Also known as mutton pies, these have a very long history. In the middle ages, they were frowned upon by the Scottish church, viewed as luxurious, decadent English-style food. In later centuries, they proved to be convenient and sustaining snacks for working people, who would buy them hot from pie-men or pie-wives in the city streets. The space on top of the pie, created by the raised crust, would sometimes be filled with gravy, beans or mashed potato.
Pork belly is a fantastic and relatively inexpensive cut of meat. The generous covering of fat gives great flavour, brilliant crackling and prevents the meat drying out. Tom serves his with a fresh salsa to cut through the richness of the dish and lentils to provide substance.
Jollof rice is found throughout West Africa and is thought to be the origin of the Cajun dish, jambalaya. Serve with fried plantains and a crisp green salad.
This easy chilli is enlivened by a salsa crammed with healthy vegetables and creamy avocado. The spiciness can be adjusted to suit your taste. This meal provides 393 kcal, 30g protein, 12g carbohydrate (of which 10g sugars), 23g fat (of which 7g saturates), 4g fibre and 0.4g salt per portion.
This recipe makes excellent use of a whole chicken. Serve with rice, or if you have time, homemade roti. This meal, if served as six portions, provides 491kcal, 59g protein, 27g carbohydrate (of which 6g sugars), 15g fat (of which 3g saturates), 7g fibre and 0.7g salt per portion.
Create a taste of the Mediterranean with this hearty vegan stew served with potato cakes. Each serving provides 471kcal, 13.5g protein, 51g carbohydrate (of which 13g sugars), 21g fat (of which 4g saturates), 13g fibre and 0.8g salt.
Sweet parsnips and tangy cooking apples combine perfectly in this deliciously smooth soup. Each serving provides 202kcal, 3.5g protein, 26g carbohydrate (of which 18g sugars), 8g fat (of which 3g saturates), 7.5g fibre and 1.2g salt.
Roast lamb accompanied by peas, mint and lettuce, this recipe captures Spring's sweetness and freshness. This meal provides 451 kcal, 37g protein, 5.5g carbohydrate (of which 2.5g sugars), 31g fat (of which 14.5g saturates), 2.3g fibre and 1.9g salt per portion.
I love a good Thai chicken curry, fragrant with spices, chilli and ginger, and creamy with coconut milk. This is my pastry-topped tribute to that dish. Equipment and preparation: for this recipe you will need a 1.2 litre/2 pint pie dish and a lattice cutter.
This pie would make a wonderful centrepiece for a family meal. My granddaughters Abby and Grace helped me to make it for the TV programme. For this recipe you will need a 1.75 litre/3 pint shallow, wide-based ovenproof dish, about 25cm/10in in diameter.
This gorgeous pie plays on the wonderful affinity between pork and apples. The fruit gives a subtle sweetness to the cider-enriched gravy and the sage lends an aromatic note. Equipment and preparation: you will need a 1.2 litre/2lb 12oz pie dish and a pie funnel.
A one-pot dish that's easy to prepare and serve a crowd. Pollack is a cheaper variety of white fish and is perfect for poaching in the flavourful stew.
Whip up a hearty dish of chicken and beans to keep the whole family happy. Do tweak the recipe to suit your veg stocks. This meal, if served as six portions, provides 503kcal, 46g protein, 59g carbohydrate (of which 14.5g sugars), 7g fat (of which 2g saturates), 9g fibre and 1.6g salt per portion.
The warm flavours of cinnamon, dried fruits and chicken make this tagine a Moroccan classic. 632 kcal, 50g protein, 46g carbohydrate (of which 44g sugars), 26g fat (of which 4g saturates), 7g fibre and 1.1g salt per portion.
Mary Berry shows you how to cook a turkey crown - deliciously flavoured with orange and thyme - in 10 easy steps. This meal, if served as 10 portions, provides 335kcal, 56g protein, 7g carbohydrate (of which 3.5g sugars), 8g fat (of which 4g saturates), 0.4g fibre and 0.9g salt per portion.
You can easily double up this sausage pasta bake and make one for the freezer, it will keep in the freezer for 2 months. Serve with a crisp green salad. This is designed to be a low cost recipe.
Fruity spelt brings an inventive twist to classic roast chicken in this dish. Serve with kale and leeks for a healthy Sunday roast. This meal, if served as six portions, provides 520kcal, 56g protein, 46g fat (of which 6g sugars), 12g fat (of which 3g saturates), 4g fibre and 0.6 salt per portion.
Transform a little minced beef into a luscious spicy stew with beans, served with rice and a dollop of yoghurt to control the heat. This is designed to be a low cost recipe. This chilli can be made in advance and frozen, just leave to cool completely and pop in a freezer-proof container. It will keep in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Although this is a veggie roast, this truly is a meal fit for a king. I admit this is not the shortest of recipes, but it is really satisfying to make and the pastry is brilliantly quick and simple. For this recipe you will need an 18cm/7in springform cake tin.
Bake a healthy paella-style dish of salmon and chorizo rice. Each serving provides 876kcal, 60g protein, 48g carbohydrate (of which 6g sugars), 49g fat (of which 16g saturates), 3g fibre and 3.5g salt.
Packed with flavourful ingredients, lighter coconut milk makes this a healthier twist on a Thai favourite. Each serving provides 358 kcal, 14g protein, 47g carbohydrate (of which 6g sugars), 11.5g fat (of which 5g saturates), 6g fibre and 2.1g salt.
This comforting casserole is ready in no time, and the crusty topping and zingy pesto add gourmet pizzazz. Equipment and preparation: for this recipe you will need a food processor.
A hearty meal for four in one pot. Tender lamb cooked in a richly flavoured casserole with crisp layered potatoes on top. Each serving provides 455 kcal, 31g protein, 47g carbohydrate (of which 13g sugars), 14g fat (of which 5g saturates), 10g fibre and 1.7g salt.
A budget-friendly soup that's healthy and filling. This soup is perfect for whipping up ahead of time and popping in the freezer. Just leave to cool and store in a freezer-proof container. It will keep in the freezer for up to 2 months. This meal provides 183 kcal, 6g protein, 18.5g carbohydrate (of which 10g sugars), 9.5g fat (of which 1.3g saturates), 6.5g fibre and 1.7g salt per portion.
The point of a stew, it should go without saying, is its flavour rather than its form. So, while the crunchy salad strips of carrot, spring onion and pepper do bring colour and beauty to this otherwise brown study, at the same time their texture and Asian-flavoured bite provide the perfect partner for the rich, aromatic spiciness of the soft-braised stew.
This is a rich and comforting stew that is smart enough to serve for a dinner party. I like to serve it with mashed potatoes or my potatoes dauphinoise and a green vegetable.
With no onions to chop or tomatoes to skin, this soup is quick, easy and delicious. In fact, it is one of my favourite family recipes, as I always have the ingredients in the cupboard.
Nigel Slater jazzes up traditional pea and ham soup with posh pancetta for a quick meal that's ready in next to no time. Each serving provides 242kcal, 21g protein, 14.5g carbohydrate (of which 3.5g sugars), 10g fat (of which 4 6 saturates), 5g fibre and 1.6g salt.
Sausages, tinned beans and tomatoes are a classic combo for a cheap and flavoursome casserole. With its crunchy parsley topping, this version of sausage stew is super-irresistible. This is designed to be a low cost recipe. Try freezing in portion-sized containers - it will keep for up to 2 months.
This is a wonderful summer dish and perfect for using up a glut of runner beans. This recipe cuts out all the usual stirring in a risotto making it really easy too.
A cheap and economical Thai curry. The root veg have a sweet taste that benefits from a little spice. You can freeze the curry in portion-sized amounts, then defrost for a quick meal. (But don't freeze the rice - always cook it fresh.)
Balance healthy ingredients beautifully with this vegetarian casserole recipe. This meal served as six portions provides 217 kcal, 8g protein, 40g carbohydrate (of which 28g sugars), 3g fat (of which 0.5g saturates), 9g fibre and 1.9g salt per portion.
A richly flavoured soup, spiced with curry powder. Perfect for a cold day, serve with a dollop of tangy sour cream. This meal, if served as five portions, provides 245kcal, 5g protein, 36g carbohydrate (of which 12g sugars), 8g fat (of which 3.5g saturates), 5g fibre and 0.4g salt per portion.
This creamy dish is really satisfying, but surprisingly low in calories. Each serving provides 391 kcal, 58g protein, 10.5g carbohydrate (of which 7g sugars), 11.5g fat (of which 6g saturates), 7.5g fibre and 1.1g salt.
Roasting really brings out the sweet, earthy flavour of parsnips and makes for a wonderfully aromatic soup. Each serving provides 184kcal, 4g protein, 12g carbohydrate (of which 8g sugars), 12g fat (of which 5g saturates), 3.5g fibre and 0.8g salt.
Risotto is such a quick and easy dish: the creamy rice is complemented here by the salmon and peas. Be careful not to overcook it, though, or it will be stodgy.
This easy chicken recipe is a great meal to have bubbling away on the stove for a simple supper with friends or a family-friendly mid-week meal. This is designed to be a low cost recipe. This recipe is perfect for batch cooking, cook the chicken sauce and divide it into portions and pop in the freezer, it will keep in the freezer for 2 months. You can cook the potatoes while you reheat the sauce.
Use the kernels from fresh sweetcorn - or else frozen corn to save time - for this simple side dish. You could replace the red chillies with chopped bell pepper to make this more suitable for young kids.
For a proper Sunday lunch that won't break the bank try this beef shin stew. Serve with some creamy mash for a mouthwatering meal. Try the Eat Well for Less quiz to find out how you could cut your food bills.
A super-filling, meat-free wonder. Omit the Worcestershire sauce to make it a hearty vegetarian dinner. Each serving provides 400kcal, 15g protein, 47g carbohydrate (of which 9.5g sugars), 12.5g fat (of which 6g saturates), 9g fibre and 0.6g salt.