Michael Symon’s 5 in 5 by Michael Symon
Now, normally I’d be incredibly skeptical of a cookbook that promises to deliver 120 recipes that can be made in five minutes flat. But if anyone can pull off a feat like this, it’s got to be Iron Chef competitor Michael Symon. It’s all about the economics of time, whether it’s in a food competition or when you come home starving after a long day of work.
Quick Facts
• Who wrote it: Michael Symon
• Who published it: Clarkson Potter
• Number of recipes: About 120
• The Angle: Symon promises easy weeknight meals made with fresh ingredients (5 of them!) that can be made in just 5 minutes. And to up the ante, he also promises that a recipe for four should cost no more than $5.
• Recipes for right now: Cavatelli with Cauliflower & Red Peppers, Spaghetti with Mussels & Tomato, Chicken Satay with Spicy Peanut Sauce, Fried Bologna & Egg, Philly Cheesesteak with Provolone, Salmon with Rosemary & Garlic, Chicken Thighs in Tomato & Olive Sauce, Swiss Steak
• Major Takeaways:
So. After puzzling over this book a bit, I’m just going to straight-up say that I don’t think there’s any way these recipes can be ready in 5 minutes. Yes, maybe if you only count the time that the food is actually in contact with the pan, but I don’t. I also count the time it takes to chop everything up, pound the chicken cutlets into even thinness, get the water boiling, heat the grill and so on.
This said, I don’t think we should dismiss this book or its recipes out of hand. These are still solid recipes that can be quickly assembled on a weeknight. From pulling out the cutting board to sitting down to eat, I think most of the recipes will easily come in under the 30 minute mark — and that’s plenty “quick” for me.
There’s a good variety here, too. Getting inspired for weeknight meals can be hard, and I will always be grateful for cookbooks like this that just give me ideas for what to make. I also really appreciate the charts that Symon includes at the beginning of the book. These show his favorite mix-and-match pairings for things like chicken, fish, and pasta and make it easier to do a last-minute swap if I forgot an ingredient or just want a new twist on a recipe.
• Who would enjoy this book? Chief family meal-planners, busy bee students living on a budget, folks trying to get into a habit of cooking weeknight meals (P.S. Heads up to the vegetarians: most recipes involve a bit of meat)
Find the book at your local library, independent bookstore, or Amazon: Michael Symon’s 5 in 5 by Michael Symon
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