Radio 1 Presenter Chris Stark admits he is now chef, but he does love to cook and has now channelled this passion into a new student cookbook, named Eat, Sleep, Zoom, Reheat.

Now 33, the new dad, who studied at the University of Southampton, remembers his own uni days, and is hoping to help get Freshers eating stuff other than take-out.

With students, new and continuing, arriving back in Liverpool for a new, albeit slightly different, academic year, here’s everything you need to know about the new book.

The Book

Eat, Sleep, Zoom, Reheat: How To Survive And Thrive In Your Student Kitchen by Chris Stark.

Who will love it?

First off, parents of Freshers. With their babies heading out into the great unknown of halls, lectures and having to fend for themselves, slipping this cookbook in with their kids’ suitcase (OK, laundry bag) will likely provide a modicum of reassurance that they will make it to Christmas without living on pasta and toast alone.

Secondly, the Freshers themselves. Sick of people implying they can’t/won’t cook, a couple of these recipes passed off as their own should shut up the naysayers.

I’ve written a Student Cookbook and it’s out TODAY.
Loads of stories from my time at Uni and some ideas for meals to get you through uni life.
I’m prouder of this than my actual dissertation #EatSleepRaveReheat pic.twitter.com/aaevw7auAT

— Chris Stark (@Chris_Stark) September 3, 2020

What is it trying to get us cooking?

The kind of food that will sustain you through library sessions (‘The academic asparagus omelette’), sit happily in the freezer (‘Chris’ ‘cheap as chips’ chilli con carne’), give you a boost before sports matches (‘Pesto chicken with fridgeraider bulging muscles salad’), and speedy dinners that require minimal washing up. Obviously, there are hangover cures too (‘Pizza naan’), as well as date-night fare (‘Choco Lovin’ Pots’) and party ideas (‘Ultimate wing roulette’). It also has Christmas dinner covered – in two hours.

How easy is it to use?

Very. Stark sets out everything you need to buy – from kitchen equipment to staple ingredients – on your first ‘big shop’, meaning from that moment on, you’ll have the basics to hand. The recipes are solid, straightforward, and designed to cost less than a fiver (as long as you’ve got those basics in). There are no fancy methods, complicated techniques, or long words, but it does include veggie alternatives and ‘flavour tips’, if you do gain in confidence and want to up the ante.

Helpfully, it offers tips on how to store food too, so you don’t end up poisoning yourself by leaving rice out all night and then reheating it. There aren’t any pictures to follow – which may be a help or a hindrance. You won’t have something to aim for, looks-wise, but then you won’t have anything to negatively compare yourself to either, regardless how your dish turns out.

The best recipe is… It’s got to be the ‘Stroganoff Before-You-Dancey-Off’ for the name alone. That or the ‘Starkay satay chicken’ (recipe below).

The recipe you’re most likely to post on Instagram is… ‘Easy-but-deadly’ banoffee pie – retro and delicious, it’s a winner. The dish you’re least likely to try is… ‘Gourmet Beans à la Toast’ – what’s wrong with the classic version?

Picture Credit – iStock/PA.

How to make Chris Stark’s ‘Starkay Satay’ Noodles

Ingredients:

300g boneless chicken thigh meat, diced

2tbsp soy sauce

Zest and juice of 1 lime

2tsp cornflour

400g dried noodles (2 nests per person)

4tbsp vegetable oil

1 onion, thinly sliced

1/2 broccoli, cut into florets and stalk thinly sliced

1 carrot, thinly sliced

50g smooth peanut butter

2tbsp sweet chilli sauce

400ml tin coconut milk

100g mangetout, thinly sliced

50g frozen peas

50g roasted peanuts, lightly crushed

Vegetarian: removing the chicken and adding firm tofu to this dish works just as well.

Flavour tip: adding some sliced spring onions and sesame seeds at the end might make you consider quitting university and becoming a chef!

The Liverpool ONE social bubbles that take inspiration from New York

?https://t.co/4eRAHvhUp2 pic.twitter.com/5NlxEKYrmC

— The Guide Liverpool (@TheGuideLpool) September 18, 2020

Method:

1. Put the chicken in a bowl, add the soy sauce, lime zest and cornflour and mix together well. Cover and leave to marinate for five minutes. If you are using tofu, do the same step.

2. Bring a large pan of water to the boil, add the noodles and cook for two minutes. Once cooked, drain with a colander and rinse under running water until cold. Drain again and drizzle with two tablespoons of the vegetable oil, coating them well before setting aside.

3. Heat a large frying pan over a high heat until hot, add the remaining oil and fry the onion, broccoli stalk and carrot for one minute. Stir in the peanut butter, chilli sauce and coconut milk. Bring the pan to the boil, then turn down the heat to a simmer. Add the marinated chicken or tofu and poach for five minutes. Throw in the mangetout, peas and broccoli florets and simmer for another two minutes.

4. Return to the boil, stir in the lime juice and cooked noodles and heat until they are piping hot. Serve with the crushed peanuts on top.

Eat, Sleep, Zoom, Reheat: How To Survive And Thrive In Your Student Kitchen by Chris Stark is published by John Blake, priced £9.99 and is available to buy now, here.

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