Mary Berry at 90: Timeless recipes from her new cookbook and BBC series

Sign up to IndyEat’s free newsletter for weekly recipes, foodie features and cookbook releasesGet our food and drink newsletter for freeGet our food and drink newsletter for freeMary Berry turned 90 this year and to celebrate, she has released a new cookbook, Mary 90 – aiming to give home cooks a “career-spanning” collection of fuss-free recipes for many different occasions.It accompanies a new BBC TV series, Mary at 90: A Lifetime of Cooking.The TV chef shares a mixture of brand-new recipes and her nostalgic classics, with Berry saying it has been a “sheer joy” to write, and includes the baking she’s so known for, alongside tasty, easy mid-week meals and crowd pleasers.Fragrant chicken traybakeopen image in galleryA vibrant all-in-one dish that captures Berry’s modern approach to flavour — simple, aromatic and built for busy home cooks (Tara Fisher)“An all-in-one dish, this delicious, aromatic chicken recipe is vibrant and full of flavour,” says Berry. “Serve with rice or a dressed salad.” Serves: 4-6Ingredients:1 large aubergine, sliced into half-moons2 peppers, deseeded and sliced into large pieces1 large onion, sliced3 tbsp sunflower oil3 dried lime leaves1 large stick of lemongrass, bashed3 large chicken breast fillets, each sliced in half2 tbsp sweet chilli sauce150g baby spinach leavesSmall bunch of Thai basil, choppedFor the fragrant sauce:1 x 400ml can coconut milk2 tbsp Thai red curry paste2 garlic cloves, crushed2 tsp freshly grated gingerJuice of 1 lime2 tsp fish sauce2 tbsp sweet chilli sauceMethod:1. Preheat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7.2. To make the sauce, mix all the ingredients together in a bowl.3. Scatter the aubergine, peppers and onion into a large shallow roasting tin. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons of the oil and toss everything together. Pour over half of the sauce. Add the lime leaves and lemongrass to the tin and roast in the preheated oven for 15 minutes.4. Toss the chicken in the remaining oil and the sweet chilli sauce, and season well. Place a large frying pan over a high heat until very hot. Add the chicken and brown very quickly until sealed and golden, stirring constantly.5. Remove the roasting tin from the oven and pour over the remaining sauce. Place the chicken on top and return to the oven for about 15 minutes, or until cooked through.6. Transfer the chicken onto a plate. Stir the spinach and Thai basil into the sauce and vegetables in the tin and gently warm over the hob until the spinach has wilted.7. Serve the chicken traybake with rice.Skate wing with caper sauce and samphireopen image in galleryProof that Mary’s as confident with fish as she is with cakes — a restaurant-worthy classic made effortlessly achievable (Tara Fisher)“Hugely popular, skate wings are readily available and simple to cook. The sauce makes the dish extra special. Buy samphire from the fish counter in the supermarket or farm shop,” says Berry.Serves: 4Ingredients:4 x 400g skate wings, edges trimmed with scissors100g butter, softened, plus a knobJuice of ½ lemon4 tbsp capers4 tbsp finely chopped parsley400g fresh samphireMethod:1. Preheat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.2. Lie the skate wings on a board and use half the butter to spread over both sides of the skate wings. Season well with salt and ground black pepper.3. Heat a large frying pan over a high heat. When hot, brown the wings in batches for 2 minutes on each side until golden.4. Place the browned wings in a large roasting tin and transfer to the preheated oven. Roast for about 15 minutes until cooked through (the translucent flesh will become opaque when it is done). To test for doneness, try to pull the flesh away carefully from the bones with a sharp knife – if it comes away easily, it is done. Place on a large platter and cover with foil. Leave to rest in a warm place.4. Add the remaining butter to the frying pan and heat until nutty brown in colour. Add the lemon juice, capers and parsley and remove from the heat.5. Meanwhile, cook the samphire in a large frying pan with a knob of butter and a splash of water over a high heat. Fry for a few minutes to heat through.6. Divide the samphire between the plates and top each one with a skate wing. Pour over the caper butter sauce to serve.Carrot cake with frostingopen image in galleryBerry’s take on a cafe favourite, perfected with her signature lightness and spice (Tara Fisher)“A carrot cake is so popular, especially in coffee shops and bakeries,” says Berry. “My version includes my favourite spices. Carrot cake originated in the USA where they make cakes with oil, rather than our butter-based sponges. Use a flavourless oil, such as sunflower or vegetable.”Serves: 8-10Ingredients:4 large eggs175g caster sugar75g light muscovado sugar250ml sunflower oil, plus extra for greasing1 tsp vanilla extract2 ripe bananas, mashed150g carrots, peeled and coarsely grated275g self-raising flour2 tsp baking powder1 tsp ground cinnamon1 tsp ground ginger½ tsp mixed spice55g walnuts or pecans, finely chopped, plus a few extra for decorationFor the cream cheese frosting:250g butter, softened2 tsp vanilla extract350g icing sugar350g full-fat cream cheeseMethod:open image in galleryHer latest book is both a celebration and a reflection — a ‘career-spanning’ collection from six decades in the kitchen (BBC Books)1. Preheat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Grease and line the bases of 2 x 20cm (8in) loose-bottomed sandwich tins.2. Break the eggs into a large bowl and beat with a fork to break up. Add the caster and muscovado sugar, oil and vanilla and mix well.3. Add the remaining ingredients to the bowl and whisk using an electric hand whisk until just combined. Be careful not to over beat.4. Divide the mixture between the two prepared tins and level the surface. Bake in the preheated oven for about 35-40 minutes until well risen and lightly golden. Leave to cool in the tins for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.5. Meanwhile, make the frosting. Measure the butter, vanilla and icing sugar into a large bowl and whisk using an electric hand whisk until combined. Add the cream cheese and beat until creamy and light.6. Peel the paper from the bases of the sponges and invert one onto a plate. Spread with frosting. Place the other cake on top and use the remaining frosting to cover the top and sides, leaving a pretty swirl on top. Decorate with walnuts or pecans to serve.Can be made and assembled up to 8 hours ahead. Freezes well but best to ice on the day.‘Mary 90 – My Very Best Recipes’ by Mary Berry (BBC Books, £28).



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