This is my current favourite end-of-the week meal. The kind of meal I turn to when there's only a few leftover bits and pieces of vegetable in the fridge, some of it looking a bit droopy. Chickpeas with vegetables and rice is an easy, one-pot meal, that's satisfying, tasty and highly flexible.

It's an infinitely variable recipe, well more of an idea or template really. While I follow the same basic format each week, the meal is always different, because I'm using up what I have.

If possible I like to start with some onion. Cut into thinnish half moons and then gently sauteed in a couple of tablespoons of olive oil. If I have carrot, I'll grate it and add to the onion, so it cooks down delicious and soft. Pumpkin, potato, sweet potato and cauliflower can also be chopped into small chunks and added at this point.

After 8 - 10 minutes, the vegetables should be starting to soften. I then add a small amount of rice - about 1/4 cup basmati rice is all that's needed for two - and a tin of chickpeas, together with the juice from the chickpea can. A couple of teaspoons of dried oregano is a lovely addition.

I then place the lid on the pan, turn the heat down to its lowest setting and leave to cook for 10 minutes. I don't stir or disturb it during this time - just leave the lid on and let it cook.

At the end of the 10 minutes I'll add any greens or fresh herbs I might have. I roughly chop these, add to the pot and replace the lid, again without stirring. Leave to gently cook for another 5 minutes.

At this point I'll take the lid off, stir all the ingredients together and check for seasoning. It usually needs some black pepper, but I tread cautiously with salt, as there should be enough in the juice from the chickpea can.

To finish off I often stir through two tablespoons of tahini, this gives the meal a lovely creaminess. On other occasions I've added chopped walnuts, and I sometimes top with toasted pepitas.  A few slices of fresh chilli and a squeeze of lemon or lime juice are also really good.

What's your favourite end of the week meal?