food for sharing

This is a subtly textured, richly flavoured arrangement of toasted pieces of flatbread topped with meaty aubergine and beef, a garlicky tahini-yoghurt sauce, red pepper flakes, pomegranate seeds, toasted pine nuts and fresh shredded mint. Is it too terrible to say that I think of it as Middle-Eastern nachos? 

Beef and aubergine fatteh 

pitta

Greek-style yoghurt

tbsp tahini,

lemons, juice only

garlic cloves, crushed

1–2 tsp sea salt flakes,

pomegranate seeds

grams/1¾oz pine nuts

tbsp mint leaves

olive oil

onion,

aubergine,

tsp cumin

tsp coriander

tsp Aleppo pepper

500 grams/1lb 2 ounces beef mince

Chicken shawarma is usually cooked on a spit, but this is roasted in the oven. Here, I’ve served it modestly, on a pile of shredded iceberg, with some warmed pitta, lemon wedges and a tahini sauce. When I make this for groups of friends, or for a family lunch or supper, I slice up some fresh tomatoes sprinkled with mint, and cut some cucumbers into wedged slices, and macerate some red onions, cut into half-moons, with red wine vinegar or lime – in which case it will serve up to 10 people.

Oven-cooked chicken shawarma

chicken thighs

lemons

100 milliliters/3½fl oz olive oil

fat garlic

bay leaves

paprika

tsp dried chilli flakes

cinnamon

¼ tsp freshly grated nutmeg

tsp sea salt flakes

lettuce leaves,

250 grams/9 ounces plain yoghurt

tbsp tahini

salt,

Chicken shawarma is usually cooked on a spit, but this is roasted in the oven. Here, I¹ve served it modestly, on a pile of shredded iceberg, with some warmed pitta, lemon wedges and a tahini sauce, as made below. When I make this for groups of friends, or for a family lunch or supper, I slice up some fresh tomatoes sprinkled with mint, and cut some cucumbers into wedged slices, and macerate some red onions, cut into half-moons, with red wine vinegar or lime ­ in which case it will serve up to 10 people.

These authentic chicken burritos are the real deal. Topped with pico de gallo, chipotle crema, guacamole, soured cream and cheese, guests won't be dissapointed.

Chicken burritos

limes, juice only

oregano

tsp chilli flakes

brown sugar

chicken thighs, boneless, skin removed

sea salt and black pepper

chipotles en adobo, finely chopped

tbsp soured cream

mayonnaise

lime, juice only

tomatoes,

½ onion, finely chopped

coriander,

green serrano

jalapeno

avocado,

150 grams/5½oz long-grain white rice

flour tortillas

tbsp mozzarella

½ Little Gem lettuce, shredded

For James Martin’s easy quiche Lorraine, choose between making your own proper homemade pastry or a taking the shortcut with a quick shop-bought version.

Each serving provides 698 kcal, 27g protein, 25g carbohydrates (of which 3g sugars), 54g fat (of which 30g saturates), 2g fibre and 2.2g salt.

Quiche Lorraine

175 grams/6 ounces plain flour,

salt

250 grams/9 ounces cheddar, grated

tomatoes, sliced (optional)

streaky bacon, chopped

eggs,

100 milliliters/3½fl oz milk

200 milliliters/7fl oz double cream

thyme

black pepper

The Hairy Bikers’ take on sausage casserole makes a wonderfully warming and filling dish, and it freezes brilliantly. 

Each serving provides 423 kcal, 23.5g protein, 16g carbohydrates (of which 9.5g sugars), 28.5g fat (of which 10g saturates), 4.5g fibre and 2g salt.



Hairy Bikers' sausage casserole

1–2 tbsp sunflower oil

pork sausages

rashers rindless streaky bacon,

onions, thinly sliced

½–1 tsp hot chilli powder or smoked paprika

tin chopped tomatoes

300 milliliters/10fl oz chicken stock

tomato purée

Worcestershire sauce

tbsp dark muscovado sugar

herbs

milliliters/3½fl oz red or white wine (optional)

tin butter beans

salt and black pepper

rice bread

These fish tacos are excellent, and rest assured that the actual preparation is much easier than you might think. 

Fish tacos

red onion, peeled, halved and sliced into half moons

tsp gochujang paste,

red chilli, finely diced (de-seed if you don’t

coriander

skinless fillets of firm white fish,

garlic clove,

corn tortillas

avocados

lime, juice only,

I am a broad church: when I’m not craving a bowl of food that delivers the same soothing taste from mouthful to mouthful, I like the sort of meal that involves a table full of bits and pieces. I certainly think this latter way of eating is one of the most relaxing ways of sitting around a table with friends. These fish tacos are a case in point, and rest assured that the actual preparation is much more low-effort than you might think.

Someone I met in Palermo once told me that the secret of good Italian dishes is ‘esagera’ – put more of everything in – and so it is with this mac & cheese recipe. There’s masses of cheese and plenty of smoked bacon.

Equipment: you will need a 35x20cm/14x8in ovenproof dish.

Mac & cheese

grams/3½oz butter,

grams/3½oz plain flour

Dijon mustard

1.2 litres/2 pints full-fat milk

75 milliliters/2½fl oz double cream

bay leaf

cheddar,

nutmeg

macaroni

100 grams/3½oz smoked bacon lardons or smoked pancetta cubes

60 grams/2¼oz white breadcrumbs

grams/1¾oz Parmesan, grated

There’s a reason duck a l’orange is a classic - it’s delish. Try it with hasselback potatoes and seasonal veg.

Duck a l’orange

orange

duck

tsp flaked sea salt, plus extra to season

½ onion, peeled and thinly sliced

tbsp orange liqueur,

75 milliliters/2½fl oz red wine

oranges,

orange marmalade

Okay you probably can't eat this 1960s dish without a heap of irony, but there's a reason this retro-regarded recipe is a classic. It's delish.

Duck a l'orange

This delicious lamb moussaka recipe from the Hairy Bikers provides a wonderful meal for a family occasion. Completely comforting. 

Each serving provides 678 kcal, 34g protein, 34g carbohydrates (of which 10g sugars), 41g fat (of which 16.5g saturates), 6g fibre and 1.2g salt.

The Hairy Bikers' moussaka

750 grams/1lb 10 ounces lamb mince

onion, finely chopped

mint

plain flour

200 milliliters/7fl oz red wine

aubergines,

tbsp fine sea salt

Maris Piper potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced

butter

flour

400 milliliters/14fl oz milk

grams/1 ounces Parmesan, finely grated

tsp finely grated nutmeg

egg,

Transport the flavours of the Mediterranean into your kitchen with our delicious paella recipe.

The Hairy Bikers' paella 

chicken thighs, boned, skinned,

150 grams/5 ounces cooking chorizo,

300 grams/10½oz fresh large tomatoes, halved, seeds removed, flesh grated (then skin discarded)

tsp sweet smoked paprika

lemon, zest only

chicken stock

green beans,

500 grams/1lb 2 ounces Calasparra rice

saffron

prawns

lemon

This chicken and chorizo paella is a hearty sharing dish that's easy to cook and serve in one dish. Using chorizo in your paella might not be the done thing everywhere, but if you like it, go with it!

Top 11 food for sharing recipes from across the web

The most viewed food for sharing recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 20,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine

Top Tags

Beef and aubergine fatteh

Oven-cooked chicken shawarma

Chicken burritos

Quiche Lorraine

Hairy Bikers' sausage casserole

Fish tacos

Mac & cheese

Duck a l’orange

The Hairy Bikers' moussaka

The Hairy Bikers' paella

Chicken and chorizo paella

Top 11 food for sharing recipes from across the web

The most viewed food for sharing recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 20,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engineic_arrow_forward_48px

Top Tags

Beef and aubergine fatteh

Oven-cooked chicken shawarma

Chicken burritos

Quiche Lorraine

Hairy Bikers' sausage casserole

Fish tacos

Mac & cheese

Duck a l’orange

The Hairy Bikers' moussaka

The Hairy Bikers' paella

Chicken and chorizo paella

The most viewed food for sharing recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 20,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine