John Gregory-Smith’s latest cookbook Mighty Spice Express has made me realise that in my hurry to get a meal quickly onto a table I all too often revert to not very imaginative old favourites that I can put together without too much thought.
Things will change. The next big supermarket run will see my basket groaning under the weight of fresh and new spices.
Scrambled eggs and smoked salmon will now be given a new lease of life with lime, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, chilli powder and pumpkin seeds. And for some reason the book keeps falling open at the recipe for Five-Spice Belly Pork! A much loved elderly friend always used to add a good pinch of five-spice to her out-of-this-world shepherd’s pie. From now on the pork will be rubbed with the spice before roasting. Less spicy than some of the recipes but still sounding delicious to me the recipe for baked eggs with lentils and goat’s cheese – ready in a mere 15 minutes. Perfect!
There are also some terrific looking desserts including a take on key lime pie made with half a pineapple and a pinch of crushed chilli flakes. I’m not wildly enthusiastic about pumpkin as a dessert – but when it is slow-braised with walnuts and dark chocolate allowed to melt into it I might well have to think again.
The recipes are clearly laid out on the page and the quantities for ingredients have thoughtfully been given in metric, imperial and cup measures.
Alongside the recipes are fascinating photographs of the street life John has encountered on his travels along with anecdotes of his journey round the countries of Asia, North Africa, Middle East and South America that so inspired him. The book has certainly inspired us.
Mighty Spice Express. John Gregory-Smith. Duncan Baird Publishers. £20 Hardback. ISBN: 978-1-84899-108-8. www.dbp.co.uk
