Tom Kerridge’s Fresh Start episode 6: The eight families who are following Tom Kerridge’s Fresh Start plan have risen to every challenge he has set them, transforming mealtimes at home. Now, as the experiment draws to a close, they’re coming together to celebrate their achievements – and to take on Tom’s final challenge: cooking generous dishes for groups of friends and family.
Tom kicks things off by cooking beef biryani for his own extended family. With a one-pot wonder like this, the most important thing is to pack in tons of flavour. Tom roasts the mince for the biryani in the oven to maximise the flavour before adding it to the pot. He doesn’t hold back on the ginger, garlic and spices either. The finished dish contains around half the calories of a standard takeaway curry and has loads of veg thrown in so there’s no need for extra side dishes.
Tom Kerridge’s Fresh Start episode 6 – We’ve Got This
The Johnson family love hosting parties but are unhappy about the food they usually offer their guests; frozen pizzas and tinned hot dogs were the norm. Now they are throwing their first party since starting Tom’s experiment. It’s Mum Becky’s 40th birthday and they want to serve real, homemade party food. Tom and the Johnsons – including three sons – work as a team to prepare chicken ranch burgers for 20 hungry guests. The recipe can be prepped ahead so the Johnsons have more time to relax and celebrate when friends and family arrive.
Over the last two and a half months, the gang have learnt loads of new cooking techniques. Now Tom wants them to use what they’ve learnt to be even more ambitious. He is challenging them to make bigger dishes for more people than ever before. Back in his kitchen, Tom makes a sumptuous chicken, ham and leek Pie – perfect for a large group to share, hot or cold. This is exactly the sort of dish that can transform how Tom’s gang cook for their friends and family.
To mark the end of the experiment and celebrate their achievements, all the families are getting together for a picnic in a few days’ time. Tom has asked them all to cook a dish they can bring along and share with the group. And Tom’s not going to arrive empty handed either; he’s doing his own version of Eton mess, a summer pudding that both kids and adults love. Meringues from scratch and a simple strawberry coulis are things all of us can make – other than that there’s not much ‘cooking’.
Tom Kerridge’s Fresh Start episode 6 recipes:
Beef biriyani
This delicious beef biryani is great for freezing – just be sure to allow everything to cool first.
Chicken and bacon ranch burger
Fresh herbs and hot sauce give the ranch dressing for this lighter burger extra punch.