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On the table in half an hour or less.
15 minDay-old bread soaked in vanilla and cinnamon custard, then fried in butter until crisp outside and soft in the middle. Brioche or challah make it extra rich. Adapted from “French Toast” in the Wikibooks Cookbook (CC BY-SA 4.0). Scaled to 2 servings (2 eggs for 4 slices) and gave set amounts for the vanilla, cinnamon, sugar and butter; the pepper is left out. Photo: Ralph Daily, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (“French Toast (16251867289)”).
25 minThick, fluffy griddle pancakes made light with a whipped egg white folded into the batter. Stack them up with butter, maple syrup and fresh berries. Adapted from “Pancakes (North American)” in the Wikibooks Cookbook (CC BY-SA 4.0). Added butter for the pan, the heat level and cooking times. Photo: Herson Rodriguez, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (“Pancakes with Berries (Unsplash)”).
13 minThe village salad of Greece: ripe tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, green pepper and olives in olive oil, crowned with a whole slab of feta and a pinch of oregano. No lettuce needed. Adapted from “Greek Salad” in the Wikibooks Cookbook (CC BY-SA 4.0). Gave amounts for every ingredient (the source lists none) for 4 servings, and dried oregano over the feta instead of an optional fresh sprig. Photo: Jpatokal, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (“Greece Food Horiatiki”).
27 min 16 minThin slices of beef and onion simmered in a sweet soy and dashi sauce and spooned over rice, with a soft egg, pickled ginger and spring onions on top. Japan's favourite fast weeknight bowl. Adapted from “Gyudon (Japanese Beef and Rice Bowl)” in the Wikibooks Cookbook (CC BY-SA 4.0). Scaled to two full bowls (300 g beef, a whole onion) with the sauce raised to match; rice amount and cooking times added. Photo: Calgary Reviews, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (“Beef Bowl, Gyūdon”).
25 minSoft egg noodles tossed in a hot pan with chicken, shrimp and crisp vegetables and coated in soy sauce. A flexible stir-fry that takes whatever meat and vegetables you have. Adapted from “Lo Mein” in the Wikibooks Cookbook (CC BY-SA 4.0). Fixed amounts for 4 in place of equal "parts" and "enough" soy sauce; picked chicken, shrimp, broccoli, carrot and asparagus from the suggested options and added spring onions to finish. Photo: jeffreyw, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (“Lo mein (13878821955)”).
23 minIndonesia's everyday fried rice: shallots, garlic and chile fried with chicken, then cold rice glazed with sweet soy sauce. Serve it with cucumber slices and, if you like, a fried egg on top. Adapted from “Nasi Goreng (Indonesian Fried Rice)” in the Wikibooks Cookbook (CC BY-SA 4.0). Gave amounts for the rice, oil and soy sauces; chose chicken and green beans from the optional list and read "fish oil" as fish sauce. The fried egg on top comes from the source's variations. Photo: Midori, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (“Nasi goreng di Rantepao”).
23 minThe Cantonese fried rice found in every Hong Kong café: day-old jasmine rice tossed with prawns, char siu, bacon, peas and egg. A great home for leftover rice. Adapted from “Yeung Chow Fried Rice” in the Wikibooks Cookbook (CC BY-SA 4.0). Salt and pepper cut from 1 tbsp each to 1 tsp salt and ½ tsp white pepper; serves 3 rather than 7 for the same amount of rice. Photo: Ceeseven, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (“Yeung Chow Fried Rice in Hong Kong Fast Food Shop”).
23 min 16 minSoft, turmeric-yellow potatoes with mustard seeds, curry leaves and green chillies: the filling for masala dosa, and great with roti or rice. Adapted from “Potato Curry (Aloo Masala)” in the Wikibooks Cookbook (CC BY-SA 4.0). Added the par-boiling step and used 3 chillies instead of 4–5. Photo: Maddyatpondy, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (“Poori masala - tamilnadu -IMG 20190924 090232”).
The oven or the fridge does most of the work — great for busy evenings.
2 h 5 min 29 minA crisp-shelled, marshmallow-soft meringue piled with whipped cream and fresh berries, the celebration dessert of Australia and New Zealand. Bake the base ahead and assemble just before serving. Adapted from “Pavlova” in the Wikibooks Cookbook (CC BY-SA 4.0). Gave amounts for the cream, powdered sugar and fruit; the sugar is beaten in gradually rather than folded, and the meringue cools in the switched-off oven, as the source's notes suggest. Photo: Dariusz Więckiewicz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (“Pavlova Cake”).
4 h 3 min 25 minSilky vanilla custard baked gently in a water bath, chilled, then finished with a layer of sugar caramelised until it cracks under the spoon. Adapted from “Crème Brûlée III” in the Wikibooks Cookbook (CC BY-SA 4.0). Doubled to 4 ramekins with vanilla as the flavouring and less sugar on top (1 tbsp per ramekin); the water bath now comes halfway up the ramekins. Photo: Syced, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (“Crème brûlée at restaurant in Zushi”).
4 h 13 min 18 minItaly's 'cooked cream': vanilla-speckled cream barely set with gelatine, turned out and served in a pool of bright berry sauce. Five minutes on the stove, then the fridge does the rest. Adapted from “Panna Cotta (Basic)” in the Wikibooks Cookbook (CC BY-SA 4.0). Gelatine doubled to 1½ tsp and softened in water instead of cream so the panna cotta sets firmly enough to turn out; added a quick blended berry sauce to serve. Photo: lowsource, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (“Panna Cotta with strawberry sauce”).
1 h 10 min 20 minDense, deeply chocolatey brownies made with unsweetened baking chocolate and studded with chopped walnuts. One bowl, one small tin. Adapted from “Rich Brownies” in the Wikibooks Cookbook (CC BY-SA 4.0). Halved to fit one 20 cm tin and corrected the gram weights for the sugar, flour and nuts, which didn't match the source's cup amounts; butter chosen as the fat. Photo: Veganbaking.net, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (“Ultimate Vegan Brownies with walnuts, mjune 2010”).
1 h 3 min 30 minThin, lacy Breton pancakes from a simple batter of flour, eggs and milk. Eat them the classic way with butter, sugar and a squeeze of lemon, or fill them with anything you like. Adapted from “Crêpes I” in the Wikibooks Cookbook (CC BY-SA 4.0). Flour corrected from 220 g to 125 g to match the source's 1 cup and give the thin batter it describes; resting time set to at least 30 minutes. Photo: Benoît Prieur, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (“Crêperie Le Bouchon Breton (La Valbonne) - crêpe au sucre (février 2023)”).
2 h 22 min 42 minLithuania's favourite potato bake: finely grated potatoes and onion mixed with smoky bacon, eggs and milk, baked into a slab with a crisp golden crust. Cut into squares and serve hot with plenty of sour cream. Adapted from “Kugelis (Lithuanian Baked Potato Pudding)” in the Wikibooks Cookbook (CC BY-SA 4.0). Scaled from a 9×13-inch tray to about two thirds (6 servings), with the bacon diced instead of crumbled; added a 10-minute rest and the optional marjoram the source mentions in its introduction. Photo: Eden, Janine and Jim, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (“Kugelis 2012”).
1 h 3 min 26 minGolden onions simmered in beef stock with herbs and a splash of port, then topped with bread and Gruyère and grilled until bubbling. Vegetable stock makes a meat-free version. Adapted from “French Onion Soup” in the Wikibooks Cookbook (CC BY-SA 4.0). Scaled to 4 bowls with 1 litre of stock (the source's 1.5 litres serves 6) and added a time for cooking the onions. Photo: Ludovic Péron, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (“Soupe à l'oignon”).
12 h 41 min 46 minCrisp chickpea fritters made the proper way, from soaked raw chickpeas blitzed with onion, garlic, parsley and warm spices. Stuff them into pita or eat them hot from the pan. Adapted from “Falafel” in the Wikibooks Cookbook (CC BY-SA 4.0). Halved the batch, made clear the chickpeas are soaked but not cooked, and added salt and frying times. Photo: やましこ, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (“Falafel (49728839526)”).
Just published by home cooks.
2 h 5 min 29 minA crisp-shelled, marshmallow-soft meringue piled with whipped cream and fresh berries, the celebration dessert of Australia and New Zealand. Bake the base ahead and assemble just before serving. Adapted from “Pavlova” in the Wikibooks Cookbook (CC BY-SA 4.0). Gave amounts for the cream, powdered sugar and fruit; the sugar is beaten in gradually rather than folded, and the meringue cools in the switched-off oven, as the source's notes suggest. Photo: Dariusz Więckiewicz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (“Pavlova Cake”).
4 h 3 min 25 minSilky vanilla custard baked gently in a water bath, chilled, then finished with a layer of sugar caramelised until it cracks under the spoon. Adapted from “Crème Brûlée III” in the Wikibooks Cookbook (CC BY-SA 4.0). Doubled to 4 ramekins with vanilla as the flavouring and less sugar on top (1 tbsp per ramekin); the water bath now comes halfway up the ramekins. Photo: Syced, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (“Crème brûlée at restaurant in Zushi”).
4 h 13 min 18 minItaly's 'cooked cream': vanilla-speckled cream barely set with gelatine, turned out and served in a pool of bright berry sauce. Five minutes on the stove, then the fridge does the rest. Adapted from “Panna Cotta (Basic)” in the Wikibooks Cookbook (CC BY-SA 4.0). Gelatine doubled to 1½ tsp and softened in water instead of cream so the panna cotta sets firmly enough to turn out; added a quick blended berry sauce to serve. Photo: lowsource, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (“Panna Cotta with strawberry sauce”).
1 h 10 min 20 minDense, deeply chocolatey brownies made with unsweetened baking chocolate and studded with chopped walnuts. One bowl, one small tin. Adapted from “Rich Brownies” in the Wikibooks Cookbook (CC BY-SA 4.0). Halved to fit one 20 cm tin and corrected the gram weights for the sugar, flour and nuts, which didn't match the source's cup amounts; butter chosen as the fat. Photo: Veganbaking.net, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (“Ultimate Vegan Brownies with walnuts, mjune 2010”).
1 h 3 min 30 minThin, lacy Breton pancakes from a simple batter of flour, eggs and milk. Eat them the classic way with butter, sugar and a squeeze of lemon, or fill them with anything you like. Adapted from “Crêpes I” in the Wikibooks Cookbook (CC BY-SA 4.0). Flour corrected from 220 g to 125 g to match the source's 1 cup and give the thin batter it describes; resting time set to at least 30 minutes. Photo: Benoît Prieur, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (“Crêperie Le Bouchon Breton (La Valbonne) - crêpe au sucre (février 2023)”).
33 min 31 minMexico's ranch-style breakfast: crisp-edged corn tortillas topped with fried eggs and a quick tomato and chile sauce. Add beans, avocado or cheese if you want it heartier. Adapted from “Huevos Rancheros” in the Wikibooks Cookbook (CC BY-SA 4.0). Doubled the eggs and tortillas to serve 2, with 6 tomatoes instead of 4 for the sauce; the chiles and chili powder given set amounts. Photo: Luca Nebuloni, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (“Huevos Rancheros (11494813583)”).
15 minDay-old bread soaked in vanilla and cinnamon custard, then fried in butter until crisp outside and soft in the middle. Brioche or challah make it extra rich. Adapted from “French Toast” in the Wikibooks Cookbook (CC BY-SA 4.0). Scaled to 2 servings (2 eggs for 4 slices) and gave set amounts for the vanilla, cinnamon, sugar and butter; the pepper is left out. Photo: Ralph Daily, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (“French Toast (16251867289)”).
25 minThick, fluffy griddle pancakes made light with a whipped egg white folded into the batter. Stack them up with butter, maple syrup and fresh berries. Adapted from “Pancakes (North American)” in the Wikibooks Cookbook (CC BY-SA 4.0). Added butter for the pan, the heat level and cooking times. Photo: Herson Rodriguez, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (“Pancakes with Berries (Unsplash)”).
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