--- Watch Ainsley's Good Mood Food, Saturdays from 7:40pm on SBS Food (Ch.33) and catch up on all episodes via ) ---
There's a glowing neon sign in the kitchen where some of Ainsley Harriott's new show is set. It declares: "In this kitchen, we dance". And OF COURSE, he does. He's a tower of smiling, singing, laughing, dancing entertainment in any show, and at any location (shown so well in ), but with a show called Ainsley's Good Mood Food, there are even more reasons to get your smile and wiggle on and join him in the kitchen.
"A good meal can make my heart sing and soothe my soul," he says in the new series, which sees Harriott cooking up a storm both in the kitchen and on the beach. He also travels around Britain meeting some people producing feel-good food, and sends his fellow chef,, off to find some more entertaining food stories.
Back in the kitchen, Ainsley is cooking up everything from fish and chips to recipes inspired by happy childhood memories, including a sweet tray bake and his mother's Caribbean banana fritters. Here's what you can look forward to:
Episode 1 — Seaside Delights
Zesty seafood kebabs with shaved courgette and fennel salad. Source: Ainsley's Good Mood Food
Joseph heads to the Jurassic Coast to meet Jethro at the Dorset Sea Salt Company to find out how he captures the magic of the sea in his salt. Back in his kitchen, Ainsley gives a dish from his childhood a salty update, with his .
Chocolate sponge traybake. Source: Ainsley's Good Mood Food
Episode 2 — Fruits and Berries
Ainsley is feeling fruity! In this episode all his dishes use fruit; he begins with a dish from his travels, .
On the road, he pays a visit to Willy Chase to find out about his apple cider vinegar and the magic of his orchards. On the beach, Ainsley fires up the BBQ to make using a dash of Willy’s vinegar to add a delicious tang.
Joseph pays a visit to Jade at Bitesize Bakehouse whose handmade marshmallows are packed full of fruit for a masterclass in how to make the pillowy treats. Inspired by Jade’s use of fruit, Ainsley adds his twist to a classic and whips up a wonderful Wandsworth mess.
His last dish, , is sure to impress yet simple to make.
Episode 3 — Eggs
Ainsley is Egg-cited to explore the wonderful world of eggs. He kicks things off with a delicious for a spicy start to the day.
Ainsley stops in on old pal Marcus Bean to check out his farm shop and gets a quick lesson on custard tarts. Back in his kitchen Ainsley makes his own dessert, .
Joseph has a cracking time with Matt and Annabelle from My Scotch Egg.com finding out how they make the perfect picnic dish. Ainsley knocks up a quick peppered mackerel kedgeree with mint yoghurt, the ideal dish for a lazy brunch.
Ainsley with his blueberry clafoutis. Source: Ainsley's Good Mood Food
His final dish is a decadent treat of with orange and honey-roasted figs, hazelnuts and mascarpone a naughty but nice treat for the weekend.
Episode 4 — Honey
Ainsley is buzzing around in his kitchen again as he cooks using honey. He combines honey and chilli for his first dish, honey-chilli spiced lamb with a potato, bean and mint dressing salad.
He travels to North Wales to visit a man who loves spice as much as him, to find out how he blends them with his other love – honey. Laurence treats Ainsley to a pizza drizzled with his hot fire honey. On the beach, Ainsley uses honey and spices to create his fiery BBQ glazed pork ribs with mango, black bean and rice salad, sticky, tasty, and sure to make you smile.
Joseph meets the founder of Keepr’s to learn about how his passion for honey and bees led to his range of honey infused spirits. Ainsley is feeling sweet with his sticky barbecued peach melba, drizzled with honey proving fruit and honey are a match made in heaven.
Ainsley wraps up the show with a tantalizing tart, full of flavour. He uses honey to enhance the ingredients in his .
Honey and thyme pear tart. Source: Ainsley's Good Mood Food
Episode 5 — Nuts and Seeds
Ainsley is using nuts and seeds to create all his tasty dishes in today’s show. His first recipe, , is full of earthy flavours using nuts to add a satisfying crunch.
Ainsley visits the Funky Nut Co for a tour with founder Julian who makes peanut butter with a difference. Back in his own kitchen Ainsley uses very special peanut butter in his , a comforting vegan dish.
Roasted beetroot, goat cheese and candied walnut salad. Source: Ainsley's Good Mood Food
His hunt for a tasty breakfast takes Joseph to the Cotswolds where he meets Debs at Forthray Granola who has been serving up her award-winning granola to her happy Bed and Breakfast customers. She treats Joseph to a demo in combining nuts and seeds to make the perfect granola. Ainsley takes inspiration from Debs and makes fruity oat energy bars, perfect for an on-the-go breakfast.
Last up is a fish dish with a sweet nutty sauce, perfect for two, Ainsley’s pan-fried sea bass with a roasted red pepper and almond sauce.
Episode 6 — Vegetables
Ainsley is getting his “five a day” as vegetables are the star of all of today’s recipes. There’s a spicy start with his crispy cauliflower bites with a kicking Korean sauce, great for sharing.
During a visit to Hampshire, Ainsley tries his hand at harvesting asparagus under the watchful eye of Farmer Neil. Back on his stove, he knocks up a brilliant one-pot asparagus and artichoke orzo with spinach and pine nuts, tasty and packed full of vegetables.
Joseph is in Norfolk to find out about a peppery vegetable with a delicious crunch, the radish. Ainsley is on the beach and has his BBQ out for his .
Proving vegetables can be sweet too Ainsley makes his carrot, orange and rosemary loaf cake, a perfect afternoon treat.
Ainsley Harriott with chicken flatties. Source: Ainsley's Good Mood Food
Episode 7 — Grains and Pulses
Ainsley is celebrating some unsung heroes who are the start of so many wonderful meals…grains and pulses. First up a taste of the Mediterranean with seared tuna, mixed tomato and bean salad with an anchovy and tomato dressing.
Ainsley has a master class in milling at the beautiful Shipton Flour Mill before making a dough with their exquisite flour for his pizza Margherita, while Joseph meets Kat from the Crumpetorium to find out what makes her artisan crumpets so irresistible.
Ainsley Harriott at Shipton Mill. Source: Ainsley's Good Mood Food
Ainsley cooks one of his favourite childhood treats using a recipe handed down from his mum, Caribbean cinnamon banana fritters with chocolate sauce dip. To finish the episode, Ainsley creates a stovetop rice dish full of smoky, spice flavours, .
Ainsley Harriott with banana fritters. Source: Ainsley's Good Mood Food
Episode 8 — Going Green
Leafy greens are guaranteed to make you feel good, all today’s dishes have a healthy portion of the glorious green stuff! Starting with breakfast muffins so tasty you will want them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Ainsley hops aboard the Watercress Line to pay a visit to the Watercress beds in Hampshire to find out about all about the peppery leaves. He then makes the most of the lovely leaves in a hot smoked trout and watercress tart, an ideal lunch to impress guests.
Joseph is hanging out with Two Dirty Boys and getting a lesson in the art of regrowing before Ainsley makes a spicey stir fry packed with seasonal greens and plenty of flavour.
Heading off to discover more about watercress. Source: Ainsley's Good Mood Food
Finally, a sweet treat, cakes perfect for afternoon tea and bursting with flavour, pistachio, lemon, and polenta cakes.
Ainsley's pistachio lemon and polenta cakes. Source: Ainsley's Good Mood Food
Episode 9 — Herbs and Spices
Join Ainsley as he cooks up dishes packed with herbs and spices. First, he uses one of his favourite spices to make lamb kofta with sumac onions served with flatbreads and chilli-mint yoghurt.
Expert Forager Alysia Vasey takes Ainsley on a trip through the woods and shows him some amazing herbs and spices that can be found right under his feet. Ainsley uses one of their finds to jazz up his pineapple upside-down cake with rum and lime cream.
Joseph learns how James from The Real Cure uses herbs and spices to make award-winning charcuterie. On the beach Ainsley cooks up a dish sure to spice up any BBQ, .
Foraging in the woods. Source: Ainsley's Good Mood Food
Ainsley’s final recipe, Keralan fish and King Prawn curry is a perfect blend of herbs and spices.
Joseph Denison Carey (right) visits The Real Cure. Source: Ainsley's Good Mood Food
Episode 10 — Coffee and Chocolate
Join Ainsley as he shows how to use chocolate and coffee in both sweet and savoury dishes, starting with a quick and easy one pot that is sure to warm your cockles, three-bean and pepper chilli pot.
Ainsley visits sisters Millie and Lydia who are chocolate mad to find out what goes into Buzzy Bees' speciality, the Brookie. Then he makes some blondies… a modern version of a traditional brownie.
Chef Joseph gets a lesson in using coffee as a spice from Chef Richard Bainbridge as he cooks up his coffee BBQ sauce. From his beachside kitchen, Ainsley uses both coffee and chocolate in his Friday night fajitas, a great dish for the whole family.
Then a rich indulgent dessert guaranteed to impress your guests: an !
Ainsley with his espresso and chocolate cheesecake. Source: Ainsley's Good Mood Food
