Light Bites

LIGHT BITES


The recipes on this page are for lighter meals, sides, dips and soups.
Easy Overnight Bread Rolls Title Card.

Easy Overnight Bread Rolls

I love fresh bread in the morning, but I love it even more when it is as easy to make as these overnight bread rolls. No kneading, an overnight rise in the fridge, then a quick shape and they’re into the oven in time for breakfast. Easy and delicious with a wonderfully crunchy crust, this recipe is ideal for bread-making beginners.
Chicken lentil soup title card.

Chicken Lentil Soup

Hearty and nutritious, my Chicken Lentil Soup is a great big warm hug of a meal, perfect for chilly winter days. Loaded with lean meat, veg and pulses, a big pot of this comforting soup will feed the whole family and warm you up from the inside out.
Homemade Spreadable Butter Title Card.

Homemade Spreadable Butter

Did you know it’s incredibly easy to make your own spreadable butter at home? With this clever recipe, you can have lovely soft butter directly out of the fridge all year round.
German Potato Dumplings Title Card.

German Potato Dumplings (Kartoffelknödel)

Here in Germany, we love our dumplings! Served alongside a roast with plenty of gravy, German Potato Dumplings or Kartoffelknödel are an absolute must. Don’t worry if you have leftovers; they taste fantastic fried the next day!
Pumpkin and Ginger Soup

Pumpkin and Ginger Soup

With plenty of ginger and bright and zesty orange, silky Pumpkin and Ginger Soup is like a burst of sunshine in a bowl. A delicious recipe to keep you warm when it’s grey and cool outside.
Pumpkin and Feta Galette.

Pumpkin and Feta Galette

With golden roasted squash, lightly caramelised onion and tangy feta, my Pumpkin and Feta Galette makes a fabulous fall lunch. This free-form tart is made by hand, so no mixers or special dishes are necessary.
Italian Sausage Stuffed Zucchini Boats

Italian Sausage Stuffed Zucchini Boats

You know it must be summer when the zucchini plants go wild, producing more than it seems possible to cook! Italian Sausage Stuffed Zucchini Boats are a great tasting way to take advantage of this abundant summer veg.
Tiropita Greek Cheese Pies.

Tiropita (Greek Cheese Pies)

Made from flaky filo pastry, filled with creamy, tangy feta cheese, Tiropita or Greek Cheese Pies are a beloved breakfast treat in Greece and throughout the Mediterranean. Try them drizzled with runny honey. Yum!
Coronation Quiche Title Card

King Charles’ Coronation Quiche

Made from a combination of spinach, beans and tarragon with a savoury custard in a light pastry case, this coronation quiche is simple to make at home and perfect for a light lunch with a crisp green salad.
Puff Pastry Mini Quiches

Puff Pastry Mini Quiches

Perfect for picnics, lunchboxes or even parties, Puff Pastry Mini Quiches are a fantastic way to make a few ingredients go a long way. Quick and simple to make, they are ready to eat in just half an hour. Yum!
Wild Garlic Pesto (with Ramps!)

Wild Garlic Pesto (with Ramps!)

The surest sign of spring is the first vibrant green leaves of wild garlic or Bärlauch. It’s abundant in the woods right now and is delicious whipped into this quick and easy pesto.
Roasted Eggplants stuffed with spiced lentils, tomatoes and herbs.

Roasted Eggplant with Lentils

Roasted Eggplant with Lentils is a dream combination. This vegetarian dish made from meltingly tender roasted eggplants, stuffed with a Middle-Eastern inspired combination of green lentils, fresh tomatoes, pine nuts and herbs, is packed with flavour and totally irresistible.
Asparagus and Lemon Risotto

Asparagus and Lemon Risotto

Creamy, rich risotto with fresh in-season asparagus and bright zingy lemon. The perfect meal for two.
Chicken and Noodle Soup

Chicken and Noodle Soup

The ultimate bowl of comfort, everybody should know how to make an easy Chicken and Noodle Soup. I use chicken wings to give the soup loads of body and flavour.
Pork San Choy Bow Title Card.

Pork San Choy Bow

Made from crisp, cool lettuce cups with a delicious filling of spicy pork, San Chow Bow is one of the most popular dishes in Chinese restaurants. Super simple to prepare at home, this is a fun family meal for eating with your hands!
Pork and Shrimp Gyoza on a tray with spicy dipping sauce and fresh herbs. Title Card.

Pork and Shrimp Gyoza

Perfectly steamed Pork and Shrimp Gyoza with a golden crispy base have to be one of the most delicious dumplings around. Serve with a simple spicy dipping sauce. Yum!
Sweet Potato and Chickpea Soup

Sweet Potato and Chickpea Soup

Lightly spiced and full of delicious and healthy vegetables, Sweet Potato and Chickpea soup is a simple, healthy and flavoursome meal. Perfect as is, it can be bulked out with lean chicken breast for an extra protein boost.
Easy Teriyaki Chicken Sushi.

Easy Teriyaki Chicken Sushi

Making your own sushi rolls at home is super satisfying and much cheaper than eating at a restaurant! My recipe for Easy Teriyaki Chicken Sushi is excellent for beginners, with plenty of tips and tricks for sushi making success.
Obaztda is a delicious Bavarian Beer and Cheese Spread, perfect for picnics, the beer garden, or for lining your stomach before you start on that litre of beer - and it is super easy to make at home!

Obatzda (Bavarian Beer and Cheese Dip)

Obaztda is a delicious Bavarian Beer and Cheese Spread, perfect for picnics, the beer garden, or for lining your stomach before you start on that litre of beer – and it is super easy to make at home!
Home made Bavarian Pretzels.

Bavarian Pretzels

There’s nothing quite like a traditional Bavarian pretzel with a golden-brown, salt-studded crust and a chewy, perfect texture. My recipe for homemade pretzels with step-by-step instructions and photos is simple to make at home.
Roasted Butternut Squash Risotto

Roasted Butternut Squash Risotto

Pure comfort food, Roasted Butternut Squash Risotto or ‘Risotto alla Zucca’ is a classic of the Italian kitchen. The combination of creamy risotto rice with sweet roasted pumpkin and fragrant sage is a match made in foodie heaven.
Pork Dim Sum Dumplings Title Card.

Pork Dim Sum Dumplings

Pork Dim Sum Dumplings (Siu Mai) are one of the most famous and delicious meals served from the Dim Sum trolley. Luckily, they are also simple to make at home and you can fill these delicious morsels with all your favourite flavours.
Whipped Feta and Honey

Whipped Feta and Honey

Smooth, salty and seriously tasty, Whipped Feta and Honey is the perfect dip to serve on a summer grazing platter with loads of grilled Mediterranean vegetables.
Tomato Burrata Caprese Salad

Tomato Burrata Caprese Salad

Bright, colourful and perfectly delicious Tomato Burrata Caprese Salad (Insalata Caprese) is the ultimate Italian summer salad with fresh green basil, creamy white burrata and juicy red tomatoes representing the colours of the Italian flag.
Ricotta Stuffed Zucchini Flowers

Ricotta Stuffed Zucchini Flowers

Baked, rather than fried, these Ricotta Stuffed Zucchini Flowers are filled with creamy cheese, zingy lemon, fresh herbs and salty anchovy. Perfect for a summer party or a light dinner.
Greek Village Salad – Horiatiki

Greek Village Salad – Horiatiki

It’s super easy to make a delicious Greek Salad at home. This summery favourite is tasty even in the cooler months, with loads of fresh veg and salty Feta cheese.
Cherry Tomato and White Bean Salad in a bowl with wooden salad servers and a baguette.

Cherry Tomato and Bean Salad

My Cherry Tomato and Bean Salad is a simple and tasty recipe that you’ll want to make all summer long. Perfect as a light lunch or as an easy side dish for grilled meats.
No Knead Multigrain Bread has to be the world’s easiest loaf. No kneading, no rising time, just mix the ingredients and bake in the oven until done. Full of healthy seeds and grains, this bread is delicious toasted and keeps well for several days.

No Knead Multigrain Bread

Deliciously chewy seed and grain bread, made in an hour with no kneading or waiting around required. Sounds impossible, doesn’t it? It is easier than you think with my recipe for No Knead Multigrain Bread.
Homemade Cream Cheese Recipe cover, bowl of cream cheese and cream cheese draining with silicone spatula

How to make Cream Cheese

Luscious, soft, tangy cream cheese, made in minutes with just three ingredients? Absolutely. Follow this easy recipe to learn how to make cream cheese at home.
Easy Cherry Tomato Tart

Easy Cherry Tomato Tart

Possibly the most delicious way to show off sweet summer tomatoes! My simple recipe for Roasted Cherry Tomato tart, with loads of fresh tomatoes, buttery puff pastry, cream cheese and fresh herbs is a real crowd-pleaser.
Italian Roasted Peppes stuffed with tomatoes and goat's cheese served with rice

Italian Roasted Peppers

My Italian Roasted Peppers recipe is a simple and flavoursome dish full of all those summery flavours that we associate with la dolce vita; peppers, tomatoes, basil and lashings of good olive oil. Buon Appetito!
With layers of juicy poached chicken, fresh herbs, salty bacon and sweet apricots, my recipe for Chicken and Apricot Terrine is perfect for the summer months. Slice thickly and serve with crusty bread and a good chutney. Yum!

Chicken and Apricot Terrine

With layers of juicy poached chicken, fresh herbs, salty bacon and sweet apricots, my recipe for Chicken and Apricot Terrine is perfect for the summer months. Slice thickly and serve with crusty bread and a good chutney. Yum!
Panzanella Tuscan Bread Salad

Panzanella – Tuscan Bread Salad

This delicious recipe for Panzanella Tuscan Bread Salad comes from my Aunt Peggi and it is a glorious summery meal. With ripe tomatoes, salty cheese and fresh basil, it’s perfect for a summer BBQ.
Garlic and Herb Roast Salmon with asparagus and potatoes

Garlic and Herb Roast Salmon

The ultimate quick and easy dinner, Garlic and Herb Roast Salmon ticks all the boxes. It’s super simple to prepare, packed with fresh flavour and loads of healthy omega-3 so it is even good for you too!
Eggplant Involtini

Eggplant Involtini

Eggplant Involtini or Involtini di melanzane is a classic Italian dish. Meltingly soft eggplant is rolled and stuffed with herby ricotta and baked in a rich tomato sauce. Topped with gooey melted mozzarella, this vegetarian dish is perfect for summer.
Oysters with Shallot Vinaigrette Mignonette

Fresh Oysters with Shallot Vinaigrette (Mignonette)

Fresh Oysters with Shallot Vinaigrette are truly one of life’s little luxuries. The contrast of creamy, briny oyster flesh with a tangy vinaigrette is a match made in culinary heaven and one I find completely irresistible.
Perfect for finger food or parties, Quick Thai Fish Cakes are packed with flavour and super quick to make. Served with a spicy, crunchy dipping sauce, these delicious morsels always disappear in a flash!

Quick Thai Fish Cakes

Perfect for finger food or parties, Quick Thai Fish Cakes are packed with flavour and super quick to make. Served with a spicy, crunchy dipping sauce, these delicious morsels always disappear in a flash!
Minestrone Primavera or ‘Italian Spring Soup’

Minestrone Primavera or ‘Italian Spring Soup’

Full of fresh, bright green spring veg, this classic Italian soup recipe is healthy and delicious. Minestrone Primavera or Spring Soup will feed 4-6 as a light meal.
Homemade Sesame Bagels

Homemade Sesame Bagels

Perfectly chewy, golden-brown and topped with toasted seeds, these Homemade Sesame Bagels are best lavishly smeared with cream cheese, layered with smoked salmon and sprinkled with capers.
A good quiche has to be one of my desert island foods, and to my mind, there is no better filling than luxurious smoked salmon. Paired with tangy creme fraiche, spring onions and fresh herbs, this is a seriously flavoursome quiche. Perfect for lunch or a light dinner, quiche can be made well in advance and eaten room temperature or gently warmed.

Smoked Salmon Quiche

A good quiche has to be one of my desert island foods, and to my mind, there is none better than a Smoked Salmon Quiche. With tangy creme fraiche, spring onions and fresh herbs, this is a perfect for lunch or a light dinner.
Pork and Apple Sausage Rolls

Pork and Apple Sausage Rolls

A real crowd-pleaser, Pork and Apple Sausage Rolls are sure to be devoured as soon as they hit the table. A British classic recipe that has been whole-heartedly adopted by New Zealand and Australia, you can’t beat a buttery, flaky pastry sausage roll with plenty of tomato ketchup!
Turkish Bulgue Salad Kisir

Turkish Bulgur Salad (Kısır)

Hearty, delicious and filling, Turkish Bulgur Salad or Kısır is a terrific meal all year round. It is the perfect accompaniment to grilled and barbecued meat or as part of a Turkish or Cypriot inspired feast!
So much better than beans from a tin, Homemade British Style Baked Beans are rich and tomatoey - perfect for a weekend brunch. Make up a big batch when you have time and you can have your breakfast or brunch ready in a flash.

British Style Baked Beans

On the weekend there are few breakfasts I enjoy more than hot buttered toast, laden with tomatoey baked beans. Whether served simply, just as they are, or going the whole hog with a full English, baked beans will always set you up for the day. So much better than beans from a tin, Homemade British […]
Mussel au gratin or as the Italians call them Cozze al Forno are a fantastic starter or light meal for two. So quick and easy to prepare they are packed with Mediterranean flavour.

Garlic Butter Mussels au Gratin

Herby, buttery, crumbed mussels are a French delight. Perfect as party snacks, these tasty Garlic Butter Mussels disappear in a flash!
If you’ve run out of yeast you can still make a delicious loaf of bread with common household ingredients. Easy No Yeast Bread uses baking powder to create a beautifully risen loaf of bread in just over an hour.

Easy No Yeast Bread

As November begins with another round of lockdowns and restrictions, we are seeing a repeat of the panic buying of groceries that happened earlier in the year. This sort of shopping (the Germans call it Hamster-Kauf, or Hamster shopping) led to the supermarket shelves being stripped of yeast, among other necessities. While there still seems […]
Spicy, fragrant and bursting with flavour, Asian inspired Pork Meatball Soup with noodles will chase away the winter blues. Ready in under 30 minutes, it is ideal for a weeknight dinner.

Pork Meatball Soup

It’s November and soup season has officially started in my household. With all the doom and gloom in the papers and the second wave of lockdowns sweeping across Europe, I felt like something spicy and fresh to banish the start-of-winter-blues. Today’s recipe for Pork Meatball Noodle Soup is just what the doctor ordered: juicy, garlicky […]
Bavarian Potato Salad

Bavarian Potato Salad ‘Kartoffelsalat’

We are bang in the middle of the Oktoberfest season, and while no Oktoberfest is being held in 2020, that doesn’t mean we can’t have our favourite Bavarian foods at home! If you’ve been following along you will have learnt how to cook the perfect Oktoberfest Roast Chicken, and today we are cooking one of […]
Thai Tom Yum Goong

Thai Tom Yum Goong

Our run of cool days here in Munich continues, with cool, drizzly weather keeping us mostly inside, apart from short sprints to the markets. I am definitely not complaining about the temperature, as it is the perfect excuse to start the soup-making season. And what better soup to start with than Thailand’s most famous soup […]
Italian Caprese Pasta Salad

Italian Caprese Pasta Salad

Yesterday it rained properly for the first time in weeks, and today we woke up to cool misty weather. It wasn’t long, of course, before the sun burst through, but it was a little hint that my favourite season of all, autumn, is on the horizon. Don’t get me wrong, I love summer as much […]
Tomato and Rosemary Focaccia

Tomato and Rosemary Focaccia

At the very first restaurant I ever worked in, we would bake up huge trays of focaccia every evening, varying the topping throughout the week, from classic sea salt and rosemary, through caramelised onion with feta, or even red onion and romesco. Sliced and served with some olive oil and balsamic vinegar for dipping, it […]