Good recipe book for a young guy

[Nikna]

My younger brother has just moved to London, and bless him, has not ever really done much cooking.

Mentioned he is looking for some recipe ideas, and with a bday coming up, I want to get him a good cookbook, with quick, easy recipes.

Any ideas?

Jamie Oliver Ministry of Food. Very good- basic recipes from soups to roats to curries.

roasts that should say!

I have the vegetarian version of this cookbook

I 2nd Jamie Oliver. Delia Smith How to Cheat or whatever it is called is also v v simple. I have a copy I don't use because, imo, it should be renamed 'How to be a lazy arse and make the most of tinned and convinience foods' - but it would be a very good starting point for someone who has never so much as fried an egg.

Jamie Oliver Ministry of Food... think I would quite like that one myself .

Dont want to do the old ... give a gift that I actually want myself

I bought my 26yr old the "Lazy Brunch" book linked to the "Something for the Weekend" programme on tv

The recipes are easy to follow, and grouped into categories like 'impressing a new partner' and 'beer snacks with the lads'

It's a fun take on a cookery book and I know my lad has used it loads.

HTH

Sam Stern Real Food Real Fast.

Another vote for Ministry of Food best one by far imo I use it all the time.

oooh lots of ideas, i know I'm going to end up getting carried away on Amazon

Actually I have Jamie MOF too and have made pretty much everything in it repeatedly.
I think it's more family cooking than single guy cooking though, which is why I recommended Sam Stern.

I don't actually think MOF is very good for someone who can't cook at all.
I got it for DH and find that he really struggles with the timings of things and how long it actually takes to prep things. The recipes are good though.
What about the new Jamie Oliver one thirty minute meals or whatever I think you can also watch him cook the recipes online. DH cooked the Ragu pasta the other night just from watching the programme and he needed no help at all.

I got my 16 year old DS this Ultimate Student cookbook and he has cooked some really good meals from it. Cheap too!

I didn't take to that Jamie programme at all and I'm a good cook!

I did do the pregnant pasta last night and it was fab and is a keeper, but the whole needing to prep in advance, pull gadgets in and out of cupboards and faff with three dishes puts me off.

I think it's weekend cooking with shortcuts, not actual quick and easy meals.

The main dishes themselves were mainly good, though some out of my budget, but as the book is written for the whole meal to be cooked and jumps between recipes I know I'd find it annoying.