easy
Recipes that no require a high level of skill and can be prepared in a reasonably quick time.
Turkey, celery and apple salad with apricots
A fresh, crunchy salad of sliced roast turkey, celery and tart apples soaked in brandy and dried apricots, set on a bed of lettuce and red cabbage. A light, creamy yogurt and olive oil dressing with chives ties everything together.
Mwamba (peanut sauce)
A thick, nutty paste made from nothing more than roasted peanuts and water, slow-cooked until the water disappears. Known as mwamba (or muamba), it is the base of moambe-style stews across Central Africa, stirred into fish, shrimp, and chicken dishes or served as a rich sauce on its own.
Koftet el gambari (shrimp kofta)
A coastal Egyptian classic that rarely makes it onto English-language menus: raw shrimp blended with garlic, onion, and warming spices, bound with ground rice, shaped into small croquettes, fried until golden, then simmered briefly in a light tomato sauce. Known at home as koftet el gambari (shrimp kofta), it's especially associated with the Mediterranean coast around Port Said and Damietta, where shrimp and rice are both everyday staples. Served simply, with sliced tomato and lettuce alongside.
Kamounia (veal liver stew with cumin)
Pizza hot dogs
Oyster stuffing
An American classic from the days when oysters were cheap and everywhere. Soft bread, butter, celery and herbs, folded through with shucked oysters and their briny liquor, then baked until the top goes crisp. It tastes luxurious now, which is the opposite of how it started.
Chocolate fridge cake
Few desserts deliver instant joy quite like a classic chocolate fridge cake. This no-bake treat brings together rich dark chocolate, buttery digestive biscuits, pillowy mini marshmallows, and jewel-bright glacé cherries, all set into neat, sliceable squares. There's no oven involved, which makes it a brilliant choice for warm afternoons or busy days when time is short. The magic lies in the contrast: snappy chocolate against soft marshmallow, crunchy biscuit against chewy cherry.
Summer berry cordial
A cordial, in the British sense, is a concentrated fruit syrup that you dilute to taste with still or sparkling water — not to be confused with the American cordial, which is a sweet liqueur. This one captures the height of summer in a bottle: a deep ruby concentrate of cherries and mixed berries, sharpened with lemon and just sweet enough to balance the fruit. Stir a splash into a glass of cold sparkling water for an instant summer drink, or over ice with a mint sprig for something a little more grown-up.
Asparagus with citrusy breadcrumbs
Fresh, elegant, and full of sunny flavor, this asparagus side dish turns a handful of simple ingredients into something special. Tender spears of asparagus get a quick stir-fry until bright and crisp-tender, then meet a golden shower of buttery breadcrumbs kissed with fragrant orange rind. A scattering of fresh tarragon and delicate flakes of Parmesan bring it all together with an aromatic, savory finish. It's a dish that celebrates the joyful, unfussy spirit of Mediterranean cooking, where fresh produce takes center stage.
Fried rice
Colorful, satisfying, and endlessly adaptable, fried rice is one of those dishes that turns leftovers into a feast. This version brings together tender ham, sweet baby corn, peas, and vibrant red bell pepper, all tossed with fluffy long-grain rice and a generous drizzle of kecap manis. That syrupy Indonesian soy sauce lends a deep, caramel-like sweetness that sets this dish apart. A rolled egg omelette, sliced into delicate golden ribbons, adds richness and a lovely finishing touch.