20-Minute Main Dishes Recipes

• Beet and Tarragon Fusilli

  Yes, this dinner is pink! And I’m sure you’ll agree that the flavours of beets, horseradish and tarragon are a natural marriage—but the leek and Swiss chard take this dish to a whole other level.

• Beef and Sweet Potato Stir-Fry

  Craving takeout? Whip up this tasty beef and sweet potato stir-fry in less time than it takes to call in an order.

• Moroccan Turkey Skillet

  This quick-to-make Moroccan dish is sure to please turkey lovers.

• Apple and Potato Rösti

  Sometimes cravings call for nothing but the buttery, warm goodness of homemade potato rösti. Indulge with our version, which adds sweet apples and fresh sage to the mix. Top with sour cream, chives and a good-quality smoked salmon or trout for an impressive appetizer or main dish.

• Rice and Beef Burritos

  These tasty rice and beef burritos make a quick and easy dinner or a filling packed lunch.

• Curry Chicken and Rice Casserole

  Easy to prepare for a weekday meal or sophisticated enough for a weekend dinner party, this Curry Chicken and Rice Casserole is rich in fibre and full of delicious, wholesome flavours.

• Mushroom Soup with Peppers

  This lovely one-pan mushroom soup with peppers is on the table in a matter of minutes.

• Mushroom-Barley Soup

  This nutritious mushroom-barley soup is even more flavourful if made ahead of time and reheated just before serving.

• Smoked Salmon on Mixed Salad Greens

  Smoked salmon has slightly lower amounts of omega-3 fatty acids than fresh salmon but, like other oily fish, it provides a rich source of these essential nutrients.

• Almond-Currant Couscous

  Crunchy toasted almonds add flavour and nutrition to this simple couscous dish with currants.

• Swordfish with Spicy Almond Crust

  A spicy-citrus crust with almonds adds texture and flavour to baked swordfish steaks in this quick-to-make dish.

• Grilled Pork Chops with Apple-Almond Salsa

  This fresh salsa for the grilled pork chops combines fragrant rosemary, crunchy almonds, and sweet and tart apples. This dish is easy to prepare and the unusual flavour combinations make it perfect for a dinner party.

• Vegetable Couscous with Wild Blueberries

  This quick vegetable couscous with wild blueberries recipe makes a healthy and delicious side dish or light main meal.

• Tomato-Roasted Mackerel

  Tired of salmon? Mackerel is also a good source of omega-3 fatty acids.

• French Onion-Tomato Soup

  A twist on traditional French onion soup, the addition of tomato juice lends a whole new flavour to the onions.

• Spicy Tomato Fish Chowder

  This spicy tomato fish chowder recipe makes a speedy main dish that is hearty and healthy.

• Rotelle with Black Beans and Tomatoes

  With fibre- and protein-rich black beans and a variety of vegetables, this quick rotelle pasta dish makes an easy weeknight meal. To make it extra healthy, use whole-wheat pasta and cut back on the cheese.

• Duck Kebabs with Honey and Orange

  A classic combination, Duck à l'Orange is given a Chinese touch in these sophisticated duck kebabs with honey and orange, infused with soy sauce and served with scented rice.

• Bulgur Wheat and Shrimp Salad

  A coarsely ground wheat grain, bulgur has already been parboiled, so it’s quick to prepare and makes an ideal pantry standby to use in salads, as well as in hot dishes. This nutty-textured, colorful bulgur wheat and shrimp salad is full of goodness, and is very attractive to the eye.

• Pears Grilled with Pecorino

  Many cuisines have traditions of combining fruit with cheese. This recipe stems from the Tuscan combination of juicy pears with salty pecorino. With some cheese melted over the pears and the rest combined with grapes and salad leaves, the pears grilled with pecorino makes a very attractive dish.

• Pizza Primavera

  Savour the flavours of feta cheese, olives and herbs in this pizza primavera, and pour a glass of Sangiovese wine.

• Frittata Florentine

  Serve this elegant egg dish with a green salad and a glass of sparkling wine. Frittata Florentine is also a delicious brunch entrée.

• Pork & Apple Stir Fry

  Serve this lean pork and apple stir-fry with brown rice and a glass of merlot.

• Sesame Stir-Fried Asparagus and Peas

  When asparagus is in season, run to the nearest grocery store and buy a big bunch. Cook it quickly and lightly. Stir-frying asparagus, rather than boiling it, preserves the water-soluble vitamins, including folate. Sesame stir-fried asparagus and peas is an exotic way to serve this delicious vegetable.

• Snow Peas with Apples and Ginger

  Slices of firm apple, briefly stir-fried, have the same crunch as water chestnuts, so they partner well with crisp, fresh snow peas and spicy ginger.

• Garlicky Tomato Salad

  When tomatoes are at their peak of sweetness, this garlicky tomato salad is particularly delicious. It’s eye-catching, too, if you make it with a mixture of different-coloured tomatoes—new varieties are coming on the market all the time.

• Crunchy Nut Coleslaw

  This fresh-tasting crunchy nut coleslaw is made with white cabbage, carrot and radishes, flecked with green onions, sultanas and peanuts.

• Apple and Sprout Salad

  The dressing for this vibrant apple and sprout salad, with tones of ginger, complements the flavours of the fruit and vegetables.

• Veal Marsala

  This dish is elegant enough to serve at a dinner party, yet easy enough for everyday cooking. Lean veal is cooked with Marsala wine, and mushrooms are added for flavour but no additional fat. Serve veal Marsala on a bed of orzo or other small pasta.

• Stir-Fried Pork With Chinese Greens

  Stir-fries do not have to be complicated, with numerous ingredients, as this simple recipe shows. Here strips of pork fillet are marinated then stir-fried with Chinese greens. Egg noodles make the perfect accompaniment.

• Pesto Pork Chops

  Lean pork is now on the heart-healthy menu. To keep these pork chops healthy but succulent, top them with homemade pesto. It uses just a tiny bit of oil but seals in all the pork’s juices at the same time.

• Shrimp, Melon and Mango Salad

  This salad combines shrimp with colourful, juicy melon and mango tossed in a light dressing flavoured with fresh mint and honey.

• Barbecued Shrimp wth Mustard Sauce

  Next time you have a barbecue, treat yourself to a little luxury—skewers of juicy barbecued shrimp in an exotically spiced marinade, served with a Dijon mustard sauce.

• Scallops with Cherry Tomato Saute

  Scallops are infinitely adaptable. Here, these low-fat, low-cholesterol morsels of succulent seafood are sautéed with cherry tomatoes and enlivened with a vermouth-based sauce. Serve the scallops with Asian rice vermicelli or brown rice.

• Hot and Spicy Black Bean Dip

  Update your party menu with a chili-laced black bean dip that’s practically fat-free and an excellent source of fibre. The dip can also be spooned onto plates and served as a light lunch, accompanied by warm whole-wheat pita bread.

• Indian Chicken and Broccoli Wrap

  These mouthwatering Indian chicken and broccoli snacks are quick to make. They use whole-wheat pita wraps instead of the traditional Indian chapatis. A yogurt-based raita, containing cucumber and tomato, is the perfect accompaniment.

• Egg-White Omelette with Spinach

  A delicious basic omelette minus the fat and cholesterol—that’s the kind of recipe every health-conscious cook needs. To make this egg-white omelette even more delicious, you can embellish the dish in creative, savoury ways with simple fillings.