Cook books · Midweek dinners that work

Everyday & quick

Fast, reliable family cooking: the bestsellers people actually cook from, plus slow-cooker and fish favourites.

• 8 books
• 3 award-winners
• UK & US Amazon links

Each book has a short review in our own words and a link to Amazon; award notes appear only where a winners' list confirms them.

• Ottolenghi SIMPLE
• Jamie's 30-Minute Meals
• Appetite
• Pinch of Nom
• Time to Eat
• East
• Slow Cooker Revolution
• Fish & Shellfish

Book links go to Amazon (affiliate links). As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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  Ottolenghi SIMPLE

  Yotam Ottolenghi · 2018

  Ottolenghi's cooking made practical: each recipe is labelled for being quick, make-ahead, pantry-based or low on ingredients. The big flavours of his restaurants, but for a Tuesday night.

  View on Amazon UKView on Amazon US : Ottolenghi SIMPLEIn the US? amazon.com

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  Jamie's 30-Minute Meals

  Jamie Oliver · 2010

  UK's fastest-selling non-fiction book on record when published (Nielsen BookScan, Dec 2010)

  Whole menus of main, side and pudding cooked together against the clock, with a careful running order. Ambitious for 30 minutes, but it teaches you to work efficiently.

  View on Amazon UKView on Amazon US : Jamie's 30-Minute MealsIn the US? amazon.com

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  Appetite

  Nigel Slater · 2000

  André Simon Food Book Award, 2000

  From our old book list

  Slater teaches you to cook by instinct rather than by rule, with flexible recipes and suggestions for swaps. Our old review said "new ideas spring from every page", and it still does.

  View on Amazon UKView on Amazon US : AppetiteIn the US? amazon.com

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  Pinch of Nom

  Kate Allinson & Kay Featherstone · 2019

  UK's fastest-selling non-fiction book since records began (Nielsen BookScan, March 2019)

  Lighter versions of family favourites, from fakeaways to bakes, from the Wirral slimming-blog cooks. Simple recipes with calorie counts for every dish.

  View on Amazon UKView on Amazon US : Pinch of NomIn the US? amazon.com

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  Time to Eat

  Nadiya Hussain · 2019

  Batch cooking, freezer-friendly dishes and short cuts for busy households, from the Great British Bake Off winner. Practical and cheerful.

  View on Amazon UKView on Amazon US : Time to EatIn the US? amazon.com

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  East

  Meera Sodha · 2019

  Vegan and vegetarian recipes from across Asia, many taken from Meera Sodha's Guardian column. Quick, punchy and easy to shop for.

  View on Amazon UKView on Amazon US : EastIn the US? amazon.com

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  Slow Cooker Revolution

  America's Test Kitchen · 2011

  From our old book list

  America's Test Kitchen's slow-cooker recipes, tested until they taste as good as stovetop cooking. It explains what slow cookers do well and what they don't.

  View on Amazon UKView on Amazon US : Slow Cooker RevolutionIn the US? amazon.com

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  Fish & Shellfish

  Rick Stein · 2014 edition

  From our old book list

  Rick Stein's guide to buying, preparing and cooking seafood, with recipes from simple grilled fish to curries and stews. It replaces his Seafood Lovers' Guide on our old list.

  View on Amazon UKView on Amazon US : Fish & ShellfishIn the US? amazon.com

New guide 1 November 2026. Awards checked against published winners' lists; Amazon listings checked on 1 November 2026.