ESSENTIAL RECIPE INFO

Our symbols explained

You can freeze all or most of the recipe. Unless stated otherwise, freeze the finished dish for up to 3 months. Defrost and heat until piping hot throughout. Vegetarian Vegan Gluten free Dairy free

Recipes with these symbols are suitable for special diets provided you choose appropriate free-from ingredients – always check the label. Other recipes can be adapted for special diets – see our Make It Veggie and Easy Swaps tips.

Standard kit

Our recipes assume cooks will have a food processor/blender/stick blender; an electric stand mixer/ hand mixer; a selection of pans, tins and casseroles; baking paper and kitchen paper. We give alternative methods for combining ingredients if possible, and specify the size of dish/tin if relevant. We also think a digital probe thermometer is helpful for cooking meat, making preserves and so on.

Prep and cooking times

All our timings include prep. Hands-on time is when you’re chopping, stirring, assembling, frying or grilling.

Oven/simmering time is when you can leave the dish unattended in the oven or on the hob.

Nutritional information

Recipes are analysed for nutritional content by an expert nutritionist. Calculations may vary, depending on your choice of ingredients, and include listed ingredients only.

Our suppliers

Meat for our recipe testing and photography is supplied by The Ginger Pig (thegingerpig.co.uk). Handmade crockery by Sofia Ceramics (sofiaceramics.com). With thanks to Magimix for supplying our small appliances.

Prices

These are checked and correct at the time of going to press.

Oven temperatures

Our recipes give fan oven and gas mark temperatures. For conventional ovens without a fan, add 20°C to the fan temperature.