June, 2016

21 June, 2016 New cookbooks coming soon to the library

With so many brand new cookbooks soon to hit the library, we’ve got your summer cooking covered. From authentic deep south barbecue to child-friendly smoothies, there’s more inspiration than you could shake a spatula at.
Read more…
20 June, 2016 Your favourite James Martin recipes revealed

James is one of our most popular authors, and for good reason; here are his most searched for dishes in the library.
Read more…
15 June, 2016 Italian baking reinvented, with Melissa Forti

We're thrilled to welcome Melissa Forti to Cooked; we caught up with her about her favourite classic Italian bakes, her influences from around the world, and which cakes fly off the counter in her Tuscan tea room.
Read more…
13 June, 2016 What to cook on Father's Day, with Rob Kirby

Thinking about what to cook on Father's Day? Take some advice from Cooked author and chef Rob Kirby.
Read more…
10 June, 2016 Our favourite shop-bought picnic staples

Jack Birch ate a week's worth of quiches, salads, dips and sausage rolls to discover the best the supermarkets have to offer this summer.
Read more…
03 June, 2016 A beginner's guide to English wine

With English Wine Week in full swing, we asked Gavin Smith from The Vintner to talk us through the basics.
Read more…
01 June, 2016 Southern barbecue basics with Hang Fire Smokehouse

We asked Samantha Evans and Shauna Guinn, the team behind Hang Fire Smokehouse, to introduce us to some of their favourite recipes in their debut cookbook.
Read more…

May, 2016

23 May, 2016 The journey from farm to table, with Tom Kitchin

Chefs often talk about the importance of their relationships with suppliers, but how does that passion for the produce filter through?
Read more…
17 May, 2016 How to plan a Persian Feast

Always wanted to cook a whole host of sharing dishes but nervous of the work involved? Help is at hand with Yasmin Khan's meal planner.
Read more…
16 May, 2016 A taste of Iran

We asked Yasmin to pick three of her favourite classic Iranian dishes from The Saffron Tales.
Read more…
13 May, 2016 Everything you need to know about French wine regions, part 1: Burgundy, Bordeaux and Languedoc

We asked Mike Best from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust to talk us through three French wine regions to get to grips with the basics.
Read more…
11 May, 2016 New trends in ancient grains

If you’ve got to grips with bulgur, pearl barley and quinoa, then try swapping them out for a few of the oldest new grains on the block.
Read more…
09 May, 2016 How to plan a family-made feast, Italian style

Want to get the kids in the kitchen? Then take some advice from Elisabetta Minervini, author Mammissima, who’s shared her favourite Italian recipes that the whole family will enjoy cooking.
Read more…

April, 2016

28 April, 2016 The six rules of barbecuing

Even the best cooks can be stumped when it comes to cooking to perfection over coals. We ask Ben Tish to tell us the six most important rules of barbecuing so we can grill with confidence over the long weekend.
Read more…

November, 2015

11 November, 2015 Why you should be cooking with coconut oil

Imogen Denny takes a masterclass with Vita Coco to discover more about the latest cooking trends.
Read more…

October, 2015

13 October, 2015 How to match wine with Asian seafood dishes

Want to match wines to your favourite dishes? Take some advice from Jane Parkinson and Eric Chavot on why wines from Pays d’Oc IGP are a match made in heaven with pretty much everything.
Read more…
12 October, 2015 Welcome to the River Cottage Takeover

We’re delighted to say that this week, we’ve stepped away from our computers and put River Cottage HQ in charge.
Read more…
05 October, 2015 Ten reasons why people don’t cook fish at home, and how to change it

We caught up with CJ Jackson, principal at Billingsgate Seafood School, to talk about why we don’t eat enough fish. From feeling squeamish to being time poor, she’s heard every excuse in the book, but, as she says, there’s always a way around the problem.
Read more…

September, 2015

23 September, 2015 Food for when you’re feeling... a bit out of sorts

Come rain or shine, a little time spent in the kitchen can be extremely therapeutic. Here, our writer Liz Woabank picks the perfect recipe to fix a day in the doldrums.
Read more…
17 September, 2015 Eating on the job: Takumi Ozeki, Kai Knives

Each week, Cooked speaks to a professional from the food industry to find out what it’s really like to be behind the scenes of the things we all love to eat. We spoke to the makers of Kai Japanese knives to discover the secret behind the sharpest blades.
Read more…

August, 2015

28 August, 2015 How to be better at barbecuing? Go Brasilian

We spoke to Lizzy Barber, co-founder of the Cabana restaurant chain and author of their eponymous cookbook, about how cook smart when it comes to cooking for a crowd al fresco.
Read more…

July, 2015

20 July, 2015 Eat like an Italian

If you’ve ever been on holiday to Italy, like us, you’ve probably eaten classic pizzas, pastas and risottos until you’re fit to burst. While sticking with what you know isn’t always a bad thing, delve a little deeper and you’ll find the true heart of the region; eating cotoletta in Milan, beans in Florence and artichokes in Campania will open up a whole new world of Italian cooking. We spoke to three Air B’n’B hosts about the food of their region, must-eats while you’re there, and asked about the best-kept secrets when it comes to eating out.
Read more…
06 July, 2015 Michelin Stars in Your Eyes

With so many Michelin-starred chefs on the site, we challenged Cooked writer Imogen Corke to test her mettle on some of the trickier recipes. This week, she cooks Atul Kochhar’s cod in nilgiri korma gravy from his latest cookbook, Benares.
Read more…

May, 2015

22 May, 2015 Q&A with Rosie Birkett

We ask our authors ten questions about their life long love of food. This week, we speak to Rosie Birkett, author of A Lot on her Plate, about roast dinners, tuna tacos, and why you should never run your finger through hot caramel.
Read more…
01 May, 2015 The Lunchbox Edit: Spring Greens

Each week, we take some of our favourite recipes and give them a little tweak to make perfect packed lunches.
Read more…

A Portuguese Christmas with Nuno Mendes

By: Editor
Added: 19 December, 2017

If you’re becoming a little tired of the standard Turkey roast at Christmas and contemplating an update, looking to other country’s traditions can be a great place to start. We took a look at what a Portuguese Christmas might look like with Nuno Mendes’ Lisboeta.

Christmas Eve

Festive feasting begins on Christmas Eve in Portugal, with the age-old tradition of families coming together to eat cod. Nuno’s recipe, baked in a cornbread crust, works great with fennel, green leaves and a big wedge of lemon.

Christmas morning breakfast

Best served with lots of crusty bread, these scrambled eggs with smoked sausage will ensure a great start to Christmas morning and fuel for opening all those presents. Quality of ingredients is key, so do get hold of some real Portuguese farinheira if you can (it’s available online) to make this breakfast an extra special one.

The main event

With crisp skin and lovely succulent insides this roast pork belly, flavoured with orange and coriander makes a great alternative to turkey. Serve with Nuno’s Potatoes with caramelised onions and melting cheese for a truly indulgent dinner.

Then, finish off the feast with floating poached meringues, perfect for making ahead, the cinnamon topping is like a sprinkle of Christmas on your taste buds.