Comfort food recipes

Bring the comforting flavours and textures of apple crumble to a Christmas trifle. Prep ahead so all you need to do is assemble it on the day

Combine two classic sweets – poached pears and a fruit pie – to make this stunning dessert with a decorative top to impress your dinner guests

Discover the secret ingredients that take the humble steak and ale pie to new levels. But, be warned: one slice just won't be enough

Bake this moreish chocolate chip banana bread – it’s a great way to use up ripe bananas that are lingering in the fruit bowl

Try this vegan take on a jambalaya, full of fiery and smoky flavours and bursting with vegetables. It's healthy, low in fat and calories, yet big on flavour

Savour every mouthful of this rich, comforting pie with red wine gravy and potato topping

Inspired by the apres-ski classic tartiflette, this creamy cheese and potato pie combines a cheesy fondue centre with sliced potatoes and crisp puff pastry.

Toast rice in brown butter, cook in coconut cream and lace with rum and raisin syrup to make this rice pudding. It's a world away from school-dinner versions

Using fruit purée instead of butter means you can enjoy a comforting steamed sponge pud with less fat - serve with skinny custard

A creamy and comforting quick pasta recipe, ideal for when you're short on time

A Bombay potato-topped coconut curry bake that's healthy and low-fat. Snuggle up with some nutritious comfort food

Take ‘sausages and beans’ from its modest midweek meal status and elevate it to an elegant one-pot casserole that’s special enough for entertaining

Individual shortcrust pastry pies with chicken in a cheese, leek and chive sauce. Comfort food at its best.

Fill these gougères with the optional comté crèmeux and transform them from a snack or drinks nibble to a starter – they make a great start to a French menu

Combine the flavours of pear and hazelnut to make this stunning dessert. Make sure to serve the clafoutis warm – and don't forget the cream or crème fraîche

Serve this warming bowl of spicy, nourishing chicken noodle soup whenever you fancy some comfort food. You can make the base a day or two before serving

Add a little grapefruit zest to bring out the vibrant hop bitterness in this fabulous treacle tart made with pale ale. Scatter over honeycomb shards to serve

Make this comforting Bombay potato omelette as an easy lunch or simple supper. To serve, top with a drizzle of yogurt or raita and some chilli sauce

Reinvent this classic comfort food with our one-pan version that is enrichened with peanut butter, espresso powder and dark chocolate. You won't look back

Combine Spanish sausage with the traditional pork variety for a pulse-packed, spicy burger

Combine pork belly, black pudding and bacon lardons in this Spanish rice dish. Meaty and filling, it feeds eight with little effort and is perfect for a cold night

Generous chunks of fish in a creamy sauce made with a few secret ingredients, topped with buttery mash and a crispy garnish. Take fish pie to the next level

This game bird is a lot like chicken, so can be cooked in the same way - give it a whirl in this fragrant Moroccan-spiced casserole

Make our creamy butternut squash macaroni cheese for a comforting vegetarian family dinner. Roasted squash adds extra flavour to this classic pasta bake.