9 Quick & Delicious Recipes _ Part Two _ Gordon Ramsay

**Deliciously Simple Recipes to Spice Up Your Meals**

As any home cook knows, cooking with spice can be intimidating, especially when it comes to experimenting with new flavors and ingredients. But with these three simple recipes, you'll be well on your way to becoming a spice master in no time.

**First up: Chili and Spice White Bait**

For this recipe, we start by making a spicy flour coating. Toasting Szechuan peppercorns and coriander seeds in a hot pan releases their flavors, which are then combined with chili flakes and ground into a fine powder using a pestle and mortar. This fiery spice blend is added to plain flour, and the mixture is seasoned and mixed together. To coat white bait (small oily fish), simply add olive oil to a hot pan and mix the spicy flour coating with the fish. Then, fry the white bait until golden brown and serve.

This dish is not only delicious, but it's also incredibly healthy. White bait is a great source of protein, and by frying it in a flavorful spice coating, you can add depth and interest to this simple ingredient. And the best part? It cooks in under 10 minutes! Serve with garlic mayonnaise or a simple squeeze of lemon for an added burst of flavor.

**Next: Roasted Squash Hummus**

For this recipe, we're making a classic Moroccan spice blend known as Ras el hanout. Toasting cinnamon, cloves, coriander, fenugreek, and fennel seeds in a dry pan releases their flavors, which are then combined with mustard seeds and cumin when the seeds start to pop. This fragrant spice mix is added to paprika and ground into a fine powder.

To make the hummus, peel and chop butternut squash, and place it on a baking tray. Drizzle with olive oil, garlic (bashed and chopped), and ginger, then sprinkle the Ras el hanout spice blend over the top. Roast in a hot oven for half an hour until the squash is soft and fragrant. Once cool, puree the squash mixture in a blender with tahini, lemon juice, and olive oil to create a creamy and aromatic hummus.

**Finally: Curry Spice Sweet Corn Soup**

For this recipe, we're making a fragrant curry paste that's packed with flavor. Roasting coriander and cumin seeds until aromatic, then grinding them into a fine powder adds depth and warmth to the soup. To make the paste, add crushed garlic, chili powder, turmeric, and finely chopped ginger to the spice blend.

To cook the soup, fry finely chopped onions in olive oil until soft, then add the curry paste and cook to release its flavors. Add cubed potatoes, chicken stock, and season to taste, then simmer until the potato is tender. Stir in creamed corn, whole sweet corn kernels with some of their juices, and transfer to a blender for a smooth and creamy texture.

This soup is incredibly satisfying and packs an amazing aromatic punch. The combination of spices, sweet corn, and cream creates a rich and indulgent flavor that's sure to please even the pickiest eaters.