Flavor Kitchen: Vibrant Recipes with Creative Twists

by Crystelle Pereira

Tasty, enticing, and bursting with flavor, Crystelle's recipes make cooking and baking with the most vibrant and exciting flavors easy.

"With charming anecdotes and vibrant photography, this cookbook is a beautiful feast for the eyes that will help cooks create a bountiful feast for their stomachs" - Ahliah Bratzler, Library Journal

Cooking has always been an equal passion to baking for Crystelle, as shown by the coveted 'Hollywood Handshake' she received for her curried chicken and potato pie on The Great British Bake Off , a dish showcasing her Portuguese-Goan roots. Inspired by her travels and heritage, Crystelle’s book encourages people to experiment with flavors and shows how – just by adding a few more condiments to your cupboard – you can elevate classic dishes.
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Divided into two halves - savory and sweet - the book showcases the baking that took Crystelle to the final of  The Great British Bake Off , as well as her flair for creative savory dishes. Drawing inspiration from around the world, there is a flavor-packed dish for every occasion, from zingy curries, mouth-watering pastas and zesty salads to scrumptious cakes, pull-apart breads and indulgent brownies. Featuring a handy guide to Crystelle's hero ingredients and star seasonings - all of which feature in multiple recipes - it couldn't be easier to raise your flavor game.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Food, Nonfiction

208 pages, Hardcover

Published June 20, 2023

Reviews

[Miss✧Pickypants ᓚᘏᗢ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cookbook lives up to it's subtitle of Vibrant Recipes with Creative Twists . The author was a finalist in the Great British Bake Off program and from what I could gather doesn't have a prior food-related resume yet she has put together a first-rate collection of dishes using flavorful ingredients that pack a punch (think miso, gochujang, tahini, curry leaves and harissa to name just a few).

Recipes are well-written and every one is accompanied by a lovely full-page color photo of the finished dish. The book is divided into two parts, Savory and Sweet and what I liked most was the unexpected fusion and use of ingredients in familiar recipes (like adding a carrot filling in cinnamon buns, throwing some kimchee into to a grilled cheese, and spanakopita mac and cheese). My sense is less experienced cooks looking to broaden their repertoire using less familiar ingredients as well as seasoned cooks who are always on the hunt for new ideas will appreciate this book most.

[Kamilah · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s definitely some recipes in here I want to try! I love the different flavors combined, and while there’s definitely some that have a little too much shredded coconut or pistachio for my own personal preferences, I’m super excited to add a bunch of these into my rotation and for some future dinner parties. Only wish is that the recipes had notes of substitutions for common allergens, there’s a definitely a lot of these that I know I can’t serve for some of my friends.

[Jon Allanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, I borrowed this from the library after watching the author on Bake Off. Now after reading it, this will likely join the short stack of cookbooks in my personal collection. This is a really rather well-put-together book, with big pictures and thorough, easy-to-follow directions. The majority of the recipes are all on one page, making in situ reference that much easier. And, I really like the opening section where she simply breaks down the ingredients she most likes to use. I feel like there are some recipes in here I will make repeatedly.

[Elena C · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has everything you could possibly need from everyday dinner ideas to party food, easy bakes, centrepieces, sides, desserts - the list goes on! I love that I can flick through and find something original to try without anything being overly complicated. The handy storecupboard ingredients section has really helped elevate my cooking game with a few new key ingredients that are now a staple in my kitchen. Crystelle is so creative with her recipes and each one has been so well thought out and carefully put together. I just hope she is planning a second book soon!

[Cheryl G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting recipes with lots of unexpected flavors.

[Dray · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful book of fresh dishes influenced by Indian cuisine. The authoress professes love for both mangoes and cardamon which are also two of my favorites. Beautifully photographed. Worth reading.

[Beth E · Rating 5 out of 5]

These recipes look so good! I want to try some of the Goan recipes!
However, I was in a mood for soup this week, and I didn't see any soup recipes in it.