In his latest book, Bill's Basics, he shares the recipes that keep him coming back for more.
"It's not a definitive list of basics, it is my list of basics," the food writer and TV chef says.
"(They) are favourites that I keep coming back to and that's why I have put them in."
Granger, who The New York Times dubbed as the `egg master of Sydney', says good recipes need to be simple without being boring.
"The ones I go back to are simple but I don't want them too dumbed down," he says.
"They have got to be a bit interesting but realistic and they need to taste good. You (need to) get maximum result from minimum effort."
While the cooking time for the recipes in the book varies, all of them require only about 15 minutes of preparation time, making them perfect for busy week nights, Granger says.
"They are my kind of comfort foods: simple, fresh flavours," he says.
Many people mistakenly think the traditional recipes they grew up with are the easiest ones to pull out at late notice but Australia is a melting pot of simple, tasty recipes from around the world, Granger says.
"I am not really much for things being authentic... a lot of recipes have been developed when a woman was at home all day to cook or there wasn't the availability to get a fresh, broad range of ingredients," says Granger, who is known for serving simply prepared, produce-driven food in his restaurants.
"In Australia it is all so mixed up it's fantastic; people are as likely to cook a pad thai as they are a spag bol.
"We are part of Asia with our food culture and attitude ... food is very democratic in Australia, not just rich people eat well, everyone eats well."
Granger, whose original bills restaurant opened in inner-city Sydney in 1993 and has since spawned two more eateries in Sydney and another two in Japan, says he writes recipe books for people who love eating out.
"I write for those people who love going to restaurants, who want to make something that tastes good at home," he says.
Granger's books include bills food, bills open kitchen and simply bill and his two television series, bills food and Bill's Holiday, have won fans around the world.
Bill's Basics is available through Harper Collins, rrp $49.99
By Chi Tranter
