Buckwheat groats are one of my favourite alternative starches... especially good if you toast them in a dry pan before you cook them...here Buckwheat groats are teamed with Ethiopian kale, some red pepper flakes and sesame... simple and very good! Vegan, DF and GF

The layers of potato typical of a gratin are cooked gently with some sliced spring onions and veg stock, then topped with shredded chard, grated cheese and pumpkin seeds, and popped under the grill... Potato and Chard gratin with pumpkin seeds... Vegan, DF and GF

When I've made this one previously it was done in the slow cooker but honestly I don't know why, it doesn't take long at normal speeds! It's a Blackbean hotpot, with quite a nice level of heat from mustard and some chilli flakes, pumpkin and capsicum to deliver substance and colour, and a handful of something green so you can eat your colours... it's good over rice, with flatbread, or on its own (it's substantial enough). Vegan, DF and GF

Yellow curry paste has turmeric and also lemongrass as its distinguishing characteristics. Yellow vegetable Curry is a very good combo of winter veg, coconut milk and yellow curry. 'nuff said... Vegan, DF and GF

Chicken and cashew is a classic - very accessible, tasty, easy to make. What's not to love?! This version has water chestnuts for some extra crunch ... DF and GF

Sichuan beef on wilted greens is also a bit of a classic, a bit flash, a large bit yum. A chunk of beef (scotch fillet, fillet, porterhouse, whatever your favourite) crusted in sichuan pepper and salt then seared to your preferred level of done, and rested while you wilt the pak choi and sauce it up with soy, oyster sauce, ginger and sesame oil... That's pretty much it. DF - can be GF depending on your oyster sauce...