Sunshine on a plate

Ainsley Harriott on how to make the most of cooking outdoors...

- ELAINE REILLY

With lockdown lifting and summer near, it’s time to dust down the deckchairs, unfurl the picnic blanket, fire up the barbecue and rustle up delicious dishes to eat outdoors with friends and family.

In this week’s episode of ITV’s Ainsley’s Food We Love, ever chirpy chef Ainsley Harriott shares his passion for al-fresco dining and dishes up some of his favourite recipes to his lucky guest, former Strictly Come Dancing contestant and Celebrity MasterChef finalist, radio DJ Dev Griffin.

With a mouth-watering menu including barbecued Cypriot lamb, cherry tomato skewers, potato salad, and portable desserts in the form of strawberry cheesecake (in very cute jars!), it’s an appetiser for the glorious (we hope!) summer to come…

‘The sun’s shining. There’s a real feeling of wanting to be with people, to share food, have fun and be silly again,’ Ainsley tells TV Times in an exclusive interview.

Here, Ainsley, 64, shares his tips for cooking outdoors...

Why do you love al-fresco dining?