Healthy dinner recipes: 3 bases, 6 meals

The secret to quick homemade meals is having a good base at the ready. Just watch how these three recipes turn into a week’s worth of home run dinners.

Making your own chicken stock is so easy you'll wonder why you haven't been doing it all along. Simmer up a big batch on the weekend, then freeze in portions for future tasty dinners.

Get the recipe here: Master Chicken Stock

Did you know that many grocery store dumplings contain MSG? Making soup dumplings yourself lets you control what's in the filling.

Tips: You can save time by just folding the wrappers in half and sealing without pleating.

Get the recipe here: Asian Soup Dumplings

Is there anything more comforting on a cold day than homemade chicken soup?

Psst... Large chunks of simmered chicken and vegetables make great finger food for babies. Or dice everything smaller for children who will eat this soup with teaspoons.

Tip: You can use store-bought sodium-free broth for this soup; just add meat from a rotisserie chicken, or poach two small boneless skinless chicken breasts in the broth for 10 min (or until cooked through) and proceed with making the recipe.

Get the recipe here: Comforting Chicken and Rice Soup

As long as you remember to soak them overnight, cooking chickpeas from scratch is no harder than opening up a can. It's so much cheaper, too.

Get the recipe here: Not-Canned Chickpeas

Use your from-scratch cooked chickpeas to make chickpea burgers. Vegetarians and omnivores alike will love these for dinner (or lunch!).

Tip: Don't need all the burgers tonight? Place them on a plastic-wrap-lined tray and freeze in a single layer, then transfer to a sealed bag. Defrost in the fridge before frying.

Get the recipe here: Chickpea Burgers

This coconut curry is flavourful without being spicy, but you can also stir plain yogurt into cooked portions to make it really mild.

Get the recipe here: Coconut Chickpea Curry

This slow-cooker or oven-braised beef ragout will fill your home with the most enticing aroma for hours, and makes enough for several family meals.

Tip: If you have time to chill the cooked beef in its sauce, the fact will congeal and be very easy to skim off the top.

Get the recipe here: Braised Beef Ragout

Beef tacos are an instant dinner on a busy night when you've already made the ragout base. Garnish with whichever sauces or veggies your family likes best.

Get the recipe here: Braised Beef Tacos

This lasagna is all about showcasing your homemade ragout, but you could also slip in a layer of cooked spinach or sautéed vegetables.

Tip: We've skipped the traditional béchamel sauce in this lasagna to make it really quick to assemble with your homemade ragout.

Get the recipe here: Easy Braised Beef Lasagna

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