How Sorted Food Changed Home Cooking: Ben Ebbrell on Zero Waste, Meal Planning & Making Food Fun

In this episode, Theo is joined by the brilliant Ben Ebbrell, classically trained chef and co-founder of Sorted Food, one of the world's biggest online food communities with over 2.9 million subscribers. From his humble beginnings washing pots in a pub kitchen at 16 to building a global platform that's changed the way millions cook at home, Ben's journey is a testament to the power of making cooking fun, creative, and inclusive. Ben prepares his beloved Classic Fish Pie, the very first dish he ever cooked for his family at age 12 - a hearty bowl of nostalgia that's stayed with him for 25 years. Using a generous combination of cod, smoked haddock, and prawns, loads of wilted spinach, soft-boiled eggs, and a rich creamy sauce made with a classic sofrito base, bay leaf, mustard, lemon zest, and fresh parsley, all topped with buttery mashed potato crisped to golden perfection. This is comfort food at its finest - simple, accessible, and designed to bring people together around the table. Throughout the episode, Ben shares his remarkable journey from studying Culinary Arts Management to launching Sorted Food with university friends, his passion for sustainability and zero-waste cooking, and why food education matters now more than ever. He discusses the importance of seasonal cooking, how to make the most of your fridge to avoid waste, the launch of Sorted Kids to help children build better relationships with food, and the revolutionary meal planning app Sidekick that's helping home cooks save money whilst eating brilliantly. Ben also opens up about cooking for Andrew Lloyd Webber, growing vegetables on his allotment during lockdown, and why feeding people is one of life's greatest gifts. You can find Ben's full Fish Pie recipe on the Filippo Berio website at www.filippoberio.co.uk/theo, and be sure to subscribe to Sorted Food on YouTube and check out the Sorted Foundation to learn more about their mission to drive positive change through food education. The Recipe podcast is hosted by Theo Randall, Chef Patron at the Theo Randall Cucina Italiana. In each episode we meet a special guest who loves food, and they'll tell us all about their favourite recipe as we celebrate the stories behind the dishes that define us. Please do subscribe, follow, and share the podcast wherever you listen so you never miss an episode; and for more delicious stories and inspiring dishes. Follow The Recipe with Theo Randall: /therecipe.podcast (https://www.instagram.com/therecipe.podcast/) Follow Filippo Berio: /filippoberio_uk (https://www.instagram.com/filippoberio_uk/) Follow Theo Randall: /theo.randall (https://www.instagram.com/theo.randall/) The Recipe with Theo Randall is a Listen To This Production for Filippo Berio.