We are a nation that loves food. For many of us, it’s a big part of our celebrations, our social life and our connections with family, and it is deeply rooted in our most joyful memories.
But for the 14.1 million people experiencing food insecurity across the UK (Trussell, 2025), positive memories rooted in food can be hard to find. This needs to change. At Sainsbury’s we believe that everyone deserves access to the joyful memories that great-quality, nutritious food can bring.
That’s why Sainsbury’s has teamed up with Comic Relief to launch a new vodcast that celebrates the powerful memories food creates, while shining a light on the reality for millions of people who still miss out.
Hosted by broadcaster Si King, every episode features a cherished recipe from well-known guests and everyday changemakers, each sharing stories that show how food connects us and what’s lost when it’s out of reach for those experiencing food poverty.
Share the memories of our vodcast guests by cooking the featured recipes for your family and friends
From Bangers and Mash to Shakshuka, there’s something for everyone in ‘A Recipe For…’. We are making each recipe from the series available via our groceries website so you can make your own version of these cherished favourites to spark joyful memories of your own with loved ones or your wider community.
A Recipe For…Shirley’s Festive Yule Log
In the final festive instalment of A Recipe For…, Strictly Come Dancing Head Judge Shirley Ballas joins host Si King to celebrate family, memory, and the power of good food to bring us together.
Shirley shares her family’s cherished yule log - lovingly passed down from her grandmother with each generation adding their own special touch - and reflects on memories of togetherness, and of her brother – who sadly passed - who loved the chocolate-rich end pieces.
She also speaks candidly about growing up and receiving free school meals, sharing her gratitude for the warmth and stability of a hot lunch, and why it’s so important we support those who struggle to access food today.
A Recipe For... Sir Lenny's Saturday Soup
In our fourth episode, Honorary Life President and Co-Founder of Comic Relief, Sir Lenny Henry serves up his much-loved Saturday Soup - a dish rich in flavour and family memories.
Saturday Soup is a traditional Jamaican recipe, typically including mutton or lamb, home-made dumplings, carrots, yam and red kidney beans. It’s a great meal for busy families as it can be left to cook on a low heat over a few hours and serves even the biggest of families with hearty portions!
In this episode Lenny reflects on the role the recipe plays in evoking childhood memories, how his mum ensured they had food on the table no matter what was in the cupboard and his passion for ensuring everyone can benefit from the joy of good food through his work with Comic Relief.
A Recipe For... Sophie’s Shakshuka
Our third episode of A Recipe For… features Sophie, CEO of FoodCycle - a UK charity that transforms surplus food into free, nutritious meals served in welcoming community spaces to tackle food poverty, loneliness, and food waste.
In this episode, Sophie shares her much-loved recipe for Shakshuka - a dish she first learned from Arik, an Algerian chef at the restaurant where she once worked as a pot washer. It’s become a lifelong favourite as the perfect cupboard dinner and a go-to meal she now cooks for her children.
Host Si King joins Sophie to explore the profound impact of community dining, especially for those facing food insecurity. Together, they highlight the incredible work FoodCycle has delivered with support from Sainsbury’s and Comic Relief, including recently launching FoodCycle’s school programme which offers children and their families a home cooked meal after school – a service that has become a vital source of support for parents and children alike.
A Recipe For…Carol’s Courgetti
Our second episode of A Recipe For…features a heartwarming story from Carol – Programme Director at youth project The Avenues, an initiative supported by Sainsbury’s, Comic Relief and Feeding Britain.
Carol shares A Recipe For…Carol’s Courgetti which was inspired by a friend who introduced her to the dish over a homecooked lunch one afternoon. Carol instantly loved its versatility, vibrant flavour, and its nutritional benefits and now often serves it up for her own family and friends. She’s now put her own twists on the dish, adding a rich tomato sauce and prawns and often adapts the ingredients and flavours to different world cuisines including Italian and West Indian.
Si and Carol talk about the support The Avenues receives during the school holidays from Sainsbury’s, via Feeding Britain - one of Sainsbury’s funded partners, supported through our partnership with Comic Relief. This funding enables the project to provide healthy, nutritious, and filling meals during a time that can be especially challenging for families, with the absence of term-time support and rising childcare costs.
A Recipe For…James’ Bangers and Mash
In our debut episode, father and Support Worker James serves up a delicious dish which he loves to cook with his young son - Bangers and Mash. It’s an autumn classic and family favourite, perfect for those looking for a balanced, nutritious and warming meal as the weather turns colder. For James, it has been a brilliant dish to introduce his son to cooking and to connect over mealtimes as a family.
Throughout the episode, James reflects on the powerful role food has played in his life - from his lived experience of food poverty and the sacrifices he has to make to ensure his son always had a meal on the table, to how food has now become a joyful part of their relationship today, forging memories that will last them both a lifetime.
Si and James also talk about the life-changing support James was able to access thanks to mobile food clubs run by The Bread and Butter Thing - one of Sainsbury’s funded partners, supported through our partnership with Comic Relief. This support enabled James and his son to access good quality, nutritious food during a difficult time in their lives, providing them with moments to connect over new ingredients and tasty treats at a time when they felt this could be out of reach.
