Nutra Check

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Welcome to March

T his month, we celebrate the flavours that

A taste of HOME

To mark International Women’s Day, we share recipes that conjure fond childhood memories

Olia Hercules’ Ukrainian poppy seed buns

make our cover recipe Poppy seeds

Georgina Hayden’s Mama Socratous’s avgolemoni

Avgolemoni (or avgolemono) is a classic Greek soup

Kalpna Woolf ’s crispy namak para

“Those are the days of miracle and wonder”,

Cassie Best’s rösti-topped lamb & rosemary pie

When I was growing up, my mum did

What’s your best Mother’s Day meal?

We ask cooks, chefs and producers for their ideas to celebrate Mother’s Day on 19 March

Volunteering gave me new confidence

close connections

on the table in 30 minutes

Ready to eat in half an hour or less, these weeknight dinners are a breeze 

love your leftovers

Use up what’s left of our speedy midweek mea ls on page 32 

Ravneet Gill’s sweet treat

"For those who don’t know what ras malai is, let me enlighten you. It ’s an Indian pudding made of light milk dumplings soa ked in sweet, gently spiced milk. The milk contains notes of cardamom, cr ushed pistachios and sometimes fla ked almonds and sa ffron, if you’re lucky."

Holi festival

Mark this ancient Hindu tradition on 8 March with a colourful feast from Urvashi Roe

love your lunchbox

Pack a midday meal that uses up leftovers, or try a new take on pasta salad or grain bowls

Celebrate World Book Day

Take inspiration from your children’s favourite stories this World Book Day (2 March) to make a special lunch, sweet treat or party bake

health news

Our health editor Tracey Raye shares tips on adding more protein to your diet, plus an easy, thrifty air-fryer snack

pep up your rice

In our nod to West African jollof, we give wholegrain rice layers of peppery flavour and nutrients. It also provides all of your five-a-day

boost your breakfast

Start your day with a nutrient kick delivered by these fresh and colourful recipes

Norman Musa’s

Ayam bakar baked chicken

MY FAVOURITES

Cookbook “Bersama by Francis Kuijk. It’s an Indonesian

The brilliant women who inspire me

Our columnist speaks to women in hospitality about the highlights and challenges of working in the industry

Bring on spring

Revel in the best of the new season’s produce with recipes for spinach, squid and spring onions from Samuel Goldsmith.Plus , gardening advice from BBC Gardeners’ World’s Emma Crawforth

Rhubarb

The gorgeous colour of forced rhubarb is a sign of sunnier days ahead, and a lovely addition to desserts and drinks

Healthy budget family meals

Eat well and feel great with our nutritious, budget-friendly family mea ls, which are full of goodness and make the most of lower-cost ingredients

9 ways to save energy in the kitchen

Consumer affairs journalist Harry Kind shares his advice for affordable, energyefficient cooking

Go slow

Lower your energy bills by using a slow cooker instead of an oven or hob, with inventive recipes from the social media star and cookbook author Nathan Anthony

“I batch cook once a month”

We ask how you’re adapting your shopping habits and getting the best va lue out of the food you buy

Easter feasting!

on sale 23 March • Hot cross French

Parsi pancakes

Good Food reader Niloufer Mavalvala shares her recipe for Parsi pancakes, inspired by an 18th-century cake

New for you this summer

Book your tickets

Discover Ancient Greece, from Athens to Delphi, and coastal Tolo

7 nights half-board from only £999* between March

Harvest your own potatoes

Save £24 on this patio growing kit, and receive free potato scrubbing gloves worth £4.99

European tours

Explore the rich history and culinary delights of Italy

Improve your wine knowledge

Everything you need to know about pairing wine with your favourite foods. This month, we focus on seafood dishes

Luxury Venetian Lagoon cruise with Rick Stein

Board the beautiful S.S La Venezia for an elegant seven-night voyage exploring the Venetian Lagoon

BBC good food

Managing director, food Alex White Group editor-in-chief Christine

MERINGUE PIE

Make this showstopping dessert to celebrate Mum on Mother’s Day (19 March) – it’s light, zesty and sure to impress

Lime meringue pie

For the best result, a meringuetopped pie should be eaten on the day it’s made. Even better, enjoy it while slightly warm.

JOE WOODHOUSE’S vibrant VEGETARIAN FEAST

SAVE SUNDAY LUNCH

RELAXED ENTERTAINING

Make your time with family and friends memorable with restaurant-style dinners that are simple to make at home

Folded omelette & merguez sausage sandwiches with quick chilli jam

If you’d like to make these sandwiches for a crowd , use a bigger pan for the omelette and cut to fit in the rolls.

Bloody mary mussels

Inspired by the flavours of the classic cocktail, this dish has a little kick from the vodka.

Wild garlic & mushroom lasagne

Make the most of the short wild garlic season with this recipe, in which it’s infused into white sauce.

Lemon clotted cream cake

Rich and delicately lemony, this cake also has lemon curd swirled through to give it a sticky topping.

TREAT YOURSELF

Whether you want to unwind in the kitchen, fill the biscuit tin or round off the Sunday lunch, these recipes have you covered

Cheese & onion quiche

Use shop-bought pastry for ease. This is great for a weekend lunch or as part of a buffet.

Chocolate chip banana bread

Rustle up this moreish bake using overripe bananas that are lingering in the fruit bowl.

Scottish shortbread

Simply made using only four ingredients, including rice flour to bring texture, these shortbread biscuits are best enjoyed with a cuppa.

Feed a crowd

If you’re having friends or family over this weekend, try this easy pork recipe that uses a pressure cooker to reduce cooking time

Balsamic vinegar

TEST KITCHEN SECRETS

Season with acid

FLAVOUR BOOSTERS

Crumblies

CHEESE CLASS

Cheese soufflé

We’ve updated this rich dinner party classic by boosting its flavour with cheese, herbs and cayenne

Books for cooks

Helena Busiakiewicz from our cookery team selects her favourite new books to inspire you this month

Desi Kitchen by Sarah Woods

COOKBOOK CHALLENGE

Chippy scallops (with a twist)

SERVES 4-6 PREP 15 mins COOK 20 mins

Budget appliances

Looking for quality, performance and value for money? Discover our tried-and-tested picks

Cosmonaut

DRINKS CABINET

Raise a glass

Look out for these four great buys