Jamie's 15-Minute Meals Hardcover – 27 Sept. 2012

I'm a huge fan of Jamie's 30-Minute Meals: A Revolutionary Approach to Cooking Good Food Fast, so I had this new one on pre-order and have posted an early review in the hope that it might help those making up their mind whether to buy. I've cooked from 30 Minutes Meals often and it hugely expanded my standard mid week repertoire of dishes. I usually didn't bother with the pudding and this new book is great for an everyday cookbook as it concentrates on the main dishes plus accompanying vegetables - hence the 15 minute claim. Despite Jamie making it clear that you can only get close to that time if you're prepped with all the ingredients out, kettle on and food processor at the ready, much of the criticism of the last book centred on the impossibility of completing the meal in half an hour...I found I might not manage it on the first attempt but once you're used to the recipe I found it achievable. I'm sure we'll hear that criticism again with this bold 15 minute time claim - but I don't mind if my time-to-table overruns by a reasonable percentage - here is beautiful, fast food that I can get to the table quickly and that will delight my tastebuds as well as my eyes. One of the other criticisms of the last book was that individual timings of a dish were missing, which can be annoying, and that criticism still stands here - overall it has improved as key timings, such as cooking rice for 8 minutes or roughly five minutes under the grill for the spring frittata are given - though many of the other instructions are along the lines of do a,b,c then do x, y and z.The layout is and simple and suits me - one side has the recipe and method and the other the accompanying photo. I'm very pleased that we get a calorie count on the recipe page and at the back there is a nutritional breakdown showing KCAL, fat, saturated fat and sugar grams. I think this is a great improvement. The book is sectioned by:Intro, Serve & Cook, PantryChicken - including chicken dim sum, rosemary chicken and Thai chicken laksaBeef - including British burgers, seared Asian steak and cajun steakPork - including ultimate pork tacos, pork marsala and jerk porkLamb - including lamb kofte, mustard lamb with Irish mash and lamb meatballsFish - including Asian fish, killer kedgeree and baked whole troutPasta - including sausage gnocchi, mushroom farfalle and prawn linguineSoups & SarniesVeggie - including veggie chilli, daal curry and mexican saladBreakfast - including smoothies and granola and toasted sandwichesAs I looked through the book I felt inspired to try out a recipe based on what I already had in the fridge and store cupboard. I tried the blackened chicken with San Fran quinoa salad which was simple, easily managed within the time frame and with good flavours. I will update this review as I try out more of the recipes. So far the only difficulty I see is in choosing which to do next, so many caught my eye - I am very tempted by the beef stroganoff with fluffy rice, red onion and parsley pickle and also by the golden scallops with sun-blush mash and greens. I am also aiming to eat more vegetarian food and the falafel wraps, grilled veg and salsa and the keralan veggie curry will definitely be served up soon.Jamie is great at turning out recipes that are good looking, tasty and fast. This book has paid real attention to the nutritional breakdown and I like having the full main course with vegetables and starchy carbohydrates set out as a package. This has the looks of being as well-used as 30 Minute Meals. I have given the book five stars which may be jumping the gun as I've only cooked one recipe so far but I'm very impressed with the look of the dishes, the nutritional info, the doability of the recipes and the need to get cooking that the book inspires.**UPDATE 27/10/12**: I have now cooked quite a few recipes from the book and I am very impressed with Jamie's flavours and combinations. I would say I'm averaging 25 minutes or so in time to table which I'm pretty pleased with. My knife skills aren't in the JO class and I don't always use the Food Processor.I am very pleased that the nutrition has been counted for us in these recipes but my warning is that the amount of meat in some of them will not feed hungry teenagers say, so look out for that when shopping and make any adjustments.* Grilled steak with ratatouille and saffron rice: this gets five stars, delicious and very special. This made one of the nicest ratatouilles that I've ever had...the harissa paste and anchovies pack flavour in.. and cooking the courgettes and aubergine on the griddle added to the flavour. The steak was gorgeous cooked on the griddle also and dressed on a board, JO style. My friends were impressed by the 25 minute timing for a speedy and tasty supper* Asian sea bass, sticky rice and dressed greens: five stars too. This is a speedier version of his steam sea bass in a bag. The marinade imparts gorgeous asian flavours and the fish cooked beautifully with this simpler method. I managed about 30 minutes on time to table* Pasta pesto with garlic and rosemary chicken:five stars again. My sister said this was the best pasta dish she's ever had and it's been cooked every week since. We used more chicken and this takes me about 40 minutes to get to the table but it's worth it. The pesto sauce is lovely...I make double so people can use it for pasta lunches later in the week* Sprong frittata tomato toast and pea salad - four stars. Lovely fresh flavours and can be done in the 15-20 minutes* Veggie chill crunchy tortilla and avocado salad -four stars I added another tin of beans to this tasty recipe which is not dissimilar from one of my staples anyhow. The avocado and corn tortillas are simple additions, so 20 minutes is very doable* Chorizo carbonara and catalan market salad - four stars. Very simple with good flavours and very doable in 15-20 minutes* Koh samui salad chilli tofu and thai noodles - four stars, 20 minutes. Some have complained about the food looking like a Jackson Pollock. This tastes better than it looks but if you have time marinade the tofu first for more flavour

I already own 30-Minute Meals and so when I saw that Jamie was bringing out this book I immediately pre-ordered it. I have had it now for 3 days and have tried 2 of the recipes out of the book already (the blackened chicken & San Fran quinoa salad and the Pork marsala with porcini rice & spring greens). Both meals were very tasty and although I failed to cook either of them in 15 minutes, neither of them took longer than 20-25 minutes for me to complete and to be honest I never expected to be able to work at the same speed as Jamie. I'm just pleased that we have a book featuring mouth-waterning meals that can be whipped up quickly once I come home from work.As with all of Jamie's books, the photography is beautiful. Once again David Loftus has done a wonderful job of presenting Jamie's meals in such a way that you can't help but want to go to the kitchen and start cooking.The book is divided up as follows:IntroServe & CookPantryChickenBeefPorkLambFishPastaSoups & SarniesVeggieBreakfastNutritionThanksIndexIn the back of the book you will find an excellent section on nutrition with the calorie, fat, sugar and saturated fat content of each of the recipes in the book listed alongside a picture of the meal and its page number.I have taken the time to type out all of the recipes listed in the book so that you can decide whether or not this is the book for you.Chicken dim sum/coconut buns/cucumber pickle/hoi sin sauceChicken tikka/lentil, spinach & naan saladSpicy cajun chicken/smashed sweet potato & fresh corn saladIncredibly delicious chicken saladSizzling chicken fajitas/grilled peppers/salsa/rice & beansSticky kicking chicken/watermelon radish salad & crunchy noodlesMexican chicken/wicked mole sauce/rice & vegGorgeous Greek chicken/herby vegetable & couscous tzatzikiRosemary chicken/grilled polenta & porcini tomato sauceWarm chicken liver salad/little Welsh 'rarebites'Thai chicken laksa/mildly spiced noodle squash brothBlackened chicken/San Fran quinoa saladGolden chicken/braised greens & potato gratinCrispy polenta chicken caeser saladSpiced chicken/bacon,asaparagus, spinach & lentilsCrispy duck/hoi sin lettuce parcelsChilli con carne meatballsBritish burgers/shred salad/pickles & thingsBeef stroganoff/fluffy rice/red onion & parsley pickleSizzling beef steak/hoi sin prawn & noodle bowlsBeef kofta curry/fluffy rice, beans & peasSeared asian beef/best noodle salad & ginger dressingGrilled steak/ratatouille & saffron riceBeef chimichurri/new potatoes & crunch saladSteak, liver & bacon/bubble & squeak mash/red onion gravyKorean fried rice/steak, mushrooms & picklesSwedish meatballs/celeriac & spinach riceBlack bean beef burgers/noodles & pickle saladSteak medallions/mushroom sauce & spring greensCajun steak/smoky baked beans & collard greensCrispy parma pork/minted courgettes & brown riceGlazed pork fillet/cajun style pepper rice & BBQ sauceUltimate pork tacos/spicy black beans/avocado garden saladPork steaks/hungarian pepper sauce & riceJerk pork/grilled corn & crunchy tortilla saladPork marsala/porcini rice & spring greensLamb lollipops/curry sauce/rice & peasLamb meatballs/chop salad/harissa yoghurtGlazed sizzling chops/sweet tomato & asparagus lasagnetttiLamb kofte/pitta/greek saladQuick lamb tagine/pan-fried aubergine & cumin crunchMustard lamb/irish mash /watercress & apple saladTurkish flats/shred salad, feta & herbsAsian sea bass/sticky rice/dressed greensGrilled cajun prawns/sweet potato mash/holy trinity vegCrackin' crab briks/couscus salad & salsaMixed fish grill/mediterranean fennel & couscousAsian fish/miso noodles/crunchy vegPrawn cocktail/king prawns & sun dried breadSmoked salmon/yorkshire pud,beets & asparagusGriddled tuna kinda nicoise saladSticky squid balls/grilled prawns & noodle brothMoroccan bream/couscous, pomegranata & harissaGreen tea salmon/coconut rice/miso greensArnold bennett frittata/foccacia & emmental waldorf saladMoroccan mussels/tapenade toasties/cucumber saladGolden scallops/sun-blush mash & greensKiller kedgeree/beans, greens & chilli yoghurtMighty mackerel/mixed tomato & quinoa saladPoached fish/coddled eggs & tomato loafSmoked salmon/potato & asparagus saladFlashy fish stew/saffron sauce & garlic breadSeared asian tuna/coconut rice/jiggy jiggy greensWhite fish tagine/carrot, coriander & clementine saladLucky squid 'n' prawns/spice vegetable noodle brothKoh samui salad/chilli tofu & thai noodlesButterflied sardines/tuscan bread saladChorizo & squid?greek-style couscous saladBaked whole trout/jeresey royals, peas & mustard saucePasta pesto/garlic & rosemary chickenCrab bolognese/crunchy fennel saladSauasage fusili/creamy garden saladChorizo carbonara/catalan market saladWinter squash penne/mint & avocado chopped saladSimple spaghetti/tomato, basil & creamy curd saladSausage gnocchi/warm kale & bean saladChicken cacciatore/spaghetti & smoky tomato sauceFettucine/ smoked trout, asparagus & peasChicken & pasta herby 6-veg raguBroccolini pasta/chopped garden saladPrawn linguine/sicilian shaved fennel saladMushroom farfalle/blue cheese, hazelnute & apple saladSalsa verde tuna/sicilian tomato & pasta saladPesto spaghetti/lemon-steamed fishMexican tomato soup/chilli nachos/veggie & feta sprinkesMinestrone/poacked chicken & salsa verdeMushroom soup/stilton, apple & walnut croutesSquash soup/sagey chestnut dumplingsMexican BLT/ chillies, guacamole & saladThe best fish baps/mushy peas & tartare sauceGrilled mushroom sub/smoky pancetta, melted cheese & pearsTapas bruschetta/golden grilled sardinesHappy cow burgers/old-school coleslaw & corn on the cobVeggie chilli/crunchy tortilla & avocado saladFalafel wraps/grilled veg & salsaKeralan veggie curry/poppadoms, rice & minty yoghurtModern greek salad/spinach, chickpea & feta parcelsRicotta fritters/tomato sauce & courgette saladSweet & sour veggies/schezuan eggy rice & crunch saladCamembert parcels/autumn salad & cranberry dipMexican salad/charred avo & popcorn beansTasty daal curry/warm tomato salad & naanSpring frittata/tomato toasts/watercress & pea saladSmoky maple pancetta/fluffy corn & chilli pancakesAvocado on toast four waysBring back the toastie (part 1: hot sandwich heaven)Viva la toastie (part 2: some more hot options)Fantastic granola (get up, get fed, get gone)Superb box grater fruit saladFruit 'n' nut combos/sweetened cottage cheeseSuper smoothies (four ways to start your day)