The Recipe with Theo Randall

This Amalfi Coast cucina povera classic combines sea and land perfectly. The dish traditionally uses a local variety of squid, known as totani, but as this is not available outside of the area, use whatever squid you can find. You can use ready-cleaned calamari rings, or otherwise ask your fishmonger to clean the squid for you. Serve with lots of good, rustic bread and a cool glass of Greco di Tufo white wine, as this will immediately transport you to the sensations of the Amalfi Coast.

In this episode, Theo is joined by the brilliant John Gregory-Smith, a chef, best-selling author, and prolific content creator whose cooking is all about big flavour and food that brings people together. From launching his own spice company to traveling the world in search of the best dishes, John has built a career making global cooking accessible for the home cook. Whether he is filming three new recipes a week on his phone or researching his next cookbook, John’s journey is a testament to the power of "feeding the beast" of social media while staying rooted in authentic, bold flavours . John prepares his beloved Butter Chicken Tray-Bake, a clever, "stripped-back" twist on the North Indian Punjabi classic he first learned in Amritsar. Using chicken thighs poached in a rich sauce of ginger, garlic, Kashmiri chili, and garam masala, and finished with cream, butter, and the all-important "takeaway vibe" of scrunched fenugreek leaves, this dish beautifully encapsulates John’s cooking philosophy of maximum flavour with minimum effort. It is a recipe designed to be easy enough for a Wednesday night but delicious enough to serve to guests on the weekend . Throughout the episode, John shares his remarkable journey from his early days in London, where his sister’s drunken encounter in a bar led to a job at Gordon Ramsay’s Royal Hospital Road, to the "nightmare" logistics of running his own spice brand during a recession . He discusses the "Q-Mafia" traditions of his large, close-knit family and their legendary Sunday night curries, explaining how being the shortest and youngest cousin originally motivated him to start cooking so he could get to the food first . He also opens up about "fleeing his problems" to travel across Asia and the Middle East, a trip fuelled by a "complete lie" about book research that eventually became his very first publication . John also explores his obsession with "hanging out with old ladies" to learn intuitive, traditional recipes in places like Azerbaijan and Lebanon, contrasting these deep culinary dives with the reality of writing a tray-bake book in a high-pressure three-month sprint . From shocking Theo with his refusal to salt his pasta water to admitting his love for watching Below Deck when he’s too tired to cook, John offers a refreshingly honest look at the life of a modern food creator .

In this episode, Theo is joined by the brilliant Kerth Gumbs, Chef de Cuisine at Fenchurch in the Sky Garden and one of the most exciting voices in modern Caribbean cuisine. From his humble beginnings in Anguilla watching his mother Daphine cater weddings and funerals to mastering French technique under legends like Joël Robuchon and Tom Aikens, Kerth’s journey is a testament to the power of heritage, discipline, and cooking with purpose. After representing the UK at the World Championships in track and field, studying at Le Cordon Bleu, and working his way through Michelin kitchens across London and Singapore with Jason Atherton, Kerth is now championing bold Caribbean flavours whilst honouring the traditions of his island home. Kerth prepares his beloved Jerk Steam Sea Bream with Escovitch Vegetables and Coconut Dumplings, a deeply personal Easter dish that beautifully encapsulates his cooking philosophy. Using whole sea bream seasoned with aromatic jerk paste, garlic salt, and sazon complete, sweet julienned peppers and onions sautéed with thyme and finished with Chardonnay vinegar for that classic escovitch tang, and fluffy coconut dumplings made with coconut milk powder for richness and body. Steamed en papillote with knobs of butter to sweeten and round the spices, this is humble Caribbean home cooking elevated with French technique, celebrating the incredible seafood and bold flavours of the islands whilst remaining accessible, affordable, and deeply comforting.

In this episode, Theo is joined by Meera Sodha, best-selling author, Guardian columnist, and one of the most influential voices in modern plant-based cooking. With four acclaimed cookbooks to her name and a weekly Guardian column that has transformed the way Britain thinks about vegetables, Meera's journey from growing up as the only Indian family in a Lincolnshire village to becoming a celebrated food writer is a testament to the power of heritage, resilience, and cooking with purpose. From her early entrepreneurial ventures including the ahead-of-its-time dating site Fancy an Indian to working at Innocent Drinks and eventually finding her calling in food writing, Meera represents a new generation of cooks who celebrate tradition whilst embracing creativity and global influences. Meera prepares her beloved Malaysian Dal Curry, a deeply personal dish that helped her reconnect with cooking after months away from the kitchen during a difficult period in her life.

In this episode, Theo is joined by the brilliant Jack Stein, chef director of the Rick Stein Group and a passionate advocate for sustainable seafood. Growing up in Padstow surrounded by fishing boats, fresh crab, and his father's legendary seafood restaurant, Jack's journey has taken him from the kitchens of Michel Bras in France to building a thriving restaurant empire across Cornwall whilst championing British fish and sustainable fishing practices. With deep roots in Cornwall's fishing community and a commitment to preserving culinary traditions, Jack represents the next generation of the Stein legacy. Jack prepares his beloved Cornish Crab Linguine, his mum Jill's favourite dish and a modern twist on a classic Italian recipe. Using sweet Cornish crab meat from local fishermen in Padstow, a simple base of shallots, garlic, tomatoes, lemon juice, and quality olive oil, with a clever addition of gochujang for warmth and depth, and squid fish sauce for that umami punch reminiscent of ancient Roman garum. This dish beautifully encapsulates Jack's cooking philosophy - simple, ingredient-led food that respects tradition whilst embracing global influences and celebrates the incredible seafood landed on Cornwall's shores every day.

In this episode, Theo is joined by chef and author Thuy Diem Pham, a leading voice in Vietnamese cuisine. From rural Vietnam to a celebrated UK career, she shares her journey of preserving heritage through food. Thuy cooks Bun Ga Hue – a fragrant chicken noodle soup with lemongrass, star anise, fresh herbs and chilli oil – and reflects on family, tradition, and the art of a beautifully clear, nourishing broth.