You’re in social isolation and opportunities for shopping might be limited. But you have a well-stocked store-cupboard and freezer and it’s still possible to get most food if you look in the right places.
How could I have lived for such a long time in London, with its large African and Caribbean community, without once trying or cooking Jollof rice? Fact is I hadn’t, until Adeola Manuwa put me right. Adeola is a Nigerian Londoner but Jollof is cooked all over Africa,...
Couscous is amazingly versatile and so simple to use. It comes already ‘cooked’ so all it needs is a bath in boiling water to re-hydrate. Then it will accommodate any flavourings you like. This combination is one of my favourites: the creamy colour of the couscous...
If you’re looking for a quick light lunch for two or a tasty starter for four, this recipe could be your answer. I buy frozen raw king prawns, line a dish with kitchen paper and let them thaw out at room temperature. Make sure you have patted them dry before cooking....
I cooked this dish without realising that it had a fancy name and a long history in French cooking: Sole Meuniere. Just shows you can’t keep a good idea to yourself. It’s a dead simple way of cooking white flat fish, so it will work with lemon sole, dover sole or...
Minced turkey thigh is cheap and has more flavour than turkey breast. You can use it for any pasta sauce that calls for meat, or, as here, in lightly spiced patties. Use any of your favourite spices, adding hotter chili powder if you wish. The recipe here is mild...
This sweet-sour pickle makes a wonderful accompaniment to cold ham or turkey, nutroasts and roast meat of all sorts, especially pork or lamb. It’s simple to make even though you have to take it in several stages. Tied with a ribbon and adorned by a pretty label, it...
The River Cottage website has a wonderful sounding recipe for slow-cooked shin of beef with ginger and soy https://www.rivercottage.net/recipes/shin-of-beef-with-ginger-and-soy. I’ve never made it because I’m not keen on beef, but the ingredients sounded intriguing...
Hotpot has a strong claim to be THE British comfort food. For hundreds of years, cheap cuts of meat were put with onions and carrots, topped with skiced potatoes., into a slow oven inside a coal-fired range. It’s literally the first dish I remember eating as a small...
What a perfect dish for a summer buffet supper or lunch. You can make it well in advance and I prefer it at room temperature rather than warm. It’s a Sicilian dish and reflects the nearness of Sicily to the North African coast as it’s a classic combination of sweet,...
This is my go-to chili recipe. I prefer it to chili con carne. It’s easy to cook with ingredients you probably already have in your fridge or cupboard and is forgiving since It doesn’t matter too much about quantities. You make a fragrant sauce with celery, onion,...
Roasting chestnut mushrooms gives them a deep rich (‘umami’) flavour. Twenty minutes in the oven is all they need. Spaghetti or linguine is the best choice for pasta. Once the mushrooms have roasted they are sliced then you toss in finely shopped spring onions, garlic...
This recipe was inspired by my friend Jane. I had no idea you can roast cabbage, but yes you can! This dish is simple and quick – you can do the whole thing in just over an hour and there are only 7 ingredients. The chicken legs have some cunning flavouring tucked...