Nigel Slater's Simple Cooking
Nigel Slater explores classic food marriages and the principles behind them, discovering valuable ground rules that will encourage viewers to create their own mouth-watering combinations at home. As the intuitive chef experiments with pairings, he also goes out and about, meeting people who have a passion and expertise for some favorite food pairings.
- 2011-2011
- 1 season
- Documentary
Nigel Slater explores classic food marriages and the principles behind them, discovering valuable ground rules that will encourage viewers to create their own mouth-watering combinations at home. As the intuitive chef experiments with pairings, he also goes out and about, meeting people who have a passion and expertise for some favorite food pairings.
Season 1 Episode Guide
8 Episodes 2011
Episode 1
Sweet & Sour
29 mins
Nigel Slater explores one of the oldest and most successful culinary pairings in the kitchen - sweet and sour. From pork chops and gooseberry to rhubarb with caramel sauce, Nigel cooks five very different dishes that all work for the same reason: the delicious marriage of something sweet with something sour.
Episode 2
Surf & Turf
Nigel Slater continues to explore successful food marriages in the kitchen, with the spotlight this time on surf and turf - the classic culinary pairing of fish and meat. From mouth-watering recipes like trout with Parma ham and lamb shanks with anchovy, Nigel shares his all-time surf and turf favorites.
Episode 3
Spicy & Cool
29 mins
Nigel Slater looks at how spicy flavors work so well with something cooling. From a classic chicken curry to a spicy tomato stew with yogurt, Nigel shares some of his favorite dishes, and to prove just how versatile this food pairing is, he cooks up a new version of a traditional pudding. Nigel also travels to Bristol to meet a man who is passionate about pepper.
Episode 4
Soft & Crisp
29 mins
Nigel Slater continues his exploration of brilliant culinary combinations, this time turning his attention to texture. Success in the kitchen is not just about tastes and flavors; contrasting textures can really lift a dish. He makes a classic savory pie with a puff pastry crust, and a reworking of his favorite childhood pudding: poached pears.
Episode 5
Sugar & Spice
29 mins
Nigel Slater unravels the magic behind the combination of sugar and spice, revealing why this exotic marriage works so well in the kitchen. Alongside a classic cinnamon, ginger and plum cake, Nigel demonstrates some unexpected recipes that also have sugar and spice at their heart - such as sticky ribs, and a spicy lentil stew with caramelized onions.
Episode 6
Born & Bred
28 mins
Nigel Slater looks to mother nature for inspiration in this episode of the cookery series, as he explores dishes that work thanks to their marriage of ingredients that have been born and bred together. Whether it is flavors that share the same season or the same landscape, Nigel shows us how we can use the principle of born and bred to transform our everyday suppers.
Episode 7
Hot & Cold
29 mins
Nigel Slater looks at the role of contrasting temperatures in this program, to show us how the marriage of something hot with something cold can turn a good dish into something really special. From a simple twist on the classic hot apple pie and ice cream, to a chip shop-inspired dish of sizzling fish with a lime and chili 'vinegar', Nigel helps us to understand the role of hot and cold in cooking.
Episode 8
Weird & Wonderful
29 mins
Nigel shows us that the most unlikely combinations of ingredients can often be the best, as he explores unusual ingredients and quirky twists on classic recipes. Newcomers to black pudding will be tempted by Nigel's alternative sausage roll, while lovers of the traditional bread and butter dessert will love Nigel's version, made with exotic spices and caramelized bananas.