There’s something magical about a good recipe. It’s more than a list of ingredients and steps — it’s a spark. A good recipe can inspire dinner, bring people together, and open the door to cultures, techniques, and flavours we’ve never experienced before. As a food writer and home cook (just like you), I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what makes a recipe worth coming back to. What makes it stick? And more importantly, what makes it work?
Let’s start with the fun part — inspiration. It strikes in the most unexpected places and that could be reading a restaurant’s menu or spotting something delicious on social media while scrolling in bed. Other times, it’s the simple act of staring at a half-used bag of spinach in the fridge and wondering, what can I do with this?
I find ideas bubbling up when I travel, sure, but also at my local market, or while chatting with friends over coffee. For me, a good recipe often starts as a craving or a memory and then hopefully it becomes something you want to share.
So what makes a recipe inspiring to me? It’s something that feels like an invitation. Whether it’s a new way to roast pumpkin, or an interesting spin on a classic, I want a recipe that makes me want to get into the kitchen. Something that stirs curiosity or comfort or, ideally, both.
Here’s a question I get asked: Do you follow recipes to the letter? The short answer is — no, not always. Don’t worry, I see the irony as someone who writes and shares recipes but, like I often say, recipes are templates.
Some days, I stick closely to the directions especially when I’m trying out a new technique or baking where precision matters. Other days, I go rogue. I’ll swap out herbs for something I prefer or happen to have on hand or skip an ingredient if we just don’t enjoy its flavour. That’s the beauty of cooking: it can be a practice in precision or a creative free-for-all. There’s no one right way to approach it.
I think most of us are a mix of both. Followers when it’s something unfamiliar and freestylers when we’re confident in the basics. Both approaches are completely valid.
We’ve all clicked on something that looks incredible in the photo, only to be overwhelmed when we see the ingredient list runs half a page or the method requires equipment we’ve never heard of. That’s when the red flags start waving.
For me, there are a few common stumbling blocks that make me scroll on by:
A great recipe doesn’t just tell you what to do; it shows you how and why. It offers the chance to learn something new, whether it’s a technique (like laminating pasta dough for that gorgeous sheen and bite), a cultural insight (like why Persian rice is steamed with a crispy bottom called tahdig), or a twist on an ingredient you already know and love.
One of the most rewarding parts of cooking is feeling yourself getting more confident with each new dish. And when a recipe helps you do that it’s a keeper.
Because at the end of the day, a recipe is just a starting point. The real magic happens when you bring your own curiosity and stories to the table. What was the last recipe that inspired you?
There’s something magical about a good recipe. It’s more than a list of ingredients and steps. As a food writer and home cook, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what makes a recipe worth coming back to.
Even when you accidentally overcook your potatoes, the sliced vegetables and the thick creamy dressing hides all manner of sins. I find it hard not to multi-task in the kitchen and now and then it comes back to bite me – like today.
When it comes to good food, most of us know when something just hits right. Maybe it’s that crunchy bite of roast potatoes, the silky spoonful of a well-made custard, or the contrast of crisp greens and creamy dressing in a salad. We say ‘it tastes amazing’ but what we’re…