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”).
30 minA Palestinian staple that costs very little: lentils and rice cooked with warm spices and topped with deeply browned onions. Filling, vegan and better the next day. Adapted from “Rice and Lentils (Mejadra)” in the Wikibooks Cookbook (CC BY-SA 4.0). Corrected the lentil and rice weights to match 1 cup each and gave amounts for the oil, salt and spices. Photo: Tamorlan, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (“Mujaddara - My own style”).
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”).
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”).
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”).
42 min 39 minA creamy, deeply savoury risotto built on porcini and their soaking liquid, finished with butter, parsley and Parmesan. Dried porcini work just as well as fresh. Adapted from “Risotto ai Funghi” in the Wikibooks Cookbook (CC BY-SA 4.0). Stock raised from 0.5 to 0.8 litre (plus the mushroom water) so the rice cooks through, wine cut from 1 cup to 150 ml, and vegetable stock used instead of chicken. Photo: Kolforn, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (“-2019-12-22 Mushroom Risotto with onion and herbs finished with Parmesan and Mushroom, Trimingham”).
1 h 12 min 37 minThe Provençal vegetable stew done slowly: eggplant and zucchini browned first, then simmered with soft onions, peppers and fresh tomatoes until tender but still whole. Good hot or cold. Adapted from “Ratatouille I” in the Wikibooks Cookbook (CC BY-SA 4.0). Gave amounts for the oil and vegetable sizes; the salt, pepper and herb amounts suggested in the method moved into the ingredient list. Photo: Koichi Oda, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (“Ratatouille - Flickr - odako1”).
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)”).
1 h 15 min 37 minMinced lamb simmered with carrots, peas and sweetcorn in a savoury gravy, topped with buttery mash and baked until golden. A proper British family supper. Adapted from “Shepherd's Pie III” in the Wikibooks Cookbook (CC BY-SA 4.0). Scaled from 1–2 to 4 servings with amounts for the vegetables, ketchup and stock; the stock now has 300 ml water so it can simmer, and an onion stands in for the unspecified mixed vegetables. Photo: Peachyeung316, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (“Shepherd Pie from Grand Cafe”).
57 min 20 minSpain's thick potato omelette: sliced potatoes and onions cooked slowly in olive oil, then set with beaten eggs and flipped onto a plate. Good warm or at room temperature, in wedges or in a sandwich. Adapted from “Tortilla Española de Patatas” in the Wikibooks Cookbook (CC BY-SA 4.0). More potato (750 g instead of 500 g) and 8 eggs instead of 10 for a better balance; salt and pepper given amounts and the optional cucumber left out. Photo: Tamorlan, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (“Tortilla Española-2011”).
36 min 16 minYellow toor dal cooked soft with tomatoes, onion and fresh fenugreek leaves, then finished with a sizzling tadka of ghee, mustard seeds, garlic and curry leaves. Comforting with hot rice. Adapted from “Pigeon Pea and Fenugreek Curry (Methi Tadka Dal)” in the Wikibooks Cookbook (CC BY-SA 4.0). Measured the fenugreek, salt, spices and lemon juice; added a stovetop option for cooks without a pressure cooker. Photo: AugustineKajur, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (“Dal Tadka-Delhi”).
1 h 1 min 37 minA quick home version of murgh makhani: chicken marinated in yogurt and tandoori spice, then simmered in a buttery onion, tomato and cream sauce. Serve with rice or naan. Adapted from “Indian Butter Chicken I” in the Wikibooks Cookbook (CC BY-SA 4.0). Tandoori masala cut from 50 g plus 3–5 tbsp more to 3 tbsp; added water so the tomato paste becomes a sauce, salt, and single amounts for the chile powder and tomato paste. Photo: stu_spivack, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (“Chicken makhani”).
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)”).
28 min 21 minA family recipe for Thailand's best-known noodle dish: rice noodles tossed in a sweet, sour and salty tamarind sauce with egg, bean sprouts and peanuts. Adapted from “Pad Thai” in the Wikibooks Cookbook (CC BY-SA 4.0). Chili flakes cut from 2 tbsp to 1–2 tsp, fewer bean sprouts, the "assorted vegetables" made specific. Photo: Index Librorum Permissorum, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (“Pad Thai 2018-12-26 (1)”).
19 min 9 minSichuan's famous numbing, spicy tofu: soft cubes simmered with minced meat and chili bean paste, finished with roasted Sichuan pepper. Serve over rice. Adapted from “Mapo Tofu” in the Wikibooks Cookbook (CC BY-SA 4.0). Added the frying oil and a little water to simmer in; less Sichuan pepper (2 tsp instead of 1 tbsp). Photo: Guilhem Vellut, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (“Mapo Tofu @ Saturne @ Paris (33518107254)”).
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)”).
54 min 30 minA hearty meatless beetroot soup with potato, cabbage and carrot, sweet-sour from a little vinegar and sugar. Serve it ruby red with a spoonful of sour cream and dill. Adapted from “Borscht” in the Wikibooks Cookbook (CC BY-SA 4.0). Beetroot raised from about 150 g to 250 g for a deeper colour; single amounts chosen where the source gave ranges, and cup measures converted to metric. Photo: liz west, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (“Borscht served”).
47 min 45 minA creamy Italian risotto made with fish stock and white wine, with squid, king prawns and scallops stirred in for the last few minutes so they stay tender. Adapted from “Seafood Risotto” in the Wikibooks Cookbook (CC BY-SA 4.0). Amounts given for the marinade, frying oil, wine and parsley. Photo: Ceeseven, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (“Seafood Risotto”).
45 min 41 minSmall, tender beef and pork meatballs browned in butter, with a quick cream gravy from the pan. Serve with mashed potatoes and lingonberry jam, the Swedish way. Adapted from “Swedish Meatballs I” in the Wikibooks Cookbook (CC BY-SA 4.0). Liquid set to 150 ml (the source gives 200–300 ml), salt and pepper given amounts, and a simple cream gravy added from the source's serving note. Photo: dronepicr, retouched by MagentaGreen, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (“Köttbullar mit Kartoffelpüree (31488444044 retuschiert)”).
1 h 27 min 27 minA light take on the Moroccan classic: chicken dusted with turmeric and a little heat, then braised with ginger, cinnamon, green olives and lemon. Serve with couscous or bread for the sauce. Adapted from “Chicken Tagine with Lemon and Olives” in the Wikibooks Cookbook (CC BY-SA 4.0). Chicken thighs instead of breasts (breasts dry out over a long simmer), simmered 40 minutes instead of an hour; more chicken and stock to serve 4, and an optional preserved lemon. Photo: Foodista, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (“Moroccan food-Chicken tagine with preserved lemons and olives-02”).
1 h 15 min 35 minA much-loved Chinese home dish: cubes of pork belly browned in caramel, then braised with soy sauce, Shaoxing wine and star anise until meltingly tender in a glossy dark sauce. Adapted from “Hongshao Rou (Red Braised Pork Belly)” in the Wikibooks Cookbook (CC BY-SA 4.0). Added a cube size and a time for reducing the sauce. Photo: N509FZ, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (“Red braised pork (20141106191221)”).
57 min 40 minA homemade green paste of coriander, lemongrass, ginger and chile, simmered with leeks, peppers and coconut milk, then finished with soy-marinated chicken and fresh basil. Serve with rice. Adapted from “Green Chicken Curry with Coconut Milk” in the Wikibooks Cookbook (CC BY-SA 4.0). Scaled to 4 servings (600 g chicken, 2 cans of coconut milk) with less coriander seed and pepper in the paste; gave amounts for the chiles, coriander, garlic, soy sauce, oil and basil. Photo: Guilhem Vellut, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (“Green Curry, Kapunka Panoramas, Paris 002”).
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”).
1 h 13 min 23 minHungarian chicken slowly cooked down in a generous amount of sweet paprika, then finished with sour cream. Serve with dumplings, rice or mash. Adapted from “Paprika Chicken” in the Wikibooks Cookbook (CC BY-SA 4.0). Single amounts; served as 4 portions instead of 6–8 (one chicken). Photo: Kobako, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons (“Paprikahuhn”).