October
08
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A Taste of Spanish Sunshine for Christmas: Omar Allibhoy’s Spanish Made Easy
Omar Allibhoy, often dubbed the cheerleader of Spanish home cooking—returns with a crowd-pleasing promise in the title: make Spanish food simple, fast and full of flavour. This bright, no-fuss cookbook focuses on the dishes Spaniards actually cook on weeknights and for relaxed gatherings: think skewered pickles to open the appetite, comforting stews for colder evenings, and a generous chapter of Omar’s famous paellas (no lab-grade equipment required).
The tone is breezy and encouraging, with clear step-by-step guidance that demystifies staples like sofrito and shows how to get big, sunny flavours from a short shopping list. It’s the kind of book that teaches principles as much as recipes—how to balance sweet paprika with sherry vinegar, or coax smokiness without a wood fire—so confident cooks can riff, and beginners won’t feel lost.
Design-wise, it’s gift-ready: unfussy layouts, inviting photography, and recipes that stay on one page whenever possible (a small thing that makes weeknight cooking calmer). Portions are sensibly generous, and there’s an emphasis on pantry-friendly ingredients you’ll use again.
Standouts include speedy aperitivos (those skewered pickles are party gold), warming one-pots and stews built on a flavour-first base, and accessible paellas that deliver the celebratory feel without faff, ideal for holiday tables.
If you’re hunting for restaurant-level cheffy projects, look elsewhere. This is about reliable, vibrant home cooking, loud on flavour, light on fuss.
A sunshine-shot addition to any kitchen shelf and a savvy Christmas gift for anyone who loves bold flavours and convivial cooking. Easy to use, easy to love—and guaranteed to spark a paella night before New Year’s.
Available from Waterstones for £22.00
Heart London Magazine 