CLAPHAM’S MASTERCHEF CHAMPION NIKITA PATHAKJI RETURNS TO THE BBC ✨👩🍳// Our very own @chefnikita.p winner of @masterchefuk The Professionals (2022), is back on the BBC but this time she’s not competing… she’s setting the Skills Test for the new chefs in the kitchen alongside @matt.tebbutt@galettigram@marcuswareing
From lifting the trophy to challenging the next generation, it’s incredible to see her come full circle on the very show she won.
Since her win, Nikita has continued building her reputation in top London kitchens and through her now always sold-out supper clubs including right here in Clapham.
We had the pleasure of going to one, and honestly… it was exceptional. From champion to mentor and still flying the flag for Clapham.2d
These Apricot Jam Breakfast Muffins can be prepared the night before and cooked to perfection in the morning – http://ow.ly/8e6w30fDtZV
Ingredients
2 large free-range eggs
150ml pot of natural low-fat yoghurt
50ml rapeseed oil
2 tblsp no added sugar apricot jam
1 ripe banana, mashed
4 tblsp clear honey
1 tsp almond extract
200g of wholemeal flour
50g of porridge oats, plus extra for sprinkling
1 ½ teaspoons of baking powder
1 ½ teaspoons of bicarbonate of soda
2 tblsp mixed seeds
extra apricot jam
a handful of flaked almonds, for sprinkling
Method
Pre-heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/Gas Mark 4. Line a 12-hole muffin tin with 12 large muffin cases.
In a mixing jug, combine the eggs, yoghurt, rapeseed oil, Apricot Jam, banana, honey and almond extract.
In a large bowl, combine the wholemeal flour, oats, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and mixed seeds.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and combine until you have a smooth batter. Don’t over mix as this will make your muffins tough.
Divide the mix between the muffin cases and place about half a teaspoon of Apricot Jam on the top of each of the muffins. Sprinkle with the extra porridge oats and the flaked almonds.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until risen and golden. Check that they’re cooked by inserting a skewer into the middle of one of the muffins. They’re done if it comes away clean.
Remove from the oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool. These will keep for 3 days in a sealed container but they taste best on the day of baking.
Weigh the eggs. Take the same weight in butter, sugar and flour. Beat the butter and sugar together until pale and light in texture. Wash the oranges and add the finely grated rind of 2 and the juice of 1 to the butter mixture. Mix the flour and baking powder and add alternately with the eggs. Beat thoroughly. Bake in a 24cm (91/2in) tin in a moderate oven, 180°C/350°F/gas 4, for 50 minutes approx. Cool the cake and split it in two. Sandwich with the orange butter icing and spread the chocolate icing over the top and sides allowing any excess to run off.
To make the orange butter icing, finely grate the rind of the orange and squeeze out the juice. Beat the icing sugar, butter and orange rind together. Add in enough juice to make the icing a spreading consistency.
To make the chocolate icing, melt the chocolate in the water. Remove from the heat and beat in the butter and then the eggs very thoroughly. Leave to cool and set before icing and filling the cake.
To close out the World Egg Day celebrations, Olympians Philip Doyle and Sophie Becker whip up a tasty red pepper frittata 😋
This is recipe is perfect for when you want a delicious and nutritious dinner 🍴Did you know that eggs are a great source of protein, vitamins, and minerals! For this recipe and more easy egg recipes, head to bordbia.ie/eggs-crack-on/ (link in bio!)
Always look for the Bord Bia Quality Mark when shopping for eggs! 🥚 ☘️
Method: To cook the potatoes: ✅ Place the potatoes in a saucepan with enough boiling water to just cover them and simmer for about 10-15 minutes until tender. When the potatoes are cooked, drain them in a colander and then cut them into 2cm cubes. ✅ Transfer them to a serving bowl and keep them warm.
To make the dressing: ✅ Combine the oil, mustard, garlic, lemon juice, zest and chives. Taste and season. ✅ Stir about 2/3 of the dressing through the potatoes along with the scallions. Reserve the rest of the dressing to drizzle over the cooked mackerel. ✅ Preheat the grill to high.
To cook the mackerel: ✅ Line a grill pan or baking tray with lightly oiled tin foil then lay the fish skin side down. ✅ Spread the mustard over the mackerel. Season with salt and pepper. ✅ Place under a hot grill and cook for approximately 6 minutes.
To serve: ✅ Serve the mackerel with the warm potato salad, summer vegetables and lemon wedges. Drizzle over the remaining dressing.
Cabbage often—and unfairly—gets overlooked, with flashier veggies and protein-dense superfoods getting all the attention. But as far as nutritional food options go, the leafy green is pretty hard to beat. A staple in different cuisines (American coleslaw! Middle Eastern malfouf! Chinese suan la bai cai!), cabbage has been a longtime favorite amongst global chefs.
“Much of this stems from its versatility,” Woldy Reyes, chef and author of the cookbook In the Kusina: My Seasonal Filipino Cooking, tells Vogue. “We are seeing a growing trend of chefs utilizing it as a centerpiece, such as cabbage steaks, rather than as a side dish. The culinary appeal has never been stronger.”
“Its popularity stems from its ability to transform,” adds Tatiana Mora, chef of plant-based Michelin star restaurant Mita. “It can be eaten raw, fermented, steamed, roasted, or sautéed, consistently providing flavor, texture, and nutrition. I love it because it is a noble vegetable that grows easily, keeps well, and can be used almost entirely, making it perfect for a conscious and respectful approach to cooking.”
It’s accessible, easy to cook, and delicious. Here are all the reasons cabbage deserves a seat at your table (get it?) in 2026.
What is cabbage?
Cabbage is a leafy green that is part of the brassica plant family (which also includes broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, and kale), says Amy Shapiro, RD, registered dietitian and founder of Real Nutrition. It comes in several varieties, but the most common ones you’ll see are green, red (or purple), and savoy. What makes cabbage different from other leafy greens is its density and durability. “It’s heartier, stores longer, and holds up well to cooking, fermenting, and shredding,” Shapiro says. “Nutritionally, it shares many benefits with other cruciferous vegetables, but it’s often milder in flavor and more versatile across cuisines.”
The Benefits
Besides its versatility, one of the main benefits of cabbage is its many nutrients. Shapiro lists other main benefits of the leafy green:
Supports Gut Health
Shapiro says that, because cabbage contains fiber and other compounds that support digestion, eating this leafy green can benefit the gut bacteria and boost gut health.
Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Cabbage is also rich in antioxidants and phytonutrients that studies have shown can reduce inflammation, she says.
Boosts Heart Health
Along with fiber, cabbage has potassium, which supports healthy cholesterol levels and blood pressure. Cabbage also has vitamin K, which is essential for blood clotting (and bone health). Shapiro points to red cabbage in particular, which she says contains antioxidants called anthocyanins that studies have shown can improve brain and heart health.
Regulates Blood Sugar
Cabbage is low in calories and carbs while being high in fiber, which can help stabilize glucose levels in the body.
Foodaware 