Yotam Ottolenghi Quotes

"Food can bring people together in a way nothing else could."

"I don't do guilt. Whatever I do, I do it happily."

"I tend to mean what I say: in life, generally; in recipes, certainly."

"Conflict is very much a state of mind. If you're not in that state of mind, it doesn't bother you."

"One man's trash is another man's treasure, and the by-product from one food can be perfect for making another."

"The smells of slow cooking spread around the house and impart a unique warmth matched only by the flavour of the food."

"I love dishes that feature the various shades of a single colour, making you stop to check what's in there."

"Dinner parties are still highly popular, and I believe they always will be."

"Pasta with melted cheese is the one thing I could eat over and over again."

"The taste of any simple tomato-based salad is dependent on the quality of the tomatoes."

"Good asparagus needs minimal treatment and is best eaten with few other ingredients."

"Good-quality nuts, toasted in a little butter and salt, make a magical addition to many salads."

"A lemon, boiled whole and blitzed, makes a useful base for all sorts of dressings."

"Greek yogurt with some olive oil stirred in can transform many dishes."

"Pomegranate molasses is ubiquitous in Arabic cooking: it's sweet, sour and adds depth."

"Date syrup is a natural sweetener that has wonderful richness and treacly depth; I drizzle it over semolina porridge."

"A quick shallow fry is a great way to transform leftovers, and no more so than in the case of risotto."

"You don't need a machine to make pasta: a rolling pin and a fast hand can create a smooth, if thick, sheet."

"In certain European cuisines, vegetables are cooked a long time. I take the term 'al dente' and use it for vegetables."

"I always pan-fry sprouts - it retains texture and enhances flavour."

"Swiss chard is undervalued in Britain. It's a great substitute for spinach and keeps its shape well."

"For my money, celery hasn't got a mean bit of fibre in its body, and we all need to start being much nicer to it."

"The natural sweetness of leeks, with their soft, oniony aroma, makes them the perfect winter comfort food."

"Sweet potatoes are ideal for lazy days: just bake, then mash and mix with yogurt, butter or olive oil."

"If the British Isles had an official vegetable, it would have to be the potato."