Hob: A simpler way to cook - 80 stove-top recipes for everyone

by Amy Sheppard

Short of time, short of money? Entertaining friends or looking for a perfect mid-week meal? Discover 80 great-tasting, time-saving recipes with HOB!

Sick of endless cooking for an uninspiring meal? Or how about that 15 minute wait to pre-heat the oven? Life is complicated enough, so say hello to a new kind of cookbook that cuts out all the fuss and delivers on flavour.

The concept is simple. 80 great-tasting, time-saving recipes, all of which are cooked on the hob, most in one pan and guaranteed to have food on the table in under 30 minutes. And it doesn't matter what type of hob you have – the only temperature directions are low, medium or high. You know your hob and how fast or slow it cooks, and these recipes will give you the flexibility to cook more intuitively.

With HOB , expect simple budget-friendly ingredients and tips on meal planning and quick fixes – everything you need to get dinner served that bit quicker. Whether you're simmering, sautéing or frying, recipes include crowd pleasers such as chorizo marinara and vegetable katsu curry ; budget wonders like spicy bean burgers and red pesto koftas ; and HOB treats such as pan-share blackberry crumble and apple and cinnamon rolls .

From busy families to budget-conscious students, this is a cookbook for anyone who wants to dial down the effort and turn up the flavour!

Genres: Nonfiction, Food, Cookbooks

240 pages, Hardcover

Published September 14, 2021

Reviews

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

A selection of quick and easy recipes with a list of ingredients, easy to follow instructions and photographs of the finished meal.
Lots of choices to choose from to suit even the fussiest member of the family.
I think this book will become a favourite in my kitchen.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Tania · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my kind of cookbook; fuss free. The recipes are easy to follow and the ingredients easy to source, a lot of them are my storyboard stand-bys anyway. I tend to cook on the job for the most part so I already have the equipment required, which in most cases is just one pan, sometimes two. I think it will help people less confident to become more intuitive cooks as often there will be suggestions for ingredients to replace one she has I'm her recipes, usually with vegetables, when it comes to vegetables in a recipe, I'll often replace them with what I happen to have I'm the fridge at the time, so again, this suits me. I'm looking forward to trying more of these recipes,

*Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a review copy in exchange for an honest opinion*

[Jenn L · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book filled with recipes cooked only on the hob!
I love this book; super simple instructions, easy to find ingredients, and you only need a pan or two. There is such a wide range of recipes, from speedy midweek meals to slow-cooked stews to desserts.

Overall, a great book filled with some inspiring ideas that I can't wait to try.

[I received a copy of this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review]

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a busy mum I'm always looking for ways to make quicker healthier meals and this book ticked all the boxes! I didn't need to buy any extra utensils or fancy pans, I could use what I already had. Never before had I realised you could make so many meals using just the hob, and with 80 recipes to choose from there was plenty of choice for any fussy eaters. With choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner there was lots to try and as a family we've decided to each choose a recipe we each want to try, and with the simple instructions the boys can help prep and cook. I found this well thought out with a budget wonders chapter, which I know will help many families and give some variations to oven cooked dinners.

Huge thank-you to Amy Sheppard and Bloomsbury Publishing PLC for allowing me to review this unique cookbook.

[Alison Starnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a reasonably proficient cook, anything that makes the process easier is very welcome by me, so this book of easy to produce one-pot (occasionally two) meals from Amy Sheppard has given me plenty to consider.

I like the idea of using the oven less and having more control over the cooking process, as well as trying out some new recipes and saving time - important for me as I have a busy job.

The book is well laid out with plenty of illustrations and explanations from Amy, including some swap-outs and tips along the way. I particularly like the mix of meat and veggie dishes, so there is something for all palates, and a dessert section from which the chocolate brownies will definitely be on the to-make list!

For anyone who has a young family, active lifestyle, busy job, or a combination of all three, this book definitely needs to be on your kitchen shelf. The included meal planner templates are also very welcome and can be tweaked to suit your own needs.

I was sent an advance review copy of this book by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, in return for an honest appraisal.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great cookbook I am so glad I discovered this as I’m already about to try the deviled crumpets with poached egg who knew. I love the simplicity of the ideas but also the variety as I am really struggling especially with different lunch ideas now myself and my husband work from home but this book has filled my head with ideas and I can’t wait to start making some of these dishes plus I don’t even need my oven just the hob.

[JCS · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great selection of eighty easy to prepare meals. Very useful for busy families on a budget. There is advice at the beginning on using meal plans, kitchen kit and useful store cupboard ingredients. Each recipe includes a photo, how many it feeds and cooking time. Lots of tempting recipes, both savoury and sweet. Thank you to Amy Sheppard, Net galley and Bloomsbury Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Laura]

Book reviews on www.snazzybooks.com

Hob is a great idea for busy people – a cookbook full of recipes that can be created using just the hob, therefore avoiding the legnthiness (and often added ‘faff’) of using the oven.

Firstly, the design is pleasing and easy to read. From what I can tell there’s an image of every recipe, which is such a bonus in a recipe book – I really like to visualise a recipe before deciding whether to cook it (shallow of me perhaps? But still true…) and they’re lovely images too. The book is clearly laid out and has a really modern feel to it.

Now the most important bit – the recipes! As someone who is 90% veggie (but loves fish!), I was a bit worried it would all be meat-heavy dishes, and although there are indeed a lot of meaty recipes, there are also plenty of vegetarian options too. Plus a lot of the other recipes seem like the meat can easily be substituted for vegetarian or fish alternatives.

There’s also a good range of recipe ‘types’ – for example, one section focuses on lunch & brunch, one on ‘quick dinners’ and another on longer ‘weekend food’ plus a ‘budget wonders’ section – plus more!

I’ve already tried the tuna quesadillas which were really tasty and so easy (a simple recipe but I have to admit I wouldn’t have thought to put some of the ingredients together without this book inspiring me), the halloumi hash and the ‘roasted’ cauliflower mac & cheese. I also have many, many more on my list ‘to cook’ too – for me, the mark of a good recipe book is how many recipes I flag when I first flick through it – there were plenty added to my list from this one I’m pleased to say! Some of the highlights I am excited to try include: lasagne(ish), cheesy crumb fish pie, Stilton spaghetti with walnut toastie bits, and the butternut saag – plus many more too!

I’d definitely recommend this book for anyone who wants a range of recipe ‘difficulties’ available to them. None of the recipes look hugely difficult but they do range from those which look mega-simple to a little more involved. None of the recipes involve a ridiculously complex ingredient list or specialist equipment, so it’s a great recipe book for someone who doesn’t want to spend hours in the kitchen but still wants tasty, varied dishes and some general food inspiration!

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fabulous book full of quick and easy recipes. The author has brought together so many different ideas as well as some new ones. The recipes are laid out in an easy to read way and the few I have tried have been tasty, quick and easy.

Especially in the summer or warmer months, I don't want to be spending long in the kitchen cooking, this book definitely helps me with that. There are various sections in this book from the different breakfast, lunch and teatime recipes as well as the sweet section. I do love puddings and desserts and this book has some amazing stovetop ones.

As well as the recipe sections, there are also help, advice, tips and budgeting sections. These are great for helping with menu planning and for keeping the costs down. Often recipe books call for an elaborate range of ingredients, but not this one. There are some wonderful cheap and cheerful dishes that are very yummy.

I know it is often the case with recipe books, that they are bought, poured over and looked through and maybe the odd recipe tried. Not so with this one, there are many recipes that will become firm favourites and regular meals as well as some that I may persuade my finicky husband to try.

This is a great book for families as well as couples, easy to follow recipes, additional tips and advice and all laid out well. I really enjoyed reading this book and of course trying some of the recipes. If you like cooking, but are after new ideas then you really should consider this book. I would definitely recommend it.

[Tracy Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did you know you can make pizza in a frying pan in fifteen minutes? Nope, me either but thanks to Amy Sheppard this is now a thing in our house and with no yeast there is absolutely no faffing! There are both new and familiar sounding recipes in this book, all designed for ease and simplicity, and very few need more than one pan.

The choices included in the 80 different recipes are excellent, from brunch ideas which are speedy and satisfying through hearty main meals and on to puddings and cakes which may take the one pan a little too far for use on a regular basis but look fun to try at least once. There are very few ingredients which can't be picked up at the supermarket and even the fussiest eater is sure to find thing that appeals.

Home cooked meals are a treat in themselves but if shoving everything in a slow-cooker at the crack of dawn isn't quite your thing and you don't want to spend hours in the kitchen after a long day then this is definitely a book to try.  Most of the recipes take no longer than half an hour and there is a photo of each to keep you on the right track.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. In our busy lives quick, healthy and hearty offerings are definite pluses in a cookbook and this has all that and more.

[Papergirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the cookbook every student and busy individual needs.

What I loved most about this book is that the majority of the recipes were less than 30 minutes of cook time so once all the prep is taken care of, you have a rough idea of how long it will be before your meal reaches the table. What's more, the prep time is minimal because the steps and ingredients included in the recipes are so few yet produce these amazing tasting meals. The book is a real example of where less is more.

The book starts off with a good description of the instruments and ingredients you may want to ensure you have on hand at all times as staples and then it launches into some rather simplistic recipes. I say simplistic because they are the equivalent of a toasted sandwich and yet the recipes remain simple even when you are making curries and noodle dishes, and a range of exotic meals I'd never heard of before. As always, I could've done with a longer sweet section but there was a good supply of desserts to satisfy most.

5/5 stars for the production of a beautifully illustrated, well presented and useful tool that would do wonders for the modern family, single person, or student. Fuller flavour at little cost and little time.

[Maureen Myant · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cookery book is ideal if you don't have an oven or if perhaps you go on holiday and find that your accommodation only has a hob. It happened to me once and believe me it's no fun trying to adapt what you thought you were going to cook in an oven to a three ring hob. Like all good cookery books it starts with a section on what equipment and store cupboard staples you need. This doesn't vary much from other cookery books but it's good to see that there's no need for fancy expensive equipment so this would be a good book to give to someone going to live away from home for the first time, a student perhaps. There's plenty of variety in the recipes, lots of pasta and lots of spicy food so plenty of choice for everyone except perhaps vegans and vegetarians although there were some suitable for them. For me, the stand out recipes (the ones I can't wait to try) were the Tuscan chicken, lasagne (I know! Stove top lasagne!), butter chicken and hunters' stew. Most of the recipes look easy. Overall, a good addition to most people's kitchen. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well I think this fab cookbook has just become one of my favourites! Personally, I prefer cooking on the hob/stove, so this cookbook is a must-have for me. It is full of LOTS of meals that have clear instructions and are accompanied by a picture. They are pretty much made using ingredients that you will find in your cupboard, alongside meat/veg most people would usually by weekly,

I am keen to try the cinnamon and apple rolls and look forward to making them this weekend 😋

At the beginning of the book it details what kitchen equipment that is needed and why, along with a general introduction to the book. It ends with an index and some practical pages that can be filled in to create your own weekly meals plans with shopping lists and charts to log meals.

A fab book with recipes which I’m looking forward to sinking my teeth into!

**I received an advanced copy of this ebook to read and review. Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for allowing me this opportunity**

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

As is obvious from the title this is a recipe book that only requires use of the hob. It was inspired when the authors oven broke a few days after Christmas and had to adapt her menu to only meals that can be cooked on the hob.

This book has beautiful colour photographs of the dishes. If you are reading the kindle version like i did I would strongly advise you read it on a tablet via the app. The thing that I most appreciated about this book was that there is no fancy ingredients required for these recipes. You could walk into any UK supermarket and easily get all the ingredients. There are quick and easy recipes and those that require a bit more time and effort. There are some great recipes in here some that I would probably adapt to our taste others that I will follow to the letter. I have read this recipe book cover to cover for the purposes of this review. I haven’t attempted any of these recipes yet but I am excited to do so.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really well presented book, most of the recipes seem to have a good quality photo, which I really like. It makes for a very appealing and accessible book; as it’s always good to see what a recipe should look like, especially for novice cooks.

Many of the recipes are straightforward, it’s maybe not for an experienced cook looking for new inspiration. Recipes seem focused on producing family friendly meals, the fewer the steps to produce the meal, the better. That’s also a good thing for many who have busy lifestyles, with limited time or energy to cook complicated meals. There is a market for this book based on these aspects alone.

Hob has a huge assortment of recipes, it would be very easy to pick and cook a range.
The only caution I have is the number of dishes which are fried, often in butter. It’s perhaps, in part, not a book for those wishing to eat healthily, although there are many other styles of cooking included.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Hob” by Amy Sheppard is the product of a happy accident. Her oven broke so she had to think outside the box and prepare meals using only her hob.
Well I for one am extremely grateful that that oven broke down, inspiring this book. With 80 recipes, I was spoilt for choice for which recipe to try first. There’s recipes for every possible occasion and craving - brunch, weekends, midweek, quick meals, entertaining and desserts. Not only that, there are meal planning resources at the back of the book. I tried lots of different recipes across all the sections and enjoyed them all. The ingredients are easy to source and the instructions are easy to follow. Many of the recipes work well in a slow cooker too giving you extra flexibility.

This is a brilliant cookbook which I’ll refer to time and time again for our new family favourites.

Thank you to the author, Netgalley and Bloomsbury Absolute for the opportunity to review an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest opinion

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic addition to anyone's cookbook collection! We've all found ourselves in the situation where all we have to cook on is our hob, and Amy has really provided a plethora of fantastic meals cooked solely on the Hob. Often these are one pot dishes too - who doesn't love that!! Cooking on the hob can be a real mixture of quick and slow cooking, with recipes included for brunch, quick dinners, weekend cooks, feasts and even sweet dishes too! I really enjoyed the elements of how to structure meal planning within the book as well, during lockdown meal planning has become key for me and the way this was detailed really helped me to get a better grasp on it.
I will definitely be making several of the recipes and I always really appreciate cookbooks that have a picture of each dish as well to make me want to cook them even more!! The Halloumi hash and perfect poached eggs with devilled crumpets are amazing brunch ideas and the popcorn chicken nachos look mouth-wateringly tasty!

[Janni_B · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the cookbook I wish I had had years ago. Despite having been married for more than 45 years, cooking isn't one of my favourite things to do. (I like to eat - I just don't enjoy cooking). Some of the cookbooks on my bookshelf are in almost mint condition.

Having had a read through Hob there are quite a lot of recipes I'm actually keen to try. They sound tasty and not too complicated. And you don't need an oven.

I like how the book is laid out. There are sections for quick meals, budget meals, crowd pleasers and more. The instructions seem clear and easy to follow with colour illustrations. Most of the required ingredients are easily available - nothing too extreme. I'm very tempted to buy some things that I've never considered adding to my shopping list so that I can try some of the recipes.

I reckon this recipe book has something for everyone, whether young and starting out or an older person (like me).

[Helen R Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hob is instantly going to become my go-to cooking book. I love the simplicity, the layout and the beautiful pictures.
The chapters are set out in a great way, divided by meal times, budget and speed.
The recipes are well thought out, simple and use ingredients I mainly keep at home anyway. I really like how adaptable they are too, I know I could switch one element for another if I needed to. (Eg fish / shellfish for chicken if we’re eating all together with the kids)
I’m sure the “weekend food” will be a firm favourite with everyone in the house, who doesn’t love homemade pizza or a fakeaway!
Whilst everyone has one or two dishes to cook on the hob I really love that this is a cookbook devoted entirely to that way of cooking.
Amy Sheppard seems very relatable from the introduction and snippet before each recipe and I will be having a look at her other foodie books.

[Lesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

80 Recipes - less than one quarter of which appealed.
Whilst I don’t mind an eBook of recipes I don’t think one should ever buy one without first having seen a physical copy to check out the recipes. Whilst there were a number of recipes that I might try out (though I doubt they will become staples in my household but more occasional treats) there were far more that didn’t appeal. Firstly there are the curries, the wraps, flatbreads and fajitas that I personally never eat, then the sheer number of recipes which contain tomato (for which I have a food intolerance) but my main bugbear was that everything seemed to need frying off and I don’t know why but I expected these recipes to be healthier. If you want to buy this book check it out in a bookshop first.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Bex · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great little cookbook. I for one never realised how many things you could make just using a hob. As a mom and teacher I'm forever looking for new batch meals that are easy and quick to cook but nutritious and this has provided me with some amazing inspiration.

I have bookmarked so many pages and cannot wait to try the halloumi and sundried tomato toasties, the popcorn chicken, banana and peanut butter pancakes and my oh my just look at that s'mores' hash!! I have added a few recipes to this weeks meal plan already.

I will be keeping an eye out for more from Amy Sheppard. Thanks to Netgalley and Bloomsbury books for allowing me the chance to read and review this cookbook. I am pretty sure it is going to become a firm favourite for me and my family!

[AtomicBiker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good cookbook for simple but easily replicated meals using items that are found regularly at home. It was nice that the recipes don’t require long lists of fancy ingredients.

The book is split into different categories, such as easy dinners and weekend meals. There will be something in there to suit all tastes.

So far I’ve tried a handful of recipes, but all have worked well and been tasty. These include 15 minute falafels, one-pot veg & feta couscous and butter chicken. My favourite so far has been the Smokey Bean Shakshuka. It’s become a firm brunch fixture on the menu here.

It’s certainly a cookbook that I would be happy to recommend

Copy provided by Bloomsbury via Netgalley

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a cook book! I love cook books but generally I end up cooking about 3 recipes out of every book...but not this one! There is such a range of recipes to cook and so tasty.

I really loved the chorizo Mariana and the easy butter chicken.

Who would have thought there were so many recipes that you could cook just using the hob. Perfect for any level of cook, anyone short on time, or just anyone who wants to multi task like a pro!

Do you know another thing I love about this book...the ingredients are simple. They are genuinely ones where you can open your fridge or cupboard and cook the entire recipe without having to go to the shops.

I really recommend this book - get ready for tasty, simple, easy recipes whilst also impressing people!

[Kate Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this! Exactly what a cook book should be, and does exactly what it says on the tin!

The breakfast recipes just look amazing! I can't wait to try more of those. The recipe's are not your usual recipes - they seem really unique and original. The format of the book is great, and is so easy to dip in and out of. The chapters are broken up into meal times which is super useful! The recipe's look stunning, and sound stunning - but also super simple. It's not daunting at all.

Also the photography in the book is stunning too! There is a photo for every recipe - something that is a must for me with a recipe book!

So many new recipe ideas to try! Loved this!!

[Sharyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who rarely uses the oven I wanted to see another cook's ideas for hob and one pan cooking. There are some great ideas in this book and I shall certainly be trying some of them over the coming weeks. A lot of the meals are carb centric with bread, wraps, pastry etcfeaturing often. As someone who avoids refined carbohydrates I am used to working around this. 4 stars for a good variety of ideas, a well set out book and some colourful photos. Better read on a tablet than a kindle, as with any illustarted book. With thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Leanne Crabtree · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a copy of this cookbook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

I do enjoy a good cook book. This one is full of recipes that can be done using only the hob. It has a variety of healthy recipes for breakfast, lunch, mains and sides - all using ingredients that you'll generally have hanging around in the kitchen without any fancy things needing to be bought.

I've bookmarked a handful of the recipes but have only got around to making one so far which was the devilled crumpets and poached eggs which was very nice and tasty. If all the others I plan to make are as good then I'm looking forward to it.

[Tredaran · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a highly practical and unpretentious cookbook which is full of easy recipes for cooking on the hob. The ingredients are mainly household staples which are easy to find and many of the recipes use leftovers, such as breadcrumbs, so there is minimal waste involved. This is not for the cookbook connoisseur or adventurous cook, but for somebody who is seeking to extend their cooking repertoire for everyday family meals that are quick and easy to prepare with minimal fuss after a busy day at work. I would think it’s also a great book to take on a camping or caravan holiday where there might be minimal cooking facilities.

[Kera · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the type of cookbook everyone needs! Real family friendly food that can be made using just your hob.

This book is laid out in easy to use chapters so you can easily find what you are looking for. Recipes are clearly laid out and the instructions are straight to the point.

I LOVE that each recipe includes a photograph showing the finished meal, it really helps bring the cookbook to life and I have several new recipes to try this week alone because of this.

I can see this becoming a staple cookbook in my home.

[Lucy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love the idea of a recipe book based solely on using the hob, which is probably the main way I cook. I was a bit disappointed with the range of recipes here - there are only two I actually fancy making (the chicken laksa and the potato and cauliflower biryani). There are a fair amount of meat based recipes, and a lot of the vegetarian ones involve cheese.

I imagine it would be great for novice/inexperienced cooks who are looking for quick, family friendly meals.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of the book.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

They say you eat with your eyes. Well I’ve just put on a stone.
Great recipes that will appeal to my whole family. Split into easy sections. Simple recipes that produce fantastic results. Most of the food you have tucked in your store cupboard and fridge. No rushing out to by special ingredients. Fabulous photography of the dishes to accompany the recipes. I’m off to whisk something up.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC