One of Britain’s most beloved bakers — and someone who lights up our screens regularly here in Australia — Nadiya Hussain, has another cookbook coming out, Nadiya’s Everyday Baking.
The 2015 Great British Bake Off winner infuses her new cookbook with the usual trademark shortcuts while encouraging home bakers to use their oven every day of the week.
Ahead of the book’s release this week, we spoke to Nadiya to get some insight into what bakers can expect.
What inspired you to create this cookbook?
Everyday Baking is all about celebrating the oven. So many of us have ovens and do the cooking using stove top and oven combined.
I really wanted to write a book where everything can be made in the oven, from breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert.
How is it different from the other cookbooks you’ve written?
This book, in many ways, is similar to all of my other books. It’s simple, easy, and all the recipes are accessible. This book is different as in, everything is made in the oven. So for anyone who enjoys the ease of baking in the oven this book is perfect for them.
Who do you think would benefit from this cookbook the most?
This book is great for beginners and for more confident bakers. There is something in this book for everyone.
The book is an accompaniment to your new TV series, why did you decide to make both?
I love making a series that accompanies the book, it really helps to bring the recipes to life.
Most people don’t think of baking as ‘simple’; how will this book change their mind?
Baking can be simple, I think many people are afraid of baking because they think it is too complicated or hard. It does not have to be. There is a recipe in here for every skill level and a bake in here for every occasion.
The book is divided into unique sections (types of days), why did you decide to structure it this way?
I structured the book in the way that I like to cook and spread my days out through the week. There are healthier recipes for rainbow days and portable recipes for outdoor days.
Out of all the different types of ‘days’ you have in the book, what is your favourite kind?
Of all the different kinds of days, my favourite days would have to be baking days and chill out days.
It seems like you’re encouraging people to bake every day, why do you think we don’t already? Do people think baking is only for special occasions?
I think lots of people bake most days, but you can bake everyday with ease, not just for celebrations.
What do you mean by ‘let your oven do the work’?
When you cook or bake in the oven, the best thing is, you can pop a timer on and just get on with other things. That’s the best thing about baking and cooking in the oven. The oven is a great bit of kit that I feel we can use so much more.
What are some of your best tips for making baking easy?
Always measure everything out. Buy yourself a cheap oven thermometer to make sure the oven temperature is right. Always preheat the oven. And don’t worry if you make mistakes, making mistakes can make you a better baker.
Do you have a favourite recipe from the book?
I have plenty of recipes that I love, but my favourites would have to be the seafood boil, dalgona coffee cake, and the aromatic noodles.
In the introduction to the book, you say your family never baked when you were younger – how did you get into baking yourself?
My family only ever did stove-top cooking, so baking was not something we ever did growing up. I started baking as a teenager, when I did food studies as a GCSE. Then I seriously started baking when I got married and had kids and I have been baking ever since.
Nadiya’s Everyday Baking by Nadiya Hussain is available today from Penguin Random House Australia. Grab yourself a copy from Booktopia HERE.
