Chef Georgina Hayden shares a selection of Mediterranean-inspired recipes designed to evoke holiday vibes at home. The recipes, featured in her book "MEDesque," include a variety of dishes, from quick weeknight meals to more elaborate options.
One of the highlighted recipes is a sea bass dish with grapes and ajo blanco, which Hayden describes as a "restaurant-worthy showstopper" that can be prepared in just ten minutes. This dish features pan-seared sea bass fillets served with charred grapes and a chilled ajo blanco sauce made from fish stock, almonds, and bread.
Another offering is lamb, apricot, and feta sausage rolls, presented as a flavorful picnic snack. These incorporate minced lamb, dried apricots, feta cheese, and aromatic spices like ras el hanout, all encased in puff pastry.
For a heartier meal, Hayden provides a recipe for "dirty rice," inspired by the Majorcan dish arroz brut. This one-pan meal combines chicken thighs, chorizo, onions, peppers, and paella rice, cooked in chicken stock with saffron and a blend of spices.
A charred corn, chorizo, and avocado salad is also featured, described as a make-ahead dish suitable for entertaining. It combines charred corn kernels with crispy chorizo, garlic, fresh herbs, and creamy avocado, dressed with sherry vinegar and honey.
Sweet options include a cardamom frappé ice cream, inspired by Hayden's memories of Greek beachside frappés. This dessert is made with milk, cardamom, egg yolks, sugar, instant coffee, and double cream, churned into a frozen treat.
Additionally, a spiced patata fil-forn, a lighter take on a creamy potato gratin, is included. This Maltese-inspired dish features thinly sliced potatoes baked with onions, garlic, and a blend of spices like fennel, cumin, chili powder, and turmeric.
A savory tomato, herb, and Gruyère cake salé is also part of the collection. This versatile savory loaf can be made with or without bacon and is suitable for freezing, making it a convenient option for later enjoyment.
The recipes are from "MEDesque" by Georgina Hayden, with photographs by Laura Edwards, published by Bloomsbury.