It's late afternoon and the question echoes around the world: "What's for dinner?"
Or, rather, that echo goes something like, "What's for dinner? ¿Qué hay de cenar? 夕食は何? Šta ima za večeru? Cosa c'è per cena? Apa untuk makan malam? 晚餐吃什么? Оройн хоолонд юу байна? Hvað er í matinn? מה יש לארוחת ערב?..." You get the idea.
The fact is, no matter where they live, everyone is busy and everyone forgets to do that menu planning thing were the answer to the "what's for dinner?" question is "take a look on the whiteboard in the kitchen under Thursday...". Everyone forgets that.
As a result, getting dinner on the table in 30 minutes or less is an art form practised from America to Zimbabwe. Lucky for us.

Homemade sauce makes these cheeseburgers incomparable to any chain store version. Source: Adam Liaw

It's a complete meal wrapped up like a tasty gift. Source: Rachel Tolosa Paz
The appeal of a at the end of a long day cannot be underestimated. Not only is it ready to devour in 30 minutes, but it's also made with ingredients you're bound to have on hand. Call it a rescue meal.

A speedy meal doesn't mean you have to sacrifice on nutrition. Source: Luke Nguyen

For a vegan option, try making this dish with soft tofu instead of eggs. Source: Adam Liaw

The recipe is for one, so scale it up to feed the fam. Source: Adam Liaw

A galette is a savoury version of a crêpe – and Brittany's most famous creation. Source: Andy Baker

Weeknight dinner + potato salad = unexpected party. Source: Alan Benson

Marinate the chicken before doing anything else so the flavours have time to infuse. Source: Benito Martin

Make plenty of meatballs so you can freeze a batch for an even speedier meal another time. Source: Hardie Grant Books
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Crumbed lamb cutlets

Keep your schnitty speedy by slicing it finely and flattening with a meat mallet. An excellent way to bash the cares of the day away. Source: Sharyn Cairns

Prep in advance for super-fast food come dinner time. Source: Danielle Abou Karam

This delicious curry balances hot spices like red chilli and black pepper with cooling spices like cinnamon, fennel and star anise. Source: Bloomsbury / Mike Cooper

Corn fritters are the perfect light supper in any language. Source: Asia Unplated with Diana Chan

You can put this umami-loaded dinner on the table in no time. Source: Adam Liaw
Seafood is a godsend when you're in a hurry - it cooks lightning-fast and brings maximum flavour. Silvia Colloca's is all that and more.

Chicken and egg are simmered in a mirin and soy broth then served over a bowl of short-grain rice. Source: Adam Liaw

There are so many fast Japanese dinners, but miso soup is simply a must-have in your repertoire. Source: Damon Gameau

Everyone knows that topping a dish with an egg turns it into a meal. Source: Donal's Meals in Minutes

It's high time you discovered the flavours of Lao. Source: Adam Liaw

Coriander and mint and a yoghurt and garlic sauce bring extra flavour to the humble zucchini fritter. Source: One World Kitchen

Crank up the heat and and enjoy a bit of char with your noodles. Source: Alan Benson

The chosen dish for any picnic dinner. Source: Smith Street Books

This is a popular Nepali family dish. Source: Alan Benson

Once cooked, the sardine skins slide off like a wetsuit. Source: Kaily Koutsogiannis

The veggies are crunchy, the tuna tender and the spices absolutely kicking goals. Source: My Sri Lanka

It’s all about the green sauce in this quick Basque dish of clams and parsley. Source: Sharyn Cairns
Added crab makes special, but at its heart, it's just speedy fried rice.
Ah, the classic is fortunately quite easy to make at home. A little curry paste hack doesn't go astray, of course...

Making your own curry paste from scratch for an under-30 weeknight dinner is a triumph in anyone's book. Source: Food Lab

Turning noodle sheets into crunchy little stacks is genius. Source: Luke Nguyen's Railway Vietnam

Aromatic lemongrass chilli chicken is all the flavours of Vietnam in one sublime dish. Source: Luke Nguyen

Skewers are so good for advance prepping your meals - get them ready, keep them in the fridge, then all you have to do is whack them on the barbie 10 minutes before dinner. Source: Sarah Graham's Food Safari
10 more good ones

Soy and ginger chicken thighs