Jamie Oliver - Veg: Easy Delicious Meals for Everyone as seen on Channel 4’s Meat-Free Meals

Im fairly sure that if youve picked up this book and are reading these words, youre already asking yourself a few questions about the food you eat. All of us are aware that we need to eat more veg, and of the extraordinary health benefits attached to doing so. But, in a busy fast-paced life where meat is so convenient and available on every corner, the question is can veg dishes really cut the mustard? Can they be truly tasty and make you feel satisfied and happy? I believe that the answer is a gigantic: YES! So, with that in mind welcome to the wonderful world of delicious food that just happens to be meat-free.

This is a glorious veg-based cookbook, written by me a meat lover who will absolutely not compromise on flavour. We humans are creatures of extreme habit, and the concept of change, even positive, challenges all of us. Most of us buy the same foods week in, week out sound familiar? So, embracing this book for what it is, disarming yourself and opening your mind to trying new things by celebrating the huge bounty of veg, fruit, herbs, spices, pulses, nuts and seeds on offer, can only be a good thing. You can find so much exciting produce in standard supermarkets these days (let alone farmers markets and beyond), and if you shop smart and surf the seasons you should be quids in, so theres really no excuse especially with this book in your hands! I hope it helps to break the mould.

On the pages that follow, I want to show you just how tasty and comforting veg-based meals can be when given the respect and thought they deserve. And I also want to stamp out any pre-existing prejudices around food choices. This book is not just for vegetarians: everyones welcome especially your classic meat eater who might be stuck in a bit of a rut but knows that they could, and should, be welcoming more veg into their diet. I designed these recipes to leave you feeling full, satisfied and happy and not missing the meat from your plate. Whether youre looking to embrace a meat-free day or two each week, live a vegetarian lifestyle, or just want to try some brilliant new flavour combination, I believe this book will tick all the boxes and help you enjoy things you may never have tried before.

A quick note for all my strict vegetarian friends out there: you will see me mention Worcestershire sauce, pesto and Parmesan cheese (see for more info), among others, in the ingredients lists on the recipe pages. Joyfully, we live in a time where you can source really good vegetarian versions or alternatives, so sit back, relax and fill your boots in a way that works for you.

I actually started writing this book eight years ago its been a real labour of love but now is the time to publish it, accompanied by a beautiful new and exciting TV show. Ive travelled halfway around the world to watch, listen and learn from some of the best veggie cooks on the planet, to really amplify flavour and scrumptiousness, and to give you beyond-tasty plates of food. Being able to finally publish this book is not only a real honour and a landmark moment for me, but also an indicator that the time is right and that veg-based cooking is becoming mainstream again. We might think that basing our meals around more veg and less meat is forward thinking, and is trendy or progressive, but I can assure you, if anything, its looking back towards our grandparents and great-grandparents, who by default cooked this way. Without question, it was the norm, they knew what they were doing and we should absolutely take a leaf out of their book.

The recipes are a broad assortment of the food that I love to eat at home with my wife and kids, and are everything I would deliver flavour-wise in any other cookbook: theyre dishes that make me feel energized, comforted, complete and full up. Im not telling you to eat any of these meals because theyre healthy (even though 70% of them are see for more nutrition info), I want you to eat them because you want to, and because theyre delicious. As usual, theyre all tried, tested and interrogated (and then tested again, just to be sure!), so theyre the absolute best they can be. And for me, the beautiful thing about this book is that I can give you a really reliable, safe place to come for easy and delicious veg-based meals, put together with love, care and attention.

Ive got lots of inspiration on the lunch and dinner front with easy pastas, soups and sarnies, clever traybakes and one-pan wonders, as well as tasty curries, stews, pies, bakes, rice and noodle dishes, and burgers thatll knock your socks off. And thats not all, theres also an array of brunch and weekend nibbles to get your teeth into. Ive tried to equip you with a myriad of modern meals, taking into account that youre probably incredibly busy, juggling 101 other things at the same time.

With that in mind, Ive kept the visuals and words simple, clear, supportive and to the point, and have done my best to empower you with confidence, instead of baffling you with clutter and long, laborious lists or explanations. No barriers, just super-tasty, easy, accessible and affordable recipes, with veg as the main event. Theres upfront nutrition info on every page so you can make fast, informed choices. Plus, Ive given some extra tips on how I like to serve the dishes myself, as well as ways to tweak the recipes to include a whole array of beautiful veg.

NO BARRIERS, JUST SUPER-TASTY, EASY, ACCESSIBLE & AFFORDABLE RECIPES

Putting labels on food preferences, I have to say, frightens the life out of me there are enough things in life that divide us, and I feel that food shouldnt be one of them. But, it is. As far as Im concerned, if its good, its good. Everyones on their own food journey, and people are all at different stages. And thats OK! In the Oliver household we really try to eat veg-based meals at least three times a week, and the benefits to our health, as well as the planet, are clear to see. Promoting less meat (but better quality) and more veg is something Ive always done: this is not a new thing for me if you look at the index of any of my cookbooks, youre going to see a huge number of V symbols. Even so, Ive been constantly asked by the public (sometimes berated!) to do a 100% veg-based cookbook, so here it is, guys I hope you love it as much as I enjoyed making it.