If your New Year's resolution is to cook at home more, chef and cookbook author Jamie Oliver has just what you need to make your culinary goals a reality. Oliver's latest title, "Simply Jamie," distills 25 years of his expert tips and tricks as he brings you 130 time-saving, flavor-packed recipes across five chapters: Midweek Meals, Weekend Wins, Reliable Roasting Pans, Pantry Love, and Delicious Desserts.
The beloved British celebrity chef joined "Good Morning America" on Tuesday with two simple dinner recipes to help bring the joy back to your home cooking. He has shared two easy no-cook pasta sauces to inspire home cooks who are eager to get a complete meal on the table in under 15 minutes—just about the same time it takes for most dried pasta to cook.
One standout recipe featured was the Jarred Pepper Pasta, which serves four. It is quick, taking just 12 minutes to prepare. The ingredients include 10.5 ounces of any shape dried pasta, one bunch of Italian parsley, one clove of fresh garlic, a 16-ounce jar of roasted red peppers, two-thirds of a cup of blanched almonds, half to one teaspoon of dried red chili flakes, and generous half cup of cottage cheese. To begin, you simply cook the pasta according to the package instructions and then make the pepper sauce by blending the parsley, garlic, roasted peppers, almonds, chili flakes, olive oil, and vinegar together until smooth, mixing it all for big flavor.
The second pasta recipe, Herb Pea Pasta, is another easy dish, ready in just 11 minutes. It also serves four and consists of 10.5 ounces of dried fusilli, two cups of frozen peas, twelve green olives, four teaspoons of capers, and one big bunch of mixed soft herbs. To prepare, the pasta is cooked as per the instructions with the peas added during the last minute. The sauce is made by blending up the olives, capers, herbs, olive oil, and Parmesan, and it’s seasoned perfectly before being mixed with the drained pasta.
Oliver highlighted the adaptability of his recipes, explaining, "This dish is great because it's easy to swap ingredients and use up whatever you have on hand." He pointed out how you could substitute elements like fava beans for peas, emphasizing the sweetness and nutrition of frozen peas. This makes the recipe not only flexible but perfect for any season.
He also explained the importance of using the starchy pasta cooking water, noting it helps loosen the sauce and adds creaminess without fat. Both sauces can be frozen for later use, extending their life and making meal prep even easier.
This promotion is ideally timed as many people look to kickstart their cooking habits as the New Year begins. Oliver's encouragement to cook quickly and effectively resonates with those wanting to eat healthier and more homemade meals. With the right guidance, cooking can be both straightforward and pleasurable.
Through his engaging personality and expertise, Oliver is once more working to inspire home cooks to embrace the kitchen with open arms. His cookbook, "Simply Jamie," offers them not just recipes, but also the confidence to whip up meals quickly and delightfully.