For some people, the joy of cooking and eating often gets lost in the bustle of the daily grind. You might be a dab hand in the kitchen, but after a long day at work, the thought of throwing a meal together may seem like little more than a chore; the latest thing on a to-do list; a means of sustenance.
But cast your mind back to lockdown, and banana bread mania. Think of a time you were cooking for no other reason than you wanted to – cooking for yourself, and yourself only.
&#8220;Whether it&#8217;s something you do once in a while or regularly, I think cooking can be the ultimate act of self care,&#8221; says clinical psychologist <a href="https://www.goodthinkingpsychology.co.uk/">Dr Marianne Trent</a>. &#8220;It can be a really mindful activity if you want it to be, because you can mentally hone in on a recipe if it&#8217;s a really involved meal that you&#8217;re cooking.
“You can focus on textures, sensations, smells. Certainly anything we do that means we&#8217;re thinking, focusing and surrounding ourselves in a sensory environment can be really beneficial for your mental health&#8221;.
<figure id="attachment_13470" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-13470" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-13470" src="https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/13141100/jason-briscoe-KTrov7eujms-unsplash-1-300x200.jpg" alt="cooking meal for one mental health" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/13141100/jason-briscoe-KTrov7eujms-unsplash-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/13141100/jason-briscoe-KTrov7eujms-unsplash-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/13141100/jason-briscoe-KTrov7eujms-unsplash-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/13141100/jason-briscoe-KTrov7eujms-unsplash-1.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-13470" class="wp-caption-text">Cooking a meal for one can be the ultimate comfort (Credit: Unsplash)</figcaption></figure>
<h2>The mental health benefits of cooking and eating alone</h2>
As someone who often finds solace in the kitchen, Dr Marianne&#8217;s comments really resonate. When I’m having a bad day, I still haven’t found a better tonic than chucking on a podcast and immersing myself in cooking, whether that’s by following a recipe to the letter or chucking a bunch of random ingredients in a pan. 
There&#8217;s something freeing about involving myself in a complicated culinary endeavour for no other reason than because I want to, and there’s a pleasure to be derived from constructing a dish like a lego tower, step by step, until it reaches completion.
After all, in an age where anxieties are often triggered by remaining plugged into the world around us – be it through the news, our social media feeds or a never ending chain of work emails – engrossing yourself in a recipe allows you a brief respite from the stresses of everyday life. As, of course, does settling down to eat your creation. 
&#8220;It&#8217;s not about distracting yourself or escaping your problems, which people shouldn&#8217;t do,&#8221; Dr Marianne, host of T<a href="https://the-aspiring-psychologist.captivate.fm/">he Aspiring Psychologist Podcast</a>, explains. &#8220;But it&#8217;s about becoming momentarily absorbed in the task at hand, and doing something for your own satisfaction [and nourishment].
&#8220;For some people, not only is food preparation an activity in itself to be enjoyed, but [taking the time to cook for themselves] is a novelty.”
These days, cooking can be hard for many people, because of lack of free time, fuel prices and the cost of living, but Dr Marianne adds: “even batch cooking one meal a week and saving the leftovers, or preparing yourself a salad and taking the time to eat it and appreciate it is ultimately investing in you and you alone&#8221;.
<figure id="attachment_13471" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-13471" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-13471" src="https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/13141710/pexels-cottonbro-3692762-300x200.jpg" alt="cooking meal for one mental health" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/13141710/pexels-cottonbro-3692762-300x200.jpg 300w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/13141710/pexels-cottonbro-3692762-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/13141710/pexels-cottonbro-3692762-768x512.jpg 768w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/13141710/pexels-cottonbro-3692762-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/13141710/pexels-cottonbro-3692762-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/13141710/pexels-cottonbro-3692762-1568x1045.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-13471" class="wp-caption-text">Sometimes cooking can act as a respite from the world (Credit: Pexels)</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Cooking as a means of therapy</h2>
This self care element is the very reason that several therapists and social workers are keen to harness cookery as a therapy tool.
Whilst art, drama and music therapy have long been accepted by the scientific community as creative outlets with long-term benefits for people’s mental health, until recently, cooking has rarely had a lookin. 
But if you think about it, in the same way the former are described as aiding self expression, self awareness, and self esteem, cooking offers some people many of the same benefits. It can be tactile, expressive and to many, freeing, much in the same way that painting a picture can be to other individuals. 
In the States, Professor Kocet, from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, is seeking to highlight this. The expert claims that whilst some people avoid cooking because they see it as a stressful activity, cooking for themselves (rather than a dinner party, or a big group of people) alleviates pressure, and allows them to enjoy food, and its preparation, in a whole new way.
&#8220;Cooking can centre people, offering the emotional grounding of a task and a sense of accomplishment,” he tells <a href="https://www.eatingwell.com/article/7961931/can-you-sharpen-blender-blades-with-eggshells/">Eating Well. </a>
He discovered this himself after attending cooking classes, and subsequently founded the very first specialist course in cooking therapy in 2014. Most recently working with those struggling during the pandemic, he also runs therapy classes which encourage people to cook dishes that are sentimental to them, in order to process feelings of grief, fear and anxiety.
<figure id="attachment_13472" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-13472" style="width: 272px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-13472" src="https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/13141836/Screenshot-2022-05-13-at-15.18.24-272x300.png" alt="cooking meal for one mental health" width="272" height="300" srcset="https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/13141836/Screenshot-2022-05-13-at-15.18.24-272x300.png 272w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/13141836/Screenshot-2022-05-13-at-15.18.24-927x1024.png 927w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/13141836/Screenshot-2022-05-13-at-15.18.24-768x849.png 768w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/13141836/Screenshot-2022-05-13-at-15.18.24.png 934w" sizes="(max-width: 272px) 100vw, 272px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-13472" class="wp-caption-text">Cooking can be a hugely sensory experience (Credit: Pexels)</figcaption></figure>
Because the type of therapy is still in its infancy, it varies depending who is running it. 
Kocet is currently offering culinary therapy alongside traditional talking therapy in line with the American counselling Association Code of Ethics, whilst he gathers evidence that the former works as a standalone practice. Meanwhile, here in the UK, there are several facilities forging their own paths.
Here in London, psychotherapist Charlotte Hastings, offers people Kitchen Therapy, giving people talking therapy as they cook. Meanwhile, Monica Worsley is also running cooking therapy sessions from her culinary school <a href="https://cookingit.co.uk/">Cooking It</a> in Bristol. 
She started the therapy classes after discovering the power of cookery when working with children as a social worker for 22 years. Her classes come without accompanying psychological therapy, but she uses the basis of her social care training to inform the way she teaches, and her classes are all about encouraging people to use the kitchen as an outlet in much the same way. 
“Having worked with children on the child protection register and young offenders, I realised that all these therapies, like music therapy and art therapy, seemed to really help them,” she tells me. “And I thought, surely cooking will do the same thing?
“So I started cooking with some of the kids and sure enough they came and they found peace and calm in the kitchen.
<figure id="attachment_13473" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-13473" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-13473" src="https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/13142331/annie-spratt-UyEmagArOLY-unsplash-300x200.jpg" alt="cooking meal for one mental health" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/13142331/annie-spratt-UyEmagArOLY-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/13142331/annie-spratt-UyEmagArOLY-unsplash-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/13142331/annie-spratt-UyEmagArOLY-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/13142331/annie-spratt-UyEmagArOLY-unsplash.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-13473" class="wp-caption-text">Monica runs cooking classes in Bristol (Credit: Unsplash)</figcaption></figure>
“I&#8217;ve had children in the past that have been really violent, and they were okay when they were cooking. It’s all about concentrating on something and giving them a space to be creative. 
“Often, these were families that were really suffering and in poverty and seeing how they reacted to it just proved to me that cooking was therapeutic not just to me but [on a wider scale].” 
<h2>When life gets you cooking</h2>
Many people discovered these benefits of cooking for themselves during the pandemic, when daily life wasn&#8217;t an obstacle, and isolation wasn&#8217;t a choice, but a necessity.
<a href="https://www.foodnavigator.com/Article/2021/02/26/Lockdown-lifts-interest-in-home-cooking-91-of-Brits-plan-to-cook-as-much-or-more-this-year">Premier Foods</a> conducted a survey which found that 73 percent of people enjoyed the opportunity to cook more when in lockdown, as a consequence of restaurants and bars shutting down, and 91 percent said they wanted to continue cooking as much if not more coming out of the pandemic. 
Naturally, the pandemic isn&#8217;t the only circumstance by which people have discovered an interest in cooking and eating as a more solitary experience.  
<a href="https://www.francescaspecter.co.uk/">Francesca Specter,</a> journalist and author of <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Alonement-Francesca-Specter/dp/1529412617">Alonement: How to be alone and absolutely own it</a>, tells me that for her, an enjoyment of preparing and indeed eating food by herself came after a break up in 2018 forced her to adjust her attitude to being on her own. 
“As a single person living alone, I didn&#8217;t want to go without ever having a nice meal. Food brings joy and I wanted to be able to give it to myself alone as well,” she says. 
[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/CRs&#8211;tsHynK/]]
&#8220;I had to overcome something which I call only-me-ism. That&#8217;s this belief that, because it&#8217;s only me I shouldn&#8217;t bother with excellent food. It&#8217;s only me so I&#8217;m not gonna cook dinner, you know, I&#8217;m just gonna make eggs on toast or cereal.
&#8220;Now I have got to the point where I appreciate the meditative process of coming in chopping vegetables. I know that&#8217;s the one thing that switches me out of work mode and into my being at home routine – but it took some time.
&#8220;As much as I like going out and eating with others, one shouldn&#8217;t negate the other.
&#8220;It&#8217;s also empowering to know that you don&#8217;t have to be reliant on someone to facilitate your happiness.&#8221;
Ultimately, I think Francesca has got it in one. We&#8217;re all sometimes guilty of only-me-isms, especially when our mental health isn&#8217;t at its best.
But if you only do one thing this Mental Health Week, shake off that feeling and put aside some time and knock yourself up something tasty. I can&#8217;t tell you how much it has helped me in the past.

Why Cooking A Meal For One Is The Ultimate Act Of Self-Care

twisted-template-recovered-recovered-recovered-53

Twisted template-Recovered-Recovered-Recovered

This year's Mental Health Awareness Week theme is loneliness - and the kitchen is a great place to find solace in your own company.

Mental Health Awareness Week: Cooking for one is an act of self-care

6 Chefs Share Their Ultimate Comforting Meals-For-One For Mental Health Awareness Week

twisted-template-recovered-recovered-recovered-52

We've asked chefs and food personalities to share their ultimate, comforting meals for one - the type you eat when you need a pick me up.

Mental Health Awareness Week: chefs share comforting meals for one

Robot-Run Restaurants Are The Future, Whether You Like It Or Not

twisted-template-recovered-recovered-recovered-38

Experts discuss the future of robotics in professional kitchens, and how likely AI machinery is to become a part of our culinary experiences. 

Do robot run restaurants exist? Future of AI machines in kitchens

It&#8217;s Cinco de Mayo, the annual celebration of when Mexico defeated the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla. Held on May 5th every year, and also hugely popular in the US today, many consider the holiday moment to appreciate Mexican American culture – and, of course, its food.
But in the UK, we&#8217;re sometimes guilty of thinking that Mexican food begins and ends with tacos.
<figure id="attachment_13087" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-13087" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-13087" src="https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/05144410/2AYBN88-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/05144410/2AYBN88-300x200.jpg 300w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/05144410/2AYBN88-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/05144410/2AYBN88-768x511.jpg 768w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/05144410/2AYBN88.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-13087" class="wp-caption-text">Mexican food certainly doesn&#8217;t begin and end with tacos (Credit: Alamy)</figcaption></figure>
Whilst there are some utterly banging tacos about (just take a look at <a href="https://twistedfood.co.uk/articles/features/where-to-get-banging-tacos-in-the-uk-the-best-mexican-restaurants">our taco guide</a>), there is also a whole array more traditional Mexican dishes to explore, too.
From Molé to Barbacoa, we decided to delve a little deeper into the patchwork of foods and flavours that stem from Mexico, and bring you a little more information on four of the ultimates. 
Plus, we&#8217;ve also dug out the very best places you can try these dishes throughout the UK. Aren&#8217;t we nice? 
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Molé Poblano</h2>
<figure id="attachment_13088" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-13088" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-13088" src="https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/05144611/JRNJ3H-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/05144611/JRNJ3H-300x200.jpg 300w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/05144611/JRNJ3H-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/05144611/JRNJ3H-768x512.jpg 768w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/05144611/JRNJ3H-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/05144611/JRNJ3H-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/05144611/JRNJ3H-1568x1045.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-13088" class="wp-caption-text">mole poblano is made with chocolate and chilli (Credit: Alamy)</figcaption></figure>
Molé is one of Mexico’s most beloved dishes, and with good reason. It&#8217;s a word used to encompass many sauce recipes in Mexico, but the Molé Poblano is perhaps the most famous example. With its dark red colour and deep smoky flavour, it&#8217;s served alongside many foods in Mexico, but chicken is one of the most popular accompaniments. 
Two key ingredients in this dish are chocolate and chilli, but in fact there are as many as 20, some of which take hours in their own right to prepare.
If you want to try Molé Poblano for yourself, Twisted recommends: <a href="https://london.mestizomx.com/">Mestizo</a> (London)
<h2>Barbacoa</h2>
<figure id="attachment_13089" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-13089" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-13089" src="https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/05144951/2AYBP9C-1-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/05144951/2AYBP9C-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/05144951/2AYBP9C-1-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/05144951/2AYBP9C-1-768x511.jpg 768w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/05144951/2AYBP9C-1.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-13089" class="wp-caption-text">Barbacoa stew is a rich and hearty Mexican favourite (Credit: Alamy)</figcaption></figure>
A traditional slow cooked recipe, hailing from the Oaxacan region of Mexico, this dish usually calls for a whole meat (traditionally lamb) to be smothered in spices and ancho and guajillo chiles before being wrapped in banana leaves and smoked underground for several hours. 
The result is tender, pull-apart dish that can stand up against any barbecue in the world. Perfect for Cinco de Mayo if you ask us. 
If you want to try Lamb Barbacoa for yourself, Twisted recommends: <a href="https://labodeganegra.com/">La Bodega Negra</a> (London) 
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Carnitas</h2>
<figure id="attachment_13090" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-13090" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-13090" src="https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/05145323/Screenshot-2022-05-05-at-15.52.13-300x291.jpg" alt="mexican carnitas" width="300" height="291" srcset="https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/05145323/Screenshot-2022-05-05-at-15.52.13-300x291.jpg 300w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/05145323/Screenshot-2022-05-05-at-15.52.13-1024x993.jpg 1024w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/05145323/Screenshot-2022-05-05-at-15.52.13-768x745.jpg 768w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/05145323/Screenshot-2022-05-05-at-15.52.13.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-13090" class="wp-caption-text">Mexican carnitas can also be enjoyed over Cinco de Mayo (Credit: Alamy)</figcaption></figure>
When it comes to street food snacking, carnitas are the king. It basically means &#8220;little meats&#8221;, which are often served slow roasted and pulled with any number of accompaniments. Carnitas are perhaps at their best when alongside tortillas and Mexican cheese &#8211; also known as queso fresco. 
Together with avocado and coriander, this Mexican meat will certainly tantalise your tastebuds. Whilst this can be served on tacos, you can also chuck the meat in a burrito, a chimichanga, an enchilada, or simply alongside rice. 
If you want to try Carnitas for yourself, Twisted recommends: <a href="https://elguaca.co.uk/">El Guaca</a> (Maldon, Clacton, Colchester, Newmarket)
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Pozole</h2>
<figure id="attachment_13091" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-13091" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-13091" src="https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/05145518/WR8BYX-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/05145518/WR8BYX-300x225.jpg 300w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/05145518/WR8BYX-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/05145518/WR8BYX-768x576.jpg 768w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/05145518/WR8BYX-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/05145518/WR8BYX-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/05145518/WR8BYX-1568x1176.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-13091" class="wp-caption-text">Mexican Pozole is another traditional fave (Credit: Alamy)</figcaption></figure>
Pozole is a rich, traditional Mexican soup or stew, made with pork or chicken meat and hominy (dried corn kernels), and often garnished with salad, like shredded lettuce, cabbage and radishes. Meanwhile, lime, chopped onions and chillies are also commonly added.
Whilst it&#8217;s eaten all year round in Mexico, Pozole is also a festive dish, making it perfect to whack out at Cinco de Mayo. It&#8217;s commonly served on the New Year, birthdays and Christmas, too.
If you want to try Carnitas for yourself, Twisted recommends: <a href="http://www.vivalamexicana.com/index.html">Viva La Mexicana</a> (Bristol) 
<figure id="attachment_13092" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-13092" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-13092" src="https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/05145827/TTMTA5-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/05145827/TTMTA5-300x200.jpg 300w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/05145827/TTMTA5-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/05145827/TTMTA5-768x513.jpg 768w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/05145827/TTMTA5.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-13092" class="wp-caption-text">Cinco de Mayo dinner, anyone? (Credit: Alamy)</figcaption></figure>
Of course, these dishes are just the tip of the iceberg. You can also try Horchata, Tamales and Chilaquiles – among so many more cultural delicacies. 
With so many straightforward Tex Mex staples readily available on menus across the world, it’s easy to settle for what’s familiar. However, as these dishes prove there’s so much more to Mexican food than tacos (however great they are). 
With so many different dishes to try, there’s no reason to not push the boat out this year and try some new and delicious party food.

These Restaurants Prove There's More To Mexican Food Than Tacos 

twisted-template-recovered-recovered-recovered-29

For Cinco De Mayo, Twisted has compiled a list of 4 Mexican dishes that aren't tacos, and where is best to try them. 

Cinco De Mayo: 4 traditional Mexican dishes & where to eat them in the UK

On a Bank Holiday Monday, most of us were out socialising, or nursing a hangover – but not Cissy Rae Dalladay and Kirstie Eden.
Alongside a team of incredible helpers, the pair had been up since 9am, chopping vegetables and decorating their local church hall for a charity banquet.
Having met whilst volunteering with Care4Calais, a charity that supports refugees, private chef Cissy, 29, and media partnerships manager, Kirstie, 32, now run social enterprise,<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cc530-ioUxO/"> GMAs Community Kitchen,</a> an initiative they set up last Autumn, with the ethos &#8216;you eat, we eat, everyone eats&#8217;.
<figure id="attachment_12969" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-12969" style="width: 214px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-12969" src="https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/03160524/Screenshot-2022-05-03-at-17.05.02-214x300.jpg" alt="GMAS community kitchen" width="214" height="300" srcset="https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/03160524/Screenshot-2022-05-03-at-17.05.02-214x300.jpg 214w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/03160524/Screenshot-2022-05-03-at-17.05.02-731x1024.jpg 731w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/03160524/Screenshot-2022-05-03-at-17.05.02-768x1076.jpg 768w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/03160524/Screenshot-2022-05-03-at-17.05.02.jpg 954w" sizes="(max-width: 214px) 100vw, 214px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-12969" class="wp-caption-text">Cissy (left) and Kirstie (right) at their Eid event (Credit: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/_serenabrown/?hl=en">Serena Brown</a>)</figcaption></figure>
The idea is as simple as that. They sell delicious food to raise money, in turn feeding refugees and asylum seekers who live in temporary housing in South London. 
After several stints selling roti (inspired by the recipe of Kirstie&#8217;s Guyanese grandmother Dalee Sharma, 83) and a batch of kind donations on <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/gmas-community-kitchen">GoFundMe,</a> enough money was finally raised to put on a truly authentic spread, with a menu curated (and partially cooked) by the local refugees and asylum seekers themselves.
And given that around 70% of those in their local temporary housing hotel are muslim, when better than Eid to throw their first big event? 
&#8220;We just wanted to give them a taste of home,” Kirstie says. “To do something to welcome all of the refugees that we work with and create a moment for them to come together as a community with us to celebrate, and enjoy a feast.
&#8220;I live with my grandma in Brixton, where she&#8217;s been ever since she came in Windrush from Guyana, and the memories I have in this house of massive family meals – like literally multiple rolling shifts of people coming to the table because we couldn&#8217;t fit everyone on the table – are really beautiful for me. 
<figure id="attachment_12971" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-12971" style="width: 264px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-12971" src="https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/03160618/007E98DE-09C5-4995-9768-371B69A8DF28-264x300.jpg" alt="" width="264" height="300" srcset="https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/03160618/007E98DE-09C5-4995-9768-371B69A8DF28-264x300.jpg 264w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/03160618/007E98DE-09C5-4995-9768-371B69A8DF28-903x1024.jpg 903w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/03160618/007E98DE-09C5-4995-9768-371B69A8DF28-768x871.jpg 768w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/03160618/007E98DE-09C5-4995-9768-371B69A8DF28.jpg 1124w" sizes="(max-width: 264px) 100vw, 264px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-12971" class="wp-caption-text">Kirstie and her grandma &#8211; who inspired the GMAs roti (Credit: Kirstie Eden)</figcaption></figure>
“It’s not just the comfort of eating but that comfort of community and togetherness, and the joy that comes from it. 
&#8220;It&#8217;s part and parcel of Caribbean culture – welcoming everyone in and wanting everyone to be a part of it. That’s [what inspired] GMAs Community Kitchen, and it’s obviously in the spirit of Eid, too.&#8221;
Eid is a festival typically celebrated with family and friends, but given that they work with people in temporary accommodation, many of Kirstie and Cissy’s guests were facing the prospect of spending the day alone, or at least without all of their loved ones, and the traditions they were accustomed to. 
&#8220;A lot of the refugees [and asylum seekers]&#8230; they&#8217;re really in limbo,&#8221; Cissy explains. &#8220;It can take almost two years for some of them to be granted asylum or not, and then there&#8217;s that constant state of not knowing what&#8217;s happening and being away from family. 
<figure id="attachment_12953" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-12953" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-12953" src="https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/03145444/R1-01910-0016-300x200.jpg" alt="gmas community kitchen" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/03145444/R1-01910-0016-300x200.jpg 300w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/03145444/R1-01910-0016-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/03145444/R1-01910-0016-768x513.jpg 768w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/03145444/R1-01910-0016.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-12953" class="wp-caption-text">The guests helped curate the menu (Credit: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/_serenabrown/?hl=en">Serena Brown</a>)</figcaption></figure>
&#8220;There&#8217;s a lot of issues with depression and I just think food is one of those things that can make a difference in an instant.&#8221;
&#8220;It can transport you somewhere else and it can give you a sense of shared experience,&#8221; Kirstie adds. &#8220;In that way, it&#8217;s a gift.
&#8220;We wanted to utilise the idea of togetherness and kindness over Eid and create something special that&#8217;s just for them; putting these people at the epicentre and allowing them the opportunity to just enjoy themselves in a safe space&#8221;.
Stepping into the Ascension Church, in Clapham, it was clear they had done just that. The aroma of saffron rice, fresh herbs and rich, hearty chicken stew hit you as soon as you walked through the doors, but not before the overwhelming feeling of warmth and positivity.
With an art therapy installation set up in one corner and a guitarist on hand, there&#8217;s no denying the joyous and celebratory atmosphere that Kirstie, Cissy and the church had managed to create. 
Language barriers aside, asylum seekers, refugees and volunteers were all sitting as one; bonding over the meal in front of them. 
<figure id="attachment_12955" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-12955" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-12955" src="https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/03150052/Screenshot-2022-05-03-at-16.00.32-300x206.jpg" alt="gma's community kitchen" width="300" height="206" srcset="https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/03150052/Screenshot-2022-05-03-at-16.00.32-300x206.jpg 300w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/03150052/Screenshot-2022-05-03-at-16.00.32-1024x704.jpg 1024w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/03150052/Screenshot-2022-05-03-at-16.00.32-768x528.jpg 768w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/03150052/Screenshot-2022-05-03-at-16.00.32-1536x1056.jpg 1536w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/03150052/Screenshot-2022-05-03-at-16.00.32-1568x1078.jpg 1568w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/03150052/Screenshot-2022-05-03-at-16.00.32.jpg 1874w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-12955" class="wp-caption-text">The banquet was served up on Eid (Credit: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/_serenabrown/?hl=en">Serena Brown</a>)</figcaption></figure>
Neither Cissy or Kirstie are muslim themselves, but they&#8217;re all too aware how important Eid is to many of the refugees and asylum seekers they’re helping – especially given they’re so far from home. 
“At home, I had a giant family. My grandparents and my uncles all lived together and even my cousins and brothers, they all went abroad to study, but for Eid they would come back home,” explains Anie, 29, who arrived in the UK from Pakistan three years ago. 
“So, when I first came here, I was literally crying at Eid. [I thought,] ‘What is this? Where am I?’
“When I saw this event I was so surprised. This is the first time I’ve been able to go to a big gathering on Eid, and the meal… the flavours are literally matching our food from home. It’s amazing”.
Meanwhile, Eman, 40 (who came here from Sudan and has been in the hotel for five months) says the spirit of generosity in the room reminds her of her roots. 
“In Sudan, during Ramadan, all of the men go out on the street with their food and everyone who doesn’t reach their home in time [for the end of the fast]&#8230; they invite them to come and join,” she says. “Even if people don’t go out, they open their doors and you can just enter and take food at any time. 
“Here, I don’t have relatives, I’m just by myself. It’s hard for me, but today – everyone from the hotel, we came as a group. As a family. Even though it’s different and I miss home, there’s a real sense of Eid”. 
<figure id="attachment_12956" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-12956" style="width: 220px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-12956" src="https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/03150342/Screenshot-2022-05-03-at-16.03.24-220x300.jpg" alt="GMA'S community kitchen" width="220" height="300" srcset="https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/03150342/Screenshot-2022-05-03-at-16.03.24-220x300.jpg 220w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/03150342/Screenshot-2022-05-03-at-16.03.24-750x1024.jpg 750w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/03150342/Screenshot-2022-05-03-at-16.03.24-768x1048.jpg 768w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/03150342/Screenshot-2022-05-03-at-16.03.24.jpg 976w" sizes="(max-width: 220px) 100vw, 220px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-12956" class="wp-caption-text">The event catered to those in temporary housing (Credit: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/_serenabrown/?hl=en">Serena Brown</a>)</figcaption></figure>
The real and personal impact that GMAs Community Kitchen is having cannot be downplayed, and they&#8217;re only just getting started. 
Before their Eid event, Cissy and Kirstie fundraised to provide hearty, warming dinner deliveries to these same refugees and asylum seekers, and also to help initiatives such as Cook For Ukraine and Care4Calais. 
The idea of cooking Caribbean food to help raise this money started on a whim.
“One night [my grandma and I] were making loads of food in the house and I just said ‘let&#8217;s wrap some of these up and we&#8217;ll just do a little roti run [to raise some money]’,” Kirstie says.  
“Everyone loved it, and that was just before Cissy and I got together. Cissy has totally finessed my grandma’s recipes and just escalated them to new levels. 
<figure id="attachment_12972" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-12972" style="width: 280px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-12972" src="https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/03160735/Screenshot-2022-05-03-at-17.07.12-280x300.jpg" alt="" width="280" height="300" srcset="https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/03160735/Screenshot-2022-05-03-at-17.07.12-280x300.jpg 280w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/03160735/Screenshot-2022-05-03-at-17.07.12-955x1024.jpg 955w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/03160735/Screenshot-2022-05-03-at-17.07.12-768x824.jpg 768w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/03160735/Screenshot-2022-05-03-at-17.07.12.jpg 1158w" sizes="(max-width: 280px) 100vw, 280px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-12972" class="wp-caption-text">Kirstie&#8217;s grandmother passed down her spirit of hospitality (Credit: Kirstie Eden)</figcaption></figure>
“We coined the word ‘rotito’, which is a roti burrito, and it all just went from there, really.”
“I had a little lesson with Kirstie’s grandma and she taught me to make her chicken curry,” Cissy recalls. “It’s very specialist and not like any Caribbean food I’d tasted before. 
“I wanted to keep those Guyanese tastes.”
As they started doing more regular food events and roti runs, the ‘rotito’ garnered plenty of attention, with London’s Bodega Rita’s owner Missy Flynn lending her kitchen and Foundation FM’s food and drink presenters, Mam Sham, praising their efforts. Pivotally, they also raised money to help feed those who needed it most. 
“We’re essentially using food as a conduit to give something back,” Kirstie says. &#8220;The refugees we work with in the hotel are given eight pounds a week to live off and the hotel is responsible for feeding them and keeping them alive. 
“There really is a lack of pastoral care that trickles into the food. Often they&#8217;re given mouldy bread, a slice of tomato and nothing nutritious or warming.
&#8220;There&#8217;s loads of children there. There&#8217;s loads of pregnant women and it&#8217;s just not good enough”.
<figure id="attachment_12957" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-12957" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-12957" src="https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/03150712/Screenshot-2022-05-03-at-16.06.46-300x291.jpg" alt="GMA'S Community kitchen" width="300" height="291" srcset="https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/03150712/Screenshot-2022-05-03-at-16.06.46-300x291.jpg 300w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/03150712/Screenshot-2022-05-03-at-16.06.46-1024x992.jpg 1024w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/03150712/Screenshot-2022-05-03-at-16.06.46-768x744.jpg 768w, https://twistedfood.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/03150712/Screenshot-2022-05-03-at-16.06.46.jpg 1404w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-12957" class="wp-caption-text">Introducing the Rotito (Credit: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/_serenabrown/?hl=en">Serena Brown</a>)</figcaption></figure>
 explains Cissy. “That way it comes full circle”.  
What’s next for GMAs? “It’s all about finding a way to create an even more efficient way of doing what we do and trying new exciting ways to connect our community,” says Kirstie. “Which could range from GMA&#8217;s first supper club to engaging local businesses or restaurants, creating something that can trickle down to the people who are most in need, both in terms of refugees, and also homeless and vulnerable people”.
It’s evident Kirstie’s grandma’s hospitality underpins everything they do. And if their Eid event proves one thing, it’s that they’re onto a winner.

How One Grandma's Roti Helped Fundraise An Eid Banquet For Refugees

twisted-template-recovered-recovered-55

Twisted template-Recovered-Recovered

Cissy Dalladay and Kirstie Eden are trying to help refugees and asylum seekers in South London, one roti at a time. 

GMAs Community Kitchen: The Duo Helping Refugees By Selling Roti

133062943_400062747896731_2063655797057723754_n

party bowls

Watch Tom ring in the new year with a special beef chilli party bowl on this instalment of Shelf Life

Beef Chilli Party Bowls on Shelf Life | Twisted

In the season 2 finale, Tom pulls out all of the culinary stops whilst trying to navigate the earnest festivities. His birria-inspired beef & pork chilli bowls are perfect for those cremant-in-one-hand events where serving family-style makes a lot of sense.

The perfect dish for any party, this NYE special combines pork, beef shine and peppers in a rice bowl, get the recipe here

Beef Birra & Rice Party Bowl Recipe | Twisted

Soak deseeded chillies in boiling water under a weight (20-30 mins or so)

Magimix roughly chopped red peppers, turkish peppers, onion, garlic, celery, green chillies until finely minced (but not a paste). Heat the 100ml oil in a pan and scoop in the paste. Season well with salt.

Separately salt and brown beef shin pieces all over, 15 minutes or so, then set aside in a bowl. Fry all the pork mince in 2 batches then reserve with the other meat.

Blend soaked chillies with 200ml passata until smooth. Add remaining passata and blend

When the second batch of pork is done, add ground spices and bloom in the hot fat, adding a little water if necessary if it looks like things might catch and burn. Add chilli paste, chicken stock, cooked vegetable base, sprigs of thyme, rose water. Pop in the oven at 155C for 3 hours.

Drain soaked rice. Melt butter until foaming, add rice and turn slowly to toast. Season with a little salt. Blend herbs with 225g cold water so you have a bright green tonic. Add the beans to the rice then tip in the green tonic. Top up with the chicken stock. Cover and cook on a high heat for 4mins, then low for 7 minutes. Allow to rest (lid on) for 4 minutes, then cock the lid.

Tip your rice into a serving dish and adorn with edible flowers (if using).

To build your bowl, place some tortilla chips in the bottom if the bowl and crack into pieces with your fingers (or a spoon). Top with a little birria, then load with the green rice, more birria (including some nice melting beef shin), sour cream, hot sauce, onion, coriander, cheese and more tortilla chips. Crush the bowl, and have a great night!

shelf-life-640_960

Shelf Life 640_960

Tom Jackson sets up a lockdown kitchen studio in his tiny flat and digs around the darkest cornest of his cupboards to unearth some delicious, inspiring meals for those days where you got nothin'.


Twisted | Shelf Life

Crispy, soft, and chewy fried flatbreads (bara) are topped with creamy veggie-packed Trinidadian style callaloo, crispy roasted chickpeas, and pickled chillies. Flavourful, filling, AND it's vegan!

Crispy, soft, and chewy fried flatbreads (bara) are topped with creamy Trini callaloo, crispy roasted chickpeas, and pickled chillies. 

Trini Callaloo Doubles | Twisted Green

Start by pickling the chillies. Combine the water, vinegar, salt, and sugar in a pot, and bring to a boil. 

Add your chillies, onion, peppercorns, and mustard seeds to a jar, and pour the pickling liquid over. Allow to cool, then leave to sit in the fridge for at least 3 hours, but the longer the better.

For the callaloo, add a splash of oil to a dutch oven or large pot, along with your sliced onion, garlic, and spring onions. Once they start to soften, add in your spring greens.

Once the spring greens have started to wilt and there's space in your pot, add in your spinach, okra, butternut squash, coriander, thyme, brown sugar, coconut milk, lime, scotch bonnets, salt, and pepper. Cover, and cook over a medium/low heat for 30-40 minutes. 

While the callaloo is cooking, preheat the oven to 180 C. Drain and dry your chickpeas, then toss in the spices and oil. Pop in the oven for 20 minutes or until dried and crispy. 

For the tamarind sauce, in a small pan combine the tamarind, sugar, lime, hot sauce, and Maggi, along with the splash of water. Whisk to combine, bring to a boil, then set aside. 

Once your veggies are cooked, blend everything in the callaloo using an immersion blender or food processor. 

Load up your warmed flatbreads with callaloo, crispy chickpeas, tamarind sauce, and pickled chillies. Enjoy!

fullsizerender-2-2

FullSizeRender 2-2

A combination of two famous Trinidadian dishes - doubles and callaloo. 

I'm really into this one. Good things do sometimes come in small packages, and this dinky little vegan potato square recipes has a lot going for it. Simultaneously crispy and fluffy with a rich and spicy romesco sauce and optional hazelnut dukkah. These are a very good thing.

Twisted |

THE DAY BEFORE you want these delicious morsels of nice, you need to get the potatoes on the go. First, set the oven to 130°. Get a square baking tin and a mandolin and get slicing and layering. In between each layer of potatoes brush some vegan butter and a sprinkling of salt.

When you've finally finished layering them up, cover with baking paper and tin foil (you don't want to colour them at this stage) and bake for around 2/3 hours or until completely cooked through. Put something heavy on top of them and leave them in the fridge overnight. 

Meanwhile, make some romesco! Crank that oven up to 180°C and roast the tomatoes and garlic until the garlic smells nice and the tomatoes are withered with a little char, roughly 30/40 mins. 

Place both the tomatoes and squeezed out garlic into a blender along with the breadcrumbs, vinegar, olive oil, sat and soaked chillis. Blend until smooth then pop into a piping bag. 

The next day, heat up the oil until its around 170°C. Use a big sharp knife and cut the potatoes into little squares then fry them in batches until they are really crispy.

Squeeze the romesco on top, top with dukkah (or za'atar or spice mix of your choosing) and go wild. You've earned this!

thumb01

Thumb01

These delicious vegan snacks are absolutely stuffed full of the most amazing flavours and indeed textures. Yum!

Fry your chips until golden and crisp, toss in togarashi and salt and set to one side

Panne your butterflied chicken, first into the flour followed by the eggs and finally the panko. Fry until golden brown and completely cooked through

To make your curry sauce, fry your onion, carrot, garlic and apple until softened. The add your curry powder and toast gently. Add in the flour to create a roux, followed by water. Stir until thickened. Add in your honey, soy sauce and garam masala. Allow to simmer for 10 mins and then blitz until smooth

For your pickled salad, combine salt, brown sugar, black and white sesame, rice vinegar. Followed by the spring onions, cucumber and carrot. Toss to combine 

To assemble, toast your wrap, then add a squeeze of mayo, then your chips, chicken, curry sauce, and topped with your salad! Enjoy!

katsu-thumb

Katsu thumb

tw_de01_basecamp-sticker-layer-3-2

TW_DE01_Basecamp-sticker-layer-3

tw_de01_basecamp-sticker-layer-2-2

TW_DE01_Basecamp-sticker-layer-2

It’s even more delicious when you’ve made it. Our basecamp series will help anyone and everyone conquer the kitchen through quick tips and tasks.

Head to Basecamp

tw_de01_egg-paper

TW_DE01_Egg Paper

tw_de01_article-sticker-layer-2-3

TW_DE01_Article-sticker-layer-2

Features

tw_de01_divider-sticker-1-2

TW_DE01_Divider-sticker-1

tw_de01_divider-sticker-2-2

TW_DE01_Divider-sticker-2

Welcome to Twisted, the home of unserious food. Recipes, shows, interviews news and features. Twisted, unserious food tastes seriously good

Twisted Food | Unserious Food Tastes Seriously Good

Home

Don&#8217;t you just miss drinking your favourite cocktails in bars and restaurants? Yeah, so do we. Quite a lot.
So, we&#8217;ve been mixing away behind the scenes and curating twists on recipes of four classic cocktails. We&#8217;re thrilled to present four expertly crafted classic cocktails that in true Twisted fashion, have been fused with amazing flavours to create truly unique bar worthy drinks, and really take them up a notch.
Our pre-batched cocktails make drinking cocktails at home a breeze. No mess, no fuss. And you&#8217;ll save a packet on the raw ingredients you&#8217;d need to create these ready mixed cocktails on your own too. All that&#8217;s left for you to do is choose which of these four delicious ready made cocktails has got your name on it. Can&#8217;t decide? Make a night of it and try all four with a 20% saving!
ABV 15%. Suitable for vegans. Garnishes not included.

twisted-cocktailsblood-moon-284950_1800x1800

Refreshing & light cocktail with a hint of mystery

The key to any good Negroni recipe is to make it perfectly balanced and simple. This bitter and strong drink includes notes of citrus and juniper berries which give this pre-meal cocktail a solid, flavourful punch.
It&#8217;s not for the faint of heart, but this gorgeous cocktail is sure to start your night off with style.
ABV 15%. Suitable for vegans. Garnishes not included.

twisted-cocktailssmoked-nouveau-negroni-594269_1800x1800

A fruity cocktail perfect for a summer&#8217;s day. This classic cocktail has its roots in 1920s London and Parisian cocktail clubs, so it&#8217;s only right that we bring it back for the second Roaring Twenties.
With a blackberry twist, the Sidecar has an enchanting combination of flavours that&#8217;s a fine balance between sweet and sour.
ABV 15%. Suitable for vegans. Garnishes not included.

twisted-cocktailsblackberry-sidecar-318755_1800x1800

Another creation of the infamous London cocktail clubs, this Espresso Martini boasts a sophisticated mix of vodka, coffee and chocolate. Cherry syrup softens the flavours of this cocktail, turning it into a heart-melting cocktail fit for the streets of Soho.
Hand-mixed using ten-times distilled Wheatley Vodka and cold brew coffee, the Black Forest Gateau Espresso Martini is perfect for the vodka and coffee purist.
ABV 15%. Suitable for vegans. Garnishes not included.

black_forest_gateaux_cocktail_1800x1800

Black_Forest_Gateaux_Cocktail_1800x1800

Famed for unusual and outrageous recipes featured in the Twisted videos, we&#8217;re now thrilled to be launching the Twisted Cookbook!
After 3 years of becoming a global food phenomenon, the Twisted mouth-watering recipes have been compiled into a new cookbook. With over 100 recipes, mealtimes are sure to look a lot different.
Some showstoppers you can expect to find in out cookbook include; creamy Butter Chicken, party food favourite Hunter&#8217;s Chicken Mozzarella Sticks, a whole section dedicated to picnics in the parks, and wholesome hangover Saturday breakfast favourites such as our Giant Breakfast Crunchwrap!
With these unbelievably tasty recipes, you&#8217;re sure to become an unstoppable cook. No need to order take-outs anymore!

cookbook-in-lifestyle_1800x1800-2

cookbook-in-lifestyle_1800x1800

cook-book-with-hands_1800x1800

cookbook-front_1800x1800

cookbook-back_1800x1800

Birthday Cake cinnamon buns are a glorious treat to make to celebrate.  If someone doesn't like cake, this is for them! It's loaded with sprinkles and cinnamon filling, they're really fluffy and so fun and colourful! 

Vegan Birthday Cake Cinnamon Buns | Twisted

Heat the milk until it’s warm. Add the sugar and sprinkle over the yeast. Whisk to combine and let it sit for a minute or two. Pour in the vanilla and butter and whisk through. Add in the flour and mix until a soft dough forms.


Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth. Let it sit for 10 minutes then roll it out slightly. Scatter over the sprinkles and fold the dough to combine them. Transfer to a greased bowl and cover to let rise until doubled in size. 


With a hand mixer, whip together the filling ingredients until smooth. Set aside.


Once the dough has doubled in size, punch it down and transfer to a lightly floured surface. Roll the dough out into a large rectangle about ½ cm thick. Spread the cinnamon butter filling all over the dough, leaving a 1cm border bare. 


Roll the dough up into a tight log from the long side. Measure the dough into 9 even pieces, then using floss slide it under each piece, cross over the floss and crossover to cut 

Arrange the rolls about 2cm apart on a lined baking sheet. Cover and let them rise again until doubled in size. 


Preheat the oven to 180ºC with a rack in the middle. Mix all the frosting ingredients together in a bowl until smooth.


Once the rolls have doubled in size and look airy, pop them in the oven and bake for 25 minutes, until golden brown. Set aside to cool slightly 


While the rolls are still warm, spread the frosting over top and add some sprinkles.

cinnamon-birthday-cake-buns-image

Cinnamon Birthday Cake Buns IMAGE

The love child of a funfetti birthday cake and our good friend, the trusty cinnamon bun. It’s a winner, obviously!

This is the perfect cocktail to sip and enjoy with your friends this Summer… and it’s so easy!

Warner’s Rhubarb Gin, summer fruits and ginger ale… yum! The perfect summer cocktail, inspired by the Chelsea Flower Show!

Warner’s Gin Summer Pitcher | Twisted 

Add all ingredients to a pitcher with ice, and stir

Pour into glasses and garnish with fruit slices
Enjoy

still-2

Still 2

What's better than sushi rice? Fried sushi rice! This time it's piled high with sticky miso aubergine, spicy green vegan mayo, slaw, and avocado. You've gotta try this.

What's better than sushi rice? Fried sushi rice! This time it's piled high with sticky miso aubergine, slaw, and spicy green vegan mayo.

Miso Aubergine Sushi Burger | Twisted Green

Wash your rice until the water runs clear, then let it soak for 30 minutes. This is optional, but recommended. Drain one more time, then top up with fresh water, enough to come up to your first finger knuckle. 

Bring to a boil, then cover and turn down to low and leave to cook for 15-18 minutes. Leave to stand for 10 minutes, then press into a dish and leave to chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour.

Add all of your mayo ingredients to a jug, then blend using an immersion blender until it's thick and emulsified. 

For the slaw, combine your cabbage, spring onions, mayo, lemon, and vinegar. Season with salt and pepper. 

Whisk together the miso paste, brown sugar, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and water. Dice your aubergine. 

Brown all of your aubergine in batches. Pour over the miso glaze, then let it reduce on a medium heat. 

Heat your vegetable oil to 180 C. Tip out your cooled sushi rice, then cut out into four circles. Carefully place the circles into the oil and fry until golden and crispy. 

Assemble: rice bun, green mayo, avocado slices, aubergine, slaw, top bun. Enjoy!

whatsapp-image-2022-05-11-at-16-23-10

WhatsApp Image 2022-05-11 at 16.23.10

Yes, you read that right - and it's absolutely delicious. 

A poke bowl might just be my favourite meal, ever. It's not shy at all. There's always a punchy sauce or two, fresh veg, herbs, sesame seeds and then maybe something charred for a bit of smokiness. It's a textural party in the mouth. My Poke Wonton Nachos make the perfect party platter to impress your mates with this summer, and would pair beautifully with a Margarita or 5...just saying. 

Fried vegan wontons loaded with classic poke toppings - avocado, spring onions, sesame seeds, a spicy mayo and a sticky, sweet Teriyaki sauce. 

Loaded Vegan Wonton Nachos

Start by heating up the oil for your wontons in a large, deep frying pan over a medium high heat. Once it's hot, place the wonton quarters in (you'll need to do this in batches) and fry for about 30 seconds on each side. Carefully remove them once they're golden brown and place on a plate lined with paper towels to soak up any excess oil. Repeat with the rest of the wrappers. Season with a pinch of salt as soon as they come out the pan. 

To make the teriyaki sauce, combine all the ingredients in a small saucepan, leaving the garlic and ginger whole, then bring to the boil. Immediately reduce the heat to medium low and simmer for a minute or so. 

In a small bowl, mix together the cornstarch with 2 tbsp water and very gradually add that into the sauce, stirring constantly. You'll notice the sauce will quickly start to thicken so you may not need all the cornstarch mixture. The sauce is ready when it's thick, glossy and coats the back of a spoon. Pour it into a small bowl or jug and set to one side to cool.  

Whilst the sauce cools, mix together all the ingredients for the avocado marinade then tip in your avocado chunks and stir to coat each piece. Cover and set to one side.

Place a large, dry frying pan over a medium high heat and tip in the drained sweetcorn. Leave the corn to fry for a minute or 2, then stir to make sure each side gets nice and charred. Fry for a further 3-4 minutes. Remove from the pan. 

Time for the finishing touches - mix together all the ingredients for your spicy mayo, thinning the mixture with a tiny bit of water to make it more drizzable, if needed.

Place your fried wonton wrappers onto a large plate or platter then top with the marinated avocado, sliced veg, chopped coriander and sesame seeds then drizzle over plenty of the spicy mayo and teriyaki inspired sauces. The saucier, the better. Enjoy!

wonton-nachos-compressed-2

Wonton Nachos-compressed

Wonton nachos loaded with creamy avocado, fresh veg, herbs and sesame seeds, drizzled with spicy mayo and a sticky Teriyaki inspired sauce

These fried chicken parmesan parcels are a great twist and so fun to make and eat. Check out this recipe for your next snack!

Fried Chicken Parmesan Parcels | Twisted 

Pre-heat oven to 180ºC. In a baking dish, mix together oil, oregano, garlic, basil, salt and pepper. Toss the chicken breasts in the oil and coat well. Cover with foil and bake for 22-25 minutes until cooked through.  

Remove from the oven, drain some of the juices and shred the chicken. Transfer the chicken to a bowl and add the cheeses, cream and parsley and mix to combine. 

Cut the crusts off each slice of bread. Add some of the chicken mixtures into the centre of half of the slices of bread.  

Fry in oil heated to 170ºC until golden brown. 


Meanwhile, mix together grated parmesan, parsley, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Toss the fried parcels in the mixture, keep warm. 

Heat olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Add smashed garlic and cook until light golden brown, then remove. Add the passata and seasonings. Bring to a simmer and let cook for a few minutes until thickened. 

Serve pockets with a tomato sauce to dip. 

67283656_368631680472794_1306532337093181440_n

Egg Fried Rice With Crispy Leeks | Twisted

Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Fry the leeks for 5-6 mins until soft and lightly golden, transfer to a paper towel-lined plate, and set aside. Keep any remaining oil in the pan.


Whisk two British lion eggs well with a pinch of salt. 


Heat the oil back to medium-high heat. Add the whisked eggs and scramble.  Once the eggs are ¾ of the way cooked, crumble in the rice.


Break the rice in with the egg with a wooden spoon.  Stir through the sweet chili sauce and soy sauce, salt, and pepper.  Add 3/4/ of the leeks back and stir well

Meanwhile, heat some oil in a pan over medium heat, crack two eggs, and fry them until the whites are set. 


Serve the rice with a fried egg on top and garnish with crispy leeks. 


egg-fried-rice

Egg Fried Rice

sandwich-goals-16-9-577x1024

Sandwich-Goals-16-9-577x1024

hangin-with-16-9-577x1024

Hangin-With-16-9-577x1024

Twisted's favourite celebrities discuss their all-time favourite hangover food.

A show that celebrates hangover food with your favourite celebs. We share drunken stories and hangover cures with the help of our Twisted Chefs

Hangin' With, The Ultimate Celebrity Hangover Food Show | Twisted

329a0142

329A0142

Join Hugh in deepest 2020 lockdown as he cooks all sorts of tasty bits at home in Crystal Palace, South London. 

featured

Trini Callaloo Doubles – Twisted Green

Vegan Romesco Potato Snack Recipe – Twisted Green

Chicken Katsu Souvlaki

Latest Recipes

Vegan Birthday Cake Cinnamon Buns- Twisted Green

Warner’s Gin Summer Pitcher

Miso Aubergine Sushi Burger – Twisted Green

Loaded Vegan Wonton Nachos

Fried Chicken Parmesan Parcels

Egg Fried Rice with Crispy Leeks

Features

Mental Health Awareness Week: For many, cooking for one is the ultimate act of self-care

Mental Health Awareness Week: 6 chefs share their ultimate comforting meals for one

Robot run restaurants are the future, whether you like it or not

Cinco de Mayo: There’s more to Mexican food than tacos

GMAs Community Kitchen: How one grandma’s roti recipe helped fundraise an Eid banquet for refugees

To hell with fashion, trends and gastronomic one-upmanship. Cooking and eating should be fun - Keith Floyd

watch

our shows

Are you eating comfortably?

Beef Chilli NYE Party Bowls

Shelf Life

Sandwich Goals

Hangin’ With

Food Palace

Corner Shop Challenge

featured

Trini Callaloo Doubles – Twisted Green

Vegan Romesco Potato Snack Recipe – Twisted Green

Chicken Katsu Souvlaki

Latest Recipes

Vegan Birthday Cake Cinnamon Buns- Twisted Green￼

Warner’s Gin Summer Pitcher

Miso Aubergine Sushi Burger – Twisted Green

Loaded Vegan Wonton Nachos

Fried Chicken Parmesan Parcels

Egg Fried Rice with Crispy Leeks

Features

Mental Health Awareness Week: For many, cooking for one is the ultimate act of self-care

Mental Health Awareness Week: 6 chefs share their ultimate comforting meals for one

Robot run restaurants are the future, whether you like it or not

Cinco de Mayo: There’s more to Mexican food than tacos

GMAs Community Kitchen: How one grandma’s roti recipe helped fundraise an Eid banquet for refugees

To hell with fashion, trends and gastronomic one-upmanship. Cooking and eating should be fun - Keith Floyd

watch

our shows

Are you eating comfortably?

Beef Chilli NYE Party Bowls

Shelf Life

Sandwich Goals

Hangin’ With

Food Palace

Corner Shop Challenge

Vegan Birthday Cake Cinnamon Buns- Twisted Green