Fast Feasts: Quick, easy recipes with a Middle-Eastern twist

I found John Gregory-Smith completely by accident on Instagram - he's really famous in the UK (but i live in Germany). I fell in love with the dishes he was showing on Instagram (@johngs) - and then saw that he had this great Fast Feasts cookbook. I love that it came about as a result of pandemic cooking...the recipes are so easy but they are far from boring...with just a few cool spice additions (Za'tar! Rose Harissa!) these dishes are instantly elevated beyond conventional. I've not done a lot of cooking with middle eastern / north african dishes but this has given me confidence to try his other books.I hope you give it a try...it is a must have for busy people who want a delicious, but easy weeknight or weekend dish!Thanks John!This pic is my version of his Baked Chicken & Rice -so easy and soooo delicious!!

The kindle format is bad. Very bad. The font overlaps on the recipe titles. There seems to be a block of text missing in the recipe descriptions (think white text box with no border in middle of page). The font in the recipe section is smallish and kind of fuzzy (still readable). The recipes might be good, but the book is NOT pleasurable to read. It's like reading a physical cookbook that you splattered sauce on. Most of it is readable, but some bits you need full in yourself.Recipes are intact. Measurements and terms provided for U.S. & UK.

Recipes sound good, but here's the warning: While the chatty introductions to the recipes are in large, bold print, the recipes themselves are in tiny, faint print. What are the publishers and author thinking? That we are going to read the silly introductions over and over, or that we actually need to be able to read the recipes? The epitome of vanity. Also, units are given first in metric, then in imperial (U.S.) in parentheses. This might result in mismeasurement if one is not careful.

This book looks and reads (to the extent that it can be read) great. However, the Kindle version is extremely glitchy, making it very difficult to read through an entire recipe, to see the photographs clearly, and, well, too actually use it. Quite simply, it gives me a headache. Maybe this was a fluke with my copy, maybe not. Proceed with caution.

I had high hopes for this book based on description provided. Glad I only spent $1.99 to pre order it. Text is fuzzy and looks blurred at best. Headings are run together with letters overlapping each other making it difficult to read. This problem also occurs in the text. Contents look good, but apparently no one proof reads or checks quality before releasing these things ! Just to be clear, this was the kindle edition of this book.

The formatting on the kindle is the worst I have ever seen. Too bad. The letters are fuzzy too! The recipes may be good. The author should be furious and update this immediately. It is shockingly poor quality. I'm sure the recipes are fine.

Terrible kindle ebook. After waiting for the release, the ebook is flawed on every page. I am unable to return the book due to expired return window closing before book arrived. Save your time and look elsewhere.

This review is for the ebook version, not the content of the book. The ebook is a complete mess. I can't even read it to rate the content. The ebook needs to be redone.

Well, I'm blown away by this book!I saw the lamb & halloumi burger on This Morning, morning tv, & I thought I've 'got' to try it so I got the book.Now, I very rarely do more than 1 recipe from a cook book if that but, so far, I've done 4 from this one.The Easy Peasy Chilli Con Carne, Cauliflower Rice Pilaf, Lamb & Halloumi Burger & the Chorizo Ragu with PappardelleI & I have to say I'm well impressed. Both myself & the husb have loved them & I'll definitely be doing those, & the others in the book, again.Tonight we're having Frying Pan Pizza & I can't wait.Definitely a book to buy!Believe me, I'm so glad I did!!! :-)*Update : As I said above, we were having the Frying Pan Pizza this evening & again, they didn't disappoint! They were so easy to prepare & they were sooooo nice!I can't recommend this book enough so go & treat yourself! You won't be disappointed!

I’ve made two of the dishes so far - the Seabass & Spinach Borani and the Coconut Harissa Meatballs. The recipes were very straightforward, didn’t have a scarily long list of ingredients, didn’t take hours sweating over a hot stove and both were packed full of flavour. Perfect for cooking after a day at work. And let’s not forget how beautiful the book is to look at. Stunning photos to accompany the stunning food. I’m looking forward to making the Chicken Shawarma next...

I am a prolific purchaser of cookery books. Every time I see someone on tv concocting something wonderful I buy their latest book (I am a marketing dream).This is THE BEST book I have ever purchased. Glorious pictures, ease of instructions and outcomes far beyond my cooking ability.I could not put it down (which is ironic given I haven’t got past the first page of most of the others).My friends better prepare. Everyone of them is getting this as a birthday / Xmas gift.You’re welcome 😉

The book arrived today and I’ve looked at every page and don’t know what to try first !So many fast and tasty looking dishes for all occasions . I own several JGS books all of them are used regularly and I’ve always been pleased with the end results . Many recipes are now family favourites and I can’t wait to get going on these new ones . I keep all my Middle Eastern spices together in one basket so I can crack on with the recipes super quick . I can’t recommend John’s books highly enough . Just buy it, you won’t be disappointed!

This book is so beautifully written and photographed. I love how it captures the essence of the lockdown’s in the introduction to the book as well.I first discovered the author John over the covid lockdowns on social media. I have made countless recipes that he’s shared so I’m absolutely delighted to now have a book full of wonderful new ones to try!On first glance I already know that it will be my go to for all occasions, it covers all bases and every recipe looks so appealing to make!They are easy to follow and don’t demand hours in the kitchen which is always a winner. It’s a book full of so much flavour but done beautifully simply without long lists of ingredients that would often put me off.Don’t hesitate to add this to your kitchen, you won’t regret it!