Supplemental #63

I’m afraid I was somewhat distracted over the Bank Holiday weekend, so didn’t get a chance to do a Supplemental run-down in full.

This abridged version basically highlights a few of the recipes I thought were particularly good. I’m sure there were other things worth looking at too. Normal service resumes next week. Probably.

Have a gander

By far the best thing I saw was a piece by Nigel Slater on Britain’s appetite for multicultural cooking. “I can think of no place that welcomes the food of other countries with more enthusiasm than Britain“, he wrote. Too right. The Observer Magazine article included mini interviews with and recipes from a few upcoming cooks – like Zoe Adjonyoh and Meera Sodha.

Slater struck the perfect balance between celebrating the impact of the food from immigrant communities, whilst still noting what’s good in ‘native’ British cooking right now; thereby highlighting “the richness of our blended heritage“. A TV series on this theme and led by Sir Nige starts Next week, apparently. Should be good. Also check out his haddock cakes with a sesame, basil, mirin an cucumber dip in the same magazine.

On a related theme, I suppose, was Diana Henry’s column in The Sunday Telegraph. The (very deservedly) recently anointed Queen of British Cookery Writing gave us three recipes inspired by Indian cuisine, all easy to make at home: whole roast masala chicken, palak matar paneer and a spiced cheese toastie.

Tom Hunt’s four ways with hake in the Guardian’s Cook magazine are all very doable. Also in that supplement were gorgeous recipes and words by Jackson Boxer: lamb neck, yeasted cauliflower and purple sprouting; carrots, kohlrabi tops and anchovies.

Technically, by the time you’re reading this Bill Granger’s Bank Holiday finger food will be past its best before. But as with most things, ignore the labelling and consider his Indy on Sunday recipes for your next party. Prawn, green apple and coconut filled lettuce leaves are a nice idea, ditto the mini fennel tart Tatin and chicken yakitori sticks.

Jamie Oliver’s ‘Indian chopped salad’ in The Sunday Times looks like its packed with flavour.

To finish, I reckon Florence Knight’s flourless almond cake would go down well (also in The Sunday Times). It’s made upside-down, so ‘the reveal’ of this chocolate sponge treats you with a syrupy, crunchy almond top. Nice.

Have you voted in the OFM awards yet? Name your favourite restaurants, food shops and *cough* blog; win prizes.

Also, do sign up to the fortnightly Rocket and Squash newsletter. This brings together the latest posts on the blog, and a few other things from elsewhere that you might find interesting. Look for the envelope button at the base of the site. The next email will be 5 June.