An excellent way to turn a popular Italian slow food standard into an easy and quicker family classic.

An easy vegetarian/vegan taco

An easy vegetarian/vegan taco

Minature chilli rellenos made with padron peppers.

All the taste of Mexico in one recipe.

Caponata is a Sicilian specialty. I’ve adapted the recipe to include basil flowers scented with cinnamon.

The exact constituent parts of an authentic Niçoise salad is a matter of contentious debate. There must be as many points of view as there are cooks. So I am throwing my hat into the ring and offer up Niçoise with asparagus!!

Like sesame sauce, miso ends up in sauces and dressing for many classic Japanese salads. Here I’ve combined miso with asparagus to make a rather exotic salad – wasabi on the side adds piquancy and a touch of jeopardy to the dish.

Asparagus and nuts have an affinity – I’ve used hazelnuts and seen recipes with pistachios, so sesame should – and does – marry well. Avocado and tofu work well together, and asparagus eats well with avocado. This recipe brings all these flavour combination together in a Japanese style dish.

Here’s a really easy way with gnocchi. Add to a quick cheese sauce made with Gorgonzola, add a few chives and that’s it. Use a good Gorgonzola (I’ve used the excellent cheese made by Tosi),

Most cooks agree that when you have an amazing ingredient it is best to prepare it as simply as possible. And they are not wrong: this must be the very best way to eat asparagus. Steamed and presented in a big stack to share. Butter, salt and lemon are optional extras…

These pastries are irresistable. They look and taste delicious.

Asparagus goes well with Parmesan cheese. Asparagus also goes well with Taleggio and Gruyèr. It seems we can assume that asparagus works with cheese generally – so why not a fondue?

This recipe matches asparagus with a deconstructed puttanesca sauce. Surprisingly, this really works – the asparagus stands up well to the robust pizza flavours.

It’s the British asparagus season – make the most of it with this very simple combination: fresh asparagus from local fields and fresh peas from a pod, boiled and then quickly braised in butter, with lemon herbs and hazlenuts and kasha for a bit of crunch.