Meliz Berg is a self-taught cook that has drawn on her Turkish-Cypriot heritage and her experiences of growing up in London, to create her own recipes. In 2022 Berg released her book “Meliz’s Kitchen”, which became a number 1 Sunday Times bestseller and featured a host of modern and traditional recipes over the course of 9 chapters. Two years on from that book, Berg is back with ‘Dinner Tonight’. This book celebrates the simple joy of cooking with recipes taking 30-minutes or less to make. There’s an emphasis on being able to prep these meals ahead of time so even the busiest of people can ensure they have something satisfying and filling to eat after a long day at work.
Berg opens her book by talking about learning cooking from her mother before diving into some handy tips including her list of essential ingredients. The book is then split into 6 chapters, each packed with tantalising recipes that you’ll be able to recreate at home with a minimum of fuss. ‘Light Bites & Snacks’ kicks things off spectacularly with White Cheese & Spinach Open-Faced Börek followed by Hellim (halloumi) & Sauteed Vegetable Frittata. Already you’re transported to the sun-drenched shores of the Mediterranean Sea, and that’s in only two recipes! One of my favourite recipes in this chapter is the Hellim & Sweet Potato Eggy Muffins, which are perfect for breakfast on the go.
‘Leftsovers & Store Cupboard’ is the next chapter, with Berg helping you to make the most out of everything you have in your kitchen so you don’t have any waste. This chapter is full of rice and lentil dishes, along with a number of soups. It’ll likely be a go to in the colder months of the year and recipes such as Ezogelin Soup and Vermicelli Soup with Fried Hellim are certainly much more interesting than your standard can of soup from the supermarket. Fans of hummus will be delighted to find several different recipes here, including a Hummus Soup (who knew that was a thing?).
Busy parents and workaholics should probably bookmark third chapter ‘Easy Midweek Suppers’. All of these recipes are super quick and they don’t skimp on flavour. All-in-one recipes such as Pomegranate-Orange Chicken & Potatoes and All-In-Once Creamy Sausage Pasta are perfect for bath cooking. You could easily whip these up on a weekend and serve throughout the week. Seafood fans will find plenty to enjoy here too.
In the next chapter Berg helps you resist the end of the week takeaway temptation with ‘Friday Fakeaway’ recipes. It can be so easy to just order food to be delivered but it’ll likely be packed with calories you don’t really need to be eating. Berg’s recipes are fast, fresh and just as tasty as any takeaway. From Tangy Fish Tacos & Tahini Tartare to Spice Mince & Chips (honestly, a gamechanger) and Loaded Crunchy, Spicy Mince Wraps, Berg has every taste covered.
‘Slow Cooking’ is the chapter for those that like to through everything into their crock pot rather than slaving in the kitchen for hours. Tavuk Kapama (one-pot chicken and rice) and Creamy Chicken & Vegetable Stew are among the highlights, and like many of the recipes in this book you can make them in advance and freeze them until you fancy a portion. There’s a superb recipe for Slow-Cooked Bolonez in this chapter, which is the Turkish version of Italian Bolognese. Once you try it, you might not go back to the Italian way.
The book’s final chapter is ‘Sweet Treats & Easy Bakes’, which should satisfy your sweet tooth. Some of these recipes may seem familiar but Berg puts her own twist on them to make sure they have maximum impact. The Caramelised Apple Yoghurt Cake is divine and the Spiced Fruit Baklava Crumble takes a classic and puts a modern spin on it. There are some great bread recipes here too including Susamli Somun Ekmeği (simple seeded loaves), which are perfect to accompany the soups and stews in the book.
The last section of the book gives adapted recipes for an air fryer and slow cooker, which gives you more options for how to prepare your food. It’s a nice addition given how popular both have become over the past few years.
‘Dinner Tonight’ is literally bursting with ideas and flavours that you’ve probably never had before, only had on holiday or never thought you’d be able to recreate at home. Berg’s easy-to-follow recipes make it simple for anyone to be able to wow in the kitchen. I have to admit that Turkish-Cypriot cooking isn’t something I do all that often at home, but I’ll be incorporating much more of it into my repertoire thanks to this fantastic book.
Published by: Ebury Press Release date: 27th June 2024 Buy ‘Dinner Tonight’ now
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