In Simply Jamie, Jamie Oliver wants to inspire us to cook keeping time on our side. But in his opinion this means using tinned ingredients, such as new potatoes. This to me is not healthy, due to the other ingredients found in tinned foods. Because of this, there were many recipes I would not try.
Simply Jamie
Simply Jamie exists to inspire you to get cooking – it’s full of delicious, achievable recipes you’ll love to make. Whatever your needs, you can trust that these tried and tested recipes will slot right into the rhythms of your week – from 20-minute-to-table dishes and no-time-to-shop cupboard rescues to weekend wins that create smart leftover ideas, meaning mealtimes are a doddle in the days that follow.
Today’s recipe book review from Lavender and Lime ♥ Simply Jamie ♥ #LavenderAndLime Share on X
Chapters are divided into:
- Midweek Meals
- Weekend Wins
- Trusty Traybakes
- Cupboard Love
- Perfect Puds
Recipes that caught my eye:
- Herb Pea Pasta (p20)
- Lemon, Rocket and Broad Bean Pasta (p26)
- Tahini Dressing (p42)
- Creamy Feta Dressing (p3)
- Green Goddess Salad (p48)
- Quick Greekish Salad (p50)
- Delicious Seasonal Greens (p52)
- Crispy Broccoli Panzanella (p56)
- Sweet Pea Chicken (p65)
- Olive Gremolata Chicken (p67)
- Speedy Microwave Gnocchi (p68)
- Gnocchi Carbonara (p70)
- Courgette, Pea and Mint Gnocchi (p72)
- Creamy Garlic Mushroom Gnocchi (p73)
- Chicken Noodle Broth (p90)
- Chicken, Leek and Potato Soup (p94)
- Chicken, Sausage and Mushroom Stew (p100)
- Baked Bolognese Pancakes (p116)
- Secret Veg Sauce (p140)
- Creamy Tomato Soup (p142)
- Quick Coddled Eggs (p147)
- Sichuan Pepper Beef Brisket (p156)
- Roasted Med Veg and Feta Traybake (p168)
- Mediterranean Lamb Traybake (p174)
- Gnarly Lamb Madras Traybake (p182)
- Harissa Butter Beans (p193)
- 5-Minute Fro-Yo (p236)
- Traybaked Pear and Ginger Tarte Tatin (p254)
- Grilled and Roasted Fruit (p258)
What I made:
I had a dinner party and paged through this recipe book for the perfect side dish. And the delicious seasonal greens were just that! I made the gnocchi several times but they didn’t hold together nicely. They tasted good despite this, and I will share the recipes for the courgette, pea and mint sauce as it was exceptional. I asked a friend of mine for her mother’s recipe and I am going to adapt the two to make the speedy gnocchi work. The pancakes were amazing and a variation of these are going to feature for regular Sunday dinners. I adapted the traybake recipe a fair bit, and can see its appeal, even if the result of my changes meant the cous cous was a little dry.
My impressions:
I am a huge Jamie Oliver fan and have a vast array of his recipe books, from his very first one, to the latest. For the most part, his recipes are spot on, and can be made over and over again. So, even though I had two that were not perfect, I would still recommend you get this, if you are looking for some quick and easy meals to prepare.
Cook from the book:
Publishing information:
Penguin Random House South Africa sent me this recipe book to review.
See the links below for blog posts I published on August 28:
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- 2022: Shattered
- 2020: Devilled Eggs
- 2019: 138 Marine Beachfront Guesthouse
- 2018: Gluten-Free Lemon Cheesecake
- 2015: Gluten Free Nut And Seed Loaf
- 2014: Coiled Bread Rolls
- 2013: Tanqueray Gin Breeze Cocktail
- 2010: Food Quiz Number 34 For A Friday
I remember Jamie way, way, way back as a youngster beginning to cook, still living in his parents’ pub, still loving to play the drums in his band, trying to tell us politely he had a live-in girlfriend . . . like Donal Skehan from Ireland he was exuberantly young and fun to turn on . , , and hasn’t he made a career of it! I admire him hugely for trying t keep badly fed school-kids healthy in more countries than one . . in finding jobs for the unemployed youth and more, more, more . . . I have also had the biggest row of my on-line food ‘blogging’ with him when I kept on stating that if you keep on calling a dish ‘gravlax’ you do NOT put beetroot in it > it may taste great > it is nor gravlax 🙂 ! In the end he, or whoever writes for him (he is severely dyslexic) smiled and ‘gave up’ 🙂 ! You have picked some fab Med=style recipes methinks 🙂 !!!
He is amazing! We ate at Fifteen when it first opened and everything he does seems to be for the good of others 🙂
I have a lot of time for Jamie. He tries to show how, with a bit of preparation, cooking can be easy, less stressful, healthy and tasty.
That describes his way of cooking perfectly!
He had a restaurant here in brisbane years ago; we dined there once or twice – not bad. But eek to tinned potatoes. I’ve had ’em, and they taste awful. I’ve never really gelled with his cookbooks tho for some reason…
I just cannot imagine tinned potatoes!
Thanks for the honest review Tandy. I think he is an amazing chef, and has accomplished so much. I saw this book just yesterday and wondered if it would be a worthwhile purchase. I’ll take the time now to look at it and decide. His TV shows are always very enjoyable.
I love watching him cook!
Ohhhh, those pancakes look incredible! I understand his approach, but I’m with you on tinned foods. But also, my kids are 39 and 41, and the last thing I care about now is “quick and easy.” So 10 minute weeknight meals aren’t important, but I do remember the days when they were. This cookbook will help lots of people.
It will be a huge help to get people off eating take out food!
Interestingly enough, I am not a Jamie Oliver fan. His food is much to rich.
That is interesting to know 🙂
I would love to try his lamb recipes!
I can always scan and email them to you if you would like?
Quick and easy meals never go out of style. Sounds like a keeper!
I think so 🙂
I very seldom find a cookbook with more than 2 or 3 recipes that I am interested in trying. From the list you listed, I’m ready to try most of them! Sounds like a wonderful cookbook . Thanks for the review. I especially would like to try the Courgette, Pea And Mint sauce . Sounds amazing.
That recipe coming soon on the blog 🙂