James Martin's Ultimate Sunday Lunch Meal Plan

Roast leg of lamb with basil & mint pesto

Starters

Smoked trout & radish remoulade tartines

Small toasts topped with smoked trout & radish

This fish starter is the perfect light bite to kick off your Sunday lunch. The recipe serves up to eight, so it's great if you're entertaining a crowd. Plus, it takes just 25 minutes to prepare and requires no cooking. It's a refreshing and elegant starter you'll come back to time and again.

Discover more simple starter ideas to get your dinner off to a stellar start.

Fresh pea & lovage soup

Bowl of green soup in a bowl with two pea pods on top

For a vegetarian option that's packed with plenty of seasonal flavour, try this creamy green soup. Made with fresh peas in their pods (or frozen if you prefer), it combines spring onions with crème fraîche and celery-like lovage for a simple yet impressive starter.

Try more spring soup recipes.

Main courses

Roast leg of lamb with basil & mint pesto

Roast lamb with slices taken out and a bowl of green pesto on the side

James Martin's showstopping leg of lamb with homemade herby pesto is a sure-fire winner when it comes to feeding a crowd. The scored lamb leg is generously covered in the pesto before roasting in the oven to ensure a tender meat packed with fresh, zesty flavour. The five-star recipe require a little more effort, but it's more than worth it.

If you're catering for up to eight, you could also try herb-crusted leg of lamb with red wine gravy. The breadcrumb coating is packed with fresh mint, parsley, rosemary and garlic for a flavourful roast.

Or, try James's rain-or-shine leg of lamb – it's a butterflied leg of lamb that can be barbecued if the weather is good, or roasted indoors if it's not. If you can't have lamb without mint sauce, try James's fresh mint & raisin sauce for a fruity twist on the classic condiment.

Lightly smoked salmon with orange & rhubarb salad

For pescatarians, serve James's equally impressive lightly smoked salmon fillets served with a seasonal salad of orange segments, rhubarb and watercress.

Try our healthy salmon recipes for more inspiration.

Side dishes

Warm spring vegetables

Bowl of broad beans, peas, asparagus and courgette

Making the most of seasonal produce at its best, this simple side lets spring ingredients shine. Delicate courgettes, tender asparagus spears, crunchy broad beans and peas make for a vibrant addition to your Sunday roast.

Make our spring greens recipes for more seasonal inspiration.

Honey roasted carrots

Make a bowl of sticky roasted carrots for a delicious addition to any table, topped with a sprinkling of chives.

Discover more carrot recipes.

Foil-wrapped baby potatoes

Bowl of charred baby potatoes on a table

If you're firing up the barbecue, these little beauties are incredibly easy to make and have a lovely charred flavour. Simply wrap part-boiled new potatoes in foil with a little olive oil and cook on the barbecue. If the weather isn't cooperating, discover our roast potato recipes.

If you want to really push the boat out, try James's crispy layered thyme potatoes or lemony potato gratin for an elevated side dish.

Desserts

Apricot & ginger frangipane tart

There's nothing like a stylish frangipane tart to round off Sunday lunch. James Martin's version features the classic filling topped with juicy apricots and fiery ginger for a showstopping finish.

Discover more ways with frangipane.

Individual rhubarb ripple pavlovas

Miniature meringues topped with cream and rhubarb

If you prefer a slightly lighter dessert, these seasonal rhubarb pavlovas make entertaining easy, as the poached rhubarb and pavlovas can both be made in advance. Simply assemble with fresh whipped cream for a beautiful way to round off your meal.

Can't get enough seasonal rhubarb? Discover even more ways with rhubarb.