Quick Dinners for a Showery August Evening

This collection of Quick Dinners for a Showery August Evening is perfect for the mild, drizzly days that turn up in the middle of a warm August. It brings together prawn saganaki, air fryer steak bites, fish tacos with mango salsa and a Turkish omelette, ideal for anyone who wants something hot on the table in under an hour. Don't forget to save this list for the next damp weeknight.

Honey Sesame Chicken

Strips of chicken are fried until golden, then tossed through a sticky honey and sesame sauce that thickens in the pan in a couple of minutes. Serve it over rice with a handful of spring onions and it beats waiting for a takeaway.

To learn more: Honey Sesame Chicken

Greek Prawn Saganaki

Prawns are cooked in a garlicky tomato sauce, then finished with crumbled feta so it softens into the sauce. It takes about twenty minutes and wants nothing more than bread for mopping.

To learn more: Greek Shrimp Saganaki

Air Fryer Steak Bites and Mushrooms

Cubes of steak and mushrooms cook fast and hot in the air fryer, browning at the edges while staying tender in the middle. Pile them over rice or mash for a hot dinner with almost no washing up.

To learn more: Air Fryer Steak Bites and Mushrooms

Ali Nazik

Charred aubergine is mixed with garlicky yoghurt into a smoky base, then topped with spiced ground lamb and its pan juices. The lamb takes fifteen minutes, and the aubergine can be charred the day before.

To learn more: Ali Nazik

Fish Tacos with Mango Salsa

White fish is spiced and pan-fried, then piled into warm tortillas with a sharp mango salsa and a squeeze of lime. Everything comes together while the fish cooks, so it is faster than it looks.

To learn more: Easy Fish Tacos with Mango Salsa

Kaygana (Turkish Omelette)

Eggs are beaten with herbs and a little flour, then cooked flat in a pan until set and lightly browned. It works for dinner as easily as breakfast, and uses whatever greens are going soft in the fridge.

To learn more: Kaygana (Turkish Omelette)

Chicken Parmesan Sandwich

Breaded chicken is fried until crisp, layered with tomato sauce and melting cheese, then packed into a roll. It is a proper hot sandwich that eats like a full dinner on a wet evening.

To learn more: Chicken Parmesan Sandwich

Batata Harra (Lebanese Potatoes)

Cubes of potato are fried until crisp, then tossed with garlic, chilli, coriander and lemon while still hot. Serve them as the centre of a mezze-style dinner or alongside anything else on this list.

To learn more: Batata Harra (Lebanese Potatoes)

Italian Rice Balls (Arancini)

Cooled risotto is rolled around a molten centre, coated in breadcrumbs and fried until deep golden and crisp. A few of these with a bowl of tomato sauce and a salad make a proper dinner.

To learn more: Italian Rice Balls (Arancini)

Hasanpaşa Köfte - Turkish Meatballs with Mashed Potatoes

Meatballs are topped with piped mashed potato and baked in a tomato sauce until the peaks turn golden. Most of the work is the mash, and it goes in the oven for twenty minutes.

To learn more: Hasanpaşa Köfte - Turkish Meatballs with Mashed Potatoes

Lebanese Rice Pilaf with Vermicelli

Broken vermicelli is toasted in butter until nutty, then cooked with rice and stock until the grains are separate and fluffy. It is the base of countless Lebanese dinners and takes about twenty minutes.

To learn more: Lebanese Rice Pilaf with Vermicelli

Greek Lemon Potatoes

Potato wedges are roasted in lemon juice, olive oil and oregano until the outsides crisp and the insides turn soft and tangy. They are a sharper partner to grilled fish or chicken than a plate of chips.

To learn more: Greek Lemon Potatoes