Your favourite Ottolenghi recipes

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I always look at Ottolenghi recipes and think they look amazing but a fair bit of work & special ingredients… and I wuss out as I don’t know if it will be worth it.

Any recommendations for ones that are truly delicious? Ideally make ahead or freezable…

Oh dear. This thread just makes me want to get more of his books...

I bought 'Simple' at the start of lockdown and loved making new recipes to alleviate the boredom. Can't remember my favourites off the top of my head (we're not home to check), but there's a nice chickpea pasta, the orzo feta thing mentioned up-thread, a mushroom, feta and dill thing... and lots more! My most used recipe from that book is the red pepper dip. I make a big vat of it and use over several days as a side, or part of a salad, or as an ingredient in something else.

I had 'Flavour' for Christmas, and enjoyed doing my online shop based around 3 recipes from there.

As an aside, if you're mentioning recipes from his books, would you be able to say which book (so I know which to prioritise next)....

The feta cheesecake in Simple is amazing too...

@HelenHywater the shawarma is from Jerusalem. If you don't have it you really should treat yourself 😁

Simple has so many good recipes in it and they are much easier. The beef and ricotta meatballs are great and very economical. Makes an enormous amount from one pack of mince, a tub of ricotta and some breadcrumbs.

Sweet spiced mushroom and rice pilaff from Shelf Love is pretty straightforward, makes absolutely loads and it delicious. Vegan too, if that matters.

I made the ultimate traybake ragu from Flavour today. It was SO good. Way better than any other veggie bolognaise/ragu I've ever made before. It will become a staple in this house, for sure.

It is great @ReviewingTheSituation - if ever you need a super quick ragu then I recommend Ixta's porcini ragu. In the book she says its a pared down version of the spicy mushroom lasagne which she worked on with Ottolenghi (in Flavour). I'm making the full blown lasagne this week and will share my thoughts on the one new recipe each week thread! But the super quick one is full of flavour.

www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/ixta-belfrage-recipes-mezcla-cookbook-b2121968.html

Crushed puy lentils with tahini and cumin