Here’s What Nigella Lawson Cooks When She’s Feeling Lazy

We all know what it’s like to come home hungry at the end of a long day and not want to spend a ton of time in the kitchen. Instead, we’ll turn to our default dinners — the fast, familiar bites we can toss together with whatever’s in our fridge or pantry (with bonus points if the end result is quick, cheap, and, of course, delicious).

And famous food figures — from chefs, to TV hosts, to bloggers — feel that way too. After often spending entire days cooking with or thinking about food, it’s no surprise that when they get home, they also have their shortcut suppers to fall back on. All month long, we’re asking them to share them with us.

Up first? Nigella Lawson, the effortlessly chic TV host, food writer, and business woman who we’d all love to share a meal with. We chatted with her about her standby lazy dinner (yes, it’s true, even Nigella feels lazy sometimes!): a smart, inexpensive, and satisfying veggie bowl that comes together in no time at all. It’s full of hearty textures, like roasted veggies and crunchy nuts, and flavors, like salty sardines and zesty lemon. Best of all? The whole thing is super customizable too.

Here’s exactly how Nigella makes it.

“I start by boiling some kale or — if I’ve got the patience to wait — roasting some cauliflower. Then I’ll open a tin of very good-quality sardines. When the vegetables are ready, I sizzle some lemon zest in a pan with extra-virgin olive oil, add a little crushed chilli, then the sardines, making sure to break them up. Then I’ll add in the kale or cauliflower, tossing them together with a spritz of lemon juice, whatever herbs I have on hand, and nuts if I have them. Ideally, I like parsley and walnuts if I’m going with kale, or dill and toasted pine nuts if I’m eating cauliflower — but I’m also just happy to open the fridge and cupboard and see what’s there.

“And if I don’t have the energy to do any of that? Nothing is ever wrong with hot buttered toast and a mug of tea, or the perennial pleasure of good bread and cheese.”

What’s your standby lazy dinner at the end of a long day? Tell us in the comments below.