Yotam Ottolenghi Quotes

Powerful Yotam Ottolenghi for Daily Growth

About Yotam Ottolenghi

Yotam Ottolenghi is an internationally acclaimed chef, restaurant owner, and bestselling cookbook author whose innovative approach to Mediterranean cuisine has captured the hearts and taste buds of food enthusiasts worldwide. Born in 1977 in Tel Aviv, Israel, Ottolenghi spent his childhood immersed in the vibrant flavors and culinary traditions of his homeland. After completing military service, he moved to London to study philosophy at the University of London but found himself increasingly drawn towards the world of food. In 1997, Ottolenghi began working as a pastry chef at London's Baker & Spice, eventually rising through the ranks to become head chef. His culinary prowess attracted the attention of renowned chef Jamie Oliver, who offered him an opportunity to work at his Fifteen restaurant in London. It was during this period that Ottolenghi honed his skills and developed a passion for experimenting with flavors and ingredients from diverse Mediterranean regions. In 2002, Ottolenghi co-founded the eponymous Ottolenghi delicatessen and restaurant in London's Notting Hill neighborhood, which quickly became a local institution for its imaginative take on Middle Eastern cuisine. The success of this venture led to the opening of numerous other restaurants under the Ottolenghi brand, as well as a collaboration with chef Sami Tamimi on several bestselling cookbooks, including "Jerusalem: A Cookbook" (2012), which has been celebrated for its beautiful photography and unique recipes. Ottolenghi's innovative approach to Mediterranean cuisine has earned him numerous accolades, including five James Beard Awards, the National Book Awards' Cookery & Food book of the year, and a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) from Queen Elizabeth II for his services to culinary arts. His latest venture is Nopi, a restaurant in London that showcases the dynamic fusion of flavors and techniques found in the cuisines of North Africa and the Middle East. With an unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of traditional Mediterranean cooking and a passion for sharing delicious food with the world, Yotam Ottolenghi continues to inspire chefs and home cooks alike.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Cooking is not just about what you eat but also about who you share it with."

This quote by Yotam Ottolenghi emphasizes that cooking extends beyond merely preparing food; it's also about the people we share our meals with. Sharing a meal fosters connections, creates memories, and builds relationships. Food, in this context, serves as a vehicle for companionship, understanding, and love. The act of cooking and eating together can bring people closer, transcending simple sustenance to become a profound and enriching experience.

"In my kitchen, I don't believe in shortcuts or in the easy option."

This quote by Yotam Ottolenghi emphasizes a strong commitment to quality and craftsmanship in his culinary approach. By stating that he doesn't believe in shortcuts or the easy option, he implies that he values the effort and dedication required to create extraordinary dishes. It suggests that every dish he creates is thoughtfully prepared with genuine ingredients and deliberate techniques, rather than relying on quick fixes or simplified recipes. This perspective reflects a deep respect for the art of cooking and an unwavering passion for creating memorable dining experiences.

"There are a few things that can make even an ordinary dish extraordinary: good, fresh ingredients and love."

This quote emphasizes two key factors essential for transforming an ordinary dish into something extraordinary: the quality of the ingredients used and the passion with which it's prepared. Fresh, high-quality ingredients bring out their natural flavors, enhancing the overall taste and aroma. The "love" referred to here suggests not only putting care and attention into every detail during preparation but also conveying a sense of warmth, dedication, and emotion through the food – making it not just edible, but an experience.

"I think food should be about joy and happiness and bringing people together."

This quote by Yotam Ottolenghi emphasizes that food is not merely a means for survival, but an opportunity to create moments of joy, happiness, and connection among people. Food can bring us together in shared experiences, celebrations, and memories, making it a powerful tool for fostering human relationships and building communities.

"I like to think of recipes as a starting point rather than something set in stone."

This quote suggests that cooking, for Ottolenghi, is not about rigidly adhering to specific instructions or traditional methods. Instead, he views recipes more as a foundation or guide, allowing room for creativity, improvisation, and personal touch. Cooking becomes an art form where chefs can experiment with flavors, techniques, and presentation to create their own unique culinary creations.

I now understand how varied the world of cultivated rice is; that rice can play the lead or be a sidekick; that brown rice is as valuable as white; and that short-grain rice is the bee's knees.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Bee, Play, Sidekick, Cultivated

I keep returning to the combination of artichoke, broad beans and lemon. The freshness of young beans and the lemon juice 'lifts' the artichoke and balances its hearty nature.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Nature, Young, Lifts, Hearty

The smells of slow cooking spread around the house and impart a unique warmth matched only by the flavour of the food.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

House, Around, Smells, Warmth

A great fig should look like it's just about to burst its skin. When squeezed lightly it should give a little and not spring back. It must be almost unctuously sweet, soft and wet.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Give, Like, Almost, Fig

I am sure that in the story of Adam and Eve, the forbidden fruit was a fig and not an apple, pear or anything else.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Fruit, Sure, Adam, Fig

I have to admit that I can't take a whole fig and eat it on its own as I would a peach or mango. It's just too much.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Own, Peach, Whole, Fig

Urfa chillies are a Turkish variety that are mild on heat but big on aroma. They're sweet, smoky, a lovely dark red, and go with just about anything.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Heat, Lovely, Big, Smoky

Chipotles, which are dried jalapeno peppers, give out a terrific smoky flavour - they're warm, earthy and usually not too spicy.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Give, Peppers, Which, Smoky

Chinese sausage, which is widely available from Asian grocers and online, is sweet, rich, and enticingly smoky. I add it to steamed rice with strips of omelette and a few baby veg stir-fried with soy.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Add, Which, Widely, Smoky

Food that's served at the table in a paper parcel always creates a remarkable culinary moment when opened, because the package is full of aromatic steam from the lightly cooked ingredients inside.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Always, Package, Parcel, Cooked

Pot barley takes longer to cook than pearl, but an overnight soak in water will speed things along. It's a robust grain that, if overcooked, won't collapse but will become more tender.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Will, Tender, Robust, Pot

When it comes to cooking pasta, the first essential is to make sure you have a big enough pot: it needs room to roll in the water while cooking.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Big, Needs, Sure, Pot

Swiss chard is undervalued in Britain. It's a great substitute for spinach and keeps its shape well.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Shape, Swiss, Britain, Spinach

Middle Eastern cuisine has the same depth of ingredients and processes as other cuisines. They just haven't had as much exposure.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Processes, Other, Eastern, Middle Eastern

Most British cheeses are now vegetarian and are labelled accordingly. However, French and Italian manufacturers still tend to use rennet.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Accordingly, Still, However, Manufacturers

For those, like me, who can't rely on being given a home smoker this Christmas, you can build your own approximation with just a roll of tin foil and a big wok or pan for which you have a lid.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Big, Own, Lid, Foil

Stuffed vine leaves tend to burn and/or stick when you cook them. To avoid this, use a heavy based pan lined with a few layers of second-rate leaves.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Burn, Cook, Based, Second-Rate

The combination of lentils with rice or bulgur is the absolute height of Levantine comfort food. I could eat it every day.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Every Day, Rice, Could, Comfort Food

The natural sweetness of leeks, with their soft, oniony aroma, makes them the perfect winter comfort food.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Perfect, Natural, Makes, Comfort Food

Healthy is in the eye of the beholder.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Eye, Healthy, Beholder

My father always cooks more polenta than he needs for a meal. The excess he spreads on an oiled surface and chills. Next day, he cuts out chunks, fries them in olive oil and serves with salad.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Salad, Next, Chunks, Cuts

Tahini is fantastically versatile, its deep, nutty flavour a harmonious match with roasted vegetables, grilled oily fish or barbecued meat.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Deep, Match, Versatile, Nutty

Like brown rice, black rice is unmilled, and it is the dark outer husk that makes it so nutty and chewy. It's also why it takes longer to cook than many other rices.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Cook, Other, Like, Nutty

As for pineapple, it's far more versatile than you might think, and certainly merits wider use than in Hawaiian pizzas and pina coladas and on cheesy cocktail sticks.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Think, Certainly, Wider, Versatile

Brussels sprouts are really quite versatile.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Quite, Brussels, Really, Versatile

Vegetarian and frugal it may be, but the chickpea is one of the most versatile ingredients you could keep in your cupboards.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

May, Could, Frugal, Versatile

Polenta is to northern Italy what bread is to Tuscany, what pasta is to Emilia-Romagna and what rice is to the Veneto: easy to make, hungry to absorb other flavours, and hugely versatile.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Bread, Other, Hugely, Versatile

Like parents, cooks shouldn't have favourites, but some recipes inevitably shine more than others.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Recipes, Some, Favourites, Inevitably

Salbitxada is a sharp and lightly sweet Catalan sauce that's traditionally served with calcots - spring or salad onions, grilled whole, make a good substitute.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Salad, Lightly, Whole, Onions

My maternal grandmother made fantastic ox tongue with velvety roasted potatoes. She cooked sweet red cabbage and lovely cauliflower with butter and bread crumbs.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Lovely, Butter, Cauliflower, Crumbs

One man's trash is another man's treasure, and the by-product from one food can be perfect for making another.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Perfect, Making, Another, By-Product

You don't need a machine to make pasta: a rolling pin and a fast hand can create a smooth, if thick, sheet.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Need, Thick, Rolling, Pin

You can really taste the difference between a shop-bought and a good homemade mayo.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Taste, Difference, Mayo, Homemade

Sweet potatoes are ideal for lazy days: just bake, then mash and mix with yogurt, butter or olive oil.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Potatoes, Yogurt, Butter, Bake

Fusion food as a concept is kind of trying to quite consciously fuse things that are sometimes quite contradictory, sometimes quite far apart, to see if they'd work.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Work, Kind, Concept, Fusion

Way back when I was a junior pastry chef, I'd bake loads of muffins every morning, as many as 120 or so, while operating on autopilot.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Chef, Back, Loads, Junior

Hardly any of my most memorable meals have been eaten in a restaurant, and definitely none in one of those fancy marble-floored, polished-silver establishments.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Restaurant, Fancy, Been, Eaten

Good asparagus needs minimal treatment and is best eaten with few other ingredients.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Needs, Treatment, Minimal, Eaten

Custard is controversial: what makes it a custard, how best to cook it and, crucially, is it to be eaten or put in a pie and thrown?

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Cook, How, Makes, Eaten

I rarely cook traditional risotto, but I love other grains cooked similarly - barley, spelt or split wheat. I find they have more character than rice and absorb other flavours more wholeheartedly.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Love, Cook, Other, Wheat

Good-quality nuts, toasted in a little butter and salt, make a magical addition to many salads.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Salt, Magical, Butter, Toasted

Having grown up in the Middle East, eating beans for breakfast always seemed like a bizarre British eccentricity.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Middle, Always, Having, Eccentricity

A well-made salad must have a certain uniformity; it should make perfect sense for those ingredients to share a bowl.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Salad, Perfect, Sense, Uniformity

On some subconscious level, I've been prejudiced against turnips, parsnips, swedes and other roots. Do they taste of much? Are they really special? How wrong I was.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Some, Other, Been, Prejudiced

Speaking as someone who didn't go through the U.K. school system, with all the culinary baggage that entails, I am inordinately fond of custard in any shape or form.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Through, Baggage, Entails, Inordinately

New-season lamb shoulder, cooked pink, is the perfect platform for a mixture of fresh and cooked herbs.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Pink, Perfect, Mixture, Shoulder

Take your average couscous salad, and it's almost always a sloppy mush, no matter how much attention has gone into getting flavours in there.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Average, Always, Sloppy, Much Attention

Popping broad beans out of their skins can be therapeutic, but it isn't everybody's favourite waste of time.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Waste, Skins, Popping, Therapeutic

Eating ready-made meals is about being very passive, and actively cooking is something that nothing compares to.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Nothing, Very, Ready-Made, Passive

Many people struggle to make hummus that lives up to their expectations at home, and recreating a favourite brand or the stuff from your local deli is almost impossible.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Impossible, Lives, Almost, Deli

There is a unique freshness when eating buckwheat noodles cold with plenty of herbs and citrus acidity. I can't think of any better use of chopsticks on a hot and sweaty evening.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Think, Noodles, Use, Freshness

Barberries, or zereshk, are tiny dried red fruit with a tremendously sharp flavour. They come from Iran, where they're used to add freshness to rice and chicken dishes.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Fruit, Chicken, Add, Freshness

The addition of vinaigrette to freshly roasted vegetables gives them a freshness and juiciness they don't normally have; the acidity brings out new shades of flavour, too.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

New, Shades, Them, Freshness

Lebanese mezze, Cantonese dim sum and Basque pinchos have all evolved over years and are designed to make sense together.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Over, Dim, Evolved, Lebanese

The difference between a bland tomato and great one is immense, much like the difference between a standard, sliced white bread and a crusty, aromatic sourdough.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Bread, Like, Standard, Sliced

There are tons of wonderful places to eat in London.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

London, Places, Eat, Tons

Halva works brilliantly in ice-cream.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Works, Brilliantly, Ice-Cream

On many occasions, an informal buffet and casual seating offer a little more intimacy than a loud gathering around a big table.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Big, More, Loud, Buffet

Though not a true cereal but a fruit, buckwheat seeds resemble cereal grains and are often used in a similar way to rice, barley, bulgar or quinoa, usually as a side dish.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Side, Similar, Though, Cereal

How can something that's 95% water be so divisive? Alone among vegetables, the poor, innocent stick of celery elicits the most vicious attacks.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Innocent, Vicious, Divisive, Celery

Celery leaves are an underused ingredient, most likely because supermarkets sell mostly leafless stalks.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Likely, Mostly, Ingredient, Celery

For my money, celery hasn't got a mean bit of fibre in its body, and we all need to start being much nicer to it.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Start, Need, Nicer, Celery

My all-time favourite classic use of ricotta is in gnudi: fluffy, cheesy dumplings of almost ethereal, feathery lightness.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Use, Almost, Lightness, All-Time

I have a terrible tendency to lick my fingers when I cook. So much so that I got a telling off from my pastry teacher years ago, who said it would hinder my prospects.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Cook, Telling, Tendency, Lick

Just-poached vegetables show off their natural attributes and taste fresh and light in a way you never get with roasting or frying.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Natural, Taste, Show, Frying

As is always the way with pancakes, the first hotcake to come out of the pan will probably be a bit misshapen. Just scoff it, and carry on with the rest.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Rest, Will, Always, Pan

Chana dal are skinless dried split chickpeas used in Indian cooking. They have a great texture and delicate flavour.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Used, Texture, Delicate, Dried

Dried porcini add a substantial, deep flavour to otherwise more neutral vegetables. I use them in risottos, mashed roots and winter soups.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Deep, Add, Otherwise, Dried

Fresh egg pasta is traditionally served in the north of Italy with butter, cream and rich meat sauces, whereas dried pasta is more at home with the tomato- and olive oil-based ones of the south.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Egg, Butter, South, Dried

Shimeji are those odd-looking clusters of small mushrooms you often find in so-called 'exotic' selections at the supermarket. They have an appealing firmness that is retained during light cooking.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Small, Mushrooms, Often, Firmness

A quick shallow fry is a great way to transform leftovers, and no more so than in the case of risotto.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

More, Quick, Great Way, Leftovers

Barley and mushroom is a soothing combination. It's mainly a textural thing, with the barley both gently breaking and enhancing the mushroomy gloopiness.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Enhancing, Soothing, Barley, Gently

Leeks are normally given the job of flavouring other things, such as stocks and soups, but I find their creaminess and sweet, oniony flavour very satisfying.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Other, Very, Given, Satisfying

As with lemon juice, the more sorrel you use, the more it has to be balanced with something sweet, starchy or creamy - it's a yin-yang approach to cooking that I find rather calming.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

More, Rather, Use, Calming

Almost every culture has its own variation on chicken soup, and rightly so - it's one of the most gratifying dishes on the face of the Earth.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Chicken, Soup, Almost, Gratifying

Tossing doughnuts, fritters or fried dumplings in fennel sugar adds grown-up complexity without diminishing the indulgence factor.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Tossing, Indulgence, Factor

What makes maftoul worth celebrating is that it's so easy and forgiving to cook.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Cook, Makes, Forgiving, Celebrating

Braising eggs in a flavoursome, aromatic sauce is all the rage. It is warming and comforting, ideal for the morning when you are not normally up for a great culinary challenge.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Comforting, Eggs, Ideal, Normally

Normally, when congee is served, the different condiments and garnishes are placed in little bowls on the side so diners can make their own personal creations.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Own, Side, Placed, Normally

The range of ingredients available to home cooks has expanded dramatically. People are incorporating herbs and spices like lemongrass, smoked Mexican chile, sumac, and za'atar mix.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Like, Available, Smoked, Mix

Miso makes a soup loaded with flavour that saves you the hassle of making stock.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Soup, Making, Loaded, Hassle

Infants have around 30,000 tastebuds, only about a third of which survive into adulthood, so a child's sensitivity towards extremes of sweet, sour and bitter flavours is heightened.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Survive, Which, Infants, Sensitivity

Herbs deserve to be used much more liberally.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Deserve, More, Used, Herbs

Jerusalem artichokes have a great affinity with nuts. I love them with chopped walnuts or almonds, lemon juice, garlic, herbs and plenty of olive oil.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Love, Garlic, Them, Herbs

Pizza was made for television in so many ways: it is easy to heat up, easy to divide and easy to eat in a group. It is easy to enjoy, easy to digest and easy-going. It is so Italian!

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Heat, Television, Made, Easy-Going

After all these years of cooking and writing recipes, I am still amazed every time I notice how even the minutest of variation in technique can make a spectacular difference.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Recipes, Still, Technique, Every Time

The Guardian's 'Word of Mouth' blog bridges the gap between blogging and serious food journalism.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Mouth, Gap, Blogging, Journalism

Sorrel adds a unique grassy sharpness to salads and dressings, but it can be hard to come by.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Unique, Come, Sharpness, Salads

Chefs don't use white pepper just to avoid spoiling the whiteness of pommes puree or bechamel. It has a more peppery aroma, with sharpness and sweetness, too.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

More, Pepper, Use, Sharpness

The taste of any simple tomato-based salad is dependent on the quality of the tomatoes.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Simple, Salad, Taste, Tomatoes

Agave nectar is a good substitute for refined sugars. It has a relatively low glycaemic index, which means it doesn't cause quick rises in blood sugar levels. It also has a nice, mild flavour.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Quick, Which, Means, Refined

A lemon, boiled whole and blitzed, makes a useful base for all sorts of dressings.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Lemon, Makes, Whole, Base

Amaranth, the world's most nutritious grain, is available from health food stores.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

World, Stores, Most, Grain

Breakfast is always the best time for something juicy, sweet and fresh - it just feels like the right way to open the day. There's no right way, though, when it comes to choosing the fruit.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Always, Feels, Though, Right Way

Black glutinous rice works in both savoury and sweet dishes. It's a popular pudding rice in south-east Asia, where you'll often come across it cooked with water, coconut milk and a pandan leaf.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Asia, Works, Cooked, Coconut

Call me tacky, but I love the union of sweet and sour, even in some now-unloved Oriental dishes incorporating pineapple and ketchup.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Love, Some, Dishes, Oriental

Fish cakes are perceived as being quite British, and they're always a bit brown and a little dull.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Always, British, Being, Cakes

Tiny quails may not seem as impressive as a mammoth turkey, but there is something refreshing about a spread of individual birds on the Christmas table.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Individual, May, About, Table

Steaming maintains some of the aubergine flesh's texture, which doesn't happen if you cook it in any other way.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Happen, Some, Which, Any Other Way

The difference between brown and white rice is that the former is not milled. With the outer bran and germ intact, the rice is therefore chewier and nuttier.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Rice, Brown, Outer, Germ

Every era has its own list of ingredients that are considered exotic and then, 15 years later, they're not.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Own, Considered, Then, Exotic

Kibbeh comes in all forms, but most feature bulgur and meat.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Meat, Most, Feature, Forms

I get great pleasure from stuffed foods, from an apple strudel to a vegetable samosa, from a whole roasted bird with a sweet and savoury stuffing to a vine leaf filled with rice and spices.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Pleasure, Stuffing, Foods, Great Pleasure

People don't know how good cauliflower is, because they always have this image of cauliflower cheese - awful, sticky, creamy and rich.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Always, Image, Cauliflower, Sticky

Most pumpkin dishes involve scooping out the seeds, cutting off the skin, and chopping up the flesh before cooking.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Seeds, Skin, Before, Flesh

Poaching white fish in moderately hot oil guarantees soft-textured flesh and allows you to prepare a sauce calmly, without the usual panic about overcooking the fish.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Prepare, Moderately, Usual, Flesh

Apart from its famous healing properties, manuka has a strong, woody flavour.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Strong, Healing, Famous, Woody

There used to be a time - it isn't so much the case now - that vegetarianism was some kind of religion, and either you belong or you don't belong.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Kind, Some, Belong, Vegetarianism

I have an intense dislike of doctrines, because you will always end up eating your words.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Will, Always, Dislike, Doctrines

Rice and vermicelli is a common combination in Arab and Turkish cooking - it has a lighter texture than rice on its own.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Common, Texture, Turkish, Arab

Turkish cuisine is, to my mind, one of the most exciting and accomplished in the world.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Mind, World, Most, Turkish

Dinner parties are still highly popular, and I believe they always will be.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Will, Always, Still, Highly

The main distinction for fresh chillies is whether they are red or green, the difference being one of ripeness.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Red, Green, Distinction, Fresh

Manouri is a Greek ewes' milk cheese that's light in colour and texture. It's fresh and milky, and goes well with other subtle flavours.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Other, Texture, Greek, Fresh

Even in the busiest kitchen, there's always a point at the end of the day when you go home.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Go, Always, Go Home, Kitchen

The kitchen is tough. It's one of the last bastions in civilized culture that sets out to crush the spirit.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Crush, Last, Civilized, Kitchen

Most of my recipes start life in the domestic kitchen, and even those that start out in the restaurant kitchen have to go through the domestic kitchen.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Restaurant, Through, Recipes, Kitchen

Polenta is one of those ingredients that in many homes spends its days at the back of the kitchen cupboard, on the 'no one knows quite what to do with it' shelf.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Back, Cupboard, Many, Kitchen

Yogurt sauce, as you may have noticed by now, is a regular presence in my recipes - that's because it has the ability to round up so many flavours and textures like no other component does.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Recipes, Other, Yogurt, Regular

The emotive power of hummus all over the Middle East cannot be overstated, being the focus of some serious tribal rivalries.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Some, Over, Emotive, Overstated

I always preferred my father's pasta the next day, when he'd put it in a hot oven with heaps of extra cheese. It would emerge slightly burned and very crisp on top.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Food, Next, Always, Extra

Believe it or not, I'm as much a fan of a supper shortcut as the next person.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Person, Next, Fan, Shortcut

The differences between a tart, a pie and a quiche are a blur.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Differences, Blur, Pie, Tart

For me, the end of childhood came when the number of candles on my birthday cake no longer reflected my age, around 19 or 20. From then on, each candle came to represent an entire decade.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Birthday, Childhood, Decade, Represent

You can be vegetarian and eat fish. It's your choice, just say: 'I am what I am.' There are no hardcore divisions anymore.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Say, Hardcore, Your, I Am What I Am

Nearly all edible seaweeds - or 'sea vegetables,' as they ought technically to be called - belong to one of three broad groups: green, red and brown algae.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Green, Belong, Nearly, Ought

Scamorza, an Italian curd cheese often labelled 'smoked mozzarella,' melts fantastically well.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Well, Italian, Smoked, Labelled

Some breakfast cereals only come into their own as children's party treats: what are cornflakes and Coco Pops for, if not to clump together with melted chocolate and spoon into a cupcake holder?

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Own, Some, Come, Party

The teaching thing, the one where I have to impart my knowledge, is probably what comes the least naturally to me because I'm an absorber of things.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Teaching, Least, Naturally, Impart

Pomegranate molasses is ubiquitous in Arabic cooking: it's sweet, sour and adds depth.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Cooking, Depth, Ubiquitous, Arabic

I used to have a very unmediated experience of food but, because of the recipe testing, I've lost that now. I can't switch it off even when I'm on holiday.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Testing, Recipe, Very, Switch

Long-, medium- and short-grain rices differ in the amount and type of starch they have.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Medium, Amount, Type, Differ

Leeks, like other oniony things, reach a certain peak when fried. It's the subtle sweetness that suddenly becomes evident and works so well with their creamy texture.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Other, Like, Works, Evident

I like to talk about food, ingredients, and how to adapt recipes. It's a dialogue.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Recipes, How, Like, Ingredients

Dad likes my food, but he probably thinks it's too busy. He is a wonderful cook but only uses three ingredients. My mum rips out my articles and makes my recipes.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Recipes, Mum, Dad, Ingredients

Many ingredients are called 'earthy,' but none comes as close to fitting the bill as buckwheat. I'm mildly obsessed with the stuff.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Obsessed, Bill, None, Ingredients

The only way reliably to gauge the heat of any particular chilli is to cut it in half, so exposing the core and membranes, and to dab the cut surface on your tongue.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Heat, Cut, Half, Gauge

If I must choose between healthy and tasty, I go for the second: having only one life to waste, it might as well be a pleasurable one.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Waste, Might, Having, Between

Conflict is very much a state of mind. If you're not in that state of mind, it doesn't bother you.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Mind, Bother, Very, Conflict

Most men say they can cook pasta, but I think you should find a little bit of an unusual angle on your pasta and make that your signature dish.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Think, Signature, I Think, Angle

Orange blossom water would make a magical addition to your store cupboard.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Orange, Blossom, Magical, Cupboard

The moment to tell my barber I was gay just never came up.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Never, Tell, Came, Gay

Some days, just occasionally, when I've had just one too many chickpeas, drizzles of olive oil or chunks of feta, I crave a return to the sushi-filled joints of Tokyo.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Some, Joints, Chunks, Olive

The combination of olive oil, garlic and lemon juice lifts the spirits in winter.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Oil, Lemon, Garlic, Olive

Greek yogurt with some olive oil stirred in can transform many dishes.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Some, Greek, Yogurt, Olive

My secret with kale is to add lots of sweet or sharp flavours to offset some of that grassy intensity.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Intensity, Add, Lots, Sharp

Brunch, for me, is an extended breakfast that should be enjoyed whenever you have time properly to engage in cooking and eating.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Eating, Extended, Properly, Engage

I like to add something unusual to a dish.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Like, Add, Dish, Unusual

Yoghurt cuts sweetness and richness, tempers spice, and makes a dish sing.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Spice, Richness, Dish, Sweetness

Buttermilk's palate-cleansing tartness is one reason it's used a lot in southern India, where meals often end with a small bowl of the stuff served with plain rice and pickles.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Small, Reason, Southern, Pickles

If the British Isles had an official vegetable, it would have to be the potato.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Potato, Would, Official, Vegetable

Some heat, some spice and plenty of citrus are the building blocks of many North African fish dishes.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Heat, Some, Blocks, Building Blocks

I've been accused of having very long ingredient lists, and I guess there's some truth in that.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Some, Been, Very, Lists

I'm a firm believer that the world should be your oyster when you're cooking. People should open themselves to other cuisines - there are a lot of hidden secrets all over the world.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Other, Over, Firm Believer, Oyster

A food processor, or even one of those small bowls that fit on a stick blender, is a real treasure. No, that's not an overstatement.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Small, Real, Bowls, Blender

Preparing and cooking squid is easier than most fish. The only thing to remember is not to cook it for too long.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Long, Cook, The Only Thing, Preparing

Date syrup is a natural sweetener that has wonderful richness and treacly depth; I drizzle it over semolina porridge.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Date, Over, Richness, Syrup

TV chefs are not responsible for people's consumption of fibre; this is not our job.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Job, Responsible, TV, Consumption

Too many books are full of recipes that aren't doable at home. They are purely aspirational. They are quite frightening, even for me.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Recipes, Purely, Many, Frightening

Like all rice, black rice is great at absorbing flavours, but it's just as happy to act as a satiny bed for a poached egg, say, if you want to keep things simple.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Egg, Bed, Like, Absorb

Chickpeas are one of my favourite things to serve with chorizo or lamb meatballs; they also work brilliantly as the quiet partner in a vibrant alphonso mango salad.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Work, Salad, Vibrant, Lamb

In certain European cuisines, vegetables are cooked a long time. I take the term 'al dente' and use it for vegetables.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Use, European, Cooked, Al

Going out for a meal, especially for young urbanites, is less about socialising over enjoyable food than about enjoying food as a way to socialise.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Young, Over, Going, Enjoyable

One Indian-inspired favourite of mine is mashed potato mixed with lemon juice, breadcrumbs, coriander and chilli, shaped into patties, fried and served with chutney and yoghurt.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Shaped, Mine, Mixed, Juice

It's hard to beat the rough texture of steel-cut oats, with their slight resistance against the teeth.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Texture, Rough, Slight, Oats

I love my garlic press; in fact, it is probably my one true desert island gadget. But I'm happy to put it aside whenever the smell and sweet taste of slow-cooked garlic is called for.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Love, Fact, Gadget, Press

I love the way soft white cheese such as ricotta or the creamier mascarpone reflect the milieu in which an animal has been raised.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Love, Been, Which, Soft

Stereotypical vegetarian food looks gray and brown.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Looks, Vegetarian, Gray, Stereotypical

The most important thing for me is to walk the little alleys of the city, to find the little alcove where someone is cooking something, and just watch them do it. That's my idea of fun.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

City, The Most Important, Fun

Chermoula is a potent North African spice paste that is ideal for smearing on your favourite vegetables for roasting.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Ideal, African, Potent, Paste

If the first bite is with the eye and the second with the nose, some people will never take that third, actual bite if the food in question smells too fishy, fermented or cheesy.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Nose, Some, Actual, Cheesy

The tang of tamarind is a great way both to flavour and lighten up slow-cooked savoury dishes.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Up, Great Way, Dishes, Lighten

Souffles don't deserve their reputation as potential disasters.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Deserve, Disasters, Potential

The unlikely combination of potatoes and pasta does appear in some Italian recipes.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Some, Unlikely, Appear, Combination

Most fish require a short cooking time, but cephalopods are the exception to this fishy rule. As with some cuts of larger land beasts, the longer they're cooked, the more tender they get.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Exception, Tender, Larger, Beasts

Forget mung beans' reputation as healthy yet bland - used right, they soak up loads of flavour.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Reputation, Used, Loads, Beans

I used to love fine dining, but I lost my appetite for it to a degree because sometimes it is too much about the effort and too little about the result.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Love, Sometimes, Dining, To Love

I enjoy meat, but I can do without it.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Enjoy, I Can, Without, Meat

In vast parts of the world, people don't eat meat.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

World, Eat, Parts, Meat

I adore recipes that make use of one cut of meat or a whole animal to create a complex dish, loaded with flavour.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Recipes, Cut, Use, Meat

Marinating chicken in miso adds lots of character to the meat with little work.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Character, Chicken, Lots, Meat

For people who think of chicken as the meat choice of those-who-don't-really-like-meat, brining a bird will be a revelation.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Think, Chicken, Will, Meat

When I cook a meal, I like to serve things one by one and keep them separate. I get that from my father - he's such a purist. Some people even put their desserts on the main plate. It's just wrong.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Some, Separate, Desserts, Some People

Verjuice may not be the easiest thing in the world to find, but you should be able to track some down in good delis and online.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Down, Some, May, Easiest Thing

Buckwheat, like Marmite and durian, is a seriously divisive foodstuff, so it needs a seriously capable defence team if it's ever going to make it on to most people's dinner tables.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Like, Needs, Divisive, Dinner

There's nothing more marvelously wintery than orange root veg mash; some butter is all it needs.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Some, Needs, Butter, Root

Blanching the cloves removes the harsh and bitter bite of raw garlic.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Bite, Garlic, Harsh, Raw

Raw fish suppers admittedly require a little planning, not least in the acquisition of the main ingredient.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Fish, Planning, Ingredient, Raw

Cobnuts have a fresher flavour than any other nut I know of and go very well with autumnal fruit and light cheeses.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Fruit, Other, Very, Fresher

I have had to come to terms with the fact that I am hooked on Twitter. Not good.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

I Am, Fact, Twitter, Hooked

Panko are the elite of the breadcrumb world because they stay so crunchy and light.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Light, World, Because, Elite

I always pan-fry sprouts - it retains texture and enhances flavour.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Always, Texture, Enhances

Pasta with melted cheese is the one thing I could eat over and over again.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Pasta, Over, Could, Cheese

Taleggio is the perfect cheese to melt over a warm dish.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Warm, Melt, Over, Cheese

I love dishes that feature the various shades of a single colour, making you stop to check what's in there.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Love, Shades, Making, Feature

One of the troubles with food is that people take themselves too seriously. This is why I'm very happy for people to change my recipes, alter them, replace one ingredient for another.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Recipes, Very, Ingredient, Troubles

I have been cooking with preserved lemon for years, using it left, right and centre, but I am still far from reaching my limit.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Been, Still, Using, Preserved

I tend to mean what I say: in life, generally; in recipes, certainly.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Recipes, Tend, Certainly, Generally

I do support people eating more vegetables. It's a good thing to do.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Eating, More, A Good Thing, Good Thing

I don't do guilt. Whatever I do, I do it happily.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Guilt, Whatever, Happily

Sea spaghetti looks like dark fettuccine and has a similar texture - you can get it in health food stores or online.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Like, Spaghetti, Similar, Stores

The way to entice people into cooking is to cook delicious things.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Cooking, Cook, Things, Delicious

Food was always important in my family, but I didn't think of it as a vocation until a later point in life.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Food, Think, Always, Vocation

There are many reasons I feel at home in the U.K., but if I were asked to pinpoint the moment I knew I'd arrived, it might well be when I realised the British shared my love of fritters.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Love, Reasons, Shared, Asked

Tagliatelle comes from the word tagliare, meaning 'to cut.' Tagliolini are simply thinly cut tagliatelle.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Word, Cut, Thinly, Meaning

When I was a kid, there was always food to be had on the street in Jerusalem, but anything above a falafel stand was mediocre or worse.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Kid, Always, Had, Jerusalem

Small okra pods have a much more attractive texture than large ones, which, when cooked, can be gloopy, stringy and totally spoil a dish.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Small, Attractive, Which, Cooked

My dad makes food with very few delicate flavours.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Very, Makes, Dad, Delicate

I can't stand recipes that don't have background.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Stand, Recipes, Background

These days, meals are more open to personal preferences. People like to serve themselves.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

More, Like, Preferences, Meals

Recipes can be incredibly vague where chillies are concerned.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Recipes, Vague, Concerned, Incredibly

Beetroot is a great salad ingredient, especially when still warm; the colour ain't bad, either.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Warm, Still, Either, Colour

There is nothing like a good old recipe. If it has lasted, then it is good.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Nothing, Old, Like, Lasted

I have yet to meet a carnivore who doesn't love a sausage roll.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Love, Sausage, Roll, Meet

Plums are a good substitute for gooseberries.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Good, Substitute

A great ratatouille is one in which the vegetables interact with each other but are still discernible from each other. The trick is to cook them just right: not over, not under.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Other, Over, Which, Vegetables

Mackerel is sustainable and healthy.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Sustainable, Healthy

If you can't taste an ingredient, you have to ask yourself why it is there.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Why, Taste, Ingredient, Ask

Gooseberries aren't just for creamy desserts and pies.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Just, Desserts

It's well worth making your own harissa, but there are some very good commercial varieties.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Some, Making, Very, Commercial

Tel Aviv is the most exciting place to eat in Israel.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Eat, Exciting, Most, Israel

If I am honest, my food is actually quite far removed from both the food of my mother and my father.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Father, Food, Am, Honest

I just don't tend to cook eggplant at home.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Home, Cook, Just, Tend

Kirmizi biber has a sweet aroma and can vary in spiciness.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Sweet, Vary

Seasonality in winter doesn't have to mean sleep-inducing, stew-like, starchy casseroles.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Mean, Winter

Vegetarians in general don't like me.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Me, Like, General

Food can bring people together in a way nothing else could.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Nothing, Could, Else, Bring

When it comes to the battle of the molluscs, cephalopods win tentacles down.

- Yotam Ottolenghi

Win, Down, Battle

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