So, got this book for Christmas, and the recipes look easy to follow, so will be trying out the scallop one a bit later.

Having read the recipe through a couple of times to get the majority of it into my head, I just can't see me doing it in 15 minutes even if get all the pans ready (as he says) before starting cooking!

Has anyone tried any of these? If so, did you ever manage to get one of the recipes down to only 15 minutes to cook in?

You also have to have all your ingredients prepared. If you add the times for getting all the utensils ready and preparing the ingredients, it is more than 15 minutes.

I've tried a few recipes from the book, but I never try to do them in fifteen minutes !

It's a bit of a joke to claim a '15 minute meal' when that doesn't include prep time.

Notwithstanding that, there are some great recipes in there.

Ah so I should do all my chopping/slicing whatever before I start the clock then? Reading it, looked as though I only had to heat the pans and boil the kettle

Am trying the scallops recipe tonight, never cooked scallops before looking forward to seeing what they are like.

It does include prep time. If you watch the show, Jamie chops all the veg, etc. etc. as part of the 15 minutes. Thing is, though, he can chop an onion a hell of a lot faster than 99% of people! He also uses the food processor with a chopping blade on it to do some of the more time consuming chopping.

If you watch the show a lot of stuff is ready prepared (like shop bought, not prep'ed at home) to some extend but yes it does chop on the show but a lot of things he only chops roughly. Also he does use a food processor.

BTW, the garlic press is a real time saver.

Well I'm about to start, will time myself

I havent done any chopping, just got my pans etc already and heated.

Scallops take no time at all. How are you doing them?

Saves loads of time. Really looking for ways to free up space in my kitchen so I can buy one.

I had everything prepared (30 minutes) cooking time 15 mins. All in all 45 minutes for a pasta dish. Some brilliant recipes even if it takes longer than 15 mins.

took me 22 minutes plus 6 miinutes setting my pans up. the potatoes took the time,the scallops themselves only took 2 minutes. it was easy to follow the recipe, going to try the chicken liver one tomorrow.

We've had quite a few things from the book, recommend the Chicken Tikka on page 26

I agree, while I couldn't cook any of the meals in 15 minutes, there's still a great number of brilliant recipes. We made the fajitas and they were lovely!

When Jamie brought out the '30 minute meals' book one of our nationals did an article based on various members of the staff replicating his recipes. I think the shortest time anyone took was 45 minutes (but my memory may be generous). It was noted that his methods used an excessive amount of kitchen equipment that may make prepping quicker, but only moves the time saved cooking to the time spent at the kitchen sink afterwards.

I was quite impressed with my 22 minutes. But I did choose one of the easier recipes The one I'm trying later has a few more elements too it so I'm thinking I won't do as well this time.

Thanks for the recs gonzo and bighardlad, have put those two recipes on my shopping list for next week

I've always commented on how messy Jamie is when he's cooking. All sorts of things get dropped on the floor, flour goes everywhere and he moves from the sink back to work surface dripping water all over the floor.

Wonder who cleans up when he cooks at home?

Psst!

you need your gnarly 15 minute head to do these recipes.

sacrilege

This annoys me too. Hate the way he carries the collander from the sink back to the pot just dripping water everywhere. And squeezing lemon juice from half a lemon in each hand, most of it going over the hob. My wife would go spare!

Guilty. Mind you, nobody else to clean up so I do it myself.

Dito ! I am one messy cook and I clean everything up myself.

Took me and OH 40 minutes yesterday to do his laksa broth, having spent more than we intended on the ingredients. Just about forgave Jamie as it was delicious.