It’s great to have Nigel Slater back on TV.
As a cook, his style and kitchen are as one, both strict and relaxed. When he strides over to rootle around in his Brambly Hedge style pantry and I feel myself breathing out, I realise how nervy all that ghost like white minimalism makes me.
And when he says about cooking that it’s a case of ’breaking the rules and just going with your appetite‘ and that ‘uncomplicated cooking has to be about doing what you want‘ and I’m thinking ‘Yeh and Yum‘; it’s not surprising I’m then a bit crestfallen to hear ‘ it’s not just a question of throwing things together and hoping for the best‘.
Oh dear…….rumbled by Nigel Slater - the Derren ‘mind reading’ Brown of the four ring burner.
However, who else would give over their long overdue, long awaited return to prime time TV, to a montage of people munching their way through whole tomatoes whilst quoting the tomato lovers anthem of ‘ Sunshine, Summer, Happiness’ between mouthfuls ?
So here, using ‘the cook’s best friend’ , the tomato, is a delicious pasta dish from Simple Suppers.
If like me, you sometimes, despite being told otherwise, enter the kitchen ‘Thinking and a-praying, wishing and a-hoping‘ then this one’s for you !
- Cut the tomatoes in half and put, cut side up, under a hot grill for about 10 minutes to blister, char and soften
- Cook some spaghetti
- Grate some mozzarella and tear some basil leaves
- When the tomatoes are done, transfer to a bowl and muss them up a bit with a fork. Work in some olive oil, salt and pepper
- Drain the spaghetti and mix in the mozzarella and basil
- Spoon tomatoes on top of the spaghetti
Your hopes will be heard…..
