cook

LIKE A PRO PRO

The essential handbook for success in the kitchen
50 recipes

250 techniques

1500 photographs

foreword by

THOMAS KELLER

Contents
TOOLS
1 5 6 8 16 18 19 23 25 27 29 32

Bakeware Bakeware Materials Baking Tools Cooks Tools Cookware Cookware Materials Cutlery & Accessories Knife Construction Electrics Grilling Tools Measuring Tools & Timers Pasta & Bread Equipment

TECHNIQUES

34 59 71 85 96 112 120 135 151 161 172 185 191 219 235 248 268 286 294 302

Baking & Pastry Basics Breads & Batters Cakes Cookies & Bars Cooking Basics Egg Cookery Fish Fruit Grains & Legumes Grilling Basics Herbs & Spices Knife Skills Meat Pasta Pies & Tarts Poultry Sauces Shellsh Stocks Vegetables

347 348 349 350

Cooking Charts General Index Recipe Index Tool Index

BAKING & PASTRY BASICS

41 44 45 52 53 54

RECIPES

Citrus Curd Pastry Cream with avoring options Choux Pastry Chocolate Ganache Classic Puff Pastry Quick Puff Pastry BREADS & BATTERS

65 66 67 68 69 70

Pizza Dough Baking-Powder Biscuits Currant-Cream Scones with variations Buttermilk Pancakes with variations Classic Wafes with pancake or wafe toppings Sweet Crpes CAKES

80

Buttercream with assorted avors EGG COOKERY

117 118 119

Classic Omelet with a selection of llings Vegetable Frittata with avoring options Quiche Lorraine with variations FISH

129 130 131

Fish Steamed in Parchment Poached Salmon Deep-fried Fish Fillets GRAINS & LEGUMES

160

Basic Risotto with variations PASTA

223 224 229 234

Fresh Egg Pasta Dough (food processor) with variations Fresh Egg Pasta Dough (by hand) Semolina Pasta Dough Potato Gnocchi

PIES & TARTS

237 240 241

Sweet Tart Dough with avoring options Flaky Pie Dough (food processor) with variations Flaky Pie Dough (by hand) with fruit pie llings POULTRY

263 264 265

Buttermilk-fried Chicken Basic Roast Chicken with variations Classic Roast Turkey with avor embellishments SAUCES

275 276 277 278 279 282 283 284 285

All-Purpose Pan Sauce All-Purpose Pan Gravy Bechamel Sauce with avor embellishments Beurre Blanc with variations Hollandaise Sauce with variations Mayonnaise with avoring options Basic Vinaigrette with variations Basil Pesto with variations All-Purpose Tomato Sauce SHELLFISH

291

Boiled Fresh Crab STOCKS

294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301

Vegetable Stock Fish Stock Fish Fumet Shellsh Stock Chicken Stock Brown Chicken Stock with variations Beef Stock Brown Beef Stock with variations VEGETABLES

326 343 344 345 346

Classic Mashed Potatoes with avoring options Steamed Vegetables with variations Sauted Vegetables with variations Roasted Vegetables with variations Braised Vegetables with variations

how to use this book

Consider this book a bible of essential kitchen tools and fundamental cooking techniques. The rst section is a comprehensive guide to basic tools and equipment for the home kitchen. There, youll nd special features explaining the uses for bakeware and cookware, and a primer on cutlery styles and uses. The second section is lled with more than 250 cooking techniques that will help you accomplishand understandsome tricky cooking tasks, like carving a roast, shucking oysters, or whipping egg whites to form soft peaks. More than 50 staple recipes, such as Basil Pesto, Mashed Potatoes, or Roast Turkeycrucial to any cooks repertoireare peppered throughout. Even if youre using a recipe from another cookbook, you can use this book as a guide for such things as julienning carrots, creating crosshatch grill marks, or making a lattice-topped pie. The book is divided into two sections, one covering tools and equipment and the other cooking techniques and recipes, both organized alphabetically by subject. Instead of page numbers, numbered tabs mark each tool category and technique. You can also use the comprehensive indices in the back of the book to nd a specic cooking tool or task or consult the charts in the back of the book for measurement equivalents, doneness temperatures, and ingredient substitutions. Whether youre a novice in the kitchen or an accomplished home cook, this book will be a primary source of kitchen wisdom for many years to come.

tools
A kitchen stocked with the basics a variety of carefully chosen pots and pans, a good selection of sharp knives, and durable bakewareis the starting point for great cooking and baking. Begin by purchasing the best-quality tools and equipment that you can afford, and youll be rewarded with evenly cooked meats and silky-smooth soups for years to come. In the next 50 pages, youll nd a comprehensive visual guide to basic cooking tools and equipment along with information on sizes, materials, and uses to help you outt your home kitchen.

BAK E WAR E

Bakeware When choosing bakeware, remember the old adage: You get
what you pay for. Poorly constructed pans and dishes made from inferior materials will warp or crack with use, resulting in poor heat conduction and unevenly baked foods. By contrast, good-quality bakeware that is cared for properly can last a lifetime.

Baking sheets
a RIMMED BAKING SHEETS
Made of aluminum or aluminum-coated steel, these durable pans are used for baking everything from pastries to roasts. Placed under small pans and baking dishes, rimmed baking sheets help retain and conduct heat and catch drips. Half-sheet pan (bottom) Half the size of commercial sheet pans, a half-sheet pan measures 18 by 13 inches (45 by 33 cm) with a 1-inch (2.5-cm) rim. Quarter-sheet pan (middle) Measuring 12 by 9 inches (30 by 23 cm) with a 1-inch (2.5-cm) rim, this pan is the smallest standard baking sheet.
Jelly-roll pan (top) This pan measures

15 by 10 inches (38 by 25 cm) and has a - or 1-inch (12-mm or 2.5-cm) rim. Traditionally, it is used to make jelly rolls, thin sponge cakes that are spread with jelly and then rolled up. It can also be used for baking small items.

b COOKIE SHEETS
Standard cookie sheet (bottom) A flat

metal pan, the cookie sheet is designed to allow maximum heat circulation around cookies and to make it easy to slide them onto a cooling rack. Most cookie sheets have a low, sloping rim on one or two

ends to provide stability. They generally measure 15 by 12 inches or 16 by 14 inches (38 by 30 cm or 40 by 35 cm). Those with nonstick surfaces work well and are easy to clean (see entry 5), but you can also prevent sticking by lining a cookie sheet with parchment (baking) paper or a silicone baking mat (see entry 4g). Avoid cookie sheets with dark surfaces, which can cause overheating. Insulated cookie sheet (top) Insulated cookie sheets are made of two layers of metal with a cushion of air between them. This design helps prevent scorching and promotes even browning.

Pie & tart pans

a PIE PANS
Regular (bottom and middle) Round

aluminum pie pans are generally found in 9- to 10-inch (23- to 25-cm) diameters with sloping 1-inch (4-cm) sides. The pans are available in light and dark finishes, the latter producing more darkly browned crusts, as well as nonstick finishes (see entry 5). Double-crust fruit pies, as well as prebaked crusts for cream-filled pies, bake especially well in aluminum pans because the metal absorbs heat well, helping the pastry turn brown and crisp. Choose pans with wide rims for attractive fluted crusts. Deep dish (top) Perfect for abundantly filled top-crust-only fruit pies, cobblers, and savory pot pies, deep-dish pie pans look like regular pie pans but are 23 inches (57.5 cm) deep.

can hold up to twice as much filling as a conventional pie recipe, so they work best for deep-dish fruit pies and pot pies, as well as for crisps, cobblers, and crumbles. Ceramic and porcelain pie dishes conduct heat less effectively than metal, making them good choices for pies without bottom crusts since they will help prevent fillings from scorching. Glass (bottom) Made from heat-resistant Pyrex, glass pie dishes, also called pie plates, are a popular and attractive choice. The primary advantage of glass is that it lets you see how the crust is actually browning. However, because tempered glass does not conduct heat as well as metal, bottom crusts may take 10 to 15 minutes longer to bake.

typically 10 or 11 inches (25 or 28 cm) in diameter. Quiches can also be made in metal tart pans (see below).

d TART PANS
Metal tart pans have shallow, usually fluted sides and are available in regular or nonstick surfaces (see entry 5). Some tart pans are sold with stationary bottoms and can come in a variety of shapes such as squares and rectangles for making specialty tarts. However, the most versatile choice is a round tart pan 10 or 11 inches (25 or 28 cm) in diameter with a removable bottom, which makes it easier to unmold the tart.

e TARTLET PANS
Small metal pans are used to make individual tarts, cakes, and other sweet and savory baked goods. Like tart pans, these are available with both stationary and removable bottoms and regular and nonstick finishes. Youll find tartlet pans in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, both plain and fluted, deep and shallow.

c QUICHE DISH
Made from porcelain, this decorative, fluted, shallow baking dish is perfect for baking and serving quiche. You can also use it to bake a variety of savory custards or fruit- or custard-based desserts, with or without crusts. Quiche dishes are

b PIE DISHES
Ceramic (top) These dishes go from oven to table with style. Deeper and wider than standard 9-inch (23-cm) pie pans, with depths from 23 inches (57.5 cm), they

BAK E WARE

techniques
Learning basic cooking skills, such as wielding a knife, using a pastry bag, and identifying fresh herbs, is the rst step in becoming a good cook. In the following pages, you will nd over 250 such techniques, from carving a roast, to shucking clams and oysters, to whipping egg whites to form soft peaks. Weve also included a handful of staple recipes that are destined to become a core part of your cooking repertory. You will also nd this section is helpful when you encounter a confusing element in a cookbook and need a step-by-step guide to help accomplish the task.

Whipping egg whites

1 Beat the egg whites
Fit a stand mixer with the whip attachment or a handheld mixer with the twin beaters. Beat room-temperature egg whites with a pinch of cream of tartar (for stability) on medium speed until foamy and the cream of tartar dissolves, about 1 minute. Alternatively, use a copper bowl (see entry 9e) and omit the cream of tartar.

39

2 Look for soft peaks 1 2

If your recipe calls for egg whites whipped to the soft-peak stage, beat on mediumhigh speed until the whites look opaque but moist, 23 minutes. Stop beating and lift the whip: The whites should form slightly bent peaks.

3 Beat to stiff peaks

If your recipe calls for egg whites with stiff peaks, continue to beat until the whites look glossy, 12 minutes longer. When the whip is lifted, they should hold a firm, straight peak. Take care not to overbeat.

TROUBLESHOOTING Overbeaten egg whites appear grainy and can separate. If you beat the egg whites to this stage, youll need to discard them and start again with fresh egg whites.

Tempering eggs
1 Combine the mixtures
Tempering eggs is common when making custards such as for pastry cream or ice cream. In a heatproof bowl, mix together eggs or yolks with cream or milk according to your recipe. Add a small amount of the hot mixture while whisking constantly.

40

2 Heat the mixtures together

After some of the hot mixture has been blended into the eggs, pour the tempered egg mixture back into the saucepan, whisking constantly.

BAKING & PASTRY BASICS

Folding together two mixtures

1 Add some of the light mixture
Folding is a crucial technique that combines two ingredients or mixtures with different densities. Pile one-third of the lighter mixture (here, beaten egg whites) on top of the mixture that is to be folded.

43
3 Bring the spatula up one side

2 Cut the spatula down the center

Using a flexible silicone spatula and holding it vertically, slice down through the center of the mixtures to the bottom of the bowl.

Turn the spatula horizontally, so it lies on the bottom of the bowl. Pull the spatula along the bottom of the bowl and up the side, keeping it flat against the side of the bowl.

4 4 Fold the batter

Pull the spatula up and over the lighter mixture on top, bringing some of the heavier mixture from the bottom with it. Rotate the bowl a quarter turn.

5 5 Finish the folding process

Repeat this folding action, rotating the bowl each time, until no white streaks remain. Once the batter is lightened, fold in the rest of the light mixture by repeating steps 15.

TROUBLESHOOTING Its natural for the batter to deflate slightly during folding, but overly deflated batter will affect the texture of the baked item. Be sure to work quickly and stop folding when the mixtures are just combined.

BAKING & PASTRY BASICS

## 52
RE CIP E
INGREDIENTS
2 3

Chocolate ganache
When freshly made, this smooth mixture of chocolate, cream, and butter is a thick, pourable sauce that makes a delicious accompaniment to cake slices. When cooled and set, ganache can be used as an icing for cakes and cookies.
1 Chop the chocolate
Grasp a serrated or chefs knife in one hand and position your other hand on the midpoint of the back of the blade. Cut off medium-sized pieces from the block of chocolate. Move your hand close to the front of the blade and rock the knife back and forth to cut the chocolate into even pieces. The smaller the pieces, the easier they will melt.

2 Combine the butter and cream

Cut the butter into 2 equal pieces. In a heavy saucepan over medium-low heat, combine the 2 3 cup cream and butter. Heat until the butter is melted and tiny bubbles have formed along the edges of the pan.

8 oz (250 g) semisweet (plain) or bittersweet chocolate 2 tablespoons unsalted butter cup (5 fl oz/160 ml) heavy (double) cream, plus more as needed to adjust the consistency 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
MAKES ABOUT 1 CUPS (12 FL OZ/375 ML)

1 6 Use or cool the ganache

If your finished ganache looks curdled, or broken, heat it again over a double boiler and let it melt, taking care that it does not boil. Chill for 30 minutes in the refrigerator and whisk to bring it back to the desired consistency.
Use the ganache right away as a sauce for ice cream, a shiny glaze for a cake, or a filling for a tart. Or, let it cool for 12 hours at room temperature for a thicker fudge filling. To make an even thicker filling, scrape the ganache into a bowl, cover it with plastic wrap, and let it cool in the refrigerator for 1 hour, stirring occassionally.

BAKING & PASTRY BASICS

Using a cookie press

1 Fill the cookie press
Follow the manufacturers instructions to fit the cylinder with the cutting disk of your choice (here, a flower shape). Use a spoon to firmly pack the cookie dough into the cylinder of the cookie press, following the markings to discern a maximum fill line.

91

2 Press out the cookies

Securely attach the handle to the cookie press. Hold the cookie press upright and position it over an ungreased cookie sheet so that it is touching lightly, then press the dough out onto the sheet.

Forming & cutting biscotti

1 Form the logs
Line a cookie sheet with parchment (baking) paper or a silicone baking mat. Moisten your fingers and use them to gently press a portion of the biscotti dough into a rectangle about 10 inches (25 cm) long and 21 2 inches (6 cm) wide. Repeat with the remaining dough, leaving 4 inches (10 cm) of space between the logs.

92

2 Bake the logs 1 2

Bake the cookie logs according to your recipe, or until the edges are light brown and the tops feel firm when touched gently. Let the logs cool.

3 Slice the logs and bake again

Using a serrated knife, cut each log into 3 4-inch (2-cm) slices, or according to your recipe. Return the slices to the prepared cookie sheet, separating them so that air can circulate. Bake according to your recipe, or until the biscotti are golden around the edges and crisp.

4 Let the biscotti cool

Let the biscotti cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes. Then, using a spatula, transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely, about 30 minutes. The biscotti will become crisp throughout as they cool.

C OOK IES & BARS

Frying potato chips

1 Heat the oil
Pour 2 inches (5 cm) of corn or peanut oil into a wok or deep, heavy pot and attach a deep-frying thermometer. Turn on the burner to medium-high and heat the oil to 325F (165C). This may take up to 10 minutes.

102
2 Prepare the potato slices
While the oil is heating, peel, thinly slice, and soak russet potatoes (see entry 322 or 323). Spin them dry in a salad spinner and drain on a paper towellined baking sheet. Pat the tops with additional paper towels.

3 Fry the potatoes once

Carefully slide about 1 cup (4 oz/125 g) of the potatoes into the hot oil. Fry the potatoes, using a skimmer to turn them occasionally, until they look firm and start to crisp around the edges, about 3 minutes.

4 4 Drain the chips

Using a skimmer, lift the potato chips out and place in a single layer on paper towel lined baking sheets. Let the oil return to 325F before frying the remaining chips in the same way.

5 5 Fry the chips a second time

Let the chips cool for at least 15 minutes. Reheat the oil over medium-high heat to 375F (190C). Again working in batches, fry the chips as you did before until crisp and medium-brown in color, 12 minutes.

6 6 Drain and season the chips

Transfer the chips to clean paper towellined baking sheets and blot the tops of the chips gently with more paper towels. Lightly sprinkle the chips with salt before serving.

C OOK ING BASICS

118
RE CIP E
INGREDIENTS

Vegetable frittata
A frittata is a mixture of eggs, cheese, and other ingredients cooked slowly in a frying pan until firm. It differs from an omelet, as the flavorings are blended with the beaten eggs instead of being used as a filling. Also, frittatas are typically cut into wedges for serving.

1 Beat the eggs

In a bowl, combine the eggs and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Use a whisk to beat the mixture just until well blended. (Too much air will affect the frittatas texture.) Set aside. Preheat the oven to 350F (180C).

2 Heat the oil

Place an 8-inch (20-cm) nonstick, ovenproof frying pan over medium heat. Add the oil and heat until it shimmers.

5 large eggs Fine sea salt and freshly ground pepper 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 medium zucchini (courgettes), cut into -inch (12-mm) cubes
1 3

cup (2 oz/75 g) ricotta cheese

Leaves from 2 sprigs fresh basil, torn into small pieces, plus more for garnish, optional
MAKES 2 SERVINGS

1 5 Cook the eggs

Reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Place the pan in the oven and bake until the frittata has gently risen and is set, 812 minutes.

E GG C OOK ERY

MORE FRITTATAS
Chicken sausage & sun-dried tomato frittata
Follow the recipe to make the Vegetable Frittata. In step 3, replace the zucchini with 12 lb (250 g) cooked chicken sausage, cut into 12-inch (12-mm) slices. Saut until warmed through, 12 minutes. Stir in 3 oilpacked sun-dried tomatoes, drained and cut into small pieces. Omit the ricotta cheese and basil. Proceed with the recipe.

3 Saut the zucchini

Add the zucchini, season lightly with salt and pepper, and saut until softened and lightly browned, 12 minutes.

4 Add the remaining ingredients

Add the ricotta cheese and the basil to the pan with the zucchini and stir until well mixed. Pour in the beaten eggs.

Bacon & arugula frittata

Follow the recipe to make the Vegetable Frittata. In step 2, omit the oil and add 4 strips of thick-cut bacon to the preheated frying pan. Fry the bacon until the edges are crisp, about 8 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Cut the bacon crosswise into 1-inch (2.5-cm) pieces. In step 3, pour off all but 1 tablesoon of the bacon fat from the frying pan, and over medium heat, saut 2 cups (2 oz/60 g) arugula (rocket) until just wilted. Sprinkle the bacon over the arugula and proceed with the recipe, omitting the ricotta and basil.

3 6 Cut the frittata into wedges

Slide the frittata out of the pan onto a cutting board. Using a chefs knife, cut the frittata into 4 wedges. Garnish with torn basil leaves, if desired, and serve right away.

Southwestern frittata
Follow the recipe to make the Vegetable Frittata. In step 3, replace the zucchini with 1 Yukon gold potato, peeled and cut into 12-inch (12-mm) cubes. Saut until the potatoes are tender and browned, about 8 minutes. In step 4, replace the ricotta and basil with 1 can (4 oz/125 g) diced green chiles, drained, and 1 cup (4 oz/125 g) shredded pepper jack cheese. Proceed with the recipe. Top with salsa and sour cream, if desired.

EGG C OOKE RY

Filleting a whole sh
1 Make a cut below the head
Separate the flesh from the head on one side: With the head pointing away from you, and using a fillet knife, make a diagonal cut halfway through the fish just below the gill.

121
2 Cut along the back
Starting at the head, run the knife along the back, cutting through the skin and into the flesh about 1 inch (2.5 cm) deep until you reach the tail and can see the backbone.

3 Retrace the cut

Using long, smooth strokes, retrace the cut along the top side of the backbone with the tip of the knife to free the top part of the fillet.

4 4 Remove the rst llet

Lift up the edge of the flesh to reveal the ribs. Cut the flesh away, sliding the knife as you go along the curve of the ribs to remove as much flesh as possible. Remove the first fillet.

5 5 Cut the second llet

Turn the fish over and make another crosswise diagonal cut to separate the flesh from the head. Again, cut along the top side of the backbone to free the top part of the second fillet.

6 6 Remove the second llet

Cut the flesh away as before, sliding the knife along the ribs. Remove the second fillet. Reserve the bones from a lean fish, if desired, for making fish stock or fumet (see entries 295 and 296).

F IS H

122

Skinning a sh llet
1 Hold the skin securely
Position the tail end of a fillet near the edge of a cutting board. Use a fillet knife or other long, slim-bladed knife to cut vertically down to, but not through, the skin.

2 Slide the knife under the llet

Holding the skin taut, position the blade at a slight angle upward between the skin and the flesh. Slide the blade back and forth along the skin, as if shaving off the flesh. Discard the skin and rinse the fillet.

123

Cutting out pin bones

1 Cut along the sides of the bones
The pin bones of some fish are difficult to pull out and should be removed with a knife. Lay a fillet skin(ned) side down. Using a boning or fillet knife, cut along one side of the pin bones and then the other.

2 Pull out the strip with the bones

Using your fingers, pull out the thin strip of flesh containing the bones and discard. This method works well for flatfish or when you are cutting fish into cubes, as for ceviche.

124

Pulling out pin bones

1 Feel for the bones
Lay a fillet skin(ned) side down. Run a fingertip along the fillet near the center. If you feel the tips of bones sticking up, the pin bones are still in place.

2 Pull out the bones

Using fish tweezers or needle-nose pliers, pull out the bones one by one, gripping the tip of each bone and pulling up diagonally. This method will preserve the shape of the whole fillets.

F I SH

Portioning sh llets
1 Note the llets angle
Look at the thick end of the fillet, which will probably be cut at an angle. Lay your knife against this cut edge and note the angle of the blade. Youll want to hold the knife at this same angle as you cut.

125
2 Cut the llet in half by weight
Estimate the halfway point of the fillet, bearing in mind the weight difference due to the tapering shape. Holding the knife at the same angle as the fillet end, cut the fillet into 2 pieces of about equal weight.

3 3 Cut the llet into serving portions

Divide each half into serving-sized portions (typically 46 oz/125185 g each) according to your recipe. The cuts may need to be farther apart as you approach the tail.

4 Weigh the portions for accuracy

Done correctly, you should have all pieces roughly equal in weight, which will cook in the same amount of time. Use a kitchen scale, if desired, for accuracy.

F IS H

246

Embellishing pies
1 Flute the edge
Hold your thumb and index finger about 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart. Press them against the outer edge of the pastry while pressing your other thumb from the inside to make an indent. Repeat around the pastry edge.

2 Crimp the edge

Dust the tines of a fork with flour. Gently press down along the edge of the dough with the fork to make decorative crimp marks around the pastry edge.

3 Form a rope edge

Lightly dust the handle of a wooden spoon with flour. Hold the handle at an angle and press down on the dough along the rim in 1 2 - to 11 2-inch (12-mm to 4-cm) intervals.

4 4 Create a braided edge

Prepare an egg wash (see entry 243) and lightly brush it on the rim of the pie dough. On a work surface, braid long strips of dough, about 1 4 inch (6 mm) wide. Carefully transfer the braids to the rim and press gently to seal.

5 5 Press dough cutouts on the edge

Using a small cookie cutter, cut out small shapes from the rolled-out dough scraps. Brush one side of each cutout with egg wash (see entry 243) and press lightly on the edge of the crust to adhere.

6 6 Make detailed dough cutouts

Using a small cookie cutter, cut out shapes from the rolled-out dough scraps. Use the back of a paring knife to add details. Affix the shapes to the top of a double-crust pie with egg wash (see entry 243) before baking.

P I E S & TA RTS

Preparing winter squash

1 Halve the squash
If using butternut squash (shown here), use a chefs knife to separate the neck from the body. Next, cut the squash or squash parts in half lengthwise.

330

2 Scoop out the seeds

Using a sturdy spoon, scoop out and discard the seeds and any strings from each half. (The necks of butternut squash dont contain seeds or strings.)

Working with globe eggplant

1 Trim the eggplant
Using a serrated or chefs knife, trim the green top off the eggplant (aubergine), then cut the eggplant crosswise into slices or cubes, as directed in your recipe.

331

2 Salt the eggplant, if desired

Salting eggplant helps remove some of the bitter flavor. Sprinkle both sides of the eggplant slices with salt. Let stand in a colander over a bowl for at least 30 minutes, or according to your recipe.

Working with Asian eggplant

1 Trim the eggplants
Using a chefs knife, trim the green tops off the Asian eggplants (slender aubergines). If you plan to make diagonal slices, cut the tops off at a diagonal.

332

2 Cut the eggplants

Cut each eggplant on the diagonal or crosswise into slices, as directed in your recipe. It is not necessary to salt Asian eggplant, as it is milder and less bitter than globe eggplant.

VEGETAB LE S

Substitutions and equivalents

The following chart lists the equivalent weight or amount for specic measurements of certain foods, as well as acceptable substitutes for certain foods, when available. To calculate metric equivalents, use the following formulas: To convert tablespoons to mililitres, multiply the number of tablespoons by 14.79; to convert cups to litres, multiply the number of cups by 0.236; to convert ounces to grams, multiply the number of ounces by 29.57.
FOOD AMOUNT EQUIVALENT/WEIGHT SUBSTITUTE

Butter

stick 1 stick 2 sticks 4 sticks

4 tbsp, cup, 2 oz 8 tbsp, cup, 4 oz 1 cup, 8 oz 2 cups, 16 oz (1 lb) 8 oz 1 cup milk plus 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice, or 1 cup plain yogurt
7 8

cup vegetable oil or 1 cup lard

Buttermilk

1 cup

Cheese

1 cup grated 1 cup crumbled feta 1 cup ricotta

4 oz 5 oz 8 oz 4 tbsp grated 2 tbsp our or 1 tbsp arrowroot 4 cups sifted 1 cup less 2 tbsp all-purpose our (with 2 tbsp cornstarch added if possible) 1 tsp minced 1 tsp dried herbs 1 to 3 tbsp juice, 1 tsp zest 1 to 2 tbsp juice 8 oz 2 cups packed 1 cup granulated sugar combined with 2 tbsp light or dark molasses 1 cups chopped 1-inch piece vanilla bean, halved and scraped 2 tsp 1 cake (.06 oz) compressed yeast 1 cup plain yogurt

Chocolate Cornstarch Flour, cake

1 square (1 oz) 1 tbsp 1 lb 1 cup

Garlic Herbs Lemons Limes Sour cream Sugar, brown

2 medium cloves 1 tbsp (3 tsp) fresh 1 medium 1 medium 1 cup 1 lb 1 cup

Tomatoes Vanilla

3 medium (1 lb) 1 tsp extract

Yeast, active dry

1 pkg

C OOK ING C HART S

415 Jackson Street, Suite 200, San Francisco, CA 94111 www.weldonowen.com

COOK LIKE A PRO Conceived and produced by Weldon Owen Inc. Copyright 2007 Weldon Owen Inc. and Williams-Sonoma, Inc.

This book has been previously published as Williams-Sonoma Tools & Techniques. All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. Color separations by Embassy Graphics Printed in China This edition rst printed in 2012 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available. Weldon Owen is a divsion of

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Weldon Owen wishes to thank the following people for their generous support in producing this book: Photographers Tucker + Hossler; Food Stylists Alison Attenborough, Kevin Crafts, Shelly Kaldunski, Jen Straus, and William Smith; Prop Stylists Marina Malchin, Leigh Ne and Nancy Micklin Thomas; Authors Melanie Barnard, Jay Harlow, Denis Kelly, Elinor Klivans, Deborah Madison, Rick Rodgers, Michele Scicolone, Marie Simmons, and Jan Weimer; Text Writer Norman Kolpas; Copyeditors Carrie Bradley, Sharon Silva and Sharron Wood; Proofreader Leslie Evans; Indexer Ken DellaPenta; Consultants Healther Belt and Brittany Williams; and Marisa Halvorson and her staff at the Williams-Sonoma store on Post Street in San Francisco.

ISBN-13: 978-1-61628-439-8 ISBN-10: 1-61628-439-0

ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS Noel Barnhurst: entries 53 (nished dish), 54 (nished dish), 65 (nished dish), 160 (nished dish), 240 (nished dish), 241 (nished dish); Bill Bettencourt: entries 34, 35 (step 2), 41, 43, 4649, 51, 52, 55, 57, 58, 71, 7484, 97, 100105, 108110, 120124, 126, 128134, 151, 152, 178, 180, 205, 223 (nished dish), 226 (step 4), 235, 237, 239, 252, 287293, 294 (nished dish), 296 (nished dish), 299 (nished dish), 300 (nished dish), 302, 303, 306, 308, 310, 312, 315, 316, 318, 321, 327, 328, 338341; Ben Dearnley: entry 70 (nished dish); Dan Goldberg: entry 80 (nished dish); Laurie Frankel: entry 69 (nished dish); Jeff Kauck: entries 96, 98, 193, 219225, 226 (steps 13), 227234, 277, 284 (nished dish), 286, 294, 295, 297, 298, 300, 301, 304, 314; David Matheson: Tools section opener, Techniques section opener; Mark Thomas: entries 35 (step 1), 3840, 42, 45 (nished dish), 50, 56, 73, 106, 107, 135137, 141, 145147, 170, 177, 194, 195, 198, 199204, 207, 214, 251, 254, 255, 258, 260266, 270276, 277 (nished dish), 278282, 283 (nished dish), 284, 285, 296, 299, 305, 309, 311, 320

A NOTE ON WEIGHTS AND MEASUREMENTS All recipes include customary U.S. and metric measurements. Metric conversions are based on a standard developed for this book and have been rounded off. Actual weights may vary.