Learn how to pickle fruit and veg at home with our easy recipes, top tips and advice from experts. Try a new foodie activity, learn a new skill and make delicious treats along the way
Get to grips with a fun new skill at home and try pickling your favourite fruit and veggies. We have all the information you need to get started, including classic recipes and delicious modern twists. Despite what you might think, you don't need lots of specialist equipment and expert know-how to get started with pickling. You probably have what you need at home in your storecupboard. Most pickles are made by soaking (mostly) raw, fresh ingredients in a vinegar-based brine with sugar and salt, flavoured with spices and herbs. You can pickle ingredients for days or months, and transform everyday ingredients into something special. Add some crunch to your favourite sandwiches, a stunning charcuterie platter or an epic bbq burger with our favourite recipes. Best pickling recipes Top pickling tips Always use the freshest veggies possible to retain that all important crunch. Experiment and have fun to find your new favourite spice combinations. A sprinkling of chilli, a spoonful of mustard or a couple of kaffir lime leaves go a long way. Use kosher, sea or pickling salt rather than normal table salt, which contains caking agents such as iodine, which can cloud the brines and inhibit the growth of beneficial bacteria during fermentation. You can also add flavour to your vinegars or brine by adding things like elderflower, shiso, liquorice or pineapple weed. Garlic can turn blue during brining, don't panic! It won't harm the pickle. Pickle recipes to try at home Pickled beetroot Pickling seasonal vegetables is a great way to prolong the season and heighten the flavour of fresh produce. Beetroot is at its best from July to October, so try this recipe when you get the chance. Sauerkraut Turn your hand to making a jar of sauerkraut, a popular European fermented product made from cabbage. Add it to a salad or sandwich or eat it on its own. Pickled mussels and octopus with XO aïoli Love seafood? Let it shine in this medley of pickled mussels, octopus, fresh herbs, thinly sliced turnips and a quick homemade XO aïoli. Easy pickled veg The best recipe for pickled vegetables and also the simplest. We've used leeks, carrots, radishes and fennel, but you can experiment with what you've got. This simple recipe can be made in just 20 minutes and left until needed – crunch guaranteed. Pickled red cabbage This easy recipe is a great side dish to your Christmas feast, and it's gluten-free, low in calories and vegan. Pickled turnip, cucumber and ginger salad For a salad that cuts through the richness of meaty dishes, try this crunchy pickled turnip, cucumber and ginger mix. Add some red chilli if you like it fiery, then finish with a scattering of sesame seeds and coriander for a vibrant, zingy finish. Dill pickles Kick off your pickling adventures with a classic; the dill pickle. No burger would be complete without a few of these garlicky beauties. They also work well with salt beef or as part of a charcuterie board. It takes around a week for these cucumber slices to soak up all the flavours of the brine. Courgette pickle Turn summer courgettes into a quick, tangy pickle. Pop them into sandwiches or burgers, or serve alongside cheese and charcuterie for an easy homemade upgrade. Pickled greens with cloud ear mushrooms No Thai-inspired feast is complete without these spicy pickled greens with cloud ear mushrooms. Prep takes just 15 minutes (plus soaking), then you can leave them to pickle while you get on with showstopping dishes like a hands-on pad Thai. Marinated pickled cucumber This is a great Scandinavian pickled cucumber accompaniment for a ham centrepiece or a side of salmon (try our gravadlax) that only takes minutes to make. An essential part of any smorgasbord. Pickled chanterelles Mikkel Karstad’s pickled chanterelles are infused with forest flavours thanks to spruce tips, which add a subtle piney note, plus bay and apple. Chanterelles are plentiful in Nordic countries and easy to forage, but if you can’t find any, meaty mushrooms like oyster make a great substitute. Turmeric pickled eggs Revamp a retro classic and add some oomph to your lunch with these pickled eggs – the turmeric, mustard, coriander and pepper make a delicate blend no one could resist. Inject your meals with more nourishing spices with our best turmeric recipes, from comforting curries to salads bursting with seasonal flavours. Chilli pickled radishes We recommend making a couple of jars of these fiery pickled radishes – they're sure to disappear quickly. Serve them with a selection of cheeses and cured meats or a super smooth pâté. Fill your plate with even more easy radish recipes and make the most of this seasonal star. Mackerel with pickled grape salad Pickle grapes for two hours for a juicy, punchy result, then use them for the base of this low-calorie dinner with pan-seared mackerel, ready in just 20 minutes. Pickled cherries Dark, juicy and literally bursting with flavour, our pickled cherries recipe is the perfect way to preserve these fabulous fruits. This quick pickle is the ideal balance of sweet cherry flavour and sharp white wine vinegar. Try them with salads, roast pork or a charcuterie selection. Bake spectacular tarts, pies and pastries with our easy cherry recipes. Pink pickled rhubarb with ginger This jar of vibrant pickled rhubarb is super-quick to make and can be a great gift for your foodie friends. Serve with oily fish like mackerel or cold meats and cheeses. Try your hand at our easy rhubarb recipes for delectable sweet and savoury ideas. Spiced pickled shallots A traditional pickled onion is a thing of beauty. If you like a very crunchy shallot, feel free to break these open after 10 days of pickling, but 3-4 weeks will give you a more traditional texture. They also make a thoughtful homemade gift for fellow food-enthusiasts. Pink pickled turnips If you're putting together a spread of dips, breads and small bites, our vibrant pink pickled turnips are a must-try. Believe us when we say they taste as good as they look. Serve with warm flatbread, a slathering of hummus and maybe a chilli or two. From simple starters to hearty mains, our easy turnip recipes truly make the most of this delicious root veg. Pickled peaches Pickling is an easy way to preserve fruit, like peaches. This simple recipe, served with Italian whipped cheese, is quick and makes the best lunch or posh snack for sharing with friends and family. Make the most of British summertime fruit and dive into our best peach recipes. They work well in sweet and savoury dishes alike.
Make the most of the long weekend with extravagant brunches, BBQ spreads and stunning baking projects that will keep you busy
Simple but delectable is our idea of the perfect bank holiday menu. That includes extravagant bakes, impressive-looking summer spreads and creative tipples you can throw together without too much fuss. Now try more of our best brunch recipes. If you're lucky enough to have a heatwave on your bank holiday, check out our BBQ recipes and picnic food ideas. Best bank holiday recipes Jump to: Bank holiday brunches Bank holiday baking and desserts Bank holiday BBQ ideas Bank holiday drinks Bank holiday picnic ideas Indulgent brunches Shakshuka A classic brunch dish, shakshuka is vegetarian and quick and easy to make - spices, peppers, tomatoes and eggs bubbled up in a pan - what's not to like? Cinnamon buns Sticky and sweet, cinnamon rolls are a Scandinavian favourite, served for breakfast or as a satisfying snack. Our step-by-step guide will help you make perfect treats for friends and family. Full English croissants Check out our epic breakfast croissant recipe packed with super crispy bacon, baked beans and runny fried eggs. The perfect indulgent weekend treat for all the family. Try more croissant recipes. Espresso martini pancakes Combine your love of espresso and pancakes with this epic dessert. Flavoured with espresso and salted caramel, they're sure to leave a smile on your guests' faces. Now try more indulgent pancake recipes. Green tortilla with smoked salmon A chunky spinach, potato and chive tortilla with a side of smoked salmon, this beauty would make for a great weekend brunch. Sweetcorn, egg and bacon brunch udon Udon noodles are given a thoroughly brunchy upgrade with crisp bacon, a jammy boiled egg, fried mushrooms and sweetcorn. Swap in a fried or poached egg if you prefer. Mix-and-match brunch waffles These mix and match brunch waffles are the perfect recipe for a lazy weekend. Serve the toppings in bowls and the waffles in a pile and let everyone build their own. Top off your eye-catching table of goodies with our easy brunch cocktail recipes. Bank holiday baking and desserts Wagon Wheel brownies We're going old-school with these knockout jammie Wagon Wheel brownies. Wagon Wheels are a favourite lunch box treat, so they're perfect for a retro recipe. Fluffy marshmallow, crunchy Wagon Wheel biscuit and sweet raspberries make a brilliant brownie batter. Peanut butter flapjacks An inventive new flapjack recipe, that combines the wonder of PBJ (peanut butter and jam) with rolled oats, raspberry coulis and golden syrup. Malted milk chocolate traybake If you like chocolate-covered malted milk biscuits, you'll love this cake. A mixture of Horlicks powder and Maltesers creates the classic flavour. Snickerdoodles Roll cookie dough in cinnamon sugar to satisfy your sweet tooth – you can even freeze the unbaked dough balls for whenever you need a last-minute treat. Bara brith A traditional Welsh treat, bara brith comes crammed with tea-infused dried fruit and two types of spice. This loaf cake is delicious spread with salted butter. Lemon and elderflower almond cake Serve up a pretty bake with elderflower cordial soaked almond sponges, creamy lemon curd filling and edible flowers to decorate. Bake our best layer cake recipes to make fluffy sponges sandwiched with buttercream. Flex your skills and read our beginner's guide to cake decorating like a professional and turn a humble sponge cake into a sweet stunner. Griddled peach pavlova with mascarpone cream With just the right amount of crunch on the outside and a chewy marshmallow filling, this impressive, foolproof recipe will make a showstopping dessert at your next dinner party. Try more easy summer desserts. Bank holiday BBQ ideas Barbecue pulled pork Pulled pork is a great recipe to feed a crowd, served up in soft buns with crunchy coleslaw. See more of our best barbecue recipes. BBQ chilli chicken wings These juicy chicken wings are spiced with paprika, cumin, cayenne pepper and fresh oregano. Crisp up on the BBQ and serve with a light yogurt sauce to feed a hungry horde. Baked feta salad Salty cheese, sweet fresh figs and nutty almonds meet in Rosie Birkett’s vibrant summer salad, perfect for an al fresco lunch. Now try more easy summer salad recipes and best BBQ side dishes for summer. Bank holiday drinks Spicy margarita Raise a glass to summer with this easy tequila cocktail with added chilli warmth – try swapping tequila for mezcal for a smokier flavour. Frozen strawberry daiquiri It's party time! Grab strawberries, rum, lime juice and ice, then blitz it all together to create these quick-as-you-like frozen cocktails. Try more frozen cocktails. White wine sangria Summer screams for sangria – try this white wine version with brandy, elderflower and plenty of fruit. Try more easy jug cocktails. Caipirinha Mojito fans in particular will love this light, zesty yet punchy cocktail, which is Brazil's national drink. A properly refreshing sip for a summer's day. Bicicletta spritz A sophisticated take on a classic cocktail, this recipe uses dry white wine (a light Italian variety) in place of the usual prosecco. Ideal for lazy summer afternoons. Mezcal and elderflower highball Mix up this fragrant mezcal highball, topped with grapefruit soda and rose water and garnished with edible flowers for a floral finish. Elderflower and raspberry mocktail bottles Make a batch of these summery portable mocktails in just ten minutes and pop in your picnic hamper. Try more non-alcoholic cocktails. Bank holiday picnic ideas Picnic platter For an elevated picnic spread, try our platter with help-yourself nibbles including slices of sourdough, cured meats, crudités, hunks of cheese and nuts. Cheese and onion quiche Using spring onions and ready-made pastry cuts down the cooking time so you can bake this classic vegetarian tart midweek. Grilled corn salad with tahini miso dressing Griddle corn for a charred flavour that complements the sweet cherry tomatoes in this salad. Sprinkle over crumbled feta and dress in a tahini, miso and maple dressing. Vegan maki rolls Sushi street food company Happy Maki (‘sushi from the land’) travels the UK dishing out sushi wraps. Unusually for sushi, everything is ‘fish free’ to raise awareness about unsustainable fish farming. Here's our version of the Thai sweet potato wrap. Syrian falafel Try this spiced falafel recipe from Imad’s Syrian Kitchen as part of a meze-style picnic feast. They are best served with a fresh salad and lemony tahini sauce.
21 best coffee subscriptions to buy in 2024
We've reviewed the UK's top coffee delivery services, catering to every budget and taste, to find the best coffee subscriptions on offer
For many of us, that morning cup of coffee sets us up for the day, giving us a moment to breathe. So why not get your specially-selected caffeine kick delivered to your door and support small businesses along the way? Coffee delivery services have exploded in popularity over recent months, with roasteries and independent shops adapting to online life. We have found the best coffee subscriptions and boxes for you to try out. Whether you need beans for your machine or filter coffee to suit a brand-new aeropress, there's a delicious coffee subscription to suit your needs and taste. Treat yourself or a fellow caffeine aficionado to one of the coffee subscriptions below for a little luxury you can enjoy every day. Once you've found your perfect pre-ground mix, read our guide on how to make the perfect cup of coffee at home. Taking your coffee on the go? Read our review of the best reusable coffee cups or discover the best Black Friday coffee machine deals available right now. Coffee doesn't just taste delicious in your morning mug, explore coffee in the kitchen with our best ever coffee recipes. Treat yourself to the full experience and serve your coffee in one of our favourite espresso cups and coffee mugs. Best coffee subscriptions at a glance Best for next-day delivery: Pact Coffee, from £7.95 Best subscription with additions: Rise Coffee Box, from £13.25 Best coffee from micro roasters: Batch Coffee, from £17.99 Best for seasonal coffee: Fireheart Coffee, from £9.58 Best independent roaster: Quarter Horse Coffee, from £10.50 Best unique coffee flavours: Blue Coffee Box, from £9.39 Best organic coffee: Kiss the Hippo, from £9.90 Best tasting beans: Balance Coffee, from £10.99 Best variety of beans: Good Brew, £21.99 Best high-end coffee subscription: Allpress, from £10 Best for bold flavours: Cartwheel Coffee, from £17.50 Best for fresh coffee: Artisan Coffee Co., from £9.35 Best filipino coffee: Kapihan, £46 Best for cold brews: Origin Coffee, from £9.20 Best social-conscious subscription: Coaltown Coffee, £9.50 Best for compostable coffee pods: Rave Coffee, from £7.95 Best simple coffee subscription: Outpost Coffee, from £8.95 Best for new coffee drinkers: Perky Blenders, from £8.90 Best letterbox-friendly subscription: Rounton Coffee Roasters, from £12 Best for irregular coffee drinkers: Stewarts Coffee, from £7.50 Best for coffee geeks: 200 degrees, £8 Best coffee subscriptions to try in 2024 Pact Coffee Available from Pact (from £7.95) Best for next-day delivery Pact's biggest selling points are the flexibility to have coffee delivered next day, and its focus on supporting farmers and sustainable sourcing. Pact buys its beans through direct trade, meaning it skips as many unnecessary steps in the supply chain as possible, to ensure farmers get fairer than Fairtrade prices for their product. Choose your letterbox-friendly package from 13 rotating coffees and try a range of coffees with hints of everything from greengage plums, to caramel, blackcurrant, orange cream chocolate or candied fruit. Once you've chosen your grind range, you can choose from the 'House', 'Select' and 'Micro-Lot' coffee options, depending on whether you want a reliable roast with similar flavours each time or a more premium option featuring unique and unusual flavours. Opt for the most popular select roast, which has hints of chocolate malt milkshake sweetness', or branch out to a fruitier roast from Honduras with citrus acidity and a lingering cherry aftertaste. You'll get a card with some tasting notes to peruse over your afternoon cuppa and a quote from the grower. Your beans are also shipped within seven days of roasting to keep your brew as fresh as possible. Frequency: 250g bag anywhere from every 2 t0 60 days Available grinds: whole bean, coffee pods, espresso machine, Aeropress, moka pot, drip, V60, Chemex, cafetière, cold brew, clever dripper Rise Coffee Box Available from Rise Coffee Box (from £13.25) Best subscription with additions If you’re bored with standard serves, this handpicked selection sent in eco-friendly boxes from independent roasters across the UK is for you. As a tasty bonus, you’ll also receive some treats as well as your monthly brew, from fruity teas to snacking nuts or vegan chocolate bars. Your coffee also comes with handy brewing tips, recipes to help you get the most from every bag and stories from the roasters themselves. All the partners source their beans sustainably, pay fair wages and the delivery box is recyclable. We love the variety and the addition of a surprise bite to enjoy with our morning cuppa. Frequency: 2 x 227-250g bags weekly, fortnightly, bi-monthly, monthly Available grinds: whole bean, cafetiere, aeropress, espresso, Batch Coffee Available from Batch Coffee (from £17.99) Best coffee from micro roasters Batch are all about bringing you micro-roasters and small UK coffee brands with top quality beans. Each box contains two different grinds, slurped and selected by the Batch team. Everything they try gets added to their own extensive online coffee reviews archive, so you can read their expert descriptions and learn more about each individual roastery. Founder Tom Saxon also outlines the review process for total transparency and the site has handy guides for every brewing method. Choose from a bi-weekly or monthly coffee subscription and enjoy two hand-selected coffees to expand your caffeinated horizons. We loved that each bag comes with a QR code which you can scan to learn more about the coffee and what the team enjoyed about it. If you want to try before you commit to a subscription, you can always order a one off taste box of two speciality coffees. They dispatch their coffee in plastic-free, fully recyclable packaging every other Tuesday to ensure it reaches you at peak freshness. Frequency: 2 x 200g bags Available grinds: whole bean, cafetiere, pour over, stovetop, aeropress, espresso Fireheart Coffee Available from Fireheart Coffee (from £9.58) Best for seasonal coffee Fireheart is a collaboration between Paul Tocher, Russel Stinson and coffee roaster Thomas De Garnham, who founded Fireheart with the goal to champion seasonality and simplicity in coffee. They are also committed to sourcing beans ethically, paying 50% above Fair Trade value. These are roasted and ground to order to minimise waste. Once a blend goes out of season, the Fireheart team recommend newer options to try so you're never bored of what turns up at the front door. Its joyful coffee bags bring a modern pop of colour to the kitchen cupboard. For anyone with a coffee-pod machine, there's also a compostable pod subscription on offer. The Palace Blend, created from Columbian and Ethiopian beans, is a brand staple packed with hits of Morello cherry and dark chocolate, but rare showstoppers like the Ruffatti blend mean even the most adventurous coffee drinkers will have a treat awaiting them. Frequency: 250g bag every 7, 14, 30 or 45 days Available grinds: drip, espresso, cafetière, whole bean, biodegradable coffee pod Quarter Horse Coffee Available from Quarter Horse Coffee (from £10.50) Best independent roaster This independent Birmingham-based roaster sources beans from all over the world for its cafe and subscription service in the UK. It also prides itself on relationships with farmers and cooperatives that support sustainable growth, ethical trading and pricing. No intimidating coffee jargon here, just a selection of premium beans, roasted to order in its coffee shop. Founders, Brummie-born Ameeta and Nathan Retzer, originally from Chicago, want everyone to feel as welcome in their cafe as they would in their own living room. Sample aromatic and creamy Salvadorian beans or a medium-roasted Kenyan bean with notes of vanilla and tropical fruits. Simply select a filter, espresso or whole bean subscription and wait for interesting single origin coffee to drop onto your doormat. Frequency: 250g bag every week, fortnightly, three weeks or four weeks Available grinds: filter, espresso, whole bean Blue Coffee Box Available from Blue Coffee Box (from £9.39) Best unique coffee flavours If a pack of pastel-packaged coffee focusing on unique flavours sounds up your street, Blue Coffee Box could be for you. They work with over 300 roasters around the UK to get a huge range of beans from 22 different countries. Your coffees will be selected depending on the flavour profile you pick when building your selection; opt for a light, medium or dark roast (or let their coffee concierge surprise you). If you're not a fan of the coffee selected, get in touch and they will find an alternative. Beans are sourced from farmers and local cooperatives, cutting out the middleman and ensuring farmers are paid more than the Fairtrade price. The simple compostable packaging is letterbox-friendly, so no need to worry about potentially missing deliveries. If you fancy flexing your barista skills, you can also log on to the online Coffee School for brewing methods, reviews and pieces written by guest roasters. Frequency: 227g bag every 2 weeks, monthly or two months Available grinds: whole bean, cafetière, dripper, Aeropress, espresso machine Kiss the Hippo Available from Kiss the Hippo (from £9.90) Best organic coffee You're unlikely to forget the name of this London-based coffee brand. Look for the bag with the characteristic red hippo and expect mouthwatering pre-ground coffee inside. Pick from blends or single origin beans, sourced in season and roasted in small batches to be delivered to your door. Offerings reflect seasonal availability of the coffee and each lot is consumed before the next harvest is roasted, so enjoy your batch while it's at its peak. Kiss the Hippo aims to focus on quality over quantity, with a maximum of around 6-8 coffees available at one time from direct trade farmers. In house, the organic certified roastery is powered using 100 per cent renewable energy, making all coffees carbon neutral. There are also compostable pods available for machine users. You might receive a dark chocolatey blend with hints of pecan, or a delicate Indonesian brew with notes of peach and mango. Frequency: 250g bag weekly, fortnightly or monthly Available grinds: whole bean, French press, drip, espresso Balance Coffee Available from Balance Coffee (from £10.99) Best tasting beans As the name might suggest, Balance prides itself on a balanced brew with a clean flavour profile, showcasing the unique flavour profiles of its beans. It uses a medium-light roast in order to let the flavours of the beans shine through. The coffees are rotated every time your bag arrives, so you'll try seasonal varieties from around the world every month. The coffee is ethically sourced and sustainable but also more unusual than your average americano, as every batch is sourced from the top 5% of coffee farms worldwide. If there's a cuppa you fall in love with, you can request it in your next order or buy a bag from the online store. Try the Stability Blend for a sip of creamy milk chocolate or a fruity San Lorenzo from Colombia, with notes of slightly sweet raisin and tart raspberry. The colourful packaging is recyclable once you've finished brewing. Frequency: 250g, 500g or 1kg bag weekly, fortnightly or monthly Available grinds: whole bean, French press, filter, aeropress, stovetop, espresso Good Brew Available from Good Brew (from £21.99) Best variety of beans Top quality beans and variety are the two pillars of Good Brew coffee. You’ll get around 16 cups of coffee per bag, plenty of caffeine to keep you going ‘til your next delivery. Your recyclable cardboard box will arrive with two bags from independent roasters, complete with the brand’s own funky packaging. Your brew box will also include a card with tasting notes, brewing method tips, more information about the roasting partner and the coffee itself. You’ll get handy guidelines to enhance your coffee experience, like ‘try this one black to accentuate the acidity and hints of pineapple’. If you’re a fan of a particular bag, you can also buy your favourite brews from their online shop. This subscription service is simple, uncomplicated and most importantly, the coffees are interesting and full of flavour. Frequency: 2 x 200-250g bags delivered monthly Available grind: whole bean, espresso, filter Allpress Available from Allpress (from £10) Best high-end coffee subscription If your idea of heaven is a weekend brunch spent around the kitchen table with the family, you'll feel right at home with Allpress. This Kiwi roasters encourages all its customers to take a moment to relax with a cuppa on a lazy Sunday morning. Roasting technique is key to all brews; the hot air roasting method dissipates any burnt aftertaste and elevates the unique character and flavour of the beans. Choose between three classic medium to dark roasts; the Allpress Espresso Blend, A.R.T Espresso roast and The Good Brew, or try something a little different with the Discovery Brew Bundle. The focus is on quality over quantity, so keep an eye out for the more experimental beans that crop up in the regular rotation. Frequency: 250g delivered weekly Available grinds: whole bean, filter, plunger, stovetop Cartwheel Coffee Available from Cartwheel Coffee (from £17.50) Best for bold flavours Cartwheel are a small Nottingham-based team, focused on finding flavourful brews with unique characteristics from individual farmers. They’re all about bold flavours, shunning humdrum one-note brands and supporting small producers with top-notch crops. The basis of their business is traceability and transparency. You won't be bored with your brews; there are 50 new coffees every year including one-off runs and coffee specially selected for subscribers. If you happen to be in the East Midlands, you also get free access to cuppings at their roastery and access to their online barista training courses to expand your skills. In our subscription box, we were treated to a nutty Mexican brew with notes of rich muscovado sugar, and a honeyed Rwandan coffee with hints of light tropical fruit. Their coffee bags are 100% recyclable and their cafe menus are produced from recycled coffee cups. Even the waste from their roastery goes into compost for local allotments. Frequency: 2 or 4 x 250g bags fortnightly, monthly or every other month Available grinds: whole bean, espresso, cafetière, filter Artisan Coffee Co. Available from Artisan Coffee Co. (from £9.35) Best for fresh coffee Artisan Coffee Co, are on a mission to elevate your daily brew, making speciality coffee accessible to everyone. They’ve done so by taking a flavour-focussed approach to their coffee and creating six characterful, layered blends that underpin the whole brand. These range from The Big Shot – rich, chocolaty and crowd-pleasing – to the bright and delicate Enigma with notes of dark fruits. Another USP is that ground coffees are packaged in individual 30g servings designed to ensure maximum freshness and aroma, so you can enjoy a perfect cup every time. They’re also available in coffee bags, pods and as whole beans. Artisan Coffee Co is the passion project of ex-The Fat Duck chef Ashley Palmer-Watts, as well as a Q grader (the coffee industry equivalent of a sommelier) and a coffee research scientist – so you know you’re in safe hands. You can dive straight in with a coffee box subscription, but Artisan Coffee Co. encourage you to try a tasting pack first so you can discover which blends you like best. These come with a range of delicious chocolate flights (created by Ashley) designed to complement each coffee – you can buy these separately as well. Each blend can be used in most brewing methods – from moka pot to V60 – and the website helpfully has a range of step-by-step guides for each style. Once you’ve picked the flavours you like, setting up a subscription is pretty straightforward. For ground coffee, for example, you can choose from one to five boxes of 12 single-serve sachets delivered monthly. One small point to note is that at the moment some of the packaging for the single-serve sachets isn’t recyclable, but Artisan Coffee Co. are currently developing recyclable alternatives so watch this space. Frequency: fortnightly or monthly Available grinds: ground, pods, bags, whole beans Kapihan coffee subscription Available from Kapihan coffee subscription (£46 a month) Best filipino coffee This sibling-run Filipino coffee shop serves modern Filipino bakes and coffee to its Battersea neighbours. David, Nigel, Rosemary and Plams are dedicated to exploring their heritage and sourcing the Philippines’ most desirable beans. The weekly blends in Kapihan’s coffee subscription are kept as a surprise (the grind is the only variable in the subscription), but there are some superb coffee bags available. The house blend combines beans from the North Island of Luzon, South Island of Mindanao and West Java Indonesia, resulting in a deep, rich blend with plenty of malty chocolate notes and a sweet toffee finish. Add on some freshly-baked treats to enjoy with your coffee, including sweet, brioche-like pandesal with a chocolate hazelnut filling and crisp outer shell, or chorizo and cheese-studded swirls. Frequency: 250g bag every week Available grinds: French press, whole bean, espresso, V60 Origin Coffee Roasters Available from Origin Coffee Roasters (from £8) Best for cold brews Origin pair sustainability with speciality coffee. Choose from espresso, filter or decaf roast and decide whether you want to sample their classic ‘mainstay’ flavours or more unusual feature flavours. Their coffee is sourced through direct trade, with a focus on ethical practices and exploring the stories behind each cup. You can also switch up your usual serve and try a cold brew subscription. You’ll find a wealth of consistent, comforting flavours, from their stalwart aptly named ‘resolute’ with notes of dark chocolate, to their zesty ‘ataka’ blend, with hints of blueberry and caramel. Origin also offer educational courses for both professionals and keen enthusiasts if you’re looking to expand your coffee making knowledge. If you like something sweet with your caffeine pick-me-up, try their coffee x chocolate subscription, which pairs aromatic roasts with quality bars. Subscriptions start from £8.00 for 250g bag weekly. Frequency: Every week, 2 weeks or 4 weeks. Available grinds: Whole beans, espresso, aeropress, pods Coaltown Available from Coaltown (£9.50) Best social-conscious subscription South Wales-based roastery Coaltown was originally set up with the purpose of bringing an industry to the mining town of Ammanford, employing local people to create a delicious product. Its single origin beans are sourced directly from farmers, with a focus on transparent and sustainable trade. Roaster and barista work together in the cafe, which is also the home of a training academy, designed to share techniques and tricks of the trade. Small roasted batches deliver bags filled with personality and diverse flavours. Try a selection of the house beans, single origin or decaf in your subscription, from a nutty and biscuity Black Gold blend, to a single origin Rwandan roast filled with notes of dark chocolate and raspberry wine. Frequency: 227g bag delivered weekly or monthly Available grinds: whole bean, cafetière, filter, espresso, pods Rave Available from Rave (from £7.95) Best for compostable coffee pods From freshly-roasted whole beans to pre-ground and even compostable pods, Rave offers a wide range of ethically sourced beans. Your coffee subscription box delivery also comes with tips and a booklet of techniques for every brewing method, so you can flex your barista muscles. Choose from rich, traditional roasts best enjoyed with milk, or take the ‘discovery’ option to try lighter roasts, best enjoyed black. You can also choose your brewing method to get the right grind and select how many bags you’d like a month. Rave says its packaging isn’t as ‘sexy’ as other brands, as the business believe ‘the coffee is what you should pay for, not the box it might come in’, but the stripped back minimal styling and hand-written font fits the brand to a tee. It’s also recyclable and comes in a letterbox-friendly package. We tried a full-bodied Colombian brew with a light fruity aftertaste and malty biscuit notes, and a light Rwandan roast with red fruits and bubblegum sweetness. Rave roasts five days a week and aims to deliver you its most recent roast to make sure it’s as fresh as possible. Frequency: 250g bag delivered monthly Available grinds: whole bean, cafetière, Chemex, drip machine, Aeropress, V60, drip, stovetop, espresso Outpost Coffee Available from Outpost Coffee (from £8.95) Best simple coffee subscription Outpost is a speciality small-batch roasters, that focuses on sourcing stand out beans, supporting growers and training industry professionals. You can also sign up for a home brewing masterclass at its East Midlands roastery to take your barista skills to the next level. Sign up for a subscription and you can expect two pale pink packages of unique coffees through your door every month. Described as 'perfect for the coffee explorer', these specially selected lots are a real everyday luxury. The filter coffee is for those who like their beverages black, the espresso roast is best if you enjoy your coffee with milk. The filter selection is filled with subtle flavours and perfectly balanced sweetness and acidity. Characteristically, the espresso subscription is a slightly longer roast, showcasing deeper flavours. Your coffees will be switched up seasonally and you'll receive brewing tips and more info on how the coffee's been processed. We recommend the fudgy Ichama roast from Kenya, or brand-new La Samaria, a rich and chocolatey Nicaraguan coffee. Frequency: 2 x 250g bag, fortnightly or monthly Available grinds: filter, espresso Perky Blenders Available from Perky Blenders (from £8.90) Best for new coffee drinkers Hailing from East London, Perky Blenders is a family-owned business which started life as one small coffee cart. Determined to rid coffee of any secretive snobbery, everyone from French press fanatics to first-time brewers will find something to tickle their tastebuds. You can choose your coffee from its selection of blends, try a one-off subscription or go for their four-week Variety Club for a taste of everything on offer. We recommend the sweet and floral Acacia blend with a spiced cinnamon bun – an ideal way to start the day. For the more adventurous, try the coffee of the month subscription for a seasonal brew available for a limited time. All the elements of the coffee bags are oxo-degradable, or, if you happen to live near the cafe, simply bring a container and they'll fill it up for you. Frequency: one 200g bag every 1,2,3 or 4 weeks Available grinds: espresso, whole bean, French press, Moka pot, Chemex, V60, Aeropress, cold brew Rounton Coffee Roasters Available from Rounton Coffee Roasters (from £12) Best letterbox-friendly subscription This Yorkshire-based speciality roasters aims to support coffees that guarantee a fair cut for everyone working at the beginning of the chain. Quality and sustainability is at the forefront of the selection and it stocks coffees from across the globe, shipped to you in letterbox-friendly packaging. Try a 'smooth' or 'fruity' subscription to receive coffees with a specific flavour profile or sign up for a three-month subscription to get a taste of their favourite seasonal roasts of the moment. If you're looking for exciting offerings with plenty of complexity, go for the fruity selection. If tried and tested staples are more your thing, head for the smooth single origin subscription. Either way, you won't be disappointed. From the hazelnutty granary blend, the great all-rounder, to the rarer Peruvian beans from Roger Chilcon Flores with juicy orange marmalade flavours, there's plenty of variety to be had. Check out its Youtube videos for handy brewing tutorials and tasting tips. Frequency: 250g bag delivered weekly, fortnightly or monthly Available grinds: whole bean, cafetière, filter, Aeropress, espresso Stewarts of Trent Bridge Available from Stewarts Coffee (from £7.50) Best for irregular coffee drinkers This Nottingham-based company has been roasting in the UK since the ‘80’s, founded by Stewart Falconer after sampling coffees from around the world on his travels abroad. The business works closely with importers to understand the sustainability of their beans. Each eye-catching, recyclable bag comes stamped with the name of the farmer cultivating the crops and a line or two about their family, the tasting notes for your coffee and the date it was roasted. Sign up to ‘The Coffee Lounge’ subscription, where a coffee is selected each month by the team, or choose your own subscription pack. You can also skip shipments if you’re still working on a bag of coffee. Try a chocolatey Colombian cuppa or a creamy, fruity blend from Burundi with notes of marmalade. Frequency: 500g bag every month Available grinds: Aeropress, espresso, filter, stovetop, cafetière, whole bean 200 degrees Available from 200 degrees (from £8.45) Best for coffee geeks 200 degrees describes itself as a business of 'unashamed coffee geeks', who revel in the science behind every cup. The name comes from the temperature of its roast, designed to give a smooth, full-bodied taste. Beginning life in its roast house in Nottingham, they now have coffee shops and barista schools across the UK. 200 degrees aims to offer customers as much information as possible about the beans and who grows them. Beans are delivered weekly to maintain freshness and taste, and all coffee is despatched with a 'roasted on' date. Choose from the signature Brazilian love affair beans, (a fruity all-rounder), try a new blend, or even grab a small batch roast exclusive to subscribers. You'll also receive helpful tips on brewing and methods for your roast. You might be lucky enough to receive a limited seasonal bean like the treacly Indian Ratnagiri Estate. Frequency: 250g bag weekly, fortnightly or every four weeks Available grinds: whole bean, espresso, cafetière, moka pot, Aeropress, V60, Chemex, filter How we tested We tested at least two different types of coffee on offer from all the coffee subscription boxes. These were either delivered as whole bean or ground for aeropress specifically, or a mixture of both. Each coffee was made in a home setting, brewed using an aeropress, soft water type, temperature that was just below boiling point and aeropress grind across all samples, unless it came as whole beans, in which we ground the beans at home. Want to learn more about becoming an expert at-home barista? Read our guides here: Celeste Wong's guide to becoming an overnight coffee expert Celeste Wong's guide on how to make iced coffee Celeste Wong's best moka pots Celeste Wong's best coffee grinders Celeste Wong's best gooseneck kettles to try Celeste Wong's best decaf coffee to try Celeste Wong's best reusable and compostable espresso pods Celeste Wong's best cafetières to buy Celeste Wong's best coffee bags Related reviews: Best coffee pod machines Best bean-to-cup coffee machines Best espresso machines Best Nespresso machines Best greens powders to buy
Make the most of your long Easter weekend with our sweet chocolate projects. These delicious recipe ideas are great ways for adults and kids to spend an afternoon as well as using up any leftover Easter eggs
Explore new recipes in the kitchen this Easter and make the most of your weekend with a chocolaty project or two. Make one of our postable chocolate gifts to treat friends or family, create a stunning Easter afternoon tea spread or switch up classic cocktails with your own alcoholic infusions. We've also got plenty of ideas for using up any leftover Easter egg chocolate, including our easy Easter trash tiffin, rocky road or mocha slab. Try our best Easter dessert recipes and our best Easter baking ideas, including Easter cakes for even more beautiful bakes to satisfy your sweet tooth. Make a traditional spiced simnel cake, fluffy hot cross buns or a seasonal twist on classic chocolate brownies. Check out our Easter recipes collection. Easter chocolate recipe ideas Easter rocky road Our easy rocky road is one for the whole family to get involved in making. Let the kids mix in their favourite Easter treats, colourful eggs and crunchy biscuits. Simply melt your choc, mix in your chosen sweets and set in the fridge. Cut this super delicious choc block into small squares to enjoy with your afternoon cuppa. Easter trash tiffin Want to try a slightly more sophisticated version of the standard rocky road? Our Easter trash tiffin is the perfect grown-up indulgence and uses up any left-over Easter eggs. Mix together fiery gingernut biscuits, juicy raisins and crunchy almonds to make this decidedly adult Easter treat. Easter cupcakes Are you a die-hard Cadbury Mini Eggs fan? If that’s a yes, why not incorporate them into a batch of these chocolate cupcakes, topped with smooth vanilla buttercream and a little grated chocolate to make an easy Easter treat. Crème Egg cupcakes Present these pretty Crème Egg cupcakes to friends and family and watch them disappear in seconds. With their yolk-yellow frosting and super-chocolatey sponge, they’re hard not to love. Malted milk chocolate traybake If you like chocolate-covered malted milk biscuits, you'll love this cake. A mixture of Horlicks powder and Maltesers creates the classic flavour. Mocha chocolate slab You might have seen shards of colourful chocolate with all manner of toppings trending on Instagram. Chocolate slabs are a creative way to use up chocolate and create something eye-catching and delicious with just a handful of ingredients. They also make great gifts and they're less likely to be damaged in the post. Our two-toned version uses white and dark chocolate, and crunchy coffee beans for a caffeinated chocolate kick. It's the perfect after-dinner treat. Chocolate cocktails Have a go at home-based mixology and make your own boozy infusions. Add some irresistible cocoa notes to your whisky and combine with homemade sugar syrup to make our chocolate old fashioned – serve with a garnish of orange peel for a citrus lift. Take a dip in our easy cocktail recipes collection for more manageable drinks you can make at home. Postable chocolate treats Try your hand at being a master chocolatier and make your own deliciously smooth chocolate truffles. They look impressive but are surprisingly easy to make and customisable depending on your tastes. Try adding a splash of rum, a pinch of sea salt or a dash of orange essence to your dark chocolate base. No one could resist a chunk of our chocolate fudge, another of our most delicious giftable recipes. Bring together just four key ingredients, simmer everything together, set and enjoy. Make sure to keep a box for yourself or you'll regret it! Mix up your favourite chocolaty offering and try our boozy Baileys brownies for a seriously decadent snack. Need some more bite-sized inspiration? Take a look at our easy chocolate truffles recipes for more boxes of picture-perfect treats. Chocolate-themed afternoon tea Go all out and make your own chocolate-themed afternoon tea spread. Delicate pastries, bite-sized cakes and patisserie, and elegant biscuits are the order of the day. Make an adult version of everyone's favourite teatime treat, chocolate fondant fancies. Rich and truffly, these squares are smothered in all things chocolate. Feeling adventurous? Flex your patisserie muscles and make our classic chocolate éclairs and a batch of picture-perfect raspberry and white chocolate macarons. If you're really out to impress, a slice of our chocolate and hazelnut millefeuille cake is bound to make jaws drop. Top off your offering with classic chocolate cupcakes and maybe a dark chocolate and olive oil cookie to go with your tea. Get more colourful inspiration from our best ever afternoon tea recipes. Chocolate collar Put the final professional touch to your beautiful bakes with our chocolate collar technique. Learn from the experts with our step-by-step guide and take your dessert to the next level. Elevate the humble chocolate cake in just four easy steps with a bowl of melted chocolate and a strip of parchment paper. Wrap up one of our best chocolate cake recipes for a special celebration. DIY hot chocolate bar Treat yourself to an indulgent hot chocolate with all the trimmings and create your own hot chocolate bar. Stick to our classic luxury hot chocolate or try a grown-up spiked hot chocolate, then let everyone pile on their favourite treats. Squirty cream, flakes, marshmallows and chunks of fudge are all welcome. Try adding a splash of whisky or dark spiced rum for a boozy twist. Get stuck into our easy hot chocolate recipes for more marvellous mulled drinks and spiked specialities. White chocolate Easter cake Go all out and make a stunning Easter centrepiece, layering up delicate sponges, white chocolate frosting, crunchy mini eggs and broken white chocolate eggs. This beautiful seasonal bake is perfect for feeding a crowd and getting creative with the toppings. If any of your friends are lucky enough to have a spring birthday, why not serve up this sweet treat for friends and family? Easter cheesecake Celebrate Easter with our decadent chocolate cheesecake, topped with a show-stopping combination of crushed biscuits and chocolate eggs.
Add some heat to your cocktail menu with our favourite spicy cocktail recipes. These fiery drinks are easy to make and filled with punchy flavours, perfect for party season
Make the most of summer and punchy chilli flavours with our spicy cocktail recipes. Whether you're looking for a spicy margarita or a smooth bloody mary, we have something that'll treat your tastebuds. Take your party up a notch with these fiery drinks ideas, perfect for barbecue season. Try our recipes below or browse our spicy chicken recipes for mains that pack a punch and our easy brunch cocktail recipes for more tempting tipples. For more cocktail inspiration, check out our bitter cocktail recipes, fruity cocktails and citrus cocktail recipes to try. Easy spicy cocktail recipes Ultimate bloody mary Our recipe for this classic cocktail combines vodka, tomato juice, Worcestershire sauce, port and sherry with a few dashes of Tabasco to turn up the heat. Garnish with a celery stick and some tomatoes and olives to serve. Try our Spanish bloody mary twist by swapping vodka for amontillado sherry. It makes a lower-ABV, super-savoury take on this brunch classic. Garnish with a gilda – a classic pinxto snack. Picante cocktail This cocktail puts a spicy twist on the classic margarita, infused with the warmth of chilli. For an extra layer of smoky depth, swap out the tequila for mezcal. Guava and chilli sour Recreate this Indo-Chinese recipe from Soho’s chic Kolkata-inspired café, Fatt Pundit. A sophisticated sour, this tipple makes the most of fresh guava, tequila and a chilli powdered-rim. If you're looking for sharp, fruity flavours with a touch of sweetness and a little heat, look no further. Mezcal paloma Check out this quick and easy summer cocktail recipe with mezcal, zesty limes and sweet yet slightly bitter grapefruit juice. A paloma is usually made with tequila but using mezcal instead adds a lovely smoky edge. The citrus-chilli salted rim is the perfect final flourish. Cucumber and jalapeño margarita Our genius margarita jug cocktail infuses tequila with the warmth of jalapeño chilli and balances this with cooling cucumber. Serve in glasses with a citrus and chilli salt rim for an irresistible final touch. Sunny side This sunset-coloured cocktail comes from Milk Beach, a restaurant that serves Australian-inspired dishes in London’s Queen’s Park. You'll need chilli-infused rum to create this tropical, moreish tipple. Simply mix all your ingredients together and serve over ice with a slice of chilli. Green tomato spicy marg Make your green tomato consommé ahead of time to streamline the prep this for this tart and piquant cocktail from Saltine restaurant in London. Mezcal, pineapple and jalapeño smash The smoky notes of the mezcal work wonderfully with the grilled pineapple and gentle heat from the chilli in this spicy drink. It’s simple to mix up and can easily be made into a jug cocktail for a crowd. Spicy margarita Margaritas pair beautifully with spicy flavours, so try adding a dash of hot sauce to our classic cocktail recipe. Make a chilli salt for the glass rim by mixing together ½ tsp of mild chilli powder, 1 tsp of sea salt flakes and the zest of ½ a lime.
Skip a trip to the shops and try our easy storecupboard baking recipes, using everyday ingredients. Try a classic loaf cake, indulgent brownies or simple flapjacks
The very best bakes are easy to make and even easier to wolf down. Our top storecupboard baking ideas are just that; super simple – using everyday ingredients you'll likely already have in your kitchen – and hard to resist. Use everything from tinned peaches and dried fruit to peanut butter and even cereal to create an imaginative sweet treat. If you're looking for a weekend project that will satisfy your cravings, look no further. Try sticky flapjacks, a stunning fruity sponge or a batch of peanut butter cookies. Looking for something savoury to go with your delightful desserts? Turn your everyday ingredients into our easy storecupboard recipes, from quick salads to warming curries. For more easy baking ideas, check out our rocky road recipes. Easy storecupboard baking recipes Flapjacks This comforting, classic recipe uses a grand total of six storecupboard ingredients. All it takes is melting, mixing and baking to make beautifully golden goodies to go with a cup of tea. Try these classic easy flapjacks, then check out all our flapjack recipes, including healthy flapjacks or savoury cheese and Marmite flapjacks. Classic chocolate brownies Everyone loves a gooey chocolate brownie. Try making our classic recipe or mix it up with our fun flavour variations. You can add marshmallows, toasted pecans or white chocolate chunks for a delicious twist. Take a look at our best ever brownie recipes for vegan versions, chocolate orange mixes and more. Banana oat cookies Our five-ingredient banana oat cookies, stuffed with chocolate chips, are ideal for an afternoon pick-me-up. They're so quick and easy to make – just as well, these will be gone so quick you'll be whipping up a second batch in no time. Peach and soured cream cake The perfect storecupboard bake. Use up that tin of peaches with this light and fluffy sponge cake, topped with a soured cream frosting. Sandwich peach slices in between the layers of sponge and scatter a few on top of your icing for an eye-catching bake. The best victoria sponge You can't beat a slice of traditional victoria sponge, filled with jam and cream. Follow our simple steps to get a sponge sandwich cake that's lighter than air. It's best enjoyed on the day it's baked, when it's at its soft, springy best. For more comforting treats, check out our easy cake recipes collection. Classic millionaire's shortbread Smooth caramel sandwiched between chocolate and a buttery, crumbly shortbread. These classic millionaire's shortbread bites look uber professional, but are simple to make at home. Sprinkle with a pinch of sea salt to balance out the sweetness of the caramel. Bara brith This traditional treat isn't just for St David's day. Try a slice of our spiced fruit loaf cake with a slathering of salted butter for a hearty homemade snack. Using treacle gives this dark, squidgy loaf an extra dose of decadence. Easy pound cake A classic vanilla-flavoured pound cake is designed to be simple, using equal ratios of butter, sugar and flour. This all-in-one recipe involves mixing together your ingredients until smooth, baking until golden-brown and enjoying warm from the oven. Thumbprint cookies Combine the winning flavours of peanut butter and sweet raspberry jam to make our family-friendly thumbprint cookies. Use your thumb to make little wells in the centre of your cookie dough, and fill with a dollop of jam and peanut butter. Peanut butter cookies Nutty, buttery and quick to make, these crisp peanut butter cookies are gluten-free and great for baking with kids. It'll take just under 30 minutes and a handful of ingredients to stock up your biscuit tin with treats for days... if they last that long. Honey nut cornflake and caramel bars These biscuit bars are made up of layer upon layer of chocolatey goodness. Stack a biscuit base, a peanut butter caramel, solid chocolate and crispy cornflakes for the ultimate indulgent weekend project. Taking some inspiration from the traditional millionaire's shortbread, this slice of sweetness takes it to the next level. Raspberry custard cake Although homemade is great, we're also fans of wobbly, bright yellow long-life custard, often lurking in the back of the cupboard. Stir some into the batter of this family-friendly raspberry cake and dollop on some splodges for an extra thick custardy bite. Scatter over fresh raspberries before baking for a tart flavour to balance out the sweetness.
Get some inspiration for colourful lockdown lunch recipes that will bring some joy to your plate. These easy meal ideas are perfect for busy weekdays
If you find yourself raiding the fridge and scouring the cupboards for lunch inspiration, look no further. Pack your plate with wholesome, tasty ingredients that can be made in 30 minutes or less. You don't need to sacrifice flavour or nutrition to create something delicious from storecupboard staples. We're here to help you create something special from everyday ingredients, whether it's tinned tuna recipes or chickpea recipes. Whether you're craving some comfort from your lockdown lunch or just want something new to try, we've got you covered. Find even more lunch recipes, quick and easy lunch recipes and healthy lunch ideas to perk up your lunchtime lull and get stuck into our best sandwich recipes. Our best ever lockdown lunch recipes Halloumi and greek salad wraps Golden-brown chunks of salty halloumi with fresh salad and a dollop of Greek yogurt makes for a satisfying veggie lunch in our book. It takes just 20 minutes to make, perfect for a speedy midweek meal solution. Liven up your plate with our best wrap fillings for more mouthwatering mixes. Coronation chickpea and apple salad Use up a tin of chickpeas with this genius 20-minute salad for four. There's no cooking involved, just grab a bowl, prep and serve this twist on a classic coronation chicken. The dressing uses mango chutney and curry paste for an irresistible sweet and spicy combination. Check out our best healthy salad recipes for more hearty and healthy inspiration. Spicy tomato soup Upgrade your standard bowl of soup with a dash of chipotle paste for a smoky heat. This filling soup packs a punch, with plenty of warming ginger and green chilli, and is ready in just 25 minutes. Use up a tin of chopped tomatoes and add some basmati rice for texture. Serve with a spoonful of yogurt and a generous grinding of black pepper. Peruse our most deliciously warming easy soup recipes for more hugs in a bowl. Sriracha peanut ramen noodles We love a quick cooking hack. Upgrade a standard packet of ramen noodles with spicy storecupboard sauces, nuts and veggies. Spicy not your style? Try the other ramen noodle recipes, from an aromatic Thai coconut mix to breakfast noodles complete with runny boiled egg. From chicken chow mein to sticky satays, treat yourself to our favourite easy noodle recipes. Falafel, beetroot and hummus grain bowl Get a variety of flavours and textures in your bowl with this fragrant falafel recipe. Add in crunchy beets, warm grains and a healthy dollop of creamy hummus for a filling lunch in just 25 minutes. It's just a case of heating, assembling and eating. If you're feeling up to the challenge of adding an extra step, crack out the chickpeas and read our guide on how to make falafel. Check out our 4 quick and easy grain bowls for more speedy midweek meal ideas. Spinach and feta quesadillas with tomato salsa Comforting, cheesy quesadillas are the perfect light lunch to keep you going. They're versatile, quick and easy to make and will satisfying your cravings for something more indulgent. Looking for more exciting ideas? Try our 4 quick and easy quesadilla recipes for finger-licking combinations. Thai chicken salad Shun boring, bland plates and put together something that'll tantalise your tastebuds in just 15 minutes. Use up any leftover cooked chicken and combine with shredded cabbage, carrots, cucumber and a sprinkling of chilli. No need to sweat it out in the kitchen with this nourishing no-cook recipe. The deliciousness doesn't stop there, fill your plate with even more easy chicken salad recipes for wholesome lunches aplenty. Chickpea fritters Can we tempt you to a plate of warm, golden-brown fritters topped with cool yogurt, punchy green chilli and a fresh cucumber salad? Turn your tin of chickpeas into a filling, low-calorie lunch that's piled high with flavour. These lovely legumes can go a long way, try soups, salads and crowd-pleasing traybakes from our best chickpea recipes. Storecupboard fried rice Fried rice is a fabulous fridge clearing dish that's perfect for busy days when you don't have a specific recipe in mind. Throw together spring onions, ham or bacon, frozen peas and a beaten egg for a bowlful of goodness in just 20 minutes. Serve with a drizzle of chilli sauce or soy sauce on the side. This dish is so versatile, you'll never be bored with our best fried rice recipes. California scramble Think scrambled eggs are just for breakfast? Think again. Our colourful scramble packs in sweet baby tomatoes, warming red chilli and chunky slices of avocado. This easy meal for one has an indulgent feel and needs just a handful of ingredients to make. Eggs make the ideal go-to midweek lunch; they're budget-friendly, tasty and can be made into a variety of dishes. Check out our 4 quick and easy one-pan egg recipes and our easy omelette fillings to take your egg game to the next level. Chicken Caesar salad Keep it classic with a chicken Caesar salad, complete with crispy bacon and golden croutons. It's perfect for a posh lunch. Make your own dressing, use leftover roast chicken and slices of sourdough for crunchy croutons to scatter over your plate. A grating of parmesan adds an extra hit of umami cheesy flavour. Cottage cheese pasta A bowl of this ultra-creamy cottage cheese alfredo will cure what ails you in just 15 minutes. Mix together cottage cheese, milk and garlic granules for an irresistibly smooth sauce. The key to the texture is mixing in a little of your pasta water if it starts getting claggy. Fancy a creamy carbonara, a twist on the classic spag bol or a meatball supper? Check out our best ever spaghetti recipes for pasta perfection. Quick Japanese-style rice salad Take just 15 minutes out of your day to plate up this super-fast, low-calorie lunch. Use a pack of ready-cooked or leftover rice for a clever time-saving hack, then mix with fresh king prawns, crunchy cucumber, avocado and edamame beans. Top with a sesame and rice vinegar dressing to bring everything together.
Best vegetarian meal kits and recipe boxes
Prepare dishes from the UK's best vegan and vegetarian restaurants, including Middle Eastern feasts, plant-based burgers, tofu ramen and more
Looking for vegan takeaways? Want the best vegetarian restaurant delivery? Check out our favourites below then try more restaurant meal kits. For more delivery boxes, check out our reviews of the best recipe delivery boxes or restaurant meal kits. You can also get fresh veg delivered to your door with a produce subscription box. Choose from our tried-and-tested veg boxes here. Vegetarian Middle Eastern meze, £50 for two people, Arabica The ultimate colourful feast of flavours for a special night in. Heating up components in the oven and adding a drizzle of olive oil is the most taxing part of this super simple kit. Stuff pillowy-soft flatbreads with silky hummus, hot zhug garnish, crunchy pickles, zingy tabbouleh and chunky spinach kibbeh. Everything you need is provided, including a pot of olive oil and crunchy dukkah topping. The portions are decidedly generous – we polished ours of for lunch the next day. The star dishes were definitely the charred butternut squash with nutty tahini dressing and vegetable magloubeh, a fragrant rice dish with roasted cauliflower and aubergine. This mouthwatering collection of dishes is perfect for a special occasion when you really want to push the boat out. DIY vegan ramen kit, £25 for two people, Shoryu Want to warm up from the inside out? Serve up a hearty bowl of ramen noodle soup in 10-15 minutes with this comforting vegan kit. Be prepared for generous bowlfuls, brimming with umami flavours, plenty of texture and shoryu’s all-important original hosomen noodles. The kits themselves are simple enough that even budding cooks won’t be intimidated. With minimal prep, some light veg slicing and gently simmering miso stock, minimal input is required to create a wholesome meal. We loved the combination of crunchy bamboo shoots, perfectly cooked noodles and filling fried tofu. Toppings are included, but Shoryu recommends adding and customising with your favourite flavours, e.g. nori sheets or pickled ginger. Bubala mixed meze, £50 for two people, Bubala If you’re looking for a vibrant veggie spread to brighten up a dreary night in, Bubala’s meze selection is a sure-fire winner. Come to the table hungry for generous servings of classics like creamy hummus, pickles and potato latkes, along with a few more unusual pairings like crispy halloumi with black seed honey. Choose to tuck into cold dishes first or serve everything together for an impressive-looking substantial DIY dinner for two. You won’t find any meaty substitutes, just veggies put centre stage. Round off your meal with a touch of sweetness in the form of a salted caramel truffle or two. Vegan curry feast, £40, serves 2, Kolamba Take your standard weekend indulgence up a notch and bring the heat with a selection of delicious Sri Lankan curries with all the accompaniments that make up a true feast. Simply heat up your four veg-packed curries and cook your aromatic basmati rice to pull the meal together. The fiery star curry with tender chunks of young jackfruit, combined with the cooler beetroot curry, comforting dhal and creamy green bean mix, makes for a super satisfying combination of textures, flavours and spice levels. Add an extra kick to your plate with a spoonful of coconut chilli sambol, or add a spoonful of sweetness with the sticky and citrussy date and lime chutney. It serves two generously and you won’t be left wanting. For £40, it’s the ideal weekend banquet. Libertine #111 vegan DIY kit, £23, makes 4 burgers Craving a classic burger with all your favourite toppings? Pair Libertine’s signature plant-based patty with a fluffy brioche bun, vegan cheese, punchy pickles, ketchup and mustard. The best traditional dishes are the ones that keep it simple, and that’s certainly true of this all-inclusive burger kit. All the cooking instructions are included, nothing more complicated than toasting your bun and frying your patties for around 4 minutes on each side. This kit would be ideal for a family night in, just don’t forget to bring the fries. The juicy burgers are laced with chopped onion for an extra dose of flavour. Dirty vegan, Vegan chilli cheeseburger, £32, feeds two, Dirty Bones If chilli cheeseburgers complete with skinny fries and a cocktail of your choice sounds like your perfect night in, then the Dirty Vegan kit is for you. This kit is great for those who like a little spice with their burger. Pile on the pickled jalapenos, the zingy chilli dressing with a generous spoonful of creamy burger relish and a crunchy gherkin. The shoestring fries crisp up quickly in the oven so be sure to keep an eye on them while you prep your plant-based patties, which cook in minutes. This kit doesn’t skimp on the home comforts we’re craving from a boss burger, and the main meal can be served up in around 20 minutes. Vegan box, £75, serves four people, Gauthier Chef Alexis Gauthier describes this plant-based menu as a ‘patchwork of seasonal ingredients’. Enjoy a variety of well-balanced dishes – a creamy Thai red curry laced with a subtle heat and a hearty bean stew and delicate kohlrabi carpaccio makes this a restaurant-quality blow-out meal you can dish up at home. All the courses are easy and quick to prepare, it’s just a question of heating and plating up with the accompanying final flourishes. Top off a medley of flavours with a boozy rum & pineapple financier, with rum-laced cream to dollop on top. The Gauthier team are aware it’s a chunky haul, so everything is freezable and will last three days in the fridge if you want more time to work your way through the menu. There’s also an option to add a wine pairing of two bottles selected from their wine list.
Beat boredom in lockdown and get stuck into a fascinating foodie project with our fun recipe ideas. Learn how to make bread with our step-by-step guide, upgrade your cocktail skills or try making homemade pasta
If you're battling boredom in lockdown, why not learn a new skill and make something delicious at the same time? Take your frustrations out on our homemade pizza dough, make the most of the extra time and turn your leftovers into pickles and cordials, or better your baking skills with our top icing techniques. Fill your kitchen with jars of homemade kimchi, the smell of freshly baked sourdough and plates of mouthwatering pasta. Check out our best lockdown baking ideas for more sweet inspiration for cinnamon rolls, banana bread, top-notch cookies and more. Best lockdown foodie projects Fabulous fermentation Explore the world of fermentation with our expert guide. Experiment with preserving your favourite veggies, or start with a quick pickle to add some zing to your dinner. Our easy dill pickles are the perfect finishing touch to your weekend burger. Go one step further and try our simple homemade kimchi, a Korean classic made using a selection of fermented vegetables. This deliciously spicy and sour condiment is filled with flavour. Or, expand your drinks collection and learn how to make kombucha at home. Master mixology Missing your favourite bar and signature tipple? Learn to make them at home with our easy cocktail recipes. Relax with a minty mojito, a punchy negroni or shake up your night with an espresso martini. Foregoing the booze? Try our easy mocktail recipes and pack in all the flavour and none of the hangover, or make your own cordials with our ideas. Take your home-based happy hour to the next level with our drinks video tutorials. View oEmbed on the source website Bake sourdough bread Expand your baking expertise and learn how to make fresh sourdough bread, complete with golden-brown crust and that characteristic bubbly texture. Begin your journey with our best sourdough starter recipe. Learn how to feed it, and the best environment to keep it in tip top shape. Then, try our easy sourdough recipe, and learn how to bake the perfect loaf every time with our step-by-step guide. Once you've made your first loaf, you'll never look back. Got leftover starter? Make our sourdough pancakes for an indulgent brunch. Make your own preserves Now you've made your own bread, you need something to slather over it. Check out our ultimate expert guide to preserving, including equipment you'll need, tips for getting started and some delicious flavour combinations to try. Treat yourself to something fruity on your morning toast with our best jam recipes. Brighten up the winter months and turn zesty citrus fruits into homemade marmalade. Our easy chutney recipes make mouthwatering homemade gifts, though make sure to keep a jar for yourself. Stock your storecupboard Make your own storecupboard staples from scratch – seasonings, sauces and stocks can all be whipped up at home in an afternoon. You'll thank yourself later. Make a bottle of homemade BBQ sauce for your burgers and bangers, or a bottle of fiery homemade sriracha to add some spice to your midweek meal. Take your curry game up a notch with our Thai red curry paste, nothing compares to the fragrant spices in this easy recipe. Experiment with adding extra flavour to your dishes with our thrifty herb oil or a dash of chilli-infused oil. Learn how to ice cupcakes Put the final flourish on your bite-sized bakes and learn how to ice cupcakes with our simple video tutorial. Don't have the equipment to hand? Never fear, learn how to make a piping bag at home with a sheet of baking paper and some scissors. Try out your new-found piping skills with our best cupcake recipes. Make homemade pasta Doing things from scratch may take a little longer, but it's super satisfying and let's face it, homemade always tastes better. Try our basic pasta dough and make fresh lasagne sheets or tagliatelle, or experiment with stuffed ravioli or creamy cacio e pepe with our best homemade pasta recipes. Grow your own herbs Exercise your green fingers and learn how to grown your own herbs and salad from the experts at BBC Gardener's World – it's easier than you think. Enjoy the fruits of your labour in a simple salad, perfect for summer side dishes. Try making a homemade pizza A golden crust, flavourful sauce and bubbling cheesy topping, who could resist a slice of this family favourite? Create a feast of Italian-inspired flavours and master the art of making the perfect pizza. Start with our basic pizza dough, it takes just four ingredients to make. Customise your creations with our best ever pizza recipes and terrific topping ideas. Bake one of our showstopping cake recipes Go beyond the humble Victoria sponge with our truly epic sweet creations. Whether you're a confirmed chocoholic or craving something seasonal and fruity, we have the perfect cake to fit the bill. Make some easy homemade dog treats Treat your pampered pooch to these peanut butter flavoured biscuits, made with just five key ingredients. Your furry friend is guaranteed to love these crunchy treats. A batch will last in an airtight jar for up to two weeks, depending on how generous you're feeling.