Renowned chef and best-selling author Rachel Khoo has joined forces with KETTLE Chips and launched two new delicious flavours Honey Dijon Mustard and Brie & Caramelised Onion. Here, she lets Closer inside her fridge and reveals her food secrets.
How much do you spend a week on shopping for your family of five?
Groceries in Sweden are a lot more expensive so I'd say at least £200 pounds but I try to shop smart. I'm very into not wasting any food as my mum and my grandma grew up in the Austrian mountains, so I was taught you don't waste food - you rebrand the leftovers. We do leftovers night and often because I work from home, dinner from last night will be my lunch. I dip into the freezer a lot, so frozen veg, peas, spinach, frozen berries, all those kind of things because the nutrition sometimes is better because they freeze it on site when they harvest it. It's really good versus sometimes when you buy fresh and you forget it in the fridge... Also meal planning helps, so if I buy a whole chicken I can some for a chicken soup and the rest goes into a pie.
Describe your daily diet – what’s your go to breakfast, lunch and dinner?
Breakfast for me is quark - it's a dairy product but it is high in protein - I get the plain version and then I pop a spoon of rice protein, some frozen berries and then I make my own granola. Once a month I make a massive batch and instead of using oats I actually cook quinoa - as it has more protein and other nutrients - so I add in seeds and nuts so it's got all these great ingredients to get you going in the morning. I'll also have a herbal tea and then once the kids are off at school I have a coffee because I can have it hot. Then I have lunch and it's usually leftovers from dinner or ready cooked lentils, a little dressing, some odd vegetables and then crumble in some feta cheese or mozzarella. Then for dinner it depends on what day but we usually do chicken noodle soup, chicken pie, spaghetti bolognese, meatloaf, Taco Fridays - fry up some minced meat, throw in seasoning, lots of crunchy vegetables, guacamole... It's a great thing for families because you can use whatever veg you've got in the fridge.
What’s your favourite snacks?
KETTLE Chips of course! I love the brand new flavour Dijon mustard because I like a spicy kick. I love black pepper and I have lots of hot sauces in my fridge so Dijon mustard is definitely a favourite. I also really love the sour cream and chilli because it's hot and cold - I like when you play with sensations a little bit that's really cool. The problem is, when I get sent KETTLE Chips, I have to hide them or have a secret stash because if I leave them in the cupboard in the kitchen they disappear.
Anything you refuse to eat?
I'm always open to trying everything once. Especially if somebody invites me over, you could make beans on toast and I'll be happy. I'm very appreciative of people putting their effort into cooking for me. Snails can be really good but the one time I didn't like them was when I was filming a TV program and the snails had been standing out for a long time, so they congealed, went rubbery and were cold - you've got to eat them when they're hot.
What’s your favourite healthy snacks for the kids?
They eat a lot of apples at school and for snacks so I have to buy at least four bags a week. I always say to them, 'If you're hungry, go eat some fruit or carrot sticks.' So usually when they come home from school and have TV time I make carrots, cucumbers, peppers, and then they can watch cartoons while I get dinner ready. It's the perfect TV snack.
What’s the most unique thing you’ve eaten in France?
When I was filming in Brittany [in France] and this fisherman cooked a sea snail. He took them out the shell, he boiled them, put them back in the shell, put a raw milk Camembert on top and grilled it. That was the most unique thing. That's something I might avoid if it's on the menu.
What’s your favourite comfort food?
Cheese! But I also love going to the old market near where I used to live in Paris and get some fresh produce - strawberries and asparagus. I get really excited about it.
What would you cook to impress someone?
I would cook something which is seasonal but also something I can cook in advance and just finish off when they arrive because I want to be a good hostess and entertain. Whenever people are cooking at home, I say keep it simple. They're coming to see you and spend time with you so don't worry too much about creating this grand banquet of food. You could cook a slow stew the day before and then heat it up on the day. It's that human connection that's important and that's what I love about food - it brings everyone together.
KETTLE® Chips launches brand-new French Flavours made with KETTLE® Chef and best-selling author Rachel Khoo. Available in Waitrose and Morrisons now