Book review: Celebrate by Bettina Campolucci-Bordi

Bettina Campolucci-Bordi’s third book, Celebrate, is an homage to the humble vegetable, with a host of recipes that ensure it is the hero ingredient on the plate (or sharing platter). The self-taught chef is a “passionate advocate for plants” and specialises in vegan and free-from recipe development for brands within the hospitality industry.

With a Norwegian father and a Bulgarian/Danish mother, Denmark-born Campolucci-Bordi spent the first 11 years of her life living in East Africa. Her travels and ingredient discoveries are evident throughout the book, as is her love of entertaining and the seasons. The book is broken down into occasions, including Easter, picnics, summer barbecues and formal dinner parties. Each event has a menu plan with several dishes for stress-free preparation.

There is an emphasis on affordability and planet-friendly ingredients, supporting Campolucci-Bordi’s goal to make plant-based cooking more sustainable, accessible and delicious for all. Her decision to use many of the same ingredients in multiple recipes was a conscious one, to ensure cupboards are not filled with “fancy items” and to minimise waste, for example though the use of roots, shoots and tops.

Recipes include herbed crostinis with leek and tahini dip, pea and mint fritters with garlic mayo and a make your own tortilla feast in the Dinner at Mine section. The chickpea-crusted spring pie, macadamia nut cheese-filled courgette flowers and chocolate pull-apart bread feature in the Easter and Spring section; and charred aubergines and pineapple salsa, summer greens filo pie and pavlova wreath with lime cream and seasonal fruits are a highlight of the Barbecues and Garden Parties chapter.

Cooking is a way of life for Campolucci-Bordi, who also runs online training resource Bettina’s Kitchen as well as chef academies. Her recipes are simple to follow and will encourage vegans and flexitarians alike to join her in her love of celebratory eating with seasonal vegan ingredients.

Celebrate by Bettina Campolucci-Bordi (Hardie Grant, £20)