Naomi Sherman

Jollof is a seasoned rice dish that is one of the most popular foods throughout West Africa. Each region has its own unique twist on the classic recipe but this one from Ghana.

If you don’t love a still-warm cinnamon doughnut, then we can’t be friends anymore. Make these traditionally deep-fried treats much healthier by baking them instead.

I’m not going to pretend that this dish isn’t a bit of work, but trust me when I say it’s worth every second. From the crisp, delicious potato crust to the lush, flavour-packed filling, it’s a vegetarian show-stopper.

Are you sold yet? These delicious, sweet and sticky tenders are perfect served to your friends for a simple yet memorable dinner. They also freeze well and can form the basis of so many other meals for yourself, so they are great for meal prepping too.

There is a dish that went viral on TikTok using ramen noodles and Asian-style sauces. I wondered what would happen if I reinvented it with some simple ingredients that I think every student would have in their pantry. Did I expect it to be one of the tastiest dishes I’ve made? No. Did I realise that I would now be tossing a bowl together whenever I didn’t feel like cooking a full meal? No. Did both of these things happen? Absolutely! Seriously, try it yourself — it’s not just for students.

Spaghetti and meatballs is comfort food personified, but what student has the time, money and fridge space to buy
a million ingredients to craft the perfect gourmet meatballs? I’m not a student, but this is still my favourite way to make fast and fabulous meatballs using a supermarket hack and minimal equipment. Show me a student who will say no to more time and money.

These jackfruit carnitas are very similar in look and texture to pulled pork and have a delicious, deep, earthy flavour thanks to the marinade.

These delicious, sweet and sticky tenders are perfect served to your friends for a simple yet memorable dinner.

There are so many variations of this very traditional Persian rice cookie (or nan-e-berenji); some have rosewater, some cardamom. You can use poppyseeds or not. They can be decorated or left plain. All of them gift you with melt-in-your-mouth, buttery, crisp cookies that will become your new favourite.

A glorious entertaining dish that is served at room temperature, meaning you can have it cooked and ready to dress before your guests even arrive. Soft, perfectly cooked salmon is smothered in a delicious coating that combines fresh pops of flavour with rich and earthy spices.

I’m going to be honest; my dream meal would be savoury cheesecake with sweet cheesecake for dessert. There is something about that rich and creamy filling, contrasted with the crunch of a good shell, that I find irresistible. This cheesecake is creamy and cheesy and can be tweaked with whatever flavours you prefer. Add some basil and sundried tomatoes or heaps of fresh herbs, maybe some chunks of roasted pumpkin.

This classic dish of rice-stuffed tomatoes combines the sweetness of tomatoes with the saltiness of olives and the crunch of pine nuts. Baked to perfection in a juicy sauce, it’s perfect as a starter, or serve with extra vegetables for a main course.