Perfect Plates in 5 Ingredients – John Whaite

June 3, 2017 by
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Perfect Plates in 5 Ingredients by John Whaite offers innovative, scaled back recipes that are simple to cook yet impressive to serve while still packed with flavor.

Usually, I am not a fan of quick and easy type cookbooks (only because I have that covered after cooking for 30 plus years), but when a cookbook is this nicely and written by John Whaite, The Great British Baking Show winner, I can get behind it. 

With only 5 ingredients per recipe (plus the essentials of olive oil/butter/salt/pepper), this is practical, fun cooking that still will wow your family and guests.

Tahini and Honey Chicken with Paprika Potatoes, Preserved Lemon and Cider Pork with Couscous, and Tempura Cocktail Sausages with Hoisin are all examples of craveworthy dishes. The author even has dessert covered with desserts such as a beautiful Autumnal Apple Crisp Cake, Self-Saucing Orange Curd Pudding, and a Lemon and Rosemary Almond Cake. 

Special thanks to Kyle Books and the author for sharing Roasted Sausage and Apple with Sauerkraut which I made a while back on a crisp Spring evening. I threw some potatoes and carrots in the mix because I didn’t need to keep the recipe at five ingredients and it was one delicious meal on a tray. Don’t forget to head over to our contest page to enter our giveaway!

 

Roasted Sausage and Apple with Sauerkraut

A midweek sausage supper is reassuringly simple, and even better, it doesn’t skimp on flavor or the general feeling of being satisfied. The best-quality sausages are always a must: I’d opt for the supermarket’s best own brand or those from an excellent butcher. And, of course, you can quite easily, and absolutely should, customize this dish with different flavors of sausage-a fiery, chile-flecked sausage would do just the trick for me.

SERVES 2 to 4

8 good-quality link sausages
2 Granny Smith apples
1 large onion
A few sprigs of thyme
2 tablespoons sauerkraut
olive oil
sea salt flakes
coarse black pepper

Preheat the oven to 400°F.

Put the sausages into a roasting pan and drizzle with a little olive oil. Cut the apples into quarters-I don’t bother to core or peel them. Slice the onion in half through the root, leaving the root intact, and peel it. Cut it into eight wedges and arrange these, with the apples, in the roasting pan. Top with the thyme sprigs, and season with a pinch of salt and pepper.

Roast for 30 to 40 minutes, until the sausages are bronzed, and the apples and onion are quite softened. You can turn the sausages midway through, if you prefer a more even coloring; though I’m not particularly concerned. Scatter over the sauerkraut just before serving.

Leftover ingredient

The sauerkraut will keep for a while in the fridge. It’s gorgeous in ham sandwiches, stirred into soups, scattered over pizzas or stews. It brings its flavor-boosting qualities to any dish, really, but it’s delicious in its own right, too.

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Category: Book News, Recipes

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25 Comments

  • FaithB  on  June 3, 2017

    The Sticky Black Sesame Chicken sounds really good to me.

  • lauriesk  on  June 3, 2017

    I love the idea of delicious meals with five ingredients. They all sound delicious.

  • Lem9579  on  June 3, 2017

    I would start first with the Braised Fennel with Halloumi and Grapefruit. Always looking for more recipes with Halloumi.

  • Lem9579  on  June 3, 2017

    My favorite quick and easy meal is a stir fry with whatever veggies I might have on hand. I usually eat that with some bread.

  • lhudson  on  June 4, 2017

    Cheeseburger quesadillas

  • FireRunner2379  on  June 5, 2017

    My favorite quick and easy meal is French Toast, my kids like it and we love to eat Brinner!

  • lgroom  on  June 5, 2017

    Scrambled eggs with cottage cheese mixed in — try it — especially good if you like soft scrambled eggs.

  • Siegal  on  June 6, 2017

    My fav quick meal is eggs and brad

  • echilt5  on  June 6, 2017

    My favorite quick & easy meal is Turkey Chili.

  • FrenchCreekBaker  on  June 6, 2017

    So this recipe only calls for 2 Tablespoons of sauerkraut? Is there a recipe in the book for sauerkraut? Or is he recommending people simply buy a jar of store-bought to use?

    I like this author and would buy his book even though 5-ingredient books often seem limiting. In this case his index shows lots of reasons to forego English muffins and eggs for something far more appealing that is quickly made like that coconut macaroon lime cheesecake of his!

  • JenJoLa  on  June 8, 2017

    My favorite quick meal is tacos.

  • mph993  on  June 8, 2017

    Chicken, leek and cider mug pot pies

  • lebarron2001  on  June 8, 2017

    My favorite quick and easy meal is a sheet pan dish with boneless skinless chicken thighs and vegetables tossed with balsamic vinegar, garlic and olive oil and roasted for about 25 minutes.

  • nandag  on  June 9, 2017

    My quick and easy meal is roasted vegetables and sausages on a sheet pan.

  • t.t  on  June 9, 2017

    eggs over rice + veggies

  • Grywhp  on  June 11, 2017

    A frittata!

  • tarae1204  on  June 15, 2017

    Thai red curry is pretty quick and easy if you have the coconut milk, curry paste and fish sauce on hand. Can use up any leftovers.

  • PennyG  on  June 16, 2017

    Scrambled Eggs or an Omelet.

  • nomadchowwoman  on  June 17, 2017

    Pasta carbonara: four ingredients, 20 minutes.

  • heyjude  on  June 25, 2017

    My husband is much more likely to cook when a recipe has only five ingredients and few steps.

  • RSW  on  June 25, 2017

    any kind of pasta

  • cocecitycook  on  June 26, 2017

    Grilled cheese sandwiches

  • DFed  on  June 26, 2017

    Who doesn't love delicious sounding recipes of 5 ingredients or less??

  • Uhmandanicole  on  June 27, 2017

    Rice, eggs, and bacon. Usually my go to lazy meal

  • abihamm  on  June 27, 2017

    Anything in my pressure cooker

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