And just like that, Jamie Oliver does it again. With a mix of, as he would say, easy-peasy tray-bake meals and quick-to-come-together dinners, this book should be one you reach for again and again. Especially when school is back in session.
Great, easy and quick recipes aside, I found that the true brilliance of this book lies in the cooking of flavourful “base recipes” that are transformed into a myriad of meals throughout the week. This is certainly transformative for a busy family who wants interesting, flavourful and healthy meals that can also be prepared quickly.
Keep reading for what my family dug into during the review of Simply Jamie: Fast and Simple Food. The publisher graciously shared some of the recipes, which are hyperlinked below. Enjoy!
Golden Pork in Creamy Pepper Sauce, page 76
So few ingredients, such a sublime result! My family absolutely loved the silky red pepper sauce and the delightful crunch from the fried sage leaves in this simple pork dish. It's worth noting that this does make more sauce than you will use. I ended up adding some quickly sautéed shrimp to the sauce and then tossing the works with some penne pasta for another delicious meal. Jamie would want us to work smart, not hard like that.
Smash Burger, page 80
It seems as though every cookbook that I review these days has an obligatory Smash Burger recipe. This book is no different. And I really mean that — there is no discernible difference between this smash burger recipe and the thousand other ones I’ve seen. Of course, like most smash burgers, it’s a good, solid and basic burger. Quicker to cook on busy nights, too, I suppose. But personally, I prefer my burgers thick and juicy.
Chapter: Poached chicken
A deceptively simple and easy thing to do is a chicken in a pot. Cover it with water and add some aromatics (the holy trinity: carrots, celery, onion), some garlic and herbs and forget all about it for hours. What you end up with is a delicious and healthy broth which could become the base for any soup, or even just drink it as is-and feel the goodness seep into your bones. Of course, you also have all of the meat and Jamie provides no fewer than 10 recipes to use up that tender protein. Indian-Inspired Street Food Salad (page 88) is crunchy, creamy, flavour-packed and certainly made our lunches much more exciting than ever before. Creamy Chicken & Chive Pie (page 82) was another creative way to use that poached chicken. My daughter even deemed this one ‘guest-worthy’!
Chapter: Batch-it-up-Bolognese
Correct, a good bolognese takes time. And this batch-cook takes a lot of time. But the end result is a rich, palate-pleasing sauce that, of course, can be enjoyed on noodles. But as we also learned and tested, great on Pesto Gnocchi Bolognese Bake (page 108), which came together in less than half an hour and was a family-friendly meal.
Chapter: Secret Veg Sauce
Parents of fussy eaters know, you gotta get the veg in where you can. Even if that means stealth mode. Sheet pan dinners like Golden Miso Salmon (page 154) are ridiculously simple and equally delicious. And I’m loving the retro vibe of including a can of Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom Soup in the Chicken and Mushroom Tray Bake (page 166). But lest we think that Jamie has turned his back on modern flavours, the Gochujang Chicken Noodle Bake (page 170) makes eight yes, EIGHT(!!!) ingredients into something so packed with umami goodness that you’ll be making this on rotation.
The Pantry Love Section inspires cooks to make the most of humble pantry staples. In this chapter, beans get some major love with recipes like Harissa Butter Beans (page 193), which I served with grilled halloumi as per his suggestion, although a grilled piece of sourdough bread would go splendidly with this as well.
Got some jarred jalapeños? Well, if you do, you too could make Punchy Shrimp (page 204) which uses his Easy Green Chili salsa (jarred jalapeños, mint and honey are all you need). This base green salsa is also used as a marinade for Chicken Lollipops (page 206) which are either grilled or air-fried and served with more of this green magic sauce and warm pita breads.
We all have wheat or corn tortillas languishing in our fridges, right? They're already such a quick and easy snack or meal accoutrement, but Jamie spins them into mains. Things like Cajun-Spiced Enchiladas (page 220), Tasty Tortilla Tagliatelle (page 226) and even dessert with Hot & Crispy Ice Cream Parcel (page 230). And I guarantee that this will be a huge hit with all of your littles: Nutella and banana wrapped in a tortilla and fried in butter. What’s not to love? The perfect after-school snack, IMO.
The book's great dessert section includes a Hero Chocolate Cake (page 244) that Jamie uses in five separate recipes that will easily become part of your dessert repertoire. But my favourite dessert recipe in the book is the Epic Sticky Toffee Pudding (page 256). This dessert made with Earl Grey tea and Scotch whisky may not be ideal for kids, but definitely make it for your friends or an after-bedtime treat! All of the ingredients are blitzed in a food processor, then poured into a pan and baked. It's then covered with the most decadent, slightly boozy caramel sauce. To me, this is pure heaven with minimal fuss.
Thank you to Penguin Random House for the book to review. And, well, Jamie Oliver, for more incredible recipes to test.
Excerpted from Simply Jamie by Jamie Oliver is published by Appetite © Jamie Oliver Enterprises Limited (2024 Simply Jamie). Recipe photography: © David Loftus, 2024. Published by Appetite by Random House®, a division of Penguin Random House Canada Limited. Reproduced by arrangement with the Publisher. All rights reserved.
