10 ways to add more food joy to your life in January

We’ve curated 10 ways to add more joy, flavour and inspiration to your table this new year. From exploring Southeast Asian recipes that will bring sunshine to dark days – including Thai salads and Indonesian sharing dishes – to Korean comfort food, baking challenges and learning to prep a chicken like a pro, these ideas will add more food joy to your life.

10 ways to add more food joy to your life in January

1. Host a dinner party

Christmas may only just be in the rear-view mirror but Rosie Mackean’s guide to hosting a low-key cosy feast is making us itch to entertain again. On the menu? Brown shrimp, chicory and blood orange salad; chicken braised in vinho verde with romesco potatoes; and honeyed mascarpone tart with oven-poached rhubarb. Plus, her clever get-ahead time plan means you’ll be stress-free on the day. Prepare to send out those invites…

 

2. Pack your plate with plants

Weekly recipe rotation lacking some vitality? Supercharge your lunchtimes and midweek evenings with a trio of fast, colourful and protein-packed recipes from plant-based cook Calum Harris. The mango tofu burger has had rave reviews.

 

3. Explore Korean cuisine

South Korean culture is having a moment right now (read all about its rise). To celebrate the nation’s new-found popularity, we asked five Korean chefs and food writers share their favourite dishes. Some are traditional, some contemporary (such as Su Scott’s doenjang butter lamb chops with spring onion gremolata, below), but all are perfect for delving into the special flavours and ingredients that make Korea’s cooking so good.

 

4. Embrace ephemeral blood oranges

Beautiful blood oranges are a truly seasonal ingredient – their time is short and it’s right now! Grab them while you can and have a go at tempting sweet and savoury recipes, including this zingy loaf cake.

 

5. Cook Indonesian

What better way to banish winter blues than to embrace the tropical vibes and fiery flavours of the Indonesian archipelago. Let chef Petty Elliott’s recipes be your introduction, including these minced pork cakes with chilli and lemongrass sambal.

 

6. Hone your butchery skills

Learn to break down a chicken with chef Adam Byatt; he demonstrates the whole process on YouTube. “This method yields perfect pieces for a sauté (the classical French term for cooking food in a small amount of fat while tossing it in the pan),” says Adam. “It’s key to stews such as coq au vin; curries; chicken vin jaune; and poached chicken dishes.” One new skill, hundreds of possibilities – including Adam’s epic chicken curry, below.

 

7. Mix up a Thai salad

Try one of recipe developer and blogger Marni Xuto’s fresh, zingy and colourful but super-simple salads and get to grips with the Thai concept of ‘yum’. “One of the quickest and easiest ways to experience Thai cuisine is through ‘yum’ dishes, which means ‘to mix’,” says Marni. “Yum dishes are visually appealing and speedy, and awaken all your taste buds. These four Thai-inspired recipes echo the same principles: fresh, healthy and using natural ingredients you probably have at home.”

 

8. Perfect your patisserie

Take on a challenge this weekend and try Benoit Blin’s hazelnut paris-brest recipe, complete with the expert pastry chef and Bake Off: The Professionals judge’s secrets to making flawless choux pastry. What’s craquelin? And why is choux cooked before it’s baked? You’re about to find out…

 

9. Learn how to make pho

The king of noodle soups, Thuy Pham’s chicken pho offers everything you need on a cold evening. The combination of fresh toppings, tender poached chicken and slippery rice noodles are brought together by the deeply savoury, aromatic broth. Thuy walks you through the process with her top tips.

 

10. Master Chinese sauces

They’re an integral part of cooking the world over, but the Chinese approach to creating sauces differs greatly from the long-simmered stock-based creations of European cooking. Legendary chef Andrew Wong shares his knowledge alongside three recipes to level up your stir-fries and fried rice – and you might find his throw-in-some-ketchup insights liberating!

 

Browse our favourite weekend baking projects.

More to discover

Subscribe to our magazine

Food stories, skills and tested recipes, straight to your door... Enjoy 5 issues for just £5 with our special introductory offer.

Subscribe

Unleash your inner chef

Looking for inspiration? Receive the latest recipes with our newsletter

We treat your data with care. See our privacy policy. By signing up, you are agreeing to delicious.’ terms and conditions. Unsubscribe at any time.