Eden Project Head Chef Launches Nationwide Recipe Search With a Twist

A unique take on a humble potato salad has helped launch a new nationwide recipe search today, as the Eden Project invites people across the UK to take part in this year’s Big Lunch, taking place on the 7th and 8th June.

The campaign, led by Eden Project’s head chef Mike Greer, is part of a call for home cooks to share their favourite dishes and the stories behind them – all in the spirit of bringing people together over food. The Big Lunch Recipe Search is backed by a line-up of well-known chefs including Ainsley Harriott, Dame Prue Leith and Briony May Williams.

📷Eden Project head chef Mike Greer with his curried potato salad (2)

Tired of Cooking the Same Old Meals? You’re Not Alone

According to new YouGov data released today, Brits are stuck in a cooking rut. Nearly one in seven UK adults (14%) never try a new recipe, while around a quarter (24%) say a lack of ideas stops them from cooking from scratch.

That’s where this new recipe search hopes to make a difference.

Mike has created a curried potato salad to kickstart the campaign – using turmeric and coriander grown at Eden Project’s state-of-the-art Growing Point nursery. The dish is vegan, allergen free, and easy to prepare – making it ideal for picnics and gatherings.

“This unique twist on a classic potato salad is a dish that is great for sharing and perfect for picnics,” said Mike. “Potatoes can be grown at home quite easily and you don’t need a huge amount of space for them, so it’s something fun that children can get involved in too.”

📷Sarah Moore shares her scone recipe for the Big Lunch Recipe Search

Cornish Cook Joins the Search

Also taking part in the search is Sarah Moore, Chair of Trustees at Friends of Bude Sea Pool. Sarah has been baking hundreds of scones every year for Bude Sea Pool’s Big Lunch since 2010 – and now she’s submitting her beloved scone recipe for the official campaign.

“I’m excited to be sharing my scone recipe as part of The Big Lunch Recipe Search,” said Sarah. “Scones are a classic for a reason and they always go down a storm at our annual Big Lunch, where I like to serve them with my homemade rhubarb jam.”

“Easy to make and always perfectly fluffy, you can’t go wrong with this recipe – as long as you serve your scones jam first, of course!”

Food, Friendship, and a Chance to Be Featured

Those who submit recipes could see theirs featured in The Big Lunch’s online cookbook and shared at thousands of community gatherings across the country. Five finalists will be invited to a special Big Lunch event in May, with one home cook also receiving a bumper hamper of goodies to support their own celebration.

“This recipe search is more than just a way of finding and rewarding the people behind the UK’s best home recipes,” said Dame Prue. “It is an invitation to people everywhere to join in with The Big Lunch and share food and friendship together.”

“It is a chance to celebrate the recipes that we love sharing with others and the special role that food plays in strengthening relationships, celebrating who we are, our passions, culture and traditions and that sense of belonging where we live.”

The Big Lunch: Bringing People Together Since 2009

The Big Lunch is part of the Eden Project’s campaign to build community through food. With support from the Pears Foundation, Co-op and Greene King, the campaign has been bringing millions together since 2009, in what has become the UK’s biggest community-led fundraiser.

Her Majesty The Queen has been patron of The Big Lunch since 2013.

As the countdown to June begins, Eden Project teams will be travelling around the UK hosting food sharing events, encouraging people to bring recipes, connect and celebrate what makes their community special.

“This recipe search is about finding new and inspiring dishes to try together,” said Lindsey Brummitt, Programme Director for The Big Lunch. “Add your dish to a growing recipe bank of shareable favourites and come together to feed community spirit with The Big Lunch on 7–8 June!”

To find out more and submit your recipe, visit www.thebiglunch.com.

📷Mike Greer's curried potato salad