, avocado and vegetables · 20 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of lemon chicken cutlets with green peas.

Skillet Chicken and Turkey

Lemon Chicken Cutlets with Green Peas

A chicken cutlet is easier to cook evenly when it is the same thickness from end to end.

2 plates, each with 1 chicken cutlet, half the peas and half the couscous · 40 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of paprika turkey mince with sweet potato coins.

Skillet Chicken and Turkey

Paprika Turkey Mince with Sweet Potato Coins

Turkey mince and sweet potato need different kinds of heat.

2 generous plates, each with half the roasted sweet potato and turkey-pepper mixture · 55 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of ginger chicken and broccoli pan.

Skillet Chicken and Turkey

Ginger Chicken and Broccoli Pan

Ginger chicken becomes more approachable when the sauce is mixed before the pan is hot.

2 bowls, each with half the chicken-broccoli mixture and half the rice · 45 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of chicken thighs with mustard carrot sauce.

Skillet Chicken and Turkey

Chicken Thighs with Mustard Carrot Sauce

Carrots can become a sauce rather than a side pile.

2 plates, each with half the chicken, smooth carrot-mustard sauce and potatoes · 1 hr 15 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of turkey meatballs in tomato butter bean sauce.

Skillet Chicken and Turkey

Turkey Meatballs in Tomato Butter Bean Sauce

These small turkey meatballs simmer in a tomato sauce with already cooked butter beans.

12 turkey meatballs in bean-tomato sauce; 6 meatballs and half the bread per serving · 1 hr 5 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of rosemary chicken with skillet polenta.

Skillet Chicken and Turkey

Rosemary Chicken with Skillet Polenta

Fine cornmeal turns into soft polenta with a steady heat and regular stirring.

2 plates, each with half the rosemary chicken, soft polenta and tomatoes · 1 hr

Original hand-drawn illustration of quick chicken mushroom stroganoff.

Skillet Chicken and Turkey

Quick Chicken Mushroom Stroganoff

Mushrooms and chicken both release moisture, so this stroganoff cooks them in stages.

2 bowls, each with half the chicken-mushroom sauce and egg noodles · 55 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of turkey and courgette burgers with yogurt slaw.

Skillet Chicken and Turkey

Turkey and Courgette Burgers with Yogurt Slaw

Grated courgette can keep a turkey burger pleasant to eat, but its loose juice must be squeezed out first.

2 whole-wheat-roll burgers, each with 1 turkey-courgette patty and half the yogurt slaw · 1 hr

Original hand-drawn illustration of foil-baked cod with tomato white beans.

Fish Without Fuss

Foil-Baked Cod with Tomato White Beans

A foil packet traps steam around cod, while a warm tomato-and-bean base gives the fish a useful cushion.

2 complete foil-packet meals, each with 1 cod fillet, half the bean-tomato base and 40 g bread · 55 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of salmon fillets with warm cucumber lentils.

Fish Without Fuss

Salmon Fillets with Warm Cucumber Lentils

Cucumber is usually served cold, but a very short turn in a warm pan gives it a different role.

2 plates, each with 1 salmon fillet and half the warm cucumber-lentil mixture · 55 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of prawn and sweetcorn couscous.

Fish Without Fuss

Prawn and Sweetcorn Couscous

Prawns cook quickly, but raw and ready-cooked packets are not interchangeable at the stove.

2 bowls, each with half the prawns, sweetcorn, pepper and couscous · 40 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of canned mackerel fishcakes with pea dip.

Fish Without Fuss

Canned Mackerel Fishcakes with Pea Dip

Canned mackerel and potato become fishcakes when the mash is dry enough to hold a shape.

6 fishcakes and pea dip; 3 fishcakes and half the dip per serving · 1 hr 50 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of trout with lemon leeks and potatoes.

Fish Without Fuss

Trout with Lemon Leeks and Potatoes

Leeks need washing between their layers before they need cooking.

2 plates, each with 1 trout fillet, half the lemon leeks and half the potatoes · 55 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of tuna tomato pasta for two.

Fish Without Fuss

Tuna Tomato Pasta for Two

Canned tuna needs much less time in the pan than a tomato sauce.

2 pasta bowls, each with half the tuna-tomato sauce and pasta · 45 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of haddock and chickpea chowder.

Fish Without Fuss

Haddock and Chickpea Chowder

A chowder needs its firm vegetables cooked before delicate fish is added.

3 main-meal bowls, each with about 600 ml chowder and 30 g whole-wheat bread · 1 hr 5 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of red lentil soup with yogurt ribbons.

Beans, Lentils and Chickpeas

Red Lentil Soup with Yogurt Ribbons

Red lentils soften and break down into a soup without a blender.

2 large main-meal soup bowls, each with half the yogurt and 40 g bread · 1 hr 5 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of black bean and pumpkin soft tacos.

Beans, Lentils and Chickpeas

Black Bean and Pumpkin Soft Tacos

Roasted pumpkin and black beans make a soft taco filling with two different textures.

8 soft tacos; 4 tacos and half the yogurt sauce per serving · 1 hr 5 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of chickpeas in a soft eggplant sauce.

Beans, Lentils and Chickpeas

Chickpeas in a Soft Eggplant Sauce

Eggplant needs enough cooking to become soft all the way through, not merely browned on the outside.

2 bowls, each with half the chickpea-eggplant sauce and half the brown rice · 1 hr 20 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of creamy split peas with wilted spinach.

Beans, Lentils and Chickpeas

Creamy Split Peas with Wilted Spinach

Green split peas need a real simmering window to become creamy.

2 main-meal bowls of creamy split peas and spinach, each with 50 g bread · 1 hr 55 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of pinto bean sweetcorn skillet with cheese.

Beans, Lentils and Chickpeas

Pinto Bean Sweetcorn Skillet with Cheese

Pinto beans and sweetcorn make a skillet meal with a simple tomato base and a short cheese finish.

2 skillet meals, each with half the beans, corn, cheese and 2 small corn tortillas · 1 hr

Original hand-drawn illustration of lentil walnut pasta sauce.

Beans, Lentils and Chickpeas

Lentil Walnut Pasta Sauce

A lentil sauce does not need to imitate meat to make a satisfying pasta dinner.

2 generous bowls, each with half the pasta and half the lentil-walnut sauce · 1 hr 15 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of butter bean and kale tomato pot.

Beans, Lentils and Chickpeas

Butter Bean and Kale Tomato Pot

Butter beans make this tomato pot feel substantial without a long ingredient list.

2 deep bowls, each with half the bean-kale pot and 1 slice of bread · 55 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of chickpea millet patties with cucumber dip.

Beans, Lentils and Chickpeas

Chickpea Millet Patties with Cucumber Dip

Cooked millet can bind a chickpea patty when it is soft enough to mash, rather than fluffy and separate.

8 patties and cucumber-yogurt dip; 2 meals of 4 patties with half the dip · 1 hr 50 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of crispy tofu with orange broccoli.

Tofu, Eggs and Everyday Vegetarian Meals

Crispy Tofu with Orange Broccoli

Firm tofu browns more readily when its surface is dry and the sauce waits until the end.

2 bowls, each with half the tofu, broccoli, orange sauce and rice · 55 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of mushroom omelet with white bean salad.

Tofu, Eggs and Everyday Vegetarian Meals

Mushroom Omelet with White Bean Salad

A mushroom omelet makes a more complete lunch when a white bean salad is prepared alongside it.

2 two-egg mushroom omelets, each with half the white bean salad · 50 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of baked eggs in pepper ricotta boats.

Tofu, Eggs and Everyday Vegetarian Meals

Baked Eggs in Pepper Ricotta Boats

A large pepper half can hold a small ricotta-and-spinach filling with one egg nestled above it.

4 filled pepper halves; 2 meals of 2 halves and 1 slice of bread · 1 hr 25 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of tempeh and carrot peanut noodles.

Tofu, Eggs and Everyday Vegetarian Meals

Tempeh and Carrot Peanut Noodles

Tempeh and carrot turn plain noodles into a meal with a small amount of peanut sauce spread through every strand.

2 plates, each with half the noodles, tempeh, carrot and peanut sauce · 1 hr

Original hand-drawn illustration of pan-fried halloumi with lentils and parsley.

Tofu, Eggs and Everyday Vegetarian Meals

Pan-Fried Halloumi with Lentils and Parsley

Halloumi browns in a skillet without flowing into a melted sauce, making it a useful contrast to warm lentils and parsley.

2 warm lentil plates, each topped with half the browned halloumi · 40 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of tofu and green pea coconut curry.

Tofu, Eggs and Everyday Vegetarian Meals

Tofu and Green Pea Coconut Curry

Tofu and green peas make a gentle coconut curry with an ordinary tomato base.

2 bowls, each with half the tofu-pea curry and rice · 1 hr

Original hand-drawn illustration of cheddar broccoli frittata wedges.

Tofu, Eggs and Everyday Vegetarian Meals

Cheddar Broccoli Frittata Wedges

A small frittata makes a useful first oven-finished egg dish.

4 frittata wedges; 2 meals of 2 wedges with 1 slice of toast each · 1 hr

Original hand-drawn illustration of pork medallions with apple cabbage.

Whole Cuts and Ground Meat

Pork Medallions with Apple Cabbage

Pork tenderloin cut into even medallions cooks quickly, so apple cabbage and boiled potatoes should be nearly ready before it reaches the skillet.

2 plates, each with 3 pork medallions and half the cabbage, apple and potatoes · 1 hr 10 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of beef and brown lentil cottage pie.

Whole Cuts and Ground Meat

Beef and Brown Lentil Cottage Pie

A cottage pie needs a filling thick enough to support the mash rather than a pool of gravy under a floating potato lid.

2 generous servings, each with half the beef-lentil filling and potato topping · 1 hr 40 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of lamb meatballs with tomato couscous.

Whole Cuts and Ground Meat

Lamb Meatballs with Tomato Couscous

Twelve small lamb meatballs simmer in tomato sauce while fine couscous hydrates in a separate bowl.

12 lamb meatballs; 2 bowls of 6 meatballs, half the tomato sauce and half the couscous · 1 hr 10 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of lean beef lettuce cups with rice.

Whole Cuts and Ground Meat

Lean Beef Lettuce Cups with Rice

Lean ground beef, finely diced mushrooms and carrot make a warm filling for crisp lettuce leaves.

8 filled lettuce cups; 2 meals of 4 cups and half the rice · 1 hr

Original hand-drawn illustration of pork and edamame ginger rice bowls.

Whole Cuts and Ground Meat

Pork and Edamame Ginger Rice Bowls

Ground pork and green edamame make a bowl with two different textures rather than one large pile of mince.

2 rice bowls, each with half the pork, edamame, carrot and rice · 1 hr

Original hand-drawn illustration of steak strips with mustard mushrooms.

Whole Cuts and Ground Meat

Steak Strips with Mustard Mushrooms

The steak in this meal cooks as a whole piece and is sliced only after resting.

2 plates, each with half the rested steak strips, mustard mushrooms and potatoes · 1 hr 10 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of beef and sweet pepper bean chili.

Whole Cuts and Ground Meat

Beef and Sweet Pepper Bean Chili

Beef and sweet pepper make a chili with a mild background of paprika and a small measured amount of cayenne.

2 bowls of beef-bean chili, each with 1 whole-wheat bread slice · 1 hr 15 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of pork mince and white bean stuffed courgettes.

Whole Cuts and Ground Meat

Pork Mince and White Bean Stuffed Courgettes

Large courgettes, also called zucchini, can hold a filling of cooked pork, white beans and their own chopped centers.

4 filled courgette halves;2 meals of 2 halves each · 1 hr 25 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of chicken pea lemon orzo.

Pasta, Rice and Grain Meals

Chicken Pea Lemon Orzo

Chicken, peas and orzo can finish in a single skillet when the pasta has enough water and the peas join at the correct stage.

2 bowls, each with half the chicken, peas and lemon orzo · 1 hr 10 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of tofu vegetable fried rice.

Pasta, Rice and Grain Meals

Tofu Vegetable Fried Rice

Fried rice works best here with a deliberately cooked and promptly chilled rice batch, not an untracked takeaway carton.

2 bowls of tofu-vegetable fried rice, each with half the complete skillet · 1 hr 5 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of tuna spinach ricotta pasta shells.

Pasta, Rice and Grain Meals

Tuna Spinach Ricotta Pasta Shells

Jumbo shells give a tuna, spinach and ricotta filling a clear shape in a tomato sauce.

12 filled jumbo shells;2 servings of 6 shells and half the sauce · 1 hr 35 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of lentil and feta barley pilaf.

Pasta, Rice and Grain Meals

Lentil and Feta Barley Pilaf

Pearl barley gives a lentil pilaf a chewy grain texture that a quick couscous cannot reproduce.

2 bowls, each with half the barley-lentil pilaf and feta · 1 hr 40 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of salmon broccoli potato bake.

Pasta, Rice and Grain Meals

Salmon Broccoli Potato Bake

A salmon bake works more reliably when potato slices are already nearly tender before they enter the dish.

2 generous portions, each with half the salmon, broccoli, potatoes and sauce · 1 hr 30 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of black bean cheese rice patties.

Pasta, Rice and Grain Meals

Black Bean Cheese Rice Patties

Black beans, cooked rice and a measured amount of cheddar make compact pan-fried patties with a cool lime-yogurt dip.

8 patties and lime-yogurt dip;2 meals of 4 patties with half the dip · 1 hr 35 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of turkey tomato lasagne bowls.

Pasta, Rice and Grain Meals

Turkey Tomato Lasagne Bowls

Lasagne flavors can become a bowl meal without building a deep layered casserole.

2 bowls, each with half the turkey-tomato pasta and ricotta · 1 hr 20 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of chicken lentil soup for the freezer.

Make Once, Eat Again

Chicken Lentil Soup for the Freezer

Chicken thigh and red lentils make a soup with enough body to portion as a meal rather than a thin stock to which everything else must be added.

4 generous soup meals, each with one-quarter of the soup and 1 bread slice · 1 hr 25 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of turkey kidney bean cornbread pots.

Make Once, Eat Again

Turkey Kidney Bean Cornbread Pots

Turkey and kidney beans sit under a small cornbread lid in these individual oven pots.

4 individual 600 ml cornbread-topped pots;1 pot per meal · 2 hr 5 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of chickpea spinach and egg breakfast bake.

Make Once, Eat Again

Chickpea Spinach and Egg Breakfast Bake

Chickpeas give a spinach-and-egg bake small distinct pieces within the set egg, while measured feta adds a salty finish.

4 breakfast-bake portions, each with 1 whole-wheat toast slice · 1 hr 45 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of beef mushroom and pearl barley soup.

Make Once, Eat Again

Beef Mushroom and Pearl Barley Soup

Beef, mushrooms and pearl barley make a long-simmered soup that earns its place in a freezer.

4 generous soup meals, each with one-quarter of the beef, barley, vegetables and broth · 3 hr 20 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of tofu bolognese pasta bake.

Make Once, Eat Again

Tofu Bolognese Pasta Bake

Crumbled tofu takes on a sauce more effectively when some surface moisture is cooked away first.

4 pasta-bake meals, each with one-quarter of the tofu sauce, pasta and cheese · 2 hr 15 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of salmon pea and oat mini loaves.

Make Once, Eat Again

Salmon Pea and Oat Mini Loaves

Canned salmon, peas and oats make four small savory loaves rather than one deep bake.

4 individual mini loaves, each served with 1 large slice of whole-wheat bread · 1 hr 25 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of red lentil cottage cheese vegetable bake.

Make Once, Eat Again

Red Lentil Cottage Cheese Vegetable Bake

Red lentils need to be cooked before they go into this cottage-cheese bake.

4 vegetable-bake meals, each one-quarter of the complete dish · 1 hr 55 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of chicken black bean sweet potato stew.

Make Once, Eat Again

Chicken Black Bean Sweet Potato Stew

Chicken thighs, black beans and sweet potato make a pot with several textures and one clear cooking sequence.

4 stew meals, each with one-quarter of the chicken, beans, sweet potato and broth · 1 hr 35 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of cocoa yogurt and peanut oat cups.

Small Meals and Simple Snacks

Cocoa Yogurt and Peanut Oat Cups

Plain yogurt becomes a cocoa-and-peanut cup with an ordinary whisk and a little toasted oat texture.

2 substantial yogurt-and-oat snack cups, each half the complete mixture · 40 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of cottage cheese peach toast.

Small Meals and Simple Snacks

Cottage Cheese Peach Toast

Juicy peach and cool cottage cheese turn a large slice of toast into an easy small meal.

2 open-faced cottage-cheese and peach toasts, each 1 large slice with half the topping · 20 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of hummus egg and radish snack plate.

Small Meals and Simple Snacks

Hummus Egg and Radish Snack Plate

A snack plate can be deliberately portioned without becoming a complicated recipe.

2 substantial snack plates, each 2 eggs,60 g hummus,80 g radishes and 1/2 small pita · 45 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of warm edamame with sesame lime dressing.

Small Meals and Simple Snacks

Warm Edamame with Sesame Lime Dressing

Frozen shelled edamame can become a warm bowl with a measured sesame-lime dressing.

2 warm snack bowls, each half the cooked shelled edamame and dressing · 25 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of ricotta strawberry toasted crumpets.

Small Meals and Simple Snacks

Ricotta Strawberry Toasted Crumpets

Toasted crumpets have little pockets that hold a soft topping, but they are most enjoyable before that topping has time to soak through.

2 generous snack servings, each 2 crumpets with half the ricotta and strawberries · 30 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of white bean red pepper dip with pita.

Small Meals and Simple Snacks

White Bean Red Pepper Dip with Pita

Roasted red pepper gives this white-bean dip its color and sweetness, while a little tahini makes the texture rounded without cottage cheese or cream.

2 substantial dip-and-pita servings, each half the complete dip and 1 small pita · 1 hr 15 min

Original hand-drawn illustration of savory cottage cheese oat cakes.

Small Meals and Simple Snacks

Savory Cottage Cheese Oat Cakes

These are soft savory oat cakes cooked in a skillet, with cottage cheese and eggs holding the mixture together.

8 small savory oat cakes;2 snack-sized servings of 4 cakes each · 1 hr