James May: Oh Cook!

Cooking show hosted by James May, providing a unique perspective on kitchen creations for those who don't know how to cook.

Genre: Documentary

Cast:James May , Nikki Morgan

1Season 1

S1.E1 ∙ Asian Fusion

Fri, Nov 13, 2020

After a de rigueur opening tease giving away all the best bits from the series, James starts his culinary journey by taking on the food of Asia. As the publishers of his new recipe book are in attendance, he immediately starts with a glass of wine. The first dish of the day is a Thai noodle soup, a staple of Southeast Asian cuisine. It's a delicate balance of flavours that the literary folks, thankfully, seem to enjoy. James also whips up a quick rice and seaweed breakfast made with Nori, the sheets of seaweed you get when you buy sushi. Then it's time for some proper fusion: Spamen, ramen made with Spam and a pot-noodle. If you are flicking through Amazon Prime thinking, 'where can I find a show that combines Western wartime rationing with the flavours of Japan?', you've come to the right place. Last but certainly not least James dusts off his trusty wok to cook salmon, served on a bed of stir fried vegetables.

2Season 1

S1.E2 ∙ Pub Classics

Fri, Nov 13, 2020

The pub is a British institution, once a bastion of warm ale and smelly carpets, many are now known for their excellent food. James decides to kick off the show with the most classic of pub grub: the pie. However, this particular pie has been given a modern makeover. As a growing number of us now choose to eat less meat, James has designed a half meat, half vegetarian pie to keep everyone satisfied. The two halves are separated by an unbreachable wall of pasty that would make Donald Trump proud. The difficult part is remembering which half is which. James then moves on to pan-frying a sirloin steak, which he serves with sweet potato wedges in a thinly veiled attempt to prove his modernity and relevance. Another pub stalwart, the fish pie, follows next. In 2007 James beat Gordon Ramsay in a fish pie head-to-head, so this is a dish with pedigree. To round off the whole meal, it's time for an English trifle made easy, using a recipe full of clever shortcuts.

3Season 1

S1.E3 ∙ Pasta

Fri, Nov 13, 2020

Coeliacs take cover, it's pasta time. And what better way to start than with a lasagne double header: one beef, one vegetarian. Key to the latter are aubergines and lentils - perhaps not traditional, but certainly delicious. This recipe also gives James the opportunity to wax lyrical about his rotary parmesan grater, a gadget he's lovingly maintained since he was a student. Next, James tackles the perennial problem of what to do with leftover spaghetti. After being attacked with a pair of herb scissors, and with the addition of a few extra ingredients, they can be fried into rosti, great for a quick lunch. Another tasty snack follows, combining the unusual holy trinity of white toast, pesto, and tinned spaghetti hoops. Perhaps misguidedly, James then decides to open the pandora's box that is a British person cooking the Roman staple, Carbonara. In an attempt to mitigate the diplomatic fallout, he decides to make two, one with cream, and one without. To share the burden of responsibility he recruits Nikki for a quick taste test. By way of revenge, she creates a pasta based jelly monstrosity.

4Season 1

S1.E4 ∙ Curry

Fri, Nov 13, 2020

Making a curry from scratch is often seen as more hassle than it's worth, particularly when you want it with all the obligatory accoutrements: fluffy rice, dal, chapatis, chutney, and raita. But that's exactly what James is setting out to make, only occasionally calling on the help home economist Nikki. Lamb keema is the first thing to get going, beginning with a fragrant base of fried onions, garlic, and ginger. Spice and flavour comes courtesy of shop bought curry powder, added along with the lamb mince and fresh tomatoes. With the curry simmering away, James moves on to dal - the original street food. This version uses coconut milk to make it extra creamy, while a fiery green chili adds heat. Up next, chapatis, a simple mixture of wholemeal and plain flour, combined with vegetable oil, water, and salt. You can cook them in a pan or on an aluminium diecasting machine, whatever you have handy. A quick lesson in rice cooking followed by a simple tomato and onion chutney, leads James to his store cupboard saviour. Here a handful of exciting spices are added to shop bought rice pudding to give it an Indian twist. It's not a resounding success, but the curry feast that James then serves up is a triumph.

5Season 1

S1.E5 ∙ Pudding

Fri, Nov 13, 2020

From crumbles and cakes to sticky toffee and bread and butter, puddings are undoubtedly the gastronomic calling card of the UK. James kicks off this sugary half hour with Spotted Dick, an amusingly-named culinary relic that deserves a bit of a revamp. James leaves his Dick to steam for two whole hours and starts work on a Victoria Sponge. A favourite snack of the former monarch, it's been a tea-time staple for over a century. And while it looks deceptively simple, James and Nikki demonstrate the tricks needed to make it perfect every time. Or at the very least this time. After a detour into a speedy Apple Crumble the cake finally emerges from the oven. It's time to whip up the cream and spread the jam for that signature look. As the Spotted Dick nears completion, James cracks on with the homemade custard that will accompany it. The ultimate comfort food.

6Season 1

S1.E6 ∙ Breakfast

Fri, Nov 13, 2020

Breakfast is back in vogue and more varied than ever. Bloody Mary in hand, James begins by making kedgeree. This lightly curried dish of flaked, smoked fish in rice was a favourite of the British Raj. James tops it with a poached egg, cooked with the help of an ingenious gadget. A potato and black pudding hash follows next and it's not completely smooth sailing. After chopping the potatoes with another new gadget, James gives them a quick blanche before frying them with onion and chili. The introduction of the black pudding yields a less than ideal result, both visually and in terms of flavour, but Nikki's kind words bring James out of his funk. It's time for Shakshuka, the Middle Eastern classic that's become a favourite in the West. Onions, garlic, and tomatoes are all fried before little wells are made in the mixture and the eggs added to gently poach. It's a resounding success that James follows up with a very modern take on eggs and soldiers. The egg remains the same: soft boiled and oozing, while the toast batons are replaced with avocado fingers wrapped in prosciutto. Take that Hackney.

7Season 1

S1.E7 ∙ Roast

Fri, Nov 13, 2020

The Sunday Roast is a challenge of technique and timings, often involving tips and tricks passed down generations. James sets out early to slay a sacred cow: he's going to make Yorkshire puddings with roast chicken, the batter for which is the first thing to be prepared. There then follows a scene of James massaging herby butter into a dead animal. It's fowl, but necessary to get crispy skin and moist flesh. With the bird in the oven, roast potatoes and cauliflower cheese are up next, along with preparing the carrots and sprouts. The Yorkshire pudding batter is finally poured into the boiling hot moulds and begins to rise. As everything starts coming together via Nikki's clever warming drawer, James starts work on the all-important gravy. A good gravy knits the whole meal together, as does a glass of wine and good company. When the time comes to dig into to the finished meal, Nikki and James toast a successful day's cooking and the crew finally get something worth eating.

1Season 2

S2.E1 ∙ French Classics

Wed, May 24, 2023

James sets the bar high by taking on some classic dishes from France, the home of haute cuisine. Expect oniony thrills and soupy spills as he tries to sort out his croque from his coq.

2Season 2

S2.E2 ∙ Japanese

Wed, May 24, 2023

James puts his culinary skills to the test as he tackles the exquisite and delicate world of Japanese cooking. Katsu curry, vegetable tempura, and Temaki rolls are all on the menu, but whilst James is surprisingly adept with a sharp knife, it turns out he's less graceful with a rolling pin.

3Season 2

S2.E3 ∙ 70's Dinner Party

Wed, May 24, 2023

It's party time, 1970s style, and James grooves his way through the classics of the age. Vol-au-vents, Stroganoffs and flaming Crepe Suzettes make the party go with a swing, all before the Babycham has even had a chance to go warm.

4Season 2

S2.E4 ∙ Vegan

Wed, May 24, 2023

James explores the delights of vegan food and discovers a world of delicious recipes. Tasty burgers without the moo and Shepherd's pie without the ewe prove a hit with the crew, while a smoky tofu stir fry almost turns the air blue.

5Season 2

S2.E5 ∙ German

Wed, May 24, 2023

Beer will flow and sausages fly as James tackles the wonders of German cuisine. From curry wurst and sauerkraut, to classic pretzels, to an unpronounceable potato and plum dessert, James reveals just how delicious German food can be

6Season 2

S2.E6 ∙ Picnic

Wed, May 24, 2023

What better way to celebrate summer that with a sumptuous selection of classic picnic recipes?Sausage rolls to animal shaped scones, scotch eggs to coronation chicken-a-la-May, all the ingredients are here for a summertime feast.

7Season 2

S2.E7 ∙ Mexican

Wed, May 24, 2023

James has never been to Mexico. So he'll need to muster all his culinary know-how to tackle a complex chuck steak chili, the smoky delights of tacos two-ways, and Latin American classic of churros with chocolate sauce.