British chef Ainsley Harriott recently launched a cookbook in which every recipe contains only five ingredients. Following this rule not only simplifies food but also helps out those of us on a budget. Here's a few great 'magic five' feasts.

Milanese meatballs

1. Roll seasoned pork mince into small balls with your hands.
2. Shallow fry for 15 mins or until browned all over.
3. Pour over a jar of passata and 1 cup water over and simmer for 20 mins.
4. Boil some tortellini in salted water until cooked, then drain.
5. Stir meatballs into pasta with 1 handful fresh basil and parmesan.

Aromatic lentil broth

1. Fry 1 crushed clove of garlic in vegetable oil until soft.
2. Add 1tsp curry powder and seasoning and fry for 1 minute.
3. Add 3 cups vegetable stock and 1tbsp tomato paste.
4. Add 1 cup red lentils and simmer until cooked, or follow instructions.
5. Add more water if the broth is not 'soupy' enough.

Lamb koftas

1. Mix lamb mince with 2tsp ground cumin and salt and pepper.
2. Roll the mixture into long, thin sausages and stick onto skewers
3. Shallow fry, BBQ or grill for about 20 minutes or until brown all over.
4. Mix shredded cucumber with natural yoghurt and 1tsp ground cumin.
5. Pour yoghurt mix over steamed white rice and top with the kofta.

Chicken pot pie

1. Fry chopped, seasoned chicken breast in oil for 5 minutes.
2. Add 1 crushed garlic clove and 1tsp dried tarragon.
3. Take off heat, pour in 1 cup cream and pour into casserole dish.
4. Top with thinly sliced and par-boiled potatoes.
5. Bake at 180°C until golden on top.

Tart mushrooms

1. Remove the stalks and wipe clean 4 large portabello mushrooms.
2. Finely chop 2 bacon rashers, 2 slices of haloumi and the mushroom stalks.
3. Mix with 2 tbsp cooked long grain rice and 1tbsp balsamic vinegar.
4. Load the mixture into the mushrooms, season and drizzle with olive oil.
5. Bake at 160°C for 25 minutes or until sizzling.

Frankfurter farfalle

1. Fry 1 sliced red onion in olive oil until soft.
2. Add 4 chopped, cooked frankfurter sausages.
3. Stir in 8 cherry tomatoes and ½ cup water and simmer for 5 minutes.
4. Pour into baking dish with 2 cups cooked farfalle pasta and season.
5. Top with grated mozzarella and place under grill until cheese bubbles.

Peking prawns

1. Fry 1 chopped garlic clove in sunflower oil until soft.
2. Add 1 chopped red chilli and cook for 1 minute.
3. Add raw prawns and keep stirring until cooked.
4. Stir in chopped pak choi, 1 cup water and 2tbsp manis.
5. Cover and leave to warm through for 2 minutes.

YOUR SAY: Is it possible to cook a feast based on only five ingredients? Know any other recipes? Share them below.