Nigella needs no introduction. She is the queen of simple cooking made good, with cookbooks that are so beautifully written, they’re worthy of reading in bed. Her timeless recipes have become staples, not least because they’re straight-forward to prepare and they always have that extra special something thrown in. Here are 10 of our favourites, from midweek dinners that wouldn’t be out of place at a weekend feast to teatime cakes and celebration desserts.
“Orzo pasta is a non-negotiable staple in my kitchen. It makes for wonderful, cosy one-pot dishes, of which this is a pre-eminent example”, says Nigella. This comforting dinner pairs homemade meatballs with a rich tomato sauce and her favourite orzo pasta – scroll down for her equally good orzo pasta risotto.
These meatballs combine minced beef with black pudding for a comforting dish with an irresistible depth of flavour. They are particularly good when served alongside Nigella’s brown butter colcannon.
Nigella Lawson’s Black Pudding Meatballs
These meatballs combine minced beef with black pudding to create a warming dish with an irresistible depth of flavour. They are particularly good when served alongside Nigella’s brown butter colcannon.
From the book
Cook, Eat, Repeat
A collection of recipes you’ll want to make over and over again
Including quick and easy meals, Christmas comfort food, and stunning bakes
Interspersed with witty, thoughtful, and beautifully written essays
Turkish Eggs
Greek yoghurt, poached eggs and hot peppery butter might seem like an odd combination but as Nigella testifies it’s “a revelation and a complete sensation”. If you can get hold of mild, sweet, lemony Aleppo pepper or Turkish red pepper flakes, it’s worth it.
Chicken with Red Grapes and Marsala
This simple but sophisticated dinner for two combines tender chicken, plump grapes, thyme and a mustardy marsala sauce. “Brimming with mellow fruitfulness”, this chicken recipe is best served with steamed new potatoes or crusty bread for mopping up all the juices.
Chicken Traybake with Bitter Orange and Fennel
A one-tin dinner that will fill your kitchen with the fragrance of anise and citrus, this chicken dish is both comforting and elegant. Nigella’s top tip: marinade the chicken a day in advance for a supremely tender and flavoursome dish.
Pasta Risotto with Peas and Pancetta
Nigella swaps risotto rice for orzo, a rice-shaped pasta that cooks in just 10 minutes and doesn’t require constant stirring. Flavoured with the classic combination of peas and pancetta, this is a one-pan midweek winner.
Gemelli with Anchovies, Tomato and Mascarpone
Nigella’s creamy, tangy, spicy pasta dish involves making a 10-minute tomato sauce, tossing it through hot ‘gemelli’ pasta and serving with parsley and plenty of Parmesan. Pure comfort.
Nigella Lawson’s Chocolate Raspberry Pudding Cake
This dessert has a heavenly texture, somewhere between a pudding and a cake. Sour-sweet juicy raspberries and rich chocolate make for an incredible pairing, too.
Prodigious Pavlova
This mega-meringue has a soft marshmallowy centre and a crisp outside. It’s served with whipped cream, lychees and passionfruit, and drizzled with a sharp, bright raspberry sauce. If making this out of raspberry season, feel free to use frozen.
Ginger and Walnut Carrot Cake
This rustic teatime cake comes topped with ginger-spiked cream cheese icing, crystallised ginger and walnuts for a touch of decadence.
Nigella Lawson’s Warm Chocolate Tahini and Banana Pudding
“Embracingly cosy and almost regally sumptuous” is how Nigella describes this warm chocolate tahini and banana pudding, and we couldn’t agree more.
