27-04-2025
Oxford woman launches nationwide recipe search
AN Oxford woman is helping to launch a nationwide recipe search.
The Big Lunch, an annual celebration for neighbourhoods and communities, is on the hunt for hidden culinary gems and the stories behind them.
Emily Connally is preparing to submit her entry and is encouraging others to do the same.
The initiative comes in response to new research revealing that many Brits are in a cooking rut, with a lack of ideas discouraging them from trying new recipes.
The survey, conducted by YouGov, found that almost one in seven UK adults never cook a completely new recipe, while a quarter of people are put off cooking from scratch due to a lack of inspiration.
The search aims to find the nation's favourite dishes to inspire people to try something new in the kitchen and share their creations at The Big Lunch events in June.
Entrants are encouraged to submit their go-to dishes, quirky childhood favourites, and top crowd-pleasers, along with the stories behind them.
Emily Connally, founder of Cherwell Collective, a community interest company working to reduce carbon footprints, plans to share her 'climatarian burger' recipe.
This dish, a mix of beef and grated mushroom, is designed to cut down meat consumption while retaining flavour.
Ms Connally said: "When I heard about The Big Lunch Recipe Search I immediately thought of my climatarian burger recipe, which is a signature dish at every Cherwell Collective Big Lunch.
"It's the perfect recipe to bring people together because it cuts a typical burger's meat in half, bringing veggies and meat eaters closer together."
The search is supported by celebrity chefs Ainsley Harriott and Dame Prue Leith.
Dame Prue said: "The Big Lunch Recipe Search is more than just a way of finding and rewarding the people behind the UK's best home recipes.
"It is an invitation to people everywhere to join in with The Big Lunch and share food and friendship together."
Harriott added: "It's all about hunting down hidden culinary gems.
"We want to hear about food that brings people together and is great for sharing."
Home cooks who submit their recipes have the chance to be featured in a Big Lunch online cookbook and shared at thousands of Big Lunch events across the UK in June.
Five finalists will be invited to a special Big Lunch event in May, with one home cook winning a hamper of goodies to help with their own Big Lunch event.
To find out more and share your favourite recipes, visit
