MasterChef Champion Launches Cookbook for Single Parents
TV chef Shelina Permalloo, the first woman of colour to win BBC One's MasterChef in 2012, has released a new cookbook aimed at simplifying mealtimes for single parents. Titled What To Make When Everyone’s Hungry, the book features easy, flavour-packed recipes such as cheesy naan and one-tray peri peri chicken, designed to reduce cooking time and washing-up.
Addressing the Challenges of Solo Parenting
Permalloo, a 43-year-old single mother to an eight-year-old daughter, Niyyah, speaks openly about the relentless demands of solo parenting. She highlights the heavy burden of managing all household tasks alone, from cooking to cleaning, without the support often assumed in traditional nuclear families.
"When you're responsible for everything, the onus is heavy," she explains, noting that many recipes cater to larger families, leading to repetitive meals. Her cookbook aims to provide flexible, quick solutions that fit modern, diverse family structures.
Recipes Rooted in Heritage and Practicality
Drawing from her Mauritian heritage and professional experience, Permalloo incorporates global influences from Thailand, Ghana, Jamaica, and more into her dishes. She emphasises the importance of an organised kitchen and simple techniques, learned from running her restaurant, Lakaz Maman Mauritian Street Kitchen, to make home cooking more efficient.
The book includes family classics alongside diverse options, encouraging parents to introduce varied flavours to children, even when faced with picky eaters. Permalloo shares personal anecdotes, such as adapting plantain with cumin to suit her daughter's tastes, underscoring the value of persistence in fostering culinary diversity.
Sample Recipes for Busy Households
Cheesy Naan: A no-knead, no-rest recipe using self-raising flour and yoghurt, filled with melty mozzarella for a quick, satisfying bread.
Chicken Peri Peri Traybake: A one-tray dish combining spicy rice and seasoned chicken wings, minimising cleanup while delivering bold flavours.
Pistachio Barfi: A simple, addictive sweet treat made with condensed milk and pistachios, perfect for quick desserts or snacks.
Personal Journey and Cultural Identity
Born in Southampton to Mauritian immigrants, Permalloo reflects on her upbringing marked by financial struggles and early independence after her father's death. She credits this background for her frugal, resourceful cooking style, now enhanced by greater access to ingredients.
Embracing her British-Mauritian identity, she advocates for celebrating dual heritages through food, aiming to make her recipes accessible and joyful for all families, regardless of size or structure.
