Can anyone recommend a mediterranean cookbook?

potsofmoney_(I_wish)

Hi all,
Does anyone could recommend a good Mediterranean cookbook, at the moment I cook a lot of traditional British dishes but would like some fresh ideas. I'm also looking at the health benefits of a Mediterranean diet.

TIA

thriftlady_2

I can really recommend Slim and Healthy Mediterranean by Judith Wills. It is out of print now but there are some second hand copies available on Amazon here.

Sorry there isn't a picture, but it has lovely photos and the recipes are easy to make and use easy to get ingredients. There is lots of nutrition info including menu plans including low calorie ones.

I've had my copy for years, it's one of my faves;)

Trinny

Jamie Oliver's italian cookbook is fab - we picked it up in a charity shop for three quid.

Trin

avinabacca

Elizabeth David's A Book of Mediterranean Food - probably the only book you'll need here.

It's the one classic work, to my mind - still as relevant and exciting as the day it was published. Don't bother with most modern chefs' take on Mediterranean cooking, go straight for the master.

thriftlady_2

avinabacca wrote: »

Elizabeth David's A Book of Mediterranean Food - probably the only book you'll need here.

It's the one classic work, to my mind - still as relevant and exciting as the day it was published. Don't bother with most modern chefs' take on Mediterranean cooking, go straight for the master.

Much as I love Elizabeth David's writing this book is most definitely not the right book if you want something clear and easy to use. Elizabeth David's recipes are hard work, she makes no concessions to her readers at all assuming them all to have the same background of knowledge as herself. She sometimes includes recipes that are not in English without translations. There are no pictures of the recipes and the instructions are often unclear.

A good book to read in bed, but hard to cook from unless you are very confident in the kitchen.

avinabacca

thriftlady wrote: »

Much as I love Elizabeth David's writing this book is most definitely not the right book if you want something clear and easy to use. Elizabeth David's recipes are hard work, she makes no concessions to her readers at all assuming them all to have the same background of knowledge as herself. She sometimes includes recipes that are not in English without translations. There are no pictures of the recipes and the instructions are often unclear.

A good book to read in bed, but hard to cook from unless you are very confident in the kitchen.

True enough, that - but iisn't it wonderful to read a cookbook which doesn't patronise, doesn't unnecessarily simplify, and clearly has the personality of the author shining through! I agree with the "good book to read in bed", too - such beautifully-written books, such genuine fondness, passion and love for the food.

Elizabeth David holds no fear for me - though indeed, you may have to pick and choose the recipes you try from her books - and if you're of a passable standard of kitchen proficiency yourself I urge you to get hold of one of her books and give it a try. For my money she knocks Jamie et al for six with ease.

Mind - as you'll probably surmise I am a fairly accomplished cook. If you're in any way skittish or panicky in the kitchen, or are in real doubt as to how skilled you are as a cook, then pick up something by someone else.

Did Delia Smith do a Mediterranean series?

thriftlady_2

avinabacca wrote: »

Elizabeth David holds no fear for me - though indeed, you may have to pick and choose the recipes you try from her books - and if you're of a passable standard of kitchen proficiency yourself I urge you to get hold of one of her books and give it a try. For my money she knocks Jamie et al for six with ease.

She holds no fear for me either and yes, she certainly knocks Jamie out of the Oval. I have all her books. Her gateau au chocolat et aux amandes is my favourite chocolate cake recipe -from French Provincial Cookery.

I also love Jane Grigson and Claudia Roden.

avinabacca

thriftlady wrote: »

She holds no fear for me either and yes, she certainly knocks Jamie out of the Oval. I have all her books. Her gateau au chocolat et aux amandes is my favourite chocolate cake recipe -from French Provincial Cookery.

I also love Jane Grigson and Claudia Roden.

Awesome writers; think they're both great. Roden in particular really turned me onto Middle Eastern food, at a time when I was certain the region had little more to offer than variations on kebab and tagine.

Another food writer I think is cracking - and if there's any justice will become more widely-known as time goes on - is Fuchsia Dunlop. She's doing for me now with Chinese food what Claudia Roden did for me a few years ago with Middle Eastern.......

Not tried that particular recipe yet - mind, I don't do a lot of sweet cooking - but something I'll have a look and check it out, possibly for Christmas or something