Gordon Ramsay Whips Up Good Food, Fast

April 30, 2008 — -- Chef Gordon Ramsay is known for his fiery temper as much as his passionate cooking. Now the British cook has come up with a book geared toward people who want good food fast. His best-selling, family-friendly book, "Gordon Ramsay's Fast Food," has a plethora of recipes, including snacks and main courses that literally take only minutes to prepare.

And you don't have to be a whiz in the kitchen to use the cookbook. There are 100 recipes that almost anyone can make.

Check out some of his good eats below.

Caramelized Banana Split

Serves 4

"Make sure you use a good-quality ice cream here. For extra child appeal, provide bowls with little extras, such as chocolate sprinkles and chocolate chips, so the kids can help themselves."

4 ripe bananas

½ cup superfine sugar

2-3 scoops each of different ice creams (e.g. vanilla, chocolate, strawberry)

2/3 cup whipping cream, lightly whipped

shredded sweetened coconut, to sprinkle (optional)

4 candied (or pitted fresh) cherries

Chocolate Sauce:

4 ounces semisweet chocolate, broken into pieces

2 Tbsp. runny honey

1/3 cup whipping cream

Peel the bananas and cut in half lengthwise. Place cut side up on a sturdy baking sheet and sprinkle evenly with the sugar. If you have a cook's blowtorch, wave it over the bananas until the sugar has caramelized. (Otherwise, preheat the broiler to its highest setting and flash the bananas under the broiler until golden brown and bubbling.) Let cool until the sugar has firmed up.

Make the chocolate sauce in the meantime. Put all the ingredients in a bowl set over a pan of simmering water and stir occasionally until the chocolate has melted and the sauce is smooth. Take the bowl off the pan and let cool.

Arrange two banana halves on clear serving dishes (ideally oval or oblong), with the caramelized sides facing outward. Place a scoop of each flavored ice cream between the banana halves. Drizzle with chocolate sauce, then spoon or pipe over the whipped cream. Sprinkle with the coconut if using and top each banana split with a cherry. Serve immediately.

*Recipe courtesy of Gordon Ramsay; Gordon Ramsay's Fast Food: Key Porter Books, 2008.

Sticky Lemon Chicken

Serves 4

"If you have a jar of preserved lemons in the cupboard, chop up a lemon and add it to the sauce with a little more honey before reducing. It will give the dish a different dimension."

1 large chicken, cut into 8-10 pieces.

Sea salt and black pepper to taste

3-4 Tbsp. olive oil

1 head of garlic, halve horizontally

Few thyme sprigs

Splash of Sherry vinegar

2 Tbsp. dark soy sauce

3 Tbsp. honey

1 lemon, finely sliced (ideally with a mandolin)

1 bunch fresh Italian Parsley, chopped

Season the chicken with salt and pepper and heat the olive oil in a large sauté pan. Brown the chicken pieces (in batches if necessary) over high heat with the garlic and thyme for 2 to 3 minutes on each side until golden brown. Return all the chicken to the pan, add the sherry vinegar, and bubble until reduced by half. Drizzle over the soy sauce and honey and shake the pan to mix.

Pour in a good splash of hot water and add the lemon slices. Let the liquid bubble and reduce down until syrupy, which will take about 10 minutes or so. By now the chicken should be cooked through.

Transfer the chicken to a platter and sprinkle over the chopped parsley. Serve with the champ and green beans or steamed sugar snap peas.

Champ (a.k.a. Mashed Potatoes)

Serves 4

2 ¼ lb. mealy potatoes (eg round red), peeled

Sea salt and black pepper

2 Tbsp. butter

1 bunch of green onions (about 6-8), trimmed and chopped

1/3 cup whipping cream

1/3 cup whole milk, plus extra if needed

Cut the potatoes into similar-size chunks and boil in salted water for about 10 minutes until tender when pierced with a small knife. Drain well.

Mash the potatoes while still hot, using a potato ricer if you have one, then stir through the butter and chopped green onions.

Pour the cream and milk into a pan and bring just to a boil. Take off the heat and gradually pour into the potatoes, mixing well. If the mash is too thick, add a little extra milk. Season generously and serve.

*Recipe courtesy of Gordon Ramsay; Gordon Ramsay's Fast Food: Key Porter Books, 2008.