The Cookbook – Yotam Ottolenghi

My thoughts on this book…

With the release of his latest book “Simple” I thought it would be a good point to review one of my favourite cookbooks in my collection and the one that opened my eyes, and taste buds, to the cooking of Jerusalem and the surrounding areas.

 I have all 6 of Yotam’s books, and have loved visiting the delicatessens in London for several years, so yes I am a bit of a fan in can be said. That said I still think this book is up there as one of his best and have the original 2008 version which is well worn and used, and contains some family favourites within it’s pages. The book itself was later relaunched in 2016 after deserved success for Ottolenghi, which apparently has some new insights and details about the recipes (140 in all) but I still have a use my treasured original.

The things I like……

For me this book epitomises what originally drew me to the delicatessen chain of London and what I associate Ottolenghi with. There is a great mix of salads, main meals and his famous pastries, meringues and cakes. Knowing how some of the fabulous muffins are made as well as his classic meringues was very informative and I like the way there is a considerable “Baking and Patisserie” section of the book. Yes, Yotam has put his name to many other cookbooks since in his collection which cover the detailed more complicated recipes (Nopi), to the Vegetarian books of “Plenty”, to the other end of the spectrum with “Simple”, as it name suggests cut down limited ingredient recipes, but this is the original and in my opinion covers the core of his culinary style.

 I personally think the introduction and history at the front of the book are a great insight into his style, together with the “few of the favourite things” give a good background to the ingredients used in the recipes. For me I always like cookbooks that give you details of why the ingredients are important and how they are used, essential in a new cuisine. This book, and style of cooking, use certain ingredients time and again to layer the flavour and produce the taste and textures of the region, therefore this is I feel an important section.

 The imagery and photographs are excellent throughout, with the vast majority of the recipes having a photo accompanying, or near them – something that I like in a cookbook as you as much with your eyes as the saying goes….

 It could be said that several recipes have many ingredients, and some several stages in the recipe but for me this is part of the charm, It introduces to the food of Yotam and his heritage. Initially there may seem a larder of “new” ingredients to source, but I have not had any issues finding any and any genre of cooking I feel requires some investment into key ingredients.

The things I don’t…..

There are not many things I dislike about this book, but as I state I admit I am a fan!

 However everything can be improved somehow….

The original version of this book I own is an unusual shape for a cookbook, being not as wide as most other books which does make it difficult on some shelves to locate and/or store.

 Something I would have like to see more of though was the interactions between the recipes, and as possible suggestions of meals or mezzes with several dishes. Whilst you can make your own up I know, the fact that this was in its time an introduction to a new cuisine and some ideas of combining dishes would have been useful.

Contrary to my comments about the photographs of the recipes I mention I like above, there are whole pages taken over to arty shop shots, or random ones of dogs and fish. Whilst nothing wrong with this, and could be said relates to the theme of the whole book it is a little wasteful and not needed – the food is the real star of this volume.

A couple of my favourite recipes…..

Here are a couple of my favourites from this book and my take on them! 

Follow the links to get to the recipes themselves..

Page 185 – Kosheri

Page   50 – Cauliflower & Cumin Fritters with Lime Yoghurt

The book itself can be found here on Yotam’s own website

Or here, on Amazon in the UK