I seem to have hit the cook book review jackpot in recent months with a run of altogether excellent publications, and Mighty Spice by John Gregory Smith is no exception.
John is a seasoned traveller, and as he has travelled the world he has also cooked, eaten and collected many recipes. Mighty Spice is the result of his globe trotting, containing over 100 recipes inspired by his travels, but crucially adapted for the British kitchen (and supermarket shopper) by using no more than 5 spices per recipe and easily available ingredients.
By using 5 or fewer spices per recipe, each flavour used can shine and the resultant dishes have a clear distinct and fresh flavour. On a practical note, the use of 5 spices at a time gives you a chance to slowly build up your collection if you do not already have them, and learn the flavour and uses of every new spice you acquire.
The booked is divided into 8 chapters; soups & salads, poultry, meat, fish & seafood, vegetarian, rice & noodles and a mouth-watering desserts & drinks chapters. The book is prefaced by an evocative introduction by John, which has me reaching for my passport and wanting to pack my bag, which describes his travels around the world where he cooked, ate and collected recipes.
Interspersed throughout the book are spice “profiles” and there is a spice directory (which inexplicably is not alphabetical) that runs through the 30 spices used in the book (25 dried and 5 fresh).
I was slightly concerned that by imposing a limit of 5 spices (this includes fresh garlic too) that some of the recipes might be a little flat. But the dishes I have cooked have been full of flavour and freshness. The recipes are easy to follow and comprehensive cross referencing links each dish to two or three others hat it goes well with.
It is global book covering Asia, North Africa, South America and the Middle East. Dishes I want to cook include a Chinese tiger salad, Vietnamese chicken with chilli & lemongrass, sticky Szechuan pork with sesame seeds and some chocolate, clove and cinnamon brownies.
About half the recipes have a full-page colour photos and a similar number have an introduction to them, about their origin and inspirations.
I enjoyed this book, it would also make an excellent present for anyone who is looking to broaden their culinary horizons and start cooking different world cuisines but who does not want to buy lots of different country specific books.
Check back tomorrow for a sample recipe from the book, and then on Wednesday for a chance to win a copy!
Mighty Spice is published by DBP for £20
Fuss Free Rating ****
Thank you to DBP for my review copy.
Which dishes have you cooked? x