Anyone working full time and having to feed a family every evening ­Ã¢â‚¬â€œ or even just themselves – knows how easy it is to rely on pre-prepped, processed food instead of something nutritious and flavoursome.

Personally, I’m often bereft of ideas, not to mention energy at the end of a weekday to rustle up something from scratch. Enter Katriona MacGregor and her new recipe book, Healthy Speedy Suppers.

Spawning from her Speedy Weeknight Suppers column for The Telegraph online, Ms MacGregor presents over 100 tried-and-tested recipes using fresh seasonal ingredients, showcasing influences from all over the world. The beauty is that the suppers are all designed to take less than 40 minutes from start to table. Easy-to-find ingredients (I was surprised how many staples I already had in my cupboards) are kept short, prep to a minimum and cooking often restricted to one pot, pan or tray.

Many recipes are wheat and dairy-free, and fat, sugar and refined carbohydrates are minimal. Leftovers get a makeover and vegetarians are catered for too.

From warming Celery and Walnut Soup or Smoked Haddock and Leek Chowder to cold and warm salads, through poultry and meat (my household will be starting with Chicken with Ricotta, Lemon and Basil, Turkey Ragu with Pappardelle, Chorizo, Leek and Cider-Braised Lentils, Paprika Pork with Red Peppers and numerous variations on stir-fry and curries), then to Moroccan Fish Tagine, Smoked Haddock, Chive and Gruyere Omelette and Asparagus and Tarragon Risotto.

There’s a wealth of ideas here that’ll keep any stressed family cook motivated for months and I suspect Healthy Speedy Suppers is going to become as much a kitchen staple as the pasta in the cupboard.

{ISBN:1848992998}