Nigella Lawson is my spirit animal.
This post was a long time coming. I am a lover of cookbooks; my collection is modest, but certainly growing. The majority of the collection consists of cookbooks by Nigella Lawson. I LOVE Nigella. What I love most about her cooking style is that it’s fuss-free. Nigella truly loves to eat, she’s passionate about it. It’s a passion for me as well and that’s why I cook.
If I were to describe her food, I would say it’s elegant and effortless. Nigella allows you to improvise and encourages you to tailor the recipes to the ingredients you have. She’s not rigid or a food snob, and I’ve never seen her look down on any ingredient or cooking method. In fact, she’s quite informal in her cooking. I remember in an episode of one her cooking shows she talked about pink wine. She said, “I rather like it and haven’t got time for snobs that look down upon it.” You tell ’em Nigella.
Today I have three cookbook recommendations for you. All three are easy to follow, and you don’t have to be a trained chef to recreate the recipes, which makes me very happy. As Nigella would say, “My skill lies in eating.” Amen.
Nigella Bites: From Family Meals to Elegant Dinners — Easy, Delectable Recipes For Any Occasion
Linguine with Garlic Oil and Pancetta
Nigella Bites is still one of my favorite cooking shows. You can find old episodes on youtube. I highly recommend checking them out. The cookbook is filled with fun and easy recipes. I love her Linguine with Garlic Oil and Pancetta. You only need three ingredients! If you don’t have garlic infused olive oil, just add fresh garlic. It’s the easiest pasta dish you will ever make and it’s so delicious!
It’s also full of indulgent recipes. I love me some good trashy junk food from time to time (spam and tater tots.) In the book, Nigella talks about her cookbook collection. She picked up Are You Hungry Tonight?: Elvis’ Favorite Recipes on a visit to Graceland, and teaches us how to make Fried Peanut-Butter and Banana Sandwich. Yum! The King would’ve approved. The Salt and Pepper Squid, South Beach Black Bean Soup, Ham in Coca-Cola are super tasty.
Nigella Express: 130 Recipes for Good Food, Fast
If you buy just one of these cookbooks, I highly suggest this one. I use this cookbook a ton, I’ve bookmarked so many recipes all amazing! There are 130 recipes ranging from entrees, desserts, salads, appetizers, and more. It’s full of quick and easy recipes, perfect for days you come home tired and really don’t want to cook. She gives you tips on stocking up your pantry, which helps you save time.
I just pick one of these recipes when I want to prepare a fast and delicious meal. A few of my favorite recipes are the Mustard Pork Chops, Juicy Beef Skewers with Horseradish dip, and the Linguine with Lemon, Garlic and Thyme Mushrooms, there’s no cooking involved other than boiling the pasta water.
My version of Nigella’s Cherry Cheesecake
Probably the recipe I make the most is the Cherry Cheesecake. It’s a faux cheesecake done extremely well, anyone can make this dessert. It’s easy and fantastic! My husband hates cheesecake and he loves this one. I didn’t have cherries on hand so I topped mine with fresh berries. The Instant Chocolate Mousse is heavenly and easy to make. There are so many yummy desserts to pick from and they’re not intimidating. This cookbook is a life saver!
Forever Summer
Watermelon, Feta and Black Olive Salad
Forever Summer is a cookbook I use all year long regardless of the season. It’s definitely the one I reach for when I want a light meal. I love the Short Pasta with Asparagus, Lemon, Garlic and Parsley, the Slow-Roasted Garlic and Lemon Chicken, and Spaghettini al Sugo Crudo. And the Flatbread Pizzas are out of this world.
It’s also full of amazing salads recipes, my favorite is the Watermelon, Feta and Black Olive. So fresh, so good. For those of you with a sweet tooth, Forever Summer has incredible ice cream recipes too! What I love most about this cookbook and Nigella’s recipes in general, is the ingredients are easy to find, there’s no need to go to a specialty store. Everything is accessible, it’s comfort food at its best.
Overall, I love Nigella’s philosophy on cooking and food. Food should be approachable and fun. Nigella is the kind of cook I inspire to be.
