09 January 2023
The HBD Cookbook & Q&A with Petronella Ravenshear
Petronella Ravenshear is a huge advocator of organic produce, a lover of herbs and spices and the author of The HBD Cookbook, a collection of delicious, healthy recipes, based on her popular Human Being Diet. As author and nutritionist to the UK’s fashion and celebrity set, Petronella Ravenshear combined years of clinical practise and research into her first book, The Human Being Diet and her new book, The HBD Cookbook, provides plenty of inspirational recipes all based on groundbreaking nutritional science.
We were delighted to chat to Petronella about her new book and how she uses herbs and spices to beneficial effect in her cooking.
Please tell us a little about your cookbook and how it complements your Human Being Diet programme
HBDers (Human Being Diet fans and followers) had long been asking for a cookbook to inspire them in the kitchen while they’re following the programme. The first 16 days are oil-free so quite a culinary challenge for those of us who aren’t especially creative in the kitchen. In January 2022 we produced a collaborative e-cookbook – there are some seriously talented cooks and photographers among us – who shared their recipes and photos. When HarperCollins got in touch and said they’d like to do a real, full colour HBD cookbook I leapt at the chance. And it was published, to the great delight of the HBD community in the first week of January this year!
Which are your favourite recipes in the book and why?
I love fish and shellfish and also love stews and casseroles. I also have to say I dearly love a one pot dish too – so the Quick & Easy Aegean Fish Stew would be my number one. Saffron is wildly expensive and I think that turmeric might be a good substitute. All the recipes work well and are all simple and delicious. And there’s a wide range of vegetarian dishes too.
How do you use herbs and spices to complement your nutrition programme?
I encourage everyone to use as many different spices as they possibly can because of their exciting health benefits not to mention the delicious difference they make to any dish. Many herbs are anti-microbial and can support the body deal with anything from heart disease to insomnia.
What is your favourite herb or spice and why?
That’s a really hard question! I go for different herbs and spices depending on what appeals to me on a particular day. Among my top favourites are tarragon, coriander and basil and, I know it sounds dramatic, but I couldn’t live without rosemary, thyme or oregano.
As for spices, my number one favourite is cinnamon – it’s equally good in sweet or savoury dishes. It’s a powerful anti-fungal and antimicrobial agent and studies indicate it can lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
Who would you most like to invite to a dinner party and why?
I’m sorry I’m too exhausted to think about dinner parties at the moment! I’d rather it was just me, and my husband Riccardo, eating something delicious and enjoying a lovely and peaceful evening together (as we do nearly every night!).
We're delighted to be able to share some of the recipe in the book so for a sneaky preview why not try out...
Zingy Aubergine & Tomato Curry
For more details on the Human Being Diet please visit the website: https://thehumanbeingdiet.com/ or follow Petronella on Instagram @petronellaravenshear
The HBD Cookbook published by HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2023 www.harpercollins.co.uk
