Jamies 15 Minute Meals

[devnull]

Anyone doing these yet? Bought the book and have done a few recipes, even convinced me to shell out for a food processor. Must say they are quite nice and simple recipes, with the emphasis on slicing thing and big surface areas to speed up cooking time.

[Type R Tom]

Watched the programme and think the principles are sound with some clever ideas and short cuts, whether you could pull it off and cook a meal in 15 minutes is still up for debate. It is a good way to get in to a different mind set.

What does concern me is that the programme is designed to encourage people to cook who wouldn’t normally and in a healthy way. I think people could be put off by the ingredients he uses though, the endless amount of fresh herbs for example. The people this show is aimed at probably don’t have a herb garden and will be put off by the cost.

One of the episodes I saw he through a cinnamon stick in some rice to flavour it, now these are expensive and I think people will be put off when they go to the super market with a shopping list and add up the cost.

As I said I like the programme (I like cooking programmes generally) but think sometimes he is in danger of excluding the people he is aiming at.

[Mobile Chicane]

I have a food processor and almost never use it. By the time I've taken it apart and washed it, it would have been quicker to just use a knife.

[condor]

I've got a food processor too Mine doesn't slice as thinly and as cleanly as his does...perhaps I haven't mastered the art of putting the slicing blade in properly, but my attempts have resulted in a mess and the thing jammed up.
Perhaps his is a very expensive one

[Mobile Chicane]

condor said:

I've got a food processor too Mine doesn't slice as thinly and as cleanly as his does...perhaps I haven't mastered the art of putting the slicing blade in properly, but my attempts have resulted in a mess and the thing jammed up.
Perhaps his is a very expensive one

I haven't watched the show so I don't know which he is using, but my (very expensive) Magimix was honestly no faster or better than a knife when cooking for one or two people.

I was more than happy to leave it with the 'ex'.

[illmonkey]

15 minutes from the point when all of the ingredients are measured and put into bowls, your pans are hot and the tables made.

I get the idea, but why label is 15 minutes? How long does it take to eat? Just call it "quick meals"

[davek_964]

I've seen a few, and think they're pretty good - much simpler than the 30 min ones (although in reality, the 15 min ones would probably take me 30 mins). Generally good / simple ideas for food in the week.

[DoctorX]

Had a go of one of the recipes in the book. 15 minutes my arse.

[Mastodon2]

I quite like the program, I watched it tonight and was pretty impressed with the coconut buns and stir fry dish he did. I had those sweet / savoury steamed bun things at an Asian restaurant in Vegas and they were delicious, I've never seen them on a menu in the UK though.

However, as noted it's only "15 minutes" once you've got everything measured out and ready to go, and even then it's only possible in the time frame as long as nothing goes wrong at all in process.

[Cotty]

condor said:

I've got a food processor too Mine doesn't slice as thinly and as cleanly as his does

Just buy a mandoline for thin slicing. But buy an adjustable one, I bought a crap one and I can slice thiner that it can.

[Mobile Chicane]

Cotty said:

condor said:

I've got a food processor too Mine doesn't slice as thinly and as cleanly as his does

Just buy a mandoline for thin slicing. But buy an adjustable one, I bought a crap one and I can slice thiner that it can.

Good point. I have a mandoline for slicing dauphinoise potatoes, and it is excellent.

There's a reason why such things persist, despite our modern obsession with expensive electronic gadgets.

My mandoline wasn't cheap though. Some £40-odd, and you can pay a lot more.

[devnull]

Type R Tom said:

Watched the programme and think the principles are sound with some clever ideas and short cuts, whether you could pull it off and cook a meal in 15 minutes is still up for debate. It is a good way to get in to a different mind set.

What does concern me is that the programme is designed to encourage people to cook who wouldn’t normally and in a healthy way. I think people could be put off by the ingredients he uses though, the endless amount of fresh herbs for example. The people this show is aimed at probably don’t have a herb garden and will be put off by the cost.

One of the episodes I saw he through a cinnamon stick in some rice to flavour it, now these are expensive and I think people will be put off when they go to the super market with a shopping list and add up the cost.

As I said I like the programme (I like cooking programmes generally) but think sometimes he is in danger of excluding the people he is aiming at.

Good points made here - a lot of the ingredients here are pretty pricey, and it's not always possible to have flowing bunches of herbs like he has. I have personally built up a lot of herbs, spices and base stuff (such as rice wine and fish sauce, etc) over time, but to the average joe who doesn't like cooking normally, it might not appeal.

[Pferdestarke]

He is very inspiring and can turn an otherwise dull dish in to something really appetising. He's a big lover of adding flavour and texture to dishes and I agree - going the extra mile pays off, even if it costs a few quid in herbs and oils.

[anonymous-user]

I've watched a few we call it 15 minute meals for millionaires. Last one had a fish stew that must have cost well over £20 for the ingredients (Monk Fish, Sea Bass, Mussels, Clams, Saffron etc). Also all of the mussels etc are fully prepared which means they must have been bought at a proper fishmongers that day. That isn't realistic for most people, my nearest non-supermarket fishmonger is a 30 minute drive-away and I live in a reasonable sized town!

Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 31st October 15:58

[smack]

Bluequay said:

I've watched a few we call it 15 minute meals for millionaires. Last one had a fish stew that must have cost well over £20 for the ingredients (Monk Fish, Sea Bass, Mussels, Clams, Saffron etc).

So he is doing the same sort of thing as his last fast food series, where he cooked 'Roast Beef', using a great big Fillet of Beef

[Shaw Tarse]

Mobile Chicane said:

Cotty said:

condor said:

I've got a food processor too Mine doesn't slice as thinly and as cleanly as his does

Just buy a mandoline for thin slicing. But buy an adjustable one, I bought a crap one and I can slice thiner that it can.

Good point. I have a mandoline for slicing dauphinoise potatoes, and it is excellent.

There's a reason why such things persist, despite our modern obsession with expensive electronic gadgets.

My mandoline wasn't cheap though. Some £40-odd, and you can pay a lot more.

You both have used mandolines & still have fingers left to type with

[CypherP]

Bluequay said:

I've watched a few we call it 15 minute meals for millionaires. Last one had a fish stew that must have cost well over £20 for the ingredients (Monk Fish, Sea Bass, Mussels, Clams, Saffron etc). Also all of the mussels etc are fully prepared which means they must have been bought at a proper fishmongers that day. That isn't realistic for most people, my nearest non-supermarket fishmonger is a 30 minute drive-away and I live in a reasonable sized town!

This is the key message I get from the programme really. It isn't about cooking quickly AND cheaply. He is very good at finding ways for people to eat healthily and prepare quickly, but the emphasis is very much on the speed rather than cost.

I really like some of the recipes on the programme and the book, but sometimes I'd rather spend an hour putting together a relatively cheap meal than spend upwards of £20 just to make something that doesn't sacrifice my evening.

[Davey S2]

Shaw Tarse said:

Mobile Chicane said:

Cotty said:

condor said:

I've got a food processor too Mine doesn't slice as thinly and as cleanly as his does

Just buy a mandoline for thin slicing. But buy an adjustable one, I bought a crap one and I can slice thiner that it can.

Good point. I have a mandoline for slicing dauphinoise potatoes, and it is excellent.

There's a reason why such things persist, despite our modern obsession with expensive electronic gadgets.

My mandoline wasn't cheap though. Some £40-odd, and you can pay a lot more.

You both have used mandolines & still have fingers left to type with

I have one of these which comes with a grip thing so you don't take your fingers off.


http://www.johnlewis.com/230766682/Product.aspx

Not cheap but fully asjustable and the blade has a reversible side so you can do julienne as well.

[Sarkmeister]

I've got the book and done one of the recipes twice, both times it only took 15mins. It was the "delicious chicken salad" and was really lovely both times.

Only problem I find is that I tend to make more of a mess as I have no time to tidy up as I go along....

Looking forward to trying a few more.