When the clocks go forward, there's no escaping the feeling we've lost an hour of our day. So, we've assembled a collection of inspirational lunch and dinner recipes that take just minutes to prepare but are still big and bold in flavor. There's something for everyone too, including meat-lovers, fish fanatics, vegetarians and vegans. Here’s what to cook to reclaim a lost hour back!

Eggs really are Mother Nature's fast food, so when you're pushed for time, they can be the perfect solution. We've upped the ante by adding smoked salmon and creamy garlic and herb cheese to a simple omelet to make a speedy dinner quite special.

Get the recipe for smoked salmon omelet here

Sure, you can't make a bolognese sauce in under 10 minutes, but you can create similar flavors in this smart recipe. It uses thin steaks, with fresh tomatoes, garlic, olive oil and basil. You could add some freshly grated Parmesan for good measure.

Get the recipe for five-minute 'spag bol' here

A speedy stir-fry that tastes divine, with oyster mushrooms, baby pak choy and noodles combined with a homemade spicy sauce. The sauce does have a chili kick but it's made from store cupboard ingredients, which are easy to find. Buy straight-to-wok noodles for this dish to make it even faster.

Get the recipe for mushroom chow mein here

Just like an omelet, scrambled eggs can be made into a main meal in minutes. Add sautéed mushrooms, some soft goats' cheese or smoked salmon. We love our recipe with an Indian twist too, which contains garlic, chili, cumin and cilantro to make it into something really tasty. You can serve it with naan, paratha or a toasted bagel and it makes enough for four.

Get the recipe for spicy scrambled eggs here

White cabbage in a stir-fry may not be the norm, but it adds a lovely crunch and a zingy flavor when combined with the garlic. The ingredients are all easy to find, and you could use a pouch of pre-cooked rice to make it even quicker to cook. 

Get the recipe for prawn and cabbage stir-fry here

A speeded-up version of a Mediterranean fish soup makes a great supper, served with some crusty bread and a green salad on the side. There's no fiddly preparation of seafood involved, either, as you use a bag of frozen mixed seafood. A can of chopped tomatoes enriches the soup, so it's a very easy recipe to make.

Get the recipe for chunky fish soup here

With just six ingredients you can rustle up this creamy pasta dish in no time. It uses frozen spinach to make life easy, which also has a deeper flavor than fresh and involves far less preparation. Add some cream, olive oil and garlic and grated Parmesan to serve. It's one of our favorites when only carbs will do...

Get the recipe for spinach orecchiette here

A really good recipe for using up leftover roast chicken, here it's mixed with rice, peanuts, cucumber and scallions in a simple sauce. You make a thin omelet which you shred to top the finished dish with. It has a little chili kick, which is tempered by the fresh cilantro.

Get the recipe for fragrant Indonesian fried rice here

Always a winner, this chicken teriyaki recipe is created with a homemade sauce, so you could make extra for future quick dinners, as it keeps for up to 48 hours in the fridge. Serve it on a bed of crunchy lettuce with a side of rice.

Get the recipe for teriyaki chicken here

Tabbouleh, a bulgar wheat salad, is usually served cold, but here it's served hot. You could make it as a side for grilled chicken or salmon, or you could add prawns or cooked chicken to it and stir in at the end to heat through. Add a good squeeze of lemon juice and you're good to go. 

Get the recipe for hot tabbouleh here

A lighter version of the meaty favorite, this is a vegan recipe where you make a "ricotta" cheese using cashew nuts. But if you're not vegan, just substitute with normal ricotta cheese, which will make the recipe even quicker. The lasagna sheets are layered up with sautéed field mushrooms and kale, together with the cheese. 

Get the recipe for open lasagna with mushrooms here

Char siu pork is a Cantonese dish of marinated, barbecued pork. It usually takes a while to make, but in our speedy recipe the pork fillet is quickly marinated and made into a stir-fry. So you get all the delicious flavors of the original, without spending all the time making it.

Get the recipe for char siu pork here

A ramen recipe is a great one to have in your repertoire, as you can add whatever is lingering in the fridge to it. You can buy miso ramen noodles, but you could also add miso paste to the cooking water if you're using plain noodles. With a touch of chili and sesame seeds, it's a filling, nourishing dish.

Get the recipe for miso ramen here

The combination of eggs, bacon and spaghetti make the recipe a whole lot like a classic Italian carbonara. However, the Thai flavors turn it into a tasty fusion dish with a kick of chili too. Don't be put off by the ingredients list, it really does take just 10 minutes to prepare, meaning this is on the table in under 25 minutes from start to finish.

Get the recipe for pad Thai carbonara here

Bursting with Thai flavors, this aromatic broth begins with ginger, lemongrass, lime leaves and chili. The recipe is vegetarian and contains tofu, which you could happily substitute with chicken or prawns for meat and fish eaters. The coconut milk adds a rich creaminess, and we love the final topping of Thai basil and cilantro to add freshness.

Get the recipe for Thai eggplant tom yum soup here

You can't beat a dish made in just one roasting tin. Salmon is roasted on four different greens and it's glazed with soy, sesame and honey. Once it's cooked, add a dressing of ginger, lime and sesame and top with chopped peanuts, chili and more lime. It's just bursting with flavor. Serve with rice or noodles. 

Get the recipe for sticky soy and honey roasted salmon here

You'll never order takeout again, once you've made this easy sweet and sour sauce. The sweet part comes from canned pineapple, the sour from vinegar and soy. It's up to you what you add – sliced pork fillet, chicken breast or prawns to go with sliced peppers and onion. Serve with boiled rice. 

Get the recipe for sweet and sour stir-fry here

The key to this easy dinner is to pat your scallops dry with kitchen towel and salt them, to avoid extra moisture in the pan. You can also try this recipe with shelled raw tiger prawns in place of the scallops.

Get the recipe for pan-fried scallops and broccoli here

Here's a vegan twist on a Middle Eastern classic. You don't have to use the plant-based yogurt either, standard is fine too. It's packed with protein-rich beans and plenty of lovely vegetables, herbs and avocado. You just need to serve it with some crusty bread for a perfect meal.

Get the recipe for green shakshuka here

You'll rarely see an egg curry on an Indian restaurant's menu, but it's a popular and authentic dish in homes. You make a simple garlic and ginger paste to which the spices are added, before simmering it all in creamy coconut milk. The eggs are hard-boiled before being added to the sauce, finishing it off with chopped fresh cilantro. Best of all it takes under 15 minutes to prepare and cooks in just 20 minutes. 

Get the recipe for creamy egg and coconut curry here

The salsa in this recipe takes a simple fillet of salmon to a whole new level. It's the clever combination of celery, pine nuts, olives, capers, saffron, currants, parsley and lemon which makes it so tasty. We love this served with some buttery baby potatoes.

Get the recipe for pan-fried salmon with pine nut salsa here

This recipe serves four, but we recommend you make double because they're so moreish. The mixture is whizzed up in the food processor and simply fried in batches, so put your oven on to keep them warm. Make a crisp salad with red onions and green beans to serve, and you could add some stir-fried noodles on the side.

Get the recipe for Thai fish cakes here

These beans are both smoky and salty. They would be perfect in a burrito, fried in a quesadilla or served with rice, sour cream or guacamole. You use canned black beans, so it takes just 10 minutes to prepare and 35 minutes to cook in a pan. They are spiced with cinnamon, cumin and chili to give that characteristic smokiness.

Get the recipe for smoky black beans here

This recipe is definitely in the running for one of the best vegan comfort foods ever. It's high in protein with beans and lentils, packed with vegetables, herbs and garlic. As an added bonus, it's all made in one pot and takes just 15 minutes to prepare. 

Get the recipe for hearty herby stew here

This one-pot dish is not just about the lentils. There are eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes and onions – all the components of a classic Mediterranean ratatouille. But the lentils add protein to make this into a main course dish, so there's no need for added accompaniments. Some crusty baguette would help, though, to mop up the sauce.

Get the recipe for quick lentil ratatouille here

There are numerous versions of this Indian dish made of spiced, flavored lentils. It's warming and nourishing and a perfect side to grilled meat or as a main dish with naan bread. This recipe uses mung lentils, which are a yellow lentil, but you could use red lentils instead. The combination of ginger, garlic, chili and spices with fresh tomatoes makes it wonderfully aromatic.

Get the recipe for easy tarka dahl here

A sure-fire crowd-pleaser, these fiery wings are served with a homemade blue cheese dip and celery, to take away some of the heat. There's no marinating required, you just make the sauce, reduce it, then roast the chicken in the oven in half of the sauce, reserving the other half to pour over once cooked. A big bowl of potato wedges make a perfect side.

Get the recipe for buffalo chicken wings here

The earthy sweetness of roasted squash with sage is a great combination. Add rich Comté cheese and you have a dreamy risotto. If you can't find Comté, use Gruyère instead. Risotto is easy to make but you do have to keep stirring it – the stirring causes the starch grains in the rice to release which is what gives you the creamy texture.

Get the recipe for butternut squash, sage and Comté here

Take the ingredients of a classic salade Niçoise – potatoes, anchovies, green beans, olives and tuna – add a garlicky herb dressing, then top with Parmesan and bake until the cheese is crisp. This is an easy recipe that takes just 20 minutes to prepare.

Get the recipe for Niçoise bake here