Darina Allen’s essential ’student’ cuisine

The return to college has produced lots of nightmare stories, as students scramble to find affordable accommodation in a scarce and challenging market.

So let’s hope you have already found a comfy spot, with a little kitchen and a table large enough to gather your pals around for some exotic and comforting little feasts.

The old cliché of students living on microwave frozen pizzas, burgers and soggy takeaways is fast becoming outdated. Cool young people are running, cycling, exercising and they are pretty determined to keep their brain cells sharp by eating healthily. Everyone has got the taste for spicy food; Indian, Middle Eastern, Mexican — many of the college kids I know are keen to cook and aren’t afraid to experiment with new ingredients.