For home cooks seeking to minimise washing up without sacrificing flavour, a new collection of traybake recipes offers the perfect solution. John Gregory-Smith's 'The Greatest Traybake Cookbook Ever' presents a series of ingenious one-tin wonders designed to deliver maximum taste with minimal effort, transforming the humble roasting tin into the star of the kitchen.
A World of Flavour in One Tin
The book's philosophy centres on simplicity and bold, global flavours. Each recipe is engineered for ease, requiring little more than assembling ingredients in a tin and letting the oven do the work. The collection avoids complicated techniques, instead relying on clever combinations of herbs, spices, and quality components to create deeply satisfying dishes. From the vibrant spices of the Middle East to the rich comforts of European classics, the recipes promise a culinary journey without the fuss.
Showcase Recipes for Every Palate
Among the standout dishes is a Prawn and Orzo Fideuà, a clever take on the Spanish noodle paella. It swaps traditional vermicelli for orzo pasta, which is baked in a smoky, tomato-infused stock until parts become delightfully crispy, then topped with juicy king prawns. Another highlight is the Persian-Style Saffron Chicken Rice, a fragrant bake where chicken thighs marinated in saffron, orange, and spices roast atop basmati rice, resulting in crispy skin and fluffy, perfumed grains.
For those craving comfort food, a Gooey Gochujang Mac Cheese introduces a Korean twist by blending spicy gochujang paste into the classic creamy sauce, baked until bubbling under a layer of mozzarella. Meanwhile, the Stuffed Aubergines with Jammy Tomatoes offers a Turkish-inspired feast, featuring silky aubergines packed with spiced lamb mince, nestled in a rich, garlicky tomato sauce.
From Quick Bakes to Slow-Cooked Wonders
The book adeptly caters to different time constraints. Quick options like the Broccoli, Goat's Cheese and Za'atar Frittata or the Coconut, Coriander and Lime Cod can be on the table in well under an hour. For weekends or when time allows, the Meltingly Tender Beef Brisket Ragù is a hands-off masterpiece, requiring the beef to slow-cook in red wine and tomatoes for up to four hours until it falls apart effortlessly.
Other notable recipes include a creamy Smoky Pork Meatball Paprikash, showcasing the vibrant flavour of Hungarian paprika, and a variety of tips for serving each dish with perfect accompaniments like buttery pasta, fluffy rice, or a dollop of cooling yogurt.
'The Greatest Traybake Cookbook Ever' by John Gregory-Smith, photographed by Martin Poole, is published by Michael Joseph at £25. It is available to order for the promotional price of £21.25 until 1st February via mailshop.co.uk/books or by calling 020 3176 2937, with free UK delivery on orders over £25.
