Jekka’s Herb Cookbook: Foreword by Jamie Oliver
£7.50
Jekka McVicar’s passion for herbs has evolved over 40 years. In this, her first cookery book, ‘queen of herbs’ Jekka offers over 250 original recipes using simple garden herbs, along with tips for growing and maintaining them.
Herbs have long been a part of British culinary history, yet few people utilise them to their full potential. Incredibly versatile, not only do herbs impart flavour, aroma and texture to dishes, they are extremely beneficial to our health.
Much more than a cookbook, Jekka’s Herb Kitchen features 50 herbs with a chapter and recipes devoted to each – Jekka’s huge knowledge of each herb’s history, cultivation and medicinal and culinary uses is unsurpassed. Her recipes are simple and economical – she shows how herbs can transform a cheap cut of meat, enliven a pasta sauce, and even add delight to desserts. She also offers suggestions for how best to combine herbs and what parts to use, gives ideas for using up a glut of a specific herb, and advises on how to preserve your herbs for the winter months.
Moreover, this volume is a family affair – many of Jekka’s recipes are inspired by her grandmother and mother, and the stunning illustrations are by Jekka’s daughter, Hannah McVicar. With colour photographs throughout, this is a unique and beautiful volume from the UK’s foremost authority on herbs.
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Additional information
| Publisher | Ebury Press (3 Jun. 2010) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Hardcover | 352 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 0091930413 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0091930417 |
| Dimensions | 19.5 x 2.7 x 25.2 cm |
by S. E. Dyne
This is a lovely book with great ideas and recipes – I just wish there were photographs of the herbs rather than the drawings (though beautiful) it makes it hard to identify the real herbs
by Amazon Customer
This wonderful book came in perfect condition and beautifully wrapped by the seller. Such a nice surprise- like having a second birthday.
by marge – cooking mackem
I love this book. It has great recipes, is easy to follow and gives me lots of ideas on how to use lesser known herbs with more confidence. Great descriptions and information on herbs and especially storing them.Jekka truly is the queen of herbs.
by Dr. C. Kerby
Could not put it down! Jekka truly is the queen of herbs.
by Wiltshire Bookworm
This cookbook has many of the recipes Jekka McVicar freely shares with anyone she comes into contact with: whether it’s an audience at one of her popular talks, or someone like me visiting her herb farm for the first time. The recipe she gave me is in this book (salmon and lemongrass parcel, which is yummy) along with another 249 taken from 3 generations of her and her family’s cooking, plus those given by famous chefs, friends and staff at the herb farm.
50 herbs are featured: from the usual suspects like Basil, Mint or Sage and more unusual ones such as Shiso and Vietnamese Coriander. I’m pleased she’s included Shiso as I tasted this herb at one of her open days: it was delicious, but I had no idea of how to use it. Flowers such as nasturtiums, marigolds and violets also get a look in. These are Jekka’s top 50 herbs for culinary use in the broadest sense of the word.
Each herb featured is thoroughly introduced: taking you through its description (including notes on how to grow it), history in cooking, harvesting & uses, and varieties. Then follows the recipes: each one is introduced with lots of little anecdotes making you feel Jekka is at your elbow telling you all about it. The final section on each herb ends with a guide on what to do with a glut, should you have one.
If you’re looking for specific information on making tinctures, teas etc., then you need to look elsewhere in Jekka’s previous books, though instructions for drying are given for some of the herbs such as Sweet Bay. This is a celebration of the use of herbs to complement food rather than the use of their medicinal properties.
Her daughter Hanna’s artwork is the final delightful touch to a clearly laid out and good looking book.
by Kim Tozer
A well illustrated and laid out book, based on a herb so if you have borrage recipies with this herb are kept together.
Already tried some of the recipes and the family really enjoyed them. Simple and easy to prepare and cook.
by valg
A wonderful book, drawings by Jekka’s daughter are a delight. Some unusual recipes and good advice on how to store herbs for winter use. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys cooking with herbs
by jw
This is a perfect companion to Jekka’s herb book. There are some superb recipes and some unusual ones. I think that the illustrations are excellent, although I think I would have preferred them to have been photos of exact herbs to enable identification to be easier. otherwise, a fantastic purchase.