At Cooker Spare Parts we spend a lot of time examining, probing, and talking about cookers, so if there’s a chance to create a sublime dish that doesn’t require one, we’re all-ears! Plus, if your cooker is kaput, it’s nice to know there are still some delicious and divine recipes available to you.
Tomato and Basil Bruschetta
There are about a million variations on this Italian classic, but we like authenticity here at Cooker Spare Parts so have kept it simple. Now in the original Bruschetta you would use hot coals or a griddle to lightly char your ciabatta, but as we’re steering clear of the cooker your toaster will do the job just fine!
Cut a ciabatta loaf into manageable slices and toast them so they’re nice and crisp. Then rub an open clove of garlic on the upside of your toasted ciabattas, and glug a generous helping of good olive oil on top. Add some sliced ripe plum or cherry tomatoes to the top, along with a few sprigs of fresh basil, and some salt and pepper – enjoy immediately!
Prawn Cocktail
This 1970s classic is anything but dated, and as long as each individual component is good, you have yourselves a winner! Mix some ready-cooked prawns – you can go shrimp or king for this one – along with a basic Marie-rose sauce: 4 tbsp of mayonnaise, 4 tbsp of crème fraiche, 1½ tbsp tomato ketchup, and a dash of Tabasco and Worcestershire sauce. Simply add this mixture to a cocktail glass full of little gem lettuce leaves, and garnish with a wedge of lemon (and be sure to actually use your lemon as it loves this dish).
Antipasti
We’re back to the Mediterranean for this last no cook starter, and if you thought the others were easy, this one is simpler still. Antipasti simply means ‘before the meal’ and is a platter consisting of any number of the following: cured meats, olives, crostinis, olives, artichoke hearts, stuffed peppers, and some Italian cheeses such as pecorino. Everything here is all ready to be eaten, so all you must do is simply arrange it in small bowls or on a platter, and watch just how sumptuous your guests find this simple starter!
They say eating well doesn’t have to be difficult, and it’s so simple you needn’t even wait for your cooker to be fixed! Any one of these no-cook starters will tantalise the taste-buds terrifically – not bad for a 5 minute stroll in the kitchen, huh?
