Real CookingCooking, explained

A cook's course in 8 parts

How to Cook

An 8-part course in the techniques that hold a kitchen together, from stock to sauces.

Start at Part 1Browse recipes

The 8 parts

Each part builds on the last, but every chapter also stands on its own.

A pot of golden homemade chicken stock with aromaticsPart 1Stocks & SoupsStock and mirepoix — the plain, patient foundations everything else is built on.Braised chicken in a glossy pan saucePart 2BraisingGreat soup starts with a properly sweated aromatic base. Here's how to build one.Bright green boiled broccoli floretsPart 3Boiling & SteamingLow, slow, and forgiving: turning tough, cheap cuts into something silky.Roasted chicken thighs with crisp, golden skinPart 4Roasting & BakingThe plainest way to cook a vegetable — boiled, steamed, and done well.A golden pan-seared chicken breast, seared and restedPart 5Pan-FryingDry heat, browning, and gratins: roasting is the opposite of braising.Golden sautéed potatoes with herbs in a skilletPart 6SautéingFast, direct, hands-on cooking in a hot pan, from cutlets to fish.A jar of emulsified vinaigrette with a whiskPart 7Salads & VinaigrettesSmall pieces, high heat, and constant motion in the skillet.A silky, emulsified beurre monté being whiskedPart 8SaucesCold sauces, crisp greens, and a vinaigrette you'll use forever.

Featured recipes

Dishes with a picture to cook toward. Type to filter.

Sliced pan-seared steak topped with fresh green chimichurriChimichurri SteakPan-FryingSliced pan-seared duck breast with crisp skin, served with a glossy plum sauceDuck with Plum SaucePan-FryingA pan-seared swordfish steak napped with a vivid roasted red pepper butter saucePan-Seared Swordfish with Red Pepper SaucePan-FryingSausage gravy over biscuits in a skilletSausage GravySaucesPan-seared steak served with a creamy peppercorn sauce au poivreSteak au PoivrePan-FryingPan-seared steak napped with a dark red wine sauce bordelaiseSteak BordelaisePan-FryingA pot of golden homemade chicken stock with aromaticsChicken StockStocks & SoupsA deep, rich beef stock simmering with roasted bonesBeef StockStocks & SoupsA clear, gently simmering pork stock with aromaticsPork StockStocks & SoupsFrench onion soup topped with melted, bubbling cheese over a croutonFrench Onion SoupStocks & SoupsA hearty bowl of ham and beansHam and BeansStocks & SoupsA creamy potato soup topped with melting cheddar and chivesCreamy Potato Soup with Cheddar and ChivesStocks & SoupsA bowl of pork ramen with noodles, broth, and toppingsPork RamenStocks & SoupsA bowl of chicken ramen with noodles and soft eggChicken RamenStocks & SoupsA dark, rich gumbo served over riceGumboStocks & SoupsBraised chicken in a glossy pan sauceBraised ChickenBraisingFork-tender braised beef in a rich sauceBraised BeefBraisingBraised pork, tender and glazed in its own juicesBraised PorkBraisingBeef burgundy braised with bacon, mushrooms, and pearl onions in a Dutch ovenBeef BurgundyBraisingShredded beef ragu spooned over pappardelleBeef RaguBraisingChicken pot pie with a golden crust and a creamy chicken-and-vegetable fillingChicken Pot PieBraisingShepherd's pie with a fork-ridged, browned mashed potato toppingShepherd's PieBraisingBraised chicken thighs surrounded by dozens of soft, golden garlic cloves40 Clove ChickenBraisingCrispy, golden carnitas with tender shredded porkCarnitasBraisingSaucy BBQ pulled pork piled highBBQ Pulled PorkBraisingA rustic cassoulet with sausage and beansCassouletBraisingBright green boiled broccoli floretsBoiled BroccoliBoiling & SteamingTender boiled asparagus spearsBoiled AsparagusBoiling & SteamingGlossy butter-glazed carrotsGlazed CarrotsBoiling & SteamingBoiled potatoes tossed with parsley and butterBoiled Potatoes with Parsley ButterBoiling & SteamingSilky, buttery pommes puréePommes PuréeBoiling & SteamingA bowl of fluffy steamed white ricePerfect Steamed White RiceBoiling & SteamingGlossy Japanese short-grain steamed riceJapanese Steamed RiceBoiling & SteamingCreamy risotto finished with cheeseRisottoBoiling & SteamingFluffy rice pilaf with toasted grainsRice PilafBoiling & SteamingRoasted chicken thighs with crisp, golden skinRoasted Chicken ThighsRoasting & BakingRoasted chicken wings tossed in glossy buffalo hot saucePan-Roasted Hot WingsRoasting & BakingSticky, caramelized teriyaki-glazed chicken wingsPan-Roasted Teriyaki WingsRoasting & BakingSliced roasted pork tenderloin, juicy insideRoasted Pork TenderloinRoasting & BakingCrispy golden roasted potatoes with herbsRoasted PotatoesRoasting & BakingRoasted ratatouille, glossy with olive oil and herbsRoasted RatatouilleRoasting & BakingBubbling, golden cauliflower gratinCauliflower GratinRoasting & BakingLayered potatoes au gratin with a golden cheese crustPotatoes au GratinRoasting & BakingBaked potatoes with crisp skin and fluffy interiorBaked PotatoesRoasting & BakingTwice-baked potatoes, crisp on top and fluffy insideTwice-Baked PotatoesRoasting & BakingCreamy baked macaroni and cheeseMac and CheeseRoasting & BakingA finished Croque Monsieur with golden, bubbling cheese on topCroque MonsieurRoasting & BakingBaked lasagna, golden and bubbling in the dishLasagnaRoasting & BakingSpaghetti and meatballs in tomato sauceSpaghetti and MeatballsRoasting & BakingA golden pan-seared chicken breast, seared and restedPan-Seared Chicken BreastPan-FryingSliced golden panko-crusted chicken katsu with cabbageChicken KatsuPan-FryingChicken Parmesan with tomato sauce, melted cheese, and basil, beside pastaChicken ParmesanPan-FryingA seared, golden pan-seared pork chop with pan juicesPan-Seared Pork ChopPan-FryingA Southern fried pork chop smothered in white pepper gravySouthern Fried Pork Chop with GravyPan-FryingA pan-seared steak, seared and restedPan-Seared SteakPan-FryingSliced pan-seared duck breast, rosy inside with crisp skinPan-Seared Duck BreastPan-FryingA pan-seared salmon fillet with crispy skinPan-Seared SalmonPan-FryingA pan-seared swordfish steak with a lemon wedgePan-Seared SwordfishPan-FryingA golden pan-seared cod fillet, flaky insidePan-Seared CodPan-FryingA golden, crispy Swiss rösti potato cakeRöstiPan-FryingGolden sautéed potatoes with herbs in a skilletSautéed PotatoesSautéingA sliced sautéed chicken breast with a light pan sauceSautéed Chicken BreastSautéingStir-fried ginger scallion chickenGinger Scallion ChickenSautéingChili garlic chicken tossed in a glossy red sauceChili Garlic ChickenSautéingBeef stroganoff with mushrooms in a creamy sauce over egg noodlesBeef StroganoffSautéingA jar of emulsified vinaigrette with a whiskVinaigretteSalads & VinaigrettesA simple bistro salad dressed in vinaigretteSimple Bistro SaladSalads & VinaigrettesA salad of greens, apple slices, blue cheese, and walnutsBlue Cheese and Apple SaladSalads & VinaigrettesWarm potato salad tossed with fresh dill, chives, and crispy shallotsPotato SaladSalads & VinaigrettesSliced steak topped with fresh green chimichurriChimichurriSalads & VinaigrettesA silky, emulsified beurre monté being whiskedBeurre MontéSaucesA bowl of vivid orange-red buffalo hot wing sauceHot Wing SauceSaucesA glossy port and red wine vinegar reduction saucePort Reduction SauceSaucesA creamy black-pepper sauce au poivreSauce au PoivreSaucesA creamy whole-grain mustard sauceMustard SauceSaucesA dark, glossy red wine sauce bordelaise in a panSauce BordelaiseSaucesA glossy Marsala and mushroom sauce in a skilletSauce MarsalaSaucesA dark, glossy Japanese tare sauce in a bowlTareSaucesA glossy dark teriyaki sauce with sesame seedsTeriyaki SauceSaucesA glossy reddish-brown plum dipping saucePlum SauceSaucesA thick, glossy barbecue sauce with a brushBarbecue SauceSaucesA smooth, finished béchamel sauceBéchamelSaucesA velouté sauce built on stock instead of milkVeloutéSaucesA ladle of creamy, pepper-flecked country gravyCountry GravySaucesA smooth, glossy cheese sauceCheese SauceSauces

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