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The Roasting Tin: Simple One Dish Dinners
'The Roasting Tin has earned a place in kitchens up and down the country' Nigella Lawson 'A brilliant buy for anyone who wants to cook with minimal effort, equipment or cooking knowledge' IndependentCook quick and easy delicious meals to enjoy at home this winter. Perfect for busy people who want to make simple but satisfying home cooked dinners.The Roasting Tin has recipes for 75 delicious one-dish dinners ranging from chicken traybakes to supergrains.The concept is easy ingredients, a few minutes prep, and let the oven do the work. Each chapter also includes a helpful infographic for how to build you own roasting tin dinner using whatever is in your fridge tonight.These recipes are for anyone who wants to eat nutritious food made from scratch.'I love Rukmini Iyer's books' Judy Murray, OBE INDIA EXPRESS, THE NEW COOK BOOK FROM THE MILLION-COPY SELLING AUTHOR OF THE ROASTING TIN SERIES, IS OUT NOW.
314 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 6, 2017
479 people are currently reading
901 people want to read
About the author
Rukmini Iyer
51 books39 followersRukmini is a food stylist and food writer, who enjoys recipe developing and styling for editorial, advertising and commercial clients. Her cookbooks include 'The Roasting Tin' and 'The Green Roasting Tin', and her next cookbook 'The Quick Roasting Tin' is out with Square Peg in June 2019.
Rukmini left the law to retrain as a chef, working for Tom Kitchin at 'The Kitchin' in Edinburgh before moving to London to do what she loves best - food styling, recipe writing and development. Her first two cookbooks, with Parragon and Quadrille, are due out early in 2016. When she's not styling and writing, Rukmini enjoys planning for an extensive organic kitchen garden from the confines of her London balcony, complete with chickens.
Rukmini left the law to retrain as a chef, working for Tom Kitchin at 'The Kitchin' in Edinburgh before moving to London to do what she loves best - food styling, recipe writing and development. Her first two cookbooks, with Parragon and Quadrille, are due out early in 2016. When she's not styling and writing, Rukmini enjoys planning for an extensive organic kitchen garden from the confines of her London balcony, complete with chickens.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
April 12, 2017
Probably one of the best cookbooks I've bought in the past few years. I love cooking, and I'm not afraid of complex recipes, but during the week you just want something you can throw in the oven. My partner and I have already made three dinners from this book and every single one of them has been tasty, quick to make and delicious. The book does what it says on the front cover: every recipe involves nothing more than cutting something up and putting it in the oven. This is perfect for busy people who want to eat good, tasty food with as little fuss as possible. Amazing.
July 7, 2019
A cookbook that just works. The recipes are tasty and dead easy to create. I don't think we've had a duff dish. In fact, I've been positively evangelical about this to friends - one of the best cookbooks I've used in recent years.
April 12, 2019
It feels weird to say "I read a cookbook" but I legit read this cover to cover and now I plan on buying it. I made some delicious meals, plus it has guides for roasting meats, veggies, and grains. Great for making meals for the week or something fancy to impress folks that isn't too complicated. also- WHO DOESN'T LOVE PHOTOS OF FOOD??? 5 stars.
February 20, 2018
I love this book. I've had it for three days, cooked three completely different meals (chicken, pork and salmon) and all have been easy and delicious. Can't wait to try some more of the recipes.
Update - I am now on my second copy of this book as my first one has been *borrowed* by my 67 year old dad who thinks it is the best thing ever...he's not been cooking that long and loves that the recipes are even doable for him.
Two work colleagues have also bought copies after borrowing mine. It's a revolution!
Update - I am now on my second copy of this book as my first one has been *borrowed* by my 67 year old dad who thinks it is the best thing ever...he's not been cooking that long and loves that the recipes are even doable for him.
Two work colleagues have also bought copies after borrowing mine. It's a revolution!
August 27, 2025
I liked the way this book was organised (fast recipes at the front of each section), and a few of the recipes were great (the chipotle chicken wings, the ras el hanout mushrooms with haloumi, the salmon and broccoli recipe, the filipino-style pork roast, and the date & walnut stuffed apples). We used this book through winter, when cooking meals in an oven also has the benefit of warming our house!
Unfortunately, the pictures of the recipes are often inaccurate and this became irritating the more I used the book. Some recipes contained different ingredients to what was in the picture (the lime and ginger broiled prawns had no mushrooms!) and some contained vastly different volumes than what was in the recipes (the chicken with squash had about double the quantity of chicken). More than once I had chosen a container to cook the recipe in, and as the tray filled, I had to move to a larger tray. This became really annoying to the point that I no longer trusted whether the pictures really represented the meals.
The recipes with grains also required much more cooking time than listed, and did not look nearly as appetising as in the pictures, because everything was essentially steamed rather than roasted.
If you're not bothered by those two issues, and want an introduction to oven-based meals, it's a good place to start.
Unfortunately, the pictures of the recipes are often inaccurate and this became irritating the more I used the book. Some recipes contained different ingredients to what was in the picture (the lime and ginger broiled prawns had no mushrooms!) and some contained vastly different volumes than what was in the recipes (the chicken with squash had about double the quantity of chicken). More than once I had chosen a container to cook the recipe in, and as the tray filled, I had to move to a larger tray. This became really annoying to the point that I no longer trusted whether the pictures really represented the meals.
The recipes with grains also required much more cooking time than listed, and did not look nearly as appetising as in the pictures, because everything was essentially steamed rather than roasted.
If you're not bothered by those two issues, and want an introduction to oven-based meals, it's a good place to start.
February 12, 2020
Absolutely brilliant for weekday dinners. Rather than taking a box out of the freezer and slinging the contents into the oven, I am cooking with fresh ingredients again most evenings. An excellent working family’s cookbook that I highly recommend.
May 16, 2018
Though none of the recipes stood out to me, this would be a great jumping off point for someone to try sheet pan meals and then come up with their own recipes.
February 10, 2020
This has been my favourite new cookbook from the last several years! We’ve tried many of the recipes now, and are just slowly working our way through the whole thing — every one of them has been easy, delicious, and just such a delight. Five enthusiastic, very satisfied stars.
May 6, 2018
Awesome cookery book - this is my kind of meal preparation, everything in one tin at one temperature, pop it all in the oven then nip off to do a sudoku while it all cooks.
March 26, 2019
This is a brilliant cookbook which features easy to follow, fuss free recipes that are not prescriptive; if you don’t have one ingredient to hand you can check the options and substitute for something you have without need to to alter the rest of the elements.
There is a good variety of meals to appeal to most palates, I’m really fussy but with the way this boom is presented I can just swap in and out the things I don’t like. It’s a really good guide for showing you what flavours go together.
I need the others in this series, especially the vegetarian one.
There is a good variety of meals to appeal to most palates, I’m really fussy but with the way this boom is presented I can just swap in and out the things I don’t like. It’s a really good guide for showing you what flavours go together.
I need the others in this series, especially the vegetarian one.
November 29, 2021
Iyer has included pages of options to combine ingredients before each section, which take this from ‘just’ a recipe book to also design your own recipes. I already have favourites to refer to in this book too. (My other favourite roasting tin book in this series is The Quick Roasting Tin.
April 23, 2018
Look, these recipes look delicious. I'm probably not going to make of them because my family and I hate most ingredients in general, but they look tasty as all hell.
October 5, 2019
Testing this book as a gift for my newbie-cook partner and have been reaping the benefits! The recipes are all simple and good, very un-intimidating for a newcomer to the kitchen. I think it will go over well!
The best, the absolute best thing about this book is the layout. I read a LOT of cookbooks and have definite opinions on the stupid things publishers do that make the books themselves hard to use even if the recipes are good.
This has a nice, flat-bound, hardback spine that means the pages lie flat easily and the spine won’t crack quickly. The font is big and easy-to-read for long-distance peering. The (bright! Gorgeous!) illustrations and photos do not interfere with the text. They are also there for almost every recipe - if you know anything about the economics of cookbooks, know that this team decided on fewer, top-notch recipes in order to include the photos that make this book so visually distinctive and helpful. Thank you! The introductions to the recipes are small and unobtrusive but charming. The layout is also *consistent* from recipe to recipe, not always a given.
Lastly, this is a book that will teach a cook to use the oven. Each chapter begins with a chart and a table of suggested ingredients, temperatures, and cook times for an incredible variety of oven dishes. If you don’t like or can’t find an ingredient in a recipe as written, just check the front of the chapter and sub it out for something else. Just wonderful.
They should use this book in cookbook-design masterclasses.
The best, the absolute best thing about this book is the layout. I read a LOT of cookbooks and have definite opinions on the stupid things publishers do that make the books themselves hard to use even if the recipes are good.
This has a nice, flat-bound, hardback spine that means the pages lie flat easily and the spine won’t crack quickly. The font is big and easy-to-read for long-distance peering. The (bright! Gorgeous!) illustrations and photos do not interfere with the text. They are also there for almost every recipe - if you know anything about the economics of cookbooks, know that this team decided on fewer, top-notch recipes in order to include the photos that make this book so visually distinctive and helpful. Thank you! The introductions to the recipes are small and unobtrusive but charming. The layout is also *consistent* from recipe to recipe, not always a given.
Lastly, this is a book that will teach a cook to use the oven. Each chapter begins with a chart and a table of suggested ingredients, temperatures, and cook times for an incredible variety of oven dishes. If you don’t like or can’t find an ingredient in a recipe as written, just check the front of the chapter and sub it out for something else. Just wonderful.
They should use this book in cookbook-design masterclasses.
February 12, 2020
This book is awesome! The layout is fun and bright. There are pictures for most (but not all - I can always take more) recipes. The ingredients are generally things you'd have handy or could easily get. And prep is easy, and mostly hand's off. It's perfect for people who want to eat dinner at home, but are too busy or don't feel like cooking.
Basically, you're going to be chopping some vegetables, layering on a protein, maybe making a sauce and adding seasoning. Then you lay everything out on a sheet pan and let your oven do the rest. Most of these are weekday recipes, but there are a few special occasion treats in here (a lamb recipe that takes 3 hours to cook). In general, the prep times were short (and accurate). While there isn't any nutritional information given, most of these are relatively healthy. If that information had been provided, this would be a five star review.
Did I mention most recipes are just one page long? There are some really creative desert and fruit recipes, and for me the chicken chapter was a highlight - it's a protein my family can agree on, and I really need new ways to make it.
If you're in charge of getting dinner on the table for your family, or a group of people (most recipes serve 4-6, but you could halve them), and would prefer to be doing something else than actively cooking, this book is for you.
Basically, you're going to be chopping some vegetables, layering on a protein, maybe making a sauce and adding seasoning. Then you lay everything out on a sheet pan and let your oven do the rest. Most of these are weekday recipes, but there are a few special occasion treats in here (a lamb recipe that takes 3 hours to cook). In general, the prep times were short (and accurate). While there isn't any nutritional information given, most of these are relatively healthy. If that information had been provided, this would be a five star review.
Did I mention most recipes are just one page long? There are some really creative desert and fruit recipes, and for me the chicken chapter was a highlight - it's a protein my family can agree on, and I really need new ways to make it.
If you're in charge of getting dinner on the table for your family, or a group of people (most recipes serve 4-6, but you could halve them), and would prefer to be doing something else than actively cooking, this book is for you.
August 20, 2024
Reading this will get you tadtbust long for flavors... and if when you try - sometimes you get suprised by the real reality and foodtast as well as the structure in your mouth off these dinners. Never mind the good and sunny days days... the drowly days will get sunny with spices and flavors like these. But sometimes your imaginaire flavors are more intens, creating associotions that you feel exiting or happy. It will get you thinking about combination you yourself can create magicaly, when you choose your own favoritis and the time it will take... thisbook has answers to that question of various colourfull pages... so you can create your home sweet family favorites... . Some may say that mens the book is not enouf- i say: if it gets you thinking of more ways... with your own authenticy - it is more a friendly friend in the kitchen underlining your own potential in creating magical foods.
August 24, 2024
I hadn’t heard of this cookbook before receiving it as a gift, but it has quickly become one of the most used in our kitchen. Packed with simple and straightforward recipes, we’ve enjoyed trying out a whole range of different dishes, with the smoky sausage and sweet potato traybake and crispy gnocchi fast becoming family favourites. In particular I really love the clear infographics and instructions at the start of each chapter. Missing an ingredient? No problem – simply check out these sections for a substitute and edit your times and temperatures per the guidance. It’s also a great way to give you the freedom and confidence to experiment with creating your own dishes as you go. I’ll now definitely be checking out the other books in the series to discover more!
November 12, 2020
"The Roasting Tin is a deliciously simple concept: fresh, easy ingredients, five minutes prep and let the oven do the work"
Yep, as I said, I read the other book, too. I think this one was actually the first to be published.
Anyway, same format of the green roasting tin, another set of easy to make and fuss-free recipes, this time including meat and fish. I must say I slightly prefer the vegetarian option, but that's only because I love batch cooking and feel like the other set of recipes is more suitable for that.
Definitely recommended, especially if you are looking for easy and quick new ideas!
Yep, as I said, I read the other book, too. I think this one was actually the first to be published.
Anyway, same format of the green roasting tin, another set of easy to make and fuss-free recipes, this time including meat and fish. I must say I slightly prefer the vegetarian option, but that's only because I love batch cooking and feel like the other set of recipes is more suitable for that.
Definitely recommended, especially if you are looking for easy and quick new ideas!
September 14, 2025
I’m just trying to learn to cook more vegetables in a different way than my life-long cooking style.
The roasting tin method is really easy, conveniente, quick and with very little washing up in the end. Some recipes look very unappealing in the photographs of the book though, although the ones I already tried straight following the instructions or with my own modifications, were very delicious.
I ended buying all three roasting tin series books, and I like them all, rotating vegetarian/vegan, fish & meat menus during the week.
My main criticism is a somewhat repetitious use of ingredients and dressings/sauces
The roasting tin method is really easy, conveniente, quick and with very little washing up in the end. Some recipes look very unappealing in the photographs of the book though, although the ones I already tried straight following the instructions or with my own modifications, were very delicious.
I ended buying all three roasting tin series books, and I like them all, rotating vegetarian/vegan, fish & meat menus during the week.
My main criticism is a somewhat repetitious use of ingredients and dressings/sauces
February 5, 2024
A really fun book to cook through! The vegetable dishes are all excellent and the chicken dishes are very easy but impressive. Some of the grain based ones didn’t work out for me though.
Finally, I made the mistake of cooking through this book during the height of a southern hemisphere summer, which I don’t recommend as I ended up drenched in sweat and boiling hot as I wrestled baking trays in and out of ovens.
Finally, I made the mistake of cooking through this book during the height of a southern hemisphere summer, which I don’t recommend as I ended up drenched in sweat and boiling hot as I wrestled baking trays in and out of ovens.
October 24, 2022
This cookbook for me did not do it.
The two stars are for the photography.
Very humble-beautiful. Think aesthetic of "Real Simple" magazine.
Although beautiful, the pictures are of:
1. Food arranged and not roasted.
2. Unroasted food arranged on top of roasted food.
3. Roasted food
NOTE: 95% of all recipes contain red onions.
The two stars are for the photography.
Very humble-beautiful. Think aesthetic of "Real Simple" magazine.
Although beautiful, the pictures are of:
1. Food arranged and not roasted.
2. Unroasted food arranged on top of roasted food.
3. Roasted food
NOTE: 95% of all recipes contain red onions.
March 16, 2025
The book is visually stunning, with gorgeous photography that makes every dish look very appetizing.
The recipes are generally simple. While ingredient conversions could be tricky for beginners, the recipes themselves are generally accessible, with a few creative twists that surprised me. I was intrigued by the unique flavor pairings, like beet risotto or mackerel and rhubarb.
The recipes are generally simple. While ingredient conversions could be tricky for beginners, the recipes themselves are generally accessible, with a few creative twists that surprised me. I was intrigued by the unique flavor pairings, like beet risotto or mackerel and rhubarb.
November 11, 2019
Great read - however, it’s a shame that the author has decided not to include the nutritional information beside each recipe as a lot of other cookbooks on the market do. I feel this is a very handy addition so am always disappointed when this is missing.
October 24, 2020
Doesn't do anything ground baking but does collate a lot of information that I could probably Google in one place - where I'm probably more likely to remember to access it. It's also given me the inspiration I was looking for to make better use of my oven.
May 16, 2021
The roasting is really easy. I'm not sure how much the specific recipes were what I was looking for, but the general knowledge about how to roast various things and how to put together roasted meals was extremely useful.
November 6, 2021
Healthy Simplicity
Scared of ‘cook from scratch’? Buy this book and don’t be. As well as easy no nonsense recipes it includes charts to enable you to pick and mix your own ideas or store cupboard ingredients. Reminds me of the Olive Branch Cookbook from Ludlow in the late 90’s.
Scared of ‘cook from scratch’? Buy this book and don’t be. As well as easy no nonsense recipes it includes charts to enable you to pick and mix your own ideas or store cupboard ingredients. Reminds me of the Olive Branch Cookbook from Ludlow in the late 90’s.
July 2, 2022
This is a beautiful cook book.
There's lots of recipes that just take one pan. There's a lot more meat than I'd eat in this book so it wasn't quite what I was looking for, but the pictures are nice and the recipes are pretty clear.
Overall a nice find.
There's lots of recipes that just take one pan. There's a lot more meat than I'd eat in this book so it wasn't quite what I was looking for, but the pictures are nice and the recipes are pretty clear.
Overall a nice find.
July 18, 2023
Great recipes, lovely pictures. Already have several favourites. I really like the charts with each chapter suggesting alternative ingredients. I also like the fact that the photos of the tins are realistic … not looking pristine!
June 27, 2018
I tried a number of these recipes and was very satisfied.
August 8, 2018
Fantastic
Simple to follow recipes with clear illustrations.
Such a range of ideas. Every meal so far has been a great success.
No nonsense just delicious!
Simple to follow recipes with clear illustrations.
Such a range of ideas. Every meal so far has been a great success.
No nonsense just delicious!
December 19, 2018
I love the concept of this book, which offers lots of recipes but also encourages mixing & matching. Everything looks so yummy, too, and the photography is great.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews