Kitchen Manual
Kitchen Manual
Kitchen Manual
CUISINE
~foflle
Kitchen Manual
MODERNIST
CUISI~E
~tfol'le
Nathan Myhrvold
with Maxirne Bilet
Photography by
Nathan Myhrvold
Melissa Lehuta
and The Cooking Lab
Photography Team
All rights reserved . Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976,
no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in
any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without
the prior written permission of the publisher. All trademarks used are prop-
erty of their respective owners.
ISBN: 978-0-9827610-1-4
First edition, 2012
Printed in China
MODERNIST
CUISI~E
~l#He
Kitchen Manual
Neutral Oils
Oils are products of nature and are pressed and refined by using a wide range of techniques. As a result, the
temperature at which an oil starts to smoke (the smoke point) or catches fire (the flash point) can vary cons id erably
for a particular oi l from one supplier(or even one bottle) to another. The temperatures given in this table and the
one on the next page provide a general guide, but your o il s may perform differently.
THE SCIENCE OF
In a handful of our recipes, the cooking regulators, but they most likely thought
temperatures we recommend fall below that providing both temperatures and times
those listed in guidelines published by the would be too complicated. If you don't
U.S. Food and Drug Administration or the understand th e meaning of time, however,
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). you've got bigger problems in the kitchen SAFETY TIPS FOR LIGHTLY
We've marked these recipes "lightly cooked." than food safety. COOKED FOOD
Lightly cooked food shou ld be
You should not serve these foods (or raw Once you eliminate time from the stan-
prepared in much the same way
foods) to immune-compromised people. dards, the strong tendency is to choose that we recommend preparing
Why don't we always follow govern- a temperature so hot that it can produce all food. Seek out the best ingre-
dients, handle and prepare them
ment guidelines? Once upon a time, some the required level of pathogen reduction
hygienically, and cook them
well-meaning officials decided that food nearly instantaneously. This impractically precisely. The one major differ-
safety recommendations should include high temperature invariably leads to over- ence is that lightl y cooked food
should be se rved imm ed iate ly;
only temperatures rather than time-and- cooked meat, seafood, and vegetables.
leftovers shou ld be discarded.
temperature combinations. This decision, As we did extensive research for The reason is that pathogens
perhaps the worst oversimplification in all Modernist" Cuisine (where we cover this much more quickly co lonize
and propagate in foods below
of food safety, has led to years of confusion topic in greater detail), we found numerous
50 OC/ 120 °F. So if you eat lig htly
and mountains of ruined food. puzzles, inconsistencies, and mistakes in coo ked food imm ed iately,
Scientifically speaking, you need the right food safety regulations. Some have since you're fine, but if yo u first let it
sit a round for a bit, yo u're tak-
combination of both time and temperature been corrected; for example, the USDA's
ing a n unn ecessa ry risk. Raw and
to kill pathogens. Why give temperature- recommended cooking temperature for lightly cooked food should not
only rules when the science says otherwise? pork is now 63 °( / 145 °F instead of71 °( / be served to anyone who has a
comprom ised immune system.
One can only guess at the reasoning of 160 °F. But most have not.
iX
HOW TO Tare a Digital Scale - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - -- - -
When writing your own reci pes, you can use the tare button in two handy If you are instead co mbining ingredie nts in another co ntainer (such as in
ways to record the weights of the ingred ien ts yo u use.lfyou can combin e a pot or blend er), place more oft he ingredient than you w ill need on t he
the ingredients in a bowl on the sca le, tare before you ad d each ingred ient sca le, tare it, and then add to taste from the sca le. The amo unt that yo u
to taste. Write down t he amo unt ad d ed before you tare aga in. removed from th e sca le wi ll show up on th e display as a negative weight.
2 Insert the probe into the water. Take care to kee p the probe from
touching the container. 4 Digital thermometers that are off by more than 2 °C/ 4 °F should be
adjusted by a profess ional.
CARBONATING
Create a sparkling drink or give porous food a surprising fizz. We slice tart, fizzy raisins. You need three cartridges of carbon dioxide to get
carbonated grapes over chil led oysters and pair rich pates with sweet, really good carbonation in a one-liter wh ippin g siphon or soda siphon.
1 Chill both the liquid and the sip hon. Carbon dioxide is most so luble
in cold liquids. 4 Insert one or two more ca rtrid ges of ca rbon dioxide; do not dispense
any of the gas . Shake the siphon vigorously for 5- 10 seconds.
1 Add cubes of meat to the siphon, and cover them with marinade or
brine. To infuse fruit with a liquid, add the fruit and enough liquid 3 Refrigerate the siphon for 20 minutes to let the flavors infuse.
2 Charge the siphon w ith nitrous oxide. Use two cartrid ges in a
1 L siphon. Shake vigorous ly for 5-10 seconds.
unscrew the siphon lid, and pour out the contents.
FOAMING
Whipping siphons were designed for aerating cream that is high in fat. foams can contribute an additiona l layer of flavor. The more air in the
(Nitrous oxide dissolves much better in fat than in water.) But you can foam, the less concentrated its flavor, so use a very strong liquid when
foam any liquid thick enough to hold bubbles. Add starch, gelatin, eggs, making a foam to serve as a garn ish or sauce. A foam used to top some
or agar to t hin liquids to give them enough body for foaming. A fine, other flavorful food may not need to be as intense. It's a matter of finding
creamy foam comforts and provides contrasting texture, like m as hed the right balance.
potatoes, or whipped cream atop a dense dessert. Light, acidic, and airy
COUNTERTOP TOOLS 3
HOW TO Calibrate Your Oven - -- - -- - - - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- -- - -
Each oven ha s its own persona lity. The one in your hom e is no excep- To do that, you need a good digita l thermometer that includes an
t ion. You don't necessar ily understand why it does what it does. You oven-safe probe and w ire lead, as wel l as some patience . If you have
have only a vague idea what the temperature in your oven actually graph paper or a spreadsheet program, you can make a quick chart to
is . But by trial and error you have figured out what you have to do get a handle on how the temperatu re in your oven fluctuates as heat
to achieve the result you're t rying to ach ieve. Wou ldn't it be nice to leaks out the door and the thermostat turns the burner up and down .
add some pred ictabi lity to the situation? We have a remedy for t his You can also map the hot and co ld spots insid e.
re lationship: calibrate your oven.
We're big fans of deep-frying as a fin ishi ng tech ni que after coo king so us and the proper too ls to insert and retri eve the food from a safe dista nce :
vide. You don't need to own a dedicated frye r. You j ust need a d eep pot long tongs, a slotted deep-fry spoon, o r a fry ing basket.
2 Add the oil to a d ee p pot, but fi ll it no more than ha lf fu ll. Use enough
oil so that you can submerge a sma ll batch of food comp lete ly. 5 Deep-fry the cooked food . j ust 30 seconds may be eno ugh when you
don't want to further cook the interior of the food. Allow the oi l tem-
perature to recover between batches .
3 Preheat the oil to the cook ing temperature . For consistent resu lts, cook
small batches to minimize the coo ling that occu rs when you add the
food, and warm food to room temperatu re before fryi ng it. 6 Dra in th e food on paper towels . Absorbing excess oil removes much of
the fat.
Cooks who are new to pressure-cooking often use too m uch heat and resume boi ling. Repeated ove rpressurization can ruin both t he flanges
overpressurize the cooker. It's important to realize that ove rpressurizing and the sea l around the li d. Fam il iarize yourse lf with the manufacturer's
the cooker do es n't make the temperature in sid e it any higher- it merely instructions for und erstandin g when yo ur cooker is fully pressurized,
causes the safety va lve to re lease steam, wh ich allows t he water insid e to overpressurized, and d epress urized.
3 Warm the coo ker on the stove top over med ium-high heat. Watch
or listen for the cues that the cooker has reached fu ll pressure, and
6 Set the cooke r in the kitchen sink, and unl ock the lid. If the lid is
then turn the heat down to low. Adju st the heat as needed to keep difficult to open, don't force it; let the cooker cool longer until it
the cookerful ly pressurized. opens w ith little resistance.
4 Start timing the cooking as soon as the cooker reaches the target gauge
pressure given in the recipe. If your cooker has a spri ng- loaded pres-
7 If the food isn't done, simp ly fin ish it on the stove top without sealing
th e lid . Alternatively, return the pressure cooker to ful l pressure, and
continue cooking.
sure va lve, the valve shou ld pop up just to the line, not beyond it. The
cooker should not hiss loudly. If you have a jiggling-weight pressure
valve, the weight should move th ree to five times a minute; it sho uldn't
dance aro und wild ly.
Pressure-Coo king in Cann ing Jars
Severa l recipes in this book take advantage of cook ing in ca nning jars
(a lso known as M aso n jars). We use th em for ingred ients t hat wou ld
otherwise need an intensive amount of stirring, such as pol enta, and for
mak ing sma ll batches of rendered fat, garl ic co n fit, or extra cted jui ces.
A lways leave at least 1.3 cm / Y, in ofheadspace when fi ll ing t he jars. The
jars should also never touch the bottom of th e cooker. Set them on a
metal rack or trivet-o r, in a pin ch, on crumpl ed sheets of aluminum fo il.
Add enough water to cover the rack so that the pressure coo ker can build
up steam. Afterfully tightening the lids of t he j ars, loosen them a quarter
turn; otherwise, the pressure may crack the j ars or blow their lids off in-
sid e the coo ker. After using a jar fo r pressure-cooking, inspect the glass
for cracks befo re cook ing with it agai n.
Releasi ng a pressure cooker li d while its contents are still hot ca n sp lat- Avoid cook ing foods that froth, like oatmeal and pasta. The foam can block
ter boiling water or food all over the kitchen-o r you. Before opening the the stea m va lves and pressure-release vents.
cooker, use the pressure-release button, let the cooker sit, or coo l the
Tip the opening away from you as you lift the lid off the cooker to protect
pot und er running water. Th e pressure va lve will sink down fully when the ·
yourse lffrom the steam that is re leased.
cooker is depressurized and is safe to open.
Use cann ing tongs to remove hot can ni ng jars from the cooker, and let th e
Before cooking, check that the ri ng of rubb er lin ing aro und the lid isn't
co ntents cool slightly before open ing the j ars .
dri ed out or cracked. Th ese gaskets don 't last forever; rep lace them
as reco mm end ed by th e manufacturer.
Make sure the rim of the pot and the gasket are clean; any food particles
stuck there could break the seal.
Edge sealers bring vacuum sealing within reach of most home cooks. well, but you can freeze or otherwise solidify liquids before sea li ng
An edge sealer requi res specially textured bags . It doesn't handle liqu ids them. Seal food only when it is cold.
2 Fill the bag with food, and unfold the lip of the bag. Delicate foods,
such as sa lmon, will keep their shape better if you first wrap them in
cling film. 4 Close the lid, and engage the vacuum pump (on a FoodSaver, for
example, press the Sea l button). The pump will stop on its own.
Although it is possible to seal liquids by pressing the Seal button
to stop the vacuum just before the liquid gets sucked in, it makes
qu ite a mess if your timing is off. For extra security, you can place
a second seal about 5 mm /Y., in above the first seal.
If you need to seal food along w it h a liq ui d, o r if you do n't have a vacuum air from t he bag. The water-d isplacement method is the more effective
sealer, ordinary zip -top bags offer a handy alternative to vacu um sea l- technique, and it doesn't require as much liquid in the bag to remove
ing. The two methods be low all ow you to q ui ckly remove m uch of t he nea rl y all of t he ai r.
BY WATER DISPLACEMENT
If you don't have the countertop or cupboard space for an edge sealer, Like an edge sea ler, a handheld pump doesn't work we ll with liqu id s.
a more compact a lternative is a special kind of zip-top bag that includes Po rted bags tend to lose vacuum over time, so they are best suited
a built-in port for a handheld pump . The pump costs about $20; the for immediate cook ing and short-term storage of foods that yo u use
bags are relatively expens ive, but some are reusable after washing. regu larly, such as cheese a nd fresh produce.
Vacuum sea ling delicate fruits and vegetab les is tricky: they are too for example, becomes pleasantly dense when it is vacuum sea led.
porous to hold their structure under pressure, so the process often Compressed peaches and waterme lon seem juicier and denser. After
crushes them. But there are creative ways to turn this drawback to compressing produ ce, keep it sealed until you 're ready to use it.
an advantage as a way to manipulate texture and color. Pineapple,
One of the benefits of cooking so us v id e is that it greatly red uces anxiety Use eith er o f the two methods be low to insert a d igital thermometer
about time and temperature. If you leave the food in for a li tt le more into the fo od w ithout interrupting the cook ing. But do th is in modera-
time than the recipe suggests, the conseq uences aren't nearly as per- tio n: there is no need to check the temperature frequently.
ceptible as they are when you cook on a stove top or in a hot oven. Many of o ur recipes ca ll for coo king food to a specific core temper-
That sa id, doing a quick temperature check eve ry once in a wh il e will ature. What we mea n by "core temperature" is t he temp erature at th e
help you learn how long it takes to heat various foods to particular ce nter of the th ickest part of the food-the part that heat reaches last
temperatures. as it diffuses through the food .
1 While the food is cooking, lift out ju st the top of the bag, and open it.
Keep the bag submerged in th e water so that the food doesn't coo l, 3 Remove the thermometer, was h it well with soapy water or sanitize it
w ith an an tibacterial hand wipe, and then rinse it we ll.
which would change the cook ing time, and so that the bag doesn't
fil l w ith air.
4 Lower the bag into th e water until ju st the top edge is above the sur-
face (see How to Sea l Food in a Zip-Top Bag by Water Displacement,
2 Insert the tip of the probe into the middle ofthe thickest part of the
food. Hold the t hermometer in place until the reading stab ili zes at the
page 6), and then press the top closed agai n.
core temperature; the first reading it gives may be the higher tempera-
ture near the surface of the food.
1 Fill the bag with food, and then sea l it. When coo king mu ltip le bags of
food in one bath, p lace portions of the same size in each of the bags. 3 Ca refully p lace t he bag w ith the probe into t he bath, and thread the
lead w ire between the lid and the rim of the cooker so that the lid
That way, yo u can leave t he thermometer in one of th e bags during covers the bath as tightly as possib le.
the entire cooking process; the temperature of all the others will be
approximate ly the same. Place the probe in the largest piece to ensu re
that al l of the p ieces cook fully.
This recipe makes a white chicken stock. It can also be made chickens can be substituted for the chicken wings; freeze them until
using other fowl by simply replacing the chicken meat and bones you have enough to make a batch of stock. To make a brown chicken
with those of duck or game fowl. Carcasses left over from roasted stock, see the variation b elow.
1 Cover the chopped chi cken wings with co ld water in a pot, and bring
it just to a boil to blanch the ch icken and remove the bitter flavor from 5 Pressure-cook at a gauge pressure of1 bar / 15 psi for 1Y2 hours. Start
timing as soon as full pressure has been reached.
the bones. Roasting the bones has the same effect.
6 Let the cooker coo l, or run tepid water over the rim, to depressurize it.
2 Drain th e chicken as soon as the water starts to boil; discard the water.
We have found , through extens ive blind taste tests, that white stocks
have better flavor and clarity when made with blanched meat and 7 Stra in the stock through a fine sieve; discard the solids.
bon es .
8 Use the stock in warm or co ld dishes .
STOCKS 9
PRESSURE-COOKED BROWN BEEF STOCK
Our recipe for brown beef stock avoids much of the fuss and ritual Simply substitute the appropriate ground meat and flavorful, meaty
typically associated with this classic kitchen staple. You can easily bones. Shanks, knuckles, and other bony cuts of beef can be substi-
adapt this recipe to make brown pork, lamb, veal, and game stocks. tuted for the oxtail.
Beef chuck, finely ground 200 g/ 0.41b 40% 0 Sear the meat in the base of a pressure cooker over medium-high heat
Rendered beef fat or 50g 50 mL/ Y.. cup 10% until dark brown, about 8 minutes.
neutral frying oil
Water 750g 750 mL/ 3'.4 cups 150% 0 Combine with the browned beef and roasted oxtai l in the pressure
Full-bodied red wine 120g 120 mL/Y2 cup 24% cooker.
Carrots, thinly sliced 50g :Y.. cup 10% ® Pressure-cook at a gauge pressure ofl bar / 15 psi for 2Y2 hours. Start
timing as soon as full pressure has been reached.
Yellow onion, thinly sli ced 50 g Y2 cup 10%
Leeks, white parts only, @ Let the cooker coo l, or run tepid water ove r the rim, to depressurize it.
20 g :Y. cup 4%
thinly sliced 0 Strain.
Ita li an parsley lOg 4sprigs 2% ® Use the stock in warm or co ld dishes.
Thyme 1g 1-2 sprigs 0.2%
Fresh bay leaf 0.2g ll eaf 0.1%
Safety tips far pressure-cooking: see page 5
VARIATIONS
Brown Pork Stock White Beef Stock
Substitute 500 g of spare ribs or meaty pork bones for th e oxtail, 200 g of Skip steps 1-3, and substitute white wine for the red wine.
ground pork for the beef, and white wine or lager beer for the red wine.
Fish oils oxidize very easily, so to get the most flavor out of fish can also increase the gelatin content and richness of the stock by
b ones, you need to cook them gently in a sealed environment. Slow- adding skins from delicate white fish such as halibut, sole, trout, or
cooking them so us v ide produces excellent results. If fish bones are sea bass. Darker, oilier fishes like mackerel, fresh sa rdines, tuna, or
unavailable, a ny scraps of flesh or chopped fish heads will do. You salmon yield a stock that is too strongly flavored for most uses.
Bottled clam juice, avai labl e at most grocery stores, is a good substitute for VARIATION: Brown Fish Stock
fish stock if you don't have time to make it you rse lf. After step 3, pan fry the fish bones in 30 g / 30 mL / 2 Tbsp of neutral frying
oil until they brown, 4-6 minutes. Cool the bones comp lete ly, and then
continue with step 4.
STOCKS 11
PRESSURE-COOKED CRUSTACEAN STOCK
Anytime you find yourself with crustacean shells left over from a enough to make s tock. If you don't have shells, u se whole shrimp
seafood feast, save them! Collect them in the free zer until you have (with the heads on), which are relatively inexpensive and easy to find .
Making stock sous vide is the best way to capture the subtle, You can tailor the flavor of this stock by selecting the varieties of
nuanced flavors of the vegetables-especially if you have time to vegetables you use. A stock made with sweet onions tastes different
infuse the liquid overnight in the refrigerator. When time is more from one based on white onions, for example. For a recipe for an
pressing, however, we pressure-cook the stock (see the variation all-allium (onion-family) vegetable jus, see page 77.
below), which produces a stronger flavor.
VARIATIONS
Pressure-Coo ked Vegetable Stock Brown Vegetable Stock
Pressure-cooking the stock reduces the overa ll time to 1 hour, including Preheat an oven to 220 •c ; 425 •F. Toss the vegetables in 40 g/ 40 mL /
35 minutes of unattended cook ing. Combine all of the ingredients in a 3 Tbsp of neutral frying o il, and roast them in the preheated oven until
pressure cooker, and pressure-cook at a gauge pressure ofl bar / 15 psi they turn dark brown. Comb ine the roasted vegetables with the wate r and
for 35 minutes; start timing as soon as full pressure has been reached. aromatics, and then conti nu e at step 3 or with the pressure-cooking in the
Depressurize the cooker. Stra in the stock, and use it warm or co ld . pressure-cooked variation at left.
STOCKS 13
TOASTED CORN STOCK
Y I ELD: 750 g I 3v.i cups
TIME ESTIMATE: 1 hour overall, including 15 minutes ofpreparation and 45 minutes unattended
STORAGE NOTES: keeps for 5 days when refrigerated or up to 6 months when frozen
LEVEL OF DIFF ICULTY: easy
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: pressure cooker
USED IN : Pressure-Cooked Polenta (see page 156), Pressure-Cooked Fresh-Corn Tamales (see page 158)
INGREDI ENT WEIGHT VOLUME PROCEDURE
Fresh corn with husks 600-700 g 51arge ears @ Preheat the ove n to 175 oC/ 350 °F.
0 Shuck the corn, reserving the husks .
® Scatterthe husks on a baki ng sheet. Top with an inverted cooling rack.
@ Bake until go ld en brown, abo ut 15 minutes.
® Cut the kernels from t he cobs; reserve them for some other use.
Coldwater 1.2 kg 1.2 L/ 5 cups ® Place the co rncobs and toasted husks, but not the kerne ls, in a pres-
sure cooker, add the water, and pressure-cook at a gauge pressure of
1 bar / 15 psi for 30 minutes. Start ti ming w hen fu ll pressure is reached.
0 Depressurize the cooker.
® Stra in through a sieve lin ed with cheesecloth, and use warm or co ld .
Safety lipsfar pressure-cooking: see page 5
1 Preheat the oven to 175 °C/ 350 °F. This recipe uses the husks and cobs of the corn, but not the kernels. The
kerne ls are good when cooked so us vide, and you can use them to make
Corn Soup (see variation on page 76).
2 Shuck the corn, reserving the husks.
3 Scatter the corn husks on a baking sheet, and place an inverted coo ling
rack on top of them to ho ld them in place.
4 Bake the husks, tossing them occasionally until they all turn golde n
brown, 15-25 minutes.
5 While the husks are baking, cut the kernels from t he cobs. Reserve the
kernels for another use.
6 Place the corncobs, toasted husks, and water in a pressure cooker, and
pressure-cook at a gauge pressure of 1 bar / 15 psi for 30 minutes. Do
not add the corn kernels. Start timing as soon as fu ll pressure has been
reached.
7 Let the cooke r cool, or run tepid water over t he rim, to depressurize it.
8 Strain the corn stock through a sieve lined with cheesecloth. Use the
stock in warm or cold dishes.
This recipe makes an unseasoned mushroom stock if you follow it page 142 in the main volume), and steak (see page 84).
just through step 4; continue to step 8 to make a savory yet meatless For an earthier flavor that goes well with our barley risotto, add
jus that you can use as you would meat jus. We also serve the jus as 15 g I 2 Tbsp of crumbled dry porcinis in step 1. For a more savory
a broth and use it to dress risotto (see page 152), poached eggs (see version, add 75 g I 3,4 cup of thinly sliced smoked bacon at step 1.
STOCKS 15
BROWN CHICKEN JUS
This jus further fortifies an already intense stock with roasted mouthfeel. If chicken feet are unavailable, replace them with an
chicken wings and feet, which add gelatin to produce a rich equal weight of wings.
Ground chi cke n 1 kg / 2.2 1b 100% @) Pan fry over me dium heat, stirring consta ntly, until brown, abo ut
Neutra l frying o il as nee de d 15 minutes.
Brown chi cke n stock 1 kg 1 L/ 4Y., cups 100% 0 Combin e with the browned chi cke n parts a nd gro und chicken in a
see variation on page 9 pressu re cooker, and pressure-cook at a gauge press ure of 1 bar / 15 psi
Fino she rry o r dry 200g 200 mL/)/a cup 20% for1 hour. Start timing as soon as full pressure has been reached.
w hite port ® Let the cooker cool, or run tepid water over the rim, to depressurize it.
Shallots, thinly sl iced 200 g 1:Y., cups 20% 0 Strain the jus into a pot. Disca rd the so li ds .
Thyme 1g 1- 2 sma ll sp rigs 0.1 % ® Simmer the jus over medium-high heat until it is reduced by ha lf a nd
becomes slightly syrup y, 20 -25 minutes.
Salt to taste ® Season the jus, a nd serve it warm.
Le mon jui ce to taste
Safety tips far pressure-cooking: see pageS
VARIATIONS
Brown Beef jus
Substitute ground beeffor the ground chicke n, oxta il for th e w ings and
feet, red wine for the fino she rry, a nd beef stock (see page 10) for th e
chicken stock. In step 5, in crease th e press ure-cook ing time to 2 ho urs.
Many classic sauces are enriched with butter or oil, usually added at temperature, and then just warm it up at dinnertime.
the last second in a step called "finishing" or "mounting." The reason This sauce is also special in its use of rendered chicken fat
for waiting until the last minute to add the fat is that the emulsion rather than oil, butter, or cream. Especially if you use pressure-
you form when you whisk it in is unstable when hot: the fat soon rendered chicken fat, which has a strong roasted-chicken flavor,
separates out. We solve that problem by adding lecithin, a heat-stable you'll taste the chicken much more than in traditional versions.
emulsifier found in egg yolks and soybeans. The resulting sauce is For a delicious, smoky bacon taste instead, substitute bacon fat
so stable that you can even make it in the afternoon, hold it at room for the chicken fat.
Liquid soy lecithin is not the same as soy lecithin powder. The powdered
1 Place the brown chicken jus in a small pot, and use an immersion
blender to blend in the xanthan gum until it is fully incorporated. lecithin is deoiled and often used by Modernist chefs to make delicate
Xanthan gum is very potent, so weigh it carefully. lfthe liquid becomes foams. The liquid soy lecithin called for in these recipes is available from
very sticky, you added too much. health-food stores. It is a powerful emulsifier and is very useful for making
vinaigrettes and warm butter sauces. Always dissolve it in an oil or fat before
combining it with other ingredients.
3 Warm the fat in a second small pot over low heat, and then stir in the
lecithin.
VAR IATION: Ultrastab le Butte r Sauce
Blend 100 g of a wine reduction, stock, juice, or other flavorfu l liquid with
0.4 g of xanthan gum. Melt 120 g /V2 cup of butter in a separate pot, and stir
in 2.4 g of liquid soy lecithin . Blend the butter mixture into the thickened
4 Slowly pour the warm fat into the jus mixture while mix ing with an
immersion blender. Continue blending until the mixture is fully
liquid. Season generously with salt and lemon juice.
homogenized .
5 Season the jus generously with salt and lemon juice, and serve it warm .
STOCKS 17
HOW TO Make Full-Flavored Pan G r a v y - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Chefs often refer to the delicious brown residue that sticks to your pan a liquid to remove the fond at just the r ight time: it must be browned,
when you saute or pan fry food as "fo nd." It makes a wonderful basis but not black and bitter. Add ing a little xanthan gum th ickens the gravy;
for sauce, such as pan gravy. The trick is to deglaze the pan by add ing there is no need to boil off water, and with it many flavorful aromas .
1 Saute meat or sliced vegetables until they turn brown. VARIATION: Thickening with Wondra
Sauces in classical French cooking are thickened by adding roux, a cooked
mixture of butter and flour. The Nouvelle cu isine movement in the 1970s
2 While the pan is still hot, add just enough liquid to deglaze it. Use
water to obtain a clear, pure flavor. Alternatively, add a flavored liquid
largely rejected raux-ba sed sauces, but Modernist chefs are rediscovering
starch-thickened sauces-th is tim e using mod ern starches, such as Wondra .
such as chicken, meat, or vegetable stock-or even a fruit or vegetable
After following steps 1-5 at left, dust Wondra over the flavorful liquid;
juice-to produce a richer flavor. Don't add too much, or you will dilute
use 4-5 g of Wondra for every 100 g of liquid. Whisk to distribute the starch
the flavor of the gravy.
even ly (do not blend, as that can produce a gummy consistency). Bring the
liquid to a simmer, and then remove it from th e heat. Continue with step 7.
3 Heat the liquid in the pan while you use a spatu la or a clean scrubber
brush to loosen the fond and dissolve the scrapings. Keep stirring
to di sso lve the fond as the liquid comes to a simmer. Simmer for
2-3 minutes. Strain the sauce into a saucepan.
4 Adjust the seasoning of the sauce, which will still be fairly thin. The
goal at this point is a potent, balanced flavor; you can thicken it later, if
needed. You can reduce the liquid slightly if the flavor is weak, but the
flavor molecules evaporate along with the water, so don't overcook it.
Once the flavor is correct, serve the gravy as is, or continue with the
next steps to refine the texture .
7 Finish the sauce by whisking in cream, butter, olive oil, flavored oil, or
rendered fats (including drippings), if des ired. Adjust th e season ing
once more by adding sa lt and acid, such as lemon juice or vinegar,
as needed.
SAUCES 19
RED WINE GLAZE
Beef knucklebones 1.3 kg / 2.81b 100% ® Add to the pressure cooker, and stir in the reserved beef until combined.
Water 1 kg 1 L/ 414 cups 80% 0 Pressure-cook at a gauge pressure of1 bar / 15 psi for 2 hours. Start timing
Italian parsley, bruised 5g 5 medium sprigs 0.4% as soo n as full pressure has been reached.
Thyme 3g 3-4 sprigs 0.2% ® Let the cooke r cool, or run tepid water overt he rim, to d epressurize it.
Fresh bay leaves 0.6g 3 1eaves 0.04% ® Strain the broth into a large pot through a fine sieve lin ed with cheese-
Black peppercorns cloth . Discard the solids.
0.5g 10-12 peppercorns 0.03%
@ Cook the broth over high heat, skimming off the fat frequently, until
reduced to a syrupy glaze, 45 - 60 minutes.
Balsamic vinegar to taste @ Season the glaze, and serve it warm.
Dark soy sauce to taste
Safety tipsfor pressure-cooking: see page 5
Gels are ha rdl y new to cook ing: coo ked eggs are gels; so are cheeses, li ke fish in a net. As the mesh tightens, the liquid sets into a semisolid ge l.
custards, and yogurts. But modern gelling agents have opened up a You can puree ce rtain gels after they have set to make a sauce
fantastic range of new culinary applications . You can use them to add that is th ick on a spoon but thins to a pleasant texture as you eat it.
body to a broth, mold a sauce into an attractive shape, or even solidify Flu id gels, as these sauces are called, often have a cream ier mouthfeel
a liquid such as onion milk into a block, and then shear it back into a than you can get from a comparab le sauce thickened w ith starch or
fluid (see below). xa nthan gum. Agar is the most useful gelling agent for making fluid ge ls,
The basic process is the same in each case . First, you d ispense but it does require heat to activate-not idea l if you are making a raw
the gelling age nt even ly throughout the liquid. Sometimes, you must vegetab le sauce or a co ld soup such as gazpac ho. Agar is derived from
heat the mi xture to activate the gel li ng agent. The molecules ofthe seaweed and has been used for centuries in Asian cook ing.
agent link up to form a mesh that traps water and other molecules
This recipe is adapted from Heston Blumenthal's update of the flavor and much greater stability. The sauce won't separate, even
classic Escoffier sauce soubise, a Bechamel sauce flavored with onion when reheating it after several days in the refrigerator. Unlike gela-
puree. Making the sauce as a fluid gel (see above) results in a cleaner tin, agar gels can tolerate moderate heat (up to 85 ·c I 185 •F).
To make the onion milk on the stove top rather than sous vide, simmer the Quick-set method: Afte r step 8, place the hot, hydrated mixture in a tall con-
cooked onions and sha ll ots with the milk over low heat for10 minutes. tainer, and set it in an ice-water bath. Use an immersion blender to puree the
You can grind flaked agar in a coffee grinder to make agar powder. ge l as it coo ls. Stop blending when the fluid gel is cold . Season and serve.
SAUCES 21
PISTACHIO PESTO
Pes to, which simply means paste in Italian, is most often associated The function of the xanthan gum, which is optional, is to thicken
with the Genovese version that combines pine nuts, basil, Parmesan, natural juices that otherwise tend to separate from the greens. Toss
and olive oil. But this reinterpretation that replaces pine nuts with the pesto with pasta, mix it into a warm potato salad, slather it over
pistachios has become one of our favorites . salmon before baking, or serve it as a dip for crusty grilled bread.
Garlic cloves 8g 2-3 cloves 16% @) Boil until tender, a bout 2 minutes.
Pa rmigiano- Reggiano, 50g :Y.. cup 100% ® Combine with the blanched greens and garlic in a food processor,
finely grated and puree .
Pistachios, toasted 50g 3/a cup 100%
Extra-virgin olive oil 95g 110 mL /Y2 cup 190% ® Add to the puree g rad uall y while pro cess ing to form a paste.
Roasted pistachio oil 20 g 20 mL / 1Y2 Tbsp 40%
(or other nut oil)
Lemon juice lOg 10 mL / 2 tsp 20%
Salt to taste 0 Season the pes to.
Xanthan gum (Bob's Red as needed ® If not using xanthan gum, refrigerate the pes to for1 hour. Otherwise,
Mill brand), optional weigh the pes to, calcu late 0.2% of the weight, and measure that amount
ofxanthan g um . For exa mpl e, if th e pesto weighs 350 g, measure 0.7 g
ofxanthan gum.
® Whisk the xanthan gum into the pesto until full y incorporated .
When blanching the greens in step 2, plunge them into ice Wrap all the blanched greens together in cheesecloth When the oils and lemon juice are fully incorporated, the
water immediately after taking them out of the pot. They when squeezing out their juices. pesto takes on the consistency of a paste. For a crunchier
should be barely cooked through. pes to, pulse it to a coarse texture.
SAUC ES 23
PRESSURE-COOKED DRIPPINGS
Why scrape the drippings from the pan to make gravy? Just pressure- fresh herbs. To make a thinner jus, omit the xanthan gum. You can
cook ground chicken to extract the delicious juices without scorch- substitute a few cubes of cold butter for the xanthan gum. The emul-
ing or scraping. If you prefer a brighter or more complex flavor to sion can be further stabilized by adding 1-2 g of liquid soy lecithin
the gravy, add some good vinegar or citrus juice, ground spices, and (see page 17).
Mayonnaise is a classic emulsion of oil, mustard, and a touch of This basic recipe supports a huge range of variations; we've
acid held together by egg yolk acting as an emulsifier. It has literally included just a few below. As you add more oil, the mayonnaise
hundreds of uses in the kitchen. This recipe lightly cooks the yolks, will get stiffer; use less oil for a thinner sauce. Try substituting
which has two benefits. First, it eliminates any food safety concerns extra-virgin olive oil or other seed or nut oils for some or all of the
about using raw eggs; these yolks are pasteurized. Second, the heat neutral-tasting oil. You can swap out the lemon juice in favor of
amplifies the emulsifying power of the yolks, so the mayonnaise is other acidic fruit juices (such as lime, blood orange, grapefruit, or
much more stable. If you're pressed for time, however, you can use passion fruit). Red wine vinegar works in place of white. Even the
raw egg yolks and skip steps 1- 3. water can be replaced by stock or various kinds of juice.
VARIATIONS
SAUCES 25
MUGHAL CURRY SAUCE
YIELD: 700 g/ 21fz cups
TIME ESTIMATE: 13 hours overall, including 1 hour of preparation and 12 hours unattended
STORAGE NOTES: keeps for 5 days when refrigerated or up to 6 months when frozen
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: moderate
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: white poppy seeds,jresh turmeric, ghee (see page 37)
USED IN: Lamb Curry (see page 104)
The Mughal Empire, which dominated northern India in the Although this recipe makes more nut paste than you need, the
16th and 17th centuries, built lasting monuments such as the paste keeps well when frozen . Go ahead and make extra sauce;
Taj Mahal, but it also left a monumental culinary legacy. Mughal it is excellent with lamb, chicken, or beef, and tastes even better
cuisine inspired this recipe, which is a versatile template that the following day. If fresh turmeric is unavailable, substitute
you can easily extend (see two variations below). 0.5 g / 1/2 tsp of powdered turmeric.
To soften the nuts and seeds more quick ly than an overnight soak, pressure- VARIATIONS
cook them with enough water to cover at a gauge pressure of1 bar / 15 psi for Kerala Curry Sa uce
45 minutes . Skip steps 1-3. 1n step 4, add 3 g / 1 tsp of black mustard seeds and 2 g
of curry leaves (about 91eaves) while sauteing the shal lots . In step 9,
substitute 240 g / 1 cup of coconut mi lk for the nut-seed paste.
2 Stra in the soaked nuts and seeds through a fine sieve. Discard the soak-
ing wate r, and place the nuts a nd seeds in a bl end e r.
9 Blend the mixture to a coarse puree. An immers ion ble nd e r wo rks we ll.
3 Add fresh water to the blender, and puree the mixture until a smooth
paste forms. If the paste seems grainy, pass it through a fine sieve.
1o Cove r the pot, and simmer the sauce over very low heat for about
25 minutes, stirring frequently. The sauce wi ll thicken.
Measure 240 g / 1 cup of the paste, and set it aside for use in step 8.
4 Sa ute the shallots with the ghee a nd salt in a large pot over med ium-
low heat until the sha llots turn go ld e n a nd tender, aboutlO minutes.
11 Remove the pot from the heat, and stir the yogu rt a nd grated
nutmeg into the sauce.
5 Add the diced tomato to the shallots, and continue cooking until the
mixture thickens slightly, abo ut 5 minu tes.
12 Season the sauce with plenty of fresh lime juice and sa lt, and serve
it warm.
6 Stir the curry powder, ga rli c, ginger, chili, turmeric, and bay leaf into
the sha llot-tomato mixture, redu ce the heat to low, a nd coo k for about
5 minutes more.
MC SPECIAL SAUCE
YIELD: 615 g/21;2 cups
TIME ESTIMATE: 30 minutes overall
STORAG E NOTES : keeps for 3 days when refrigerated
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: easy
SPEC IAL REQUIREMENTS: spicy cucumber pickles
USED IN: Modernist Cheeseburger (see page 91)
In 1968, McDonald's rolled out a new double cheeseburger with One day when we were working on a pork loin sauce for Modern-
three buns, garnished with a "special sauce." They called it the Big ist Cuisine, we tasted the latest batch in the resea rch kitchen, and our
Mac, and it was an instant hit worldwide, attaining such ubiquity eyes lit up with recognition: it was McDonald's special sauce! Not
that The Economist magazine to this day uses the price of a Big Mac exactly, of course. Ours is fancier and less sweet, alth ough the exact
as an indicator of what currencies are worth around the globe. flavor depends on your choice of musta rd and pickles.
SAUCES 27
SOUS VIDE HOLLANDAISE
Hollandaise is traditionally a tricky, labor-intensive sauce; it is all too alone yield s a reliably delicious sauce that can be served directly
easy to overheat the eggs and curdle the sauce. That risk is removed after step 9 of the recipe below. But for an extra-light hollandaise,
when you cook it so us vide instead of on the stove. Just this change continue with the last t wo steps.
9 Season the sauce with salt and ma lic acid, citric acid, or lemo n juice to
taste. The sauce, which sho uld now be similar to a warm mayonnaise,
4 Strain the wine reduction, and measure 20 g/20 mL/ 4 tsp of the liquid
for use in the next step. Discard th e so lids. can be served as is.
5 Blend th e egg yo lks and stock into the wine reduction thoroughly by
using an immers ion blender.
10 Pour the mixture into a 1 Lsiphon . Charge the siphon with two
cartridges of nitro us oxide, and shake it vigo ro usly.
Spicy Hollandaise
In step 8, replace 20 g / 20 ml / 1Y, Tbsp of the melted butter with
toasted-sesame oil, a nd wh isk in 50 g! Y.. cup of Korean Wing Sauce
(see page 11 6). Strain the sauce, a nd se rve it with grill ed vegetab les.
SAUCES 29
PRESSURE-CARAMELIZED KETCHUP
We exploit a little basic chemistry in this recipe to make a ketchup the natural acidity of the tomatoes and even makes the sauce slightly
having a deep color and subtle flavor profile that one can get only by alkaline, which allows caramelization to occur at temperatures that
caramelizing the sugars in the tomato sauce. That isn't easy to do in a pressure cooker can generate. As with our caramelized vegetable
an open pan because the sauce never gets much hotter than the boil- soups and purees (see page 76), the resulting ketchup delivers a
ing point of water. But the addition of a little baking soda neutralizes wonderful combination of fresh and cooked flavors.
1 Whisk together the tomato paste, water, and baking soda in the base
of a pressure cooker. The mixture will become slightly foamy as the 4 Stir the vinegar and syrups into the tomato sauce.
3 Let the cooker coo l, or run tep id water over the rim, to depressurize it. 6 Season the ketchup ge nero usly with salt and add iti ona l vinega r to
taste . Rest the ketchup for a few hours before serving to al low the
Stir the tomato paste, which should be a dark, brick- red co lor. raw taste of the spices to mellow.
For excellent-tasting peanut sauce, start with the freshest, most to ginger but has a more robust, peppery taste; it is sold at Asian
aromatic roasted peanuts you can find . Fresh galangal is similar markets (fresh ginger may be substituted).
SA UCES 31
MARINARA
YIELD: 1 kg/ 4cups
TIME ESTIMATE: 1 hour overall, including 15 minutes ofpreparation and 45 minutes unattended
STORAGE NOTES : keeps for 5 days when refrigerated or up to 6 months when frozen
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: easy
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: pressure cooker
USED IN: Microwaved Eggplant Parmesan (see page 160), Whole Wheat Noodles (see variation on
page 123)
Marinara is a simple, flavorful tomato sauce. By combining the We consider marinara a starting point that has endless potential
ingredients in a pressure cooker, there is even less fuss than usual. for customization. For classic pasta sauce, stir in fresh basil and chili
We like the added sweetness of onions and carrots, but our pizza flake s, or olives and anchovy fillets.
sauce variation, below, might appease the tomato purists.
4 Pressure-cook the vegeta bles at a gauge pressure ofl bar / 15 psi for
45 minutes. Start timing as soon as fu ll pressure has been reached . Tomato Sofrito
In step 1, omit the ca rrots, reduce the quantity of diced onion to 115 g /
1 cup, and add 63 g /o/s cup of chopped piquillo peppers. In step 3, add
5 Let the cooker cool, or run tepid water over the rim, to depressurize it. 0.2 g / Ys tsp of saffron threads with the crushed tomatoes.
Pizza Sauce
6 Season the sauce to taste with o live o il and plenty of sa lt.
Skip steps 1 and 2. Fry 50 g/ Y.. cup of chopped ga rli c in 100 g / 110 mL /
y, cup of o live oi l until th e garli c turns go ld en brown, about 5 minutes.
7 Serve the sauce warm. Co ntinu e with step 3. For pi zza recipes, see cha pte r18, page 295 in the
main vo lume .
This bright red sauce looks remarkably like tomato marinara- use it as a pizza sauce. When strawberries are not in season, we use
tomatoes are also acidic, red berry fruits, after all-and you can pears and pressure-cooked quince.
serve this marinara with polenta or ricotta-stuffed ravioli, or even
Flavor boost
For even more flavor, fold in freshly grated lemon
zest and julienned basil just before serving.
This recipe makes a vibrant, tangy version of a classic concentrated with acidic lime juice to balance the sweetness of the sugar. And feel
beef glaze. Toss it with noodles, or use it to glaze grilled lamb, free to add more tamarind concentrate as well; you can find the dark,
chicken, or fish. Add a spoonful to toasted-sesame oil to make a molasses-like concentrate at Asian markets. Use the glaze in a crispy
warm dressing for grilled asparagus. Season the glaze generously beef salad with braised short ribs (see page 99).
SAUCES 33
SOUS VIDE LEMON HERB OIL
Lemon balm and lemon thyme can be found in grocery stores that your own-starter plants are often available at plant nurseries.
have a good selection of fresh herbs. Or better yet, you can grow
YIELD: 27Sg/11Acups
TIME ESTIMATE: 10 minutes overall
STORAGE NOTES: keeps for 5 days when refrigerated
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: easy
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: liquid soy lecithin (optional)
USED IN: Pressure-Cooked Lentil Salad (see page 74)
This recipe serves as a template for any basic vinaigrette; we list a half- separating out. A pasteurized egg yolk (see page 142 in the main
dozen variations below, but you can substitute other oils and acids to volume) also works well as an emulsifier, but it adds flavor, whereas
create a variety of flavors. The liquid soy lecithin is optional, but add- lecithin does not.
ing 1%-2% of this emulsifier to any vinaigrette prevents the oil from
VARIATIONS
Cilantro Vinaigrette Vietnamese-Style Dressing Cherry Vinaigrette
Blanch, drain, and chop 75 g / 7 cups of Mix together 40 g / 45 mL / 3 Tbsp of rice At step 1, add 100 g/Y2 cup offresh orfrozen
cilantro. Puree the cilantro with 25 g/ 4 tsp vinegar, 25 g / 20 mL / 4Y., tsp offish sauce, cherries, pureed.
oftahini, 10 g /\12 Tbsp of agave nectar, and 15 g/ 15 mL / 1 Tbsp of lime juice, 10 g / 1 Tbsp
Fines Herbes Vinaigrette with
the ingredients in step 1. Gradually blend in of palm sugar, and 1.2 g/ 1 green Thai chili,
100 g / 110 mL / y, cup of extra-virgin olive minced. Gradually blend in 100 g/ 110 mL / Pistachio Butter
oil until fully emulsified . Season with salt. y, cup of neutral-tasting oil. Season with salt. Blanch, drain, and chop 50 g/ 3 cups of basil,
25 g/7'• cup of chives, and 15 g / 2 Tbsp each
Sesame Dressing Spiced Chili Dressing of scallions and tarragon. Puree the blanched
Mi x together 40 g / 45 mL / 3 Tbsp of rice Mix together 68 g / 55 mL / 3Y' Tbsp offish sauce herbs with the ingredients in step 1. Gradually
vinegar, 15 g/ 15 mL / 2Y, tsp of dark soy sauce, and 56 g/ 2Y' Tbsp of agave nectar. Gradually blend in 110 g / 120 mL /Y2 cup of extra-virgin
and 10 g / 2 tsp of honey. Gradually blend in blend in 92 g / 100 mL /Y2 cup ofSous Vide olive oil and 50 g/ 2Y' Tbsp of pistachio butter
80 g/ 90 mL / 3/a cup of toasted-sesame oil, and Spiced Chili Oil (see the next page) and 36 g / until emulsified . Season with salt.
100 g / 110 mL /Y2 cup of neutral-tasting oil. Add 40 mL / 2Y2 Tbsp of toasted-sesame oil. Season
26 g/ Yo cup of sliced scallions. Season with salt. with salt.
OIL S AN D FAT S 35
SOUS VIDE SPICED CHILl OIL
Many aromatic compounds in spices and h erbs are fat-soluble, crispy tofu, st eamed rice, or panfried fish. Do not substitute
so oil extracts a lot of flavor from these ingredients. This particular ground mace for blades of mace, or else the flavor will be
oil is spicy, sweet, and fragrant. Drizzle it over steamed vegetables, overwhelming.
VARIATIONS
Pressure-Cooked Spiced Chili Oil Garlic Oil l e mon Oil
Skip steps 6 and 7. Instead, pressure-cook the o il Skip ste ps 1-5. At step 6, sea l 250 g / 2 cu ps of Skip steps 1- 5. At step 6, seal45 g / 5 Tbsp of
and spices in canning jars at a gauge pressure of thinly sli ced ga rli c with the oi l, and cook sous fresh ly grated lemon zest with the o il, and cook
1 bar / 15 psi for 30 minutes, and then contin ue vide at 90 •c / 194 •Ffor 4 hours. so us vide at 60 •c / 140 •Ffor 2 hours.
with step 8.
Ginger Oil Vanilla Oil
Basic Chili Oil Skip steps 1-5. At step 6, puree 225 g / 2 cu ps of Skip steps 1-5. At step 6, sea l vanill a seeds
Skip steps 1-5. At step 6, sea l1 5 g / 3 Tbsp of dry fresh ginger, thinly sli ced, with the oi l. Cook so us scraped from two pods and the pod membranes
chili flakes with the oil, and cook so us vide at vid e at 70 •c / 158 •Ffor 3 hours. Decant the oi l with the oil, and refrigerate for 24 hours .
70 · c / 158 •Ffor 24 hours. from the bag.
Rose m a ry Oil Thyme Oil
Skip steps 1- 5. At step 6, sea l 50 g/ 1 cup offresh Skip steps 1-5. At step 6, sea l100 g / 3 cups of
rosemary with the oil, and cook so us vid e at fresh thyme sprigs with the oil, and cook sous
80 •c / 176 •Ffor 1 hour. vide at 55 •c / 131 •Ffor 45 minutes.
High-powered blenders and em ulsifi ers like egg and soy lecit hin allow Once clarified, butter tolerates higher temperatures without burn-
you to make a fine emu lsion and stabilize it. Clarified butter (call ed ing. And with no milk proteins to go rancid, it keeps longer. If yo u coo k
ghee in Indian cuis in e) is one of those rare cases in which chefs inten- butter thoroughly enough during the clarification process, t he milk
ti ona lly break an emu lsio n-in this case, the em ulsion of water, fat, and so lids can caramelize and le nd their fl avo rs and colors to the clarified
milk so lids that we know and love as butter. When fully heated, these butter, yielding the dark, nutty brown or black of beurre noisette and
components separate, and you can isolate the pure, clarified butterfat. beurre noir.
1 Melt unsalted butter slowly in a saucepan over gentle heat. Adding nonfat milk powder while yo u cook brown or black butter effec-
tively increases the amount of milk solids, which in turn creates more flavor
and deeper color. We first saw this technique mentioned on the website
2 Wait for the butter to start to bubble-your sign that the emu lsion
has broken. Set the pan aside to let the layers settle.
ld eas lnFood .com.
3 To make ghee, skip to step 5. For brown butter, skip to step 6. For
black butter, sk ip to step 7. For clarified butter, spoon off the froth
from the top.
Classic French cooking features many compound butters that melt melting; the great advantage of this recipe is that the eggs and gelatin
onto hot food to create a sauce. One of the most famous is Montpellier help the butter to stay better emulsified when hot.
butter. Unfortunately, compound butters tend to separate upon
The carotene pigment that makes carrots orange is fat-soluble; that cooking fish and shellfish, and whisking into warm vinaigrettes. So
is why your butter turns a beautiful orange when you make glazed make plenty, if you can, and pull it out of the freezer when you want
carrots. By cooking carrot juice and butter together, you can dissolve to add an elegant twist to simple dishes.
the pigment into the butterfat. You can use a similar trick to capture In addition to the variations we suggest below, try making butters
the pigment that makes lobsters turn red when cooked; it, too, makes from other ingredients having fat-soluble pigments and flavor com-
a flavorful butter (see the next page). pounds, such as tomatoes, fresh chilies, fresh turmeric, and greens
This carotene butter is superb for finishing soups and purees, and herbs of all kinds.
VARIATIONS
Bell Pepper Butter Coffee Butter Porcini Butter
Substitute fres h red bell pepper juice for the Comb ine 250 g/ 3 cups of whole coffee beans Comb in e 225 g/ 17'• cups of crumb led dry porcini
carrot juice. (neve r ground) with the butter. Vacuum seal, with the butter. Vacuum sea l, and cook sous vid e
and cook so us vid e at 70 "C/ 158 "Ffor 12 hours. at 70 "C/ 158 "Ffor1 hour. Strain.
Spinach Butter
Strain.
Puree 450 g / 3\4 cups of blanched, drained
spinach into 450 g/ 490 mL / 2 cups of melted
butter, and then continu e at step 5.
The shells oflobster, crab, and shrimp turn pink or red when cooked previous page): by cooking them in butter, oil, or some other fat .
thanks to carotenes, the same family of molecules that give carrots Use this highly flavorful butter in place of ordinary butter to make
a nd tomatoes their color. And you can extract these fat-soluble an amazing hollandaise or beurre blanc sauce, or stir it into soups,
pigments from crustacean shells, along with lots of flavor, the sauces, and sautes.
same way as when making carotene butter from carrots (see the
YIELD: 100-200 g/ 0-1 cup, depending on the fat content of the chicken skin
TIME ESTIMATE: 2 hours overall, including 30 minutes ofpreparation and 10 hours unattended
STORAGE NOTES: keeps for 2 weeks when refrigerated and up to 6 months when frozen
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: moderate
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: meat grinder, pressure cooker, two 500 mL / 16 oz canning jars
USED IN: Home Jus Gras (see page 17), Chicken Noodle Soup (see page 119)
A recipe for fat may strike some as strange, but fat is one of the key to meats because it does not distract from the flavor of the other
flavor elements in food. French cuisine would be unrecognizable ingredients. We use our Modernist schmaltz to enrich chicken sauce,
without cream and butter. Indian cuisine relies heavily on ghee salad dressing, and garlic, but it has innumerable applications-
(clarified butter). Chefs in Mediterranean countries turn habitually you can even use it to fry eggs!
to olive oil, while those in Tibet always have yak butter on hand. Buy chicken skin from your butcher, or collect scraps of fat and
The recipe here is for rendered chicken fat, which is widely used skin from other chicken recipes in the freezer until you have enough
in Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine. (The Yiddish word for it-schmaltz- to render. Note that the same technique can be used for any animal
has taken on a whole other connotation in American English.) fat, including turkey, duck, or goose skin, and fatty trimmings from
As much as we love cream, butter, and olive oil, rendered fat is cuts of pork, veal, or beef.
sometimes a better choice for use in a sauce or as a complement
The apples for this sauce are twice-cooked: first sous vide, which the apples emerge from the water bath, they should be firm enough
establishes just the right texture, and again on the grill, which devel- to hold together on the grill but soft enough to puree to a creamy
ops the roasted flavors that make this applesauce distinctive. When sauce. We call for green apples, but other varieties work well, too.
Mustard seeds are naturally bitter, but overnight soaking followed Serve the pickled seeds as a condiment with braised meat, or stir
by five rounds of blanching removes any trace of bitterness. We then them into vinaigrettes, mayonnaise, hollandaise, or reduction sauces
pressure-cook the seeds to give them a pleasant "pop" when eaten. to add both texture and a sweet-and-sour accent.
COND I MENTS 43
PRESSURE-COOKED GARLIC CONFIT
Garlic con fit is a staple condiment. The garlic is soft enough to body to any liquid. The oil, which is just as flavorful, is delicious
spread on bread with a sprinkle of salt. Or use it to add depth to drizzled over salads or into vegetable stews (see page 78).
broths, sauces, purees, and vinaigrettes. The silky, soft cloves add
VARIATIONS
Proven~al Garlic Confit
Add other Proven~al aro matics such as oregano, fennel seed, bay leaf,
lavender, and sage to the rosemary and thyme.
Caramelized onions are a favorite component of many dishes. Modernist method browns the onions perfectly with no hands-
They can be used as a topping for a hamburger or pizza, served on effort, maximizing their flavor while minimizing the risk
as a side dish for a steak, or placed center stage as the featured of burning them. After pressure-cooking, the onions are quite
ingredient of a French onion soup or an onion tart. soft; you ca n dry them on the stove top or in a dehydrator (see
There are many ways to make caramelized onions. This variation below).
VARIATIONS
Dried Caramelized Onions French Onion Soup
For a drier texture a nd more conce ntrated fl avo r, drain the liquid from After step 7, add 200 g / 200 mL /i'a cup of brown beef stock (see
the cooked onions afte r step 6. (You can use this liquid as a fl avo rful broth page 10), 15 g/ 15 mL / 1 Tbsp of dry sherry, and a sprig of fresh thyme.
or stir it into a meat or poultry jus.) Arrange the o nions in a dehydrator, Bring the so up to a boil, a nd then divid e it into bowls . Top each bowl
and dehydrate them at 63 ' C/ 145 ' F until slightly leathe ry, 1Y2-2 hours. with toasted crusty bread covered with a Perfectly Me lting Cheese Sli ce
Alte rnative ly, sa ute the onions in a pan over very low heat; take ca re not (see page 145) o r so me other variety of constructed cheese.
to burn them.
CONDIMENTS 45
TOMATO CONFIT
Leathers make a healthy snack or a fancy garnish (say, a little tangle as onion. The oil in the recipe prevents the leather from sticking
of apple leather atop squash soup). The variations below show how to your teeth; the more oil you use, the more tender and supple
to extend this recipe to myriad other fruits and even vegetables, such the resulting leather.
1 Stir the tomato confit or paste, olive oil, vinegar, Tabasco, and xa nthan
gum (optional) together thoroughly. If you are using the xanthan gum, 4 Peel the tomato leather from the nonstick surface, and cut it into the
desired shapes.
make sure to stir until it is well distributed .
VARIATIONS
Mango Chili Leather Fruit Leather
Mango, diced and peeled 100 g )Ia cup Substitute app le, pear, apricot, raspberry, or persimmon for the mango in
Neutral-tasting oil 4g 4 mL /% tsp the variation at left, and add 0 .2 g of xanthan gum and up to 15 g of sugar
for every 100 g of puree. You can also use whole mandarin oranges or
Sugar 2g Y2tsp
quince, but these fruits must first be pressure-cooked until tender and
Red Thai chili 1g Y2 tsp
then sieved.
Puree together, and continue with step 2.
Onion Leather
At step 1, substitute cooked onion or shallot puree for the tomato confit,
and replace the ol ive oil with a neutral-tasting vegetab le oil. Puree, and
then continue with step 2.
CONDIM ENTS 47
VACUUM-PICKLED VEGETABLES
We use pickled vegetables minced and mixed into salads, as con- The thinner you slice the vegetables, the quicker they pickle.
diments for grilled meats, and as a garnish for stews. This recipe We seal the pickles while the brine is warm to create a mild vacuum
uses carrots, but it works just as well with other vegetables-and and a more tender pickle; if you prefer crisp pickles, chill the brine
even with fruits-such as cauliflower florets, thinly sliced lemons, before adding it at step 4. When the pickles are gone, don't throw
radishes, pearl onions, apples, beets, cucumbers, blanched mush- the pickling liquid away. Use it as a base for a vinaigrette, or stir it
rooms, julienned red onions, and sunchokes (Jerusalem artichokes). into a dirty martini.
Simply substitute them for the carrots at step 2.
1 Combine all ingredients except the vegetables in a pot, and bring them
to a simmer. Th is is the brine. 4 Place th e vegetables into a rigid vacuum storage conta iner or canning
jars, and pour the warm brine over top. Seal the jars, or vacuum seal
the container by using a tube attachment until bubbles no longer rise
to the surface. Vacuum sea ling accelerates the infusion of the brine into
2 Pour the warm brine over the vegetables, and stir until they are
moistened. the vegetables.
We like our pickles on the sweet side. For a more To preserve the pick led vegetab les and give
traditional sour pickle, reduce the amount of them a fresh, distinct snap, add 2 g of calcium
sugar to 15 g / 1y, Tbsp. chloride or calcium lactate at step 1.
Any porous fruit or vegetable, such as celery, apple, fennel, or water- in the cells of the plant tissue with the liquid of your choice. Malic
melon, can be vacuum-infused with its own juice or with another acid, available from wine-making and brewing suppliers, adds the
flavorful thin liquid. The process fills the air pockets, called vacuoles, tartness of green apples. Do not use malic acid dietary supplements.
VARIATIONS
Pressure-Infused Celery Waldorf Salad
If you have a whipping siphon, you can infuse the food by using high pres- Apple-infused celery makes a great addition to this classic New York salad.
sure rather than a vacuum. After step 3, pour the mixture into a whipping To 40 g/ 5 Tbsp of the infused celery slices, add 100 g / 1 cup of chopped
siphon . The liquid should cover the ce lery slices. Charge the siphon with butter lettuce, 50 g/:Ys cup of finely julienned celery root, 50 g /¥o cup of
two cartridges of nitrous oxide, and refrigerate it for 20 minutes. Release thinly sliced green apple, and 25 g / 2Y2 Tbsp of chopped walnuts. Toss with
the pressure, drain the celery, and serve it immediately. 45 g/ 3y, Tbsp of romaine dressing (see steps 1- 9 on page 70).
CONDIMENTS 49
SWEET BRINE FOR MEATS
This brine works well with all meats. For a less sweet variation, If you have a Jaccard meat tenderizer, you can use that instead of
simply replace the milk and juice with water. Bear in mind, however, an injector; puncture the meat on all sides, and then soak it in the
that whole milk and apple juice both contain natural phosphates brine for 24 hours.
that tenderize the meat as it brines.
YIELD: 1.1 kg/ 41,4 cups of brine for 600 g/ 1.3lb offish
TIME ESTIMATE: up to 121,4 hours, including 10 minutes ofpreparation and 5-12 hours unattended
STORAGE NOTES: brine keeps indefinitely before use; cook brined fish immediately
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: easy
INGREDIENT WEIGHT VOLUME SCALING PROCEDURE
Water 1 kg 1 L/ 4\4 cups 167% 0 Stir together until the salt and sugar are comp lete ly dissolved.
Salt 50 g 8%
Sugar 40 g 3'/2 Tbsp 7%
Fish, cut into individual 600 g/ 1.31b 100% 0 Soak in the brine for 5 hours for a light brine with delicate seasoning,
portions or for up to 12 hours for a firmer, more intensely flavored result. Use the
longer brining time when making cold fish dishes .
VARIATIONS
Seaweed Fish Brine Fish Cure
After step 1, add 10 g / 2 Tbsp of toasted coriander seeds, 10 g (about Curing is generally faster than brining because the salt and sugar are not
2 sheets) of kombu seaweed, and 3 g / 3 tsp of grated lemon zest to the diluted in liquid. To make a quick cure for fish, combine 35 g / 3'/2 Tbsp of
brine, and bring it to a boil. Cool the brine completely, and then strain it. sa lt with 25 g / 2'/2 Tbsp of sugar for every 1 kg / 2.2 lb offish. Cut the fish
Continu e with step 2. into abo ut six portions. Coat each portion even ly with the cure. Refrigerate
the fish, covered, for 45 minutes, and then rinse it, pat dry, and cook.
MARINADES
By mixing together just a few flavorful items from the pantry, you or in one of the liquid ingredients. As such, these marinades are
can create a marinade that adds an evocative regional flavor to actually flavored brines. Although most of the flavor of the mari-
meats, poultry, seafood, or vegetables. Each of the variations below nade penetrates only the surface of the food, the salt sinks in more
is made the same way. Stir all of the ingredients together, and add deeply. It firms the texture and enhances the juiciness of the food
up to 450 g/ lib of the food you want to marinate. Refrigerate for as it seasons. Acids in the marinade also can change food texture,
the time indicated, and then cook. and not always for the better, so don't leave them on for longer
Each of these recipes includes a good bit of salt, either directly than suggested.
Toasting spices before you grind them dramatically improves the arate grinder for spices to avoid coffee-flavored spices and vice versa.
flavor, but it is very easy to scorch the spices if you toast them in a If you have a vacuum sealer, consider vacuum sealing all your
dry saute pan over a low burner, so use the oven instead. spice blends, which both protects the aromas and volatile oils and
A coffee mill works as well as a spice grinder, but dedicate a sep- also prevents clumping and absorption of moisture.
YIELD: 60 g/2/Jcup
TIME ESTIMATE: 20 minutes overall
STORAGE NOTES: keeps for 2 weeks in an airtight container and up to 2 months when vacuum sealed and refrigerated
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: easy
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: coffee grindelj ajowan seeds, amchoolj anardana, kala namak (optional)
GOES WELL WITH: Caramelized Carrot Soup (see page 75), Sous Vide Lobster Tail (see variation on page 130)
Chaat masala is a quintessential spice blend oflndia, where it is dusting it over fresh pineapple, mango, or cucumber.
sometimes referred to as a summer sprinkle or a comforting winter If you can't find Indian black salt (kala namak), which has a very
dust. A sprinkle of this pungent combination of dried mango and strong smell and is actually purplish in color, substitute kosher salt
spices pairs perfectly with steamed potatoes, grilled chicken or veg- for it.
etables, baked root vegetables, and deep-fried cauliflower. Also, try
This spice mix works wonders on grilled steaks. Use store-bought mushrooms in a coffee grinder. Smoked salt is available at specialty
porcini powder, or make your own by grinding dried porcini food stores.
SPICE MIXES 53
FISH SPICE MIX
This tremendously versatile spice mixture is delicious on sole, turbot, any simple chicken preparation. The tapioca maltodextrin absorbs
or any similar fish simply panfried in butter. It is also wonderful on the oils from the nuts and spices and keeps the powder from clump-
roasted winter squash, buttered potatoes, steamed asparagus, and ing. You can find whole chamomile blossoms for sale in tea shops.
Honey powder is available at health-food stores and some Asian or make spectacular gingerbread, and makes for a delicious chai when
specialty food markets. A flavorful sugar, such as brown sugar or stirred into tea.
palm sugar, can be used instead . This spice mixture can be used to
SPICE MIXES 55
FRENCH SCRAMBLED EGGS
This ultrarich dish is one of our favorites. We create a texture as nonaerated eggs; see the variation below. Serve the eggs as a break-
smooth as custard, having no lumps whatsoever, by using an immer- fast entree, as a filling for omelets, or as a side dish for the ultimate
sion blender. Then we aerate the eggs in a whipping siphon to make steak and eggs.
them foamy and light. We also love the pudding-like texture of
TO MAKE AHEAD
After step 5, place cooked eggs in a bag or siphon, and ho ld in a 55 •c / 131 • F water bath for up to
1 hour. Continue with step 6 to serve .
VARIATIO S
Scrambled Egg Pudding O live Oil Scramb led Eggs Mini Egg Cups
Prefer a velvety, pudding- like texture that's not Increase the egg yo lks to a total of 80 g/ Fill the bottom of warm ramekins with Sh iitake
aerated? Increase the temperature in step 1 to 5- 6 yo lks, and rep lace the butter with extra- Marmalade (see page 64). Top with the
74 •c / 165 •F, and decrease the cooking time in virgi n o live oil. We use this as a fi lli ng in scrambled-egg foam. Garnish with grated
step 4 to about 30 minutes. This yie lds a firmer our Espagnole ome let (see variation on cheddar or Gruyere. This makes a terrific
texture. After step 5, spoon the pureed eggs the next page). amuse-bouche or snack for special guests.
from the bowl, and serve immediately.
Eggs pair well with so many flavors that the variety of tasty filling French Scrambled Eggs and chives in the Steamed Herb Omelet
combinations for omelets is almost infinite. The classic combina- recipe on the next page. The Raviolo filling can be served open-faced
tions below have stood the test of time. They are still among our or sandwiched between two omelet sheets. Quantities shown below
favorites. Try these fillings, or others you develop, in place of the yield four servings.
BREAKFAST EGGS 57
STEAMED HERB OMELET
YIELD: four appetizer-size omelets (40 g each plus filling)
TIME ESTIMATE: 40 minutes overall
STORAGE NOTES: omelet sheets keep for 2 days when refrigerated; serve assembled omelets immediately
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: moderate
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: nonstick frying pan (20 em/ 8 in) with metal lid or oven-safe glass lid
We think this is the perfect omelet: it is tender and delicate, with a browning. The best way we've found to do that is to cook it in a skil-
pure, fresh egg flavor. Our goal here is to steam the omelet at a pre- let topped with a hot, metal lid on an oven rack that is perfectly level.
cise temperature. A combi oven or water-vapor oven is made to do Although this omelet recipe is made only with eggs and cream,
exactly that, but you can achieve similar results in a home oven. The modern versions almost always contain a filling of some kind; some
trick is to heat the omelet evenly while avoiding evaporation and of our favorite combinations are listed on the previous page.
Chives, minced 5g 2Tbsp 3% @ Sprink le with the chives, and serve immediately.
2 Blend the whole eggs, cream, yolks, and sa lt thorou ghly by using a
whisk or imm ersion blender. If a foam ri ses on the surface, allow it
to diss ipate, or skim it off with a spoon.
4 Pour one quarter ofthe egg mi xture into the frying pan. It wi ll spread
into a thin layer.
5 Cover the pan with th e hot lid, and put th e covered pan into the oven.
Cook the eggs unt il th ey set, about 6 minutes. The pan should sit
leve l on the oven rack. Use pi eces offolded aluminum foil as shims
if needed to ensure a flat, eve nly cooked omelet.
6 While the eggs are baking, line a baki ng sheet with parchment paper,
and spray the paper with a light coating of cook ing spray.
7 Slide the cooked omelet from th e pan onto the baking sheet. Return
the lid to the ove n whi le yo u prepare th e next omelet.
8 Repeat steps 3-7 th ree tim es w ith the remaining egg mixture. Once th e
pan is warm from cooking the first omelet, the remaining omelets wi ll
require just 3 minutes or so each to cook.
9 Cover the omelets on the baking sheet with anoth er sheet of parch-
ment paper coated with cooking spray, and place th em into the oven
to reheat for 1 ~-2Y2 minu tes.
12 Sprinkle with the chives, and se rve the omelets imm ed iate ly.
BREAKFAST EGGS 59
STRIPED MUSHROOM OMELET
YIELD: jour appetizer-size omelets (140 g each)
TIME ESTIMATE: 1 hour overall
STORAGE NOTES: omelet sheets keep for 2 days when refrigerated; serve assembled omelets immediately
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: advanced (level of effort)
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS : two silicone discs, 15 em I 6 in across, cut from a larger mat; 20 em I 8 in nonstick frying pan
with metal lid or oven-sajeglass lid; pastry comb with 3 mml ~in teeth; albumin powder
(powdered egg whites)
Once you get the hang of making these omelets, you won't want to must lie flat and seal tightly in the base of your nonstick frying pan.
serve your special guests anything else. The result is both beautiful Make sure the mat is silicone only; do not cut mats that contain
and delicious; we promise it is worth the effort. The silicone disc fiberglass, such as Silpat brand mats.
TO MAKE AHEAD
After step 12, cover the baking sheet with plastic wrap, and refrigerate the
omelet sheets for up to 2 days. To reheat, remove the plastic, and warm in
a 175 "C/ 350 "Foven for1Y,-2y, minutes .
2 Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and spray it with cooking
spray.
10 Whi le one sheet is baking, repeat steps 5 and 6 to prepare strips of
mushroom base on a second, cool si licone disc.
3 Blend the whole eggs, cream, yo lks, and sa lt thoroughly; use a whisk
or immersion blender. If foam rises on the surface, allow it to dissipate,
or use a spoon to skim it off. This is the omelet base. 11 Remove the pan from the oven, li ft out the sili cone disc, and coo l
the omelet sheet slightly.
5 Spread one quarter of the mushroom base onto a round si licone mat
to form an even layer 2 mm / y,.
in thick . We use an offset spatula to 13 Repeat steps 7-12 three times with the remaining ingredients; skip
step 10 the last time. Do not stack the omelets . After the first omelet
do this. sheet has cooked, the remaining three ome let sheets will cook in
the warm pan in about3 minutes.
7 Rub or spray a thin layer of oil onto the pan, and carefully place the
silicone disc with the stripes of mushroom base into the pan. The oil
shou ld create an a irtight sea l between the si licone mat and the pan,
thus preventing any egg from seeping under.
16 Fold the edges of the omelet sheets over their fillings, flip them
seam-side down, and brush them with clarified butter.
8 Pour one quarter of the omelet base over t he back of a spoo n to flood
ge ntly over the mushroom base. The spoon helps prevent the flow
from smearing the lines.
BREAKFAST EGGS 61
EGGS SUNNY-SIDE UP
YIELD: four servings (400 g/ 4 eggs)
TIME ESTIMATE : B4 hours overall, including 15 minutes ofpreparation and 50 minutes unattended
STORAGE NOTES: egg whites keep for 1 day when refrigerated
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: moderate
SPE C IAL REQUIREMENTS: sous vide setup, four small nonstick frying pans (10-12 em/ 4-5 in),foil covers cut to fit frying pans
Cooking an egg sunny-side up to perfection poses an inherent We love the pudding-like consistency of a yolk cooked at 67 oc I
problem: the yolk and the white reach their ideal textures at 153 °F. For a more traditional runny yolk, cook it instead at 62 oc I
different temperatures . Our solution is to cook the yolk separately 144 oF, but cook an extra egg or two, because yolks are very fragile at
from the white and to then reassemble the two parts just before this temperature, and you might lose one. Raise the temperature to
serving. That way, the yolk is like jam and the white is still 70 oc I 158 op to make a perfectly spherical yolk having a fudge-like
buttery. consistency. It's up to you.
3 Shell each egg, a nd cl ea n off the whites to iso late the perfectly cooked
yo lk. Dip o r rin se th e yo lk in water to clean it. Be ve ry ge ntl e with the
yo lk: if yo u puncture the membrane, it will burst. 9 Place the pa ns in the oven, a nd bake unti l the eggs are just set, a bout
12 minutes. The pans sho uld be level on the oven rack. Use folded
pi eces of aluminum foil as shims, if need ed, so that the white is even
4 Keep the egg yo lks warm for up to 1 hou r, if needed, by holding them in
a rigid conta in e r that is fi ll ed with ne utral-tasting oil or clarified butter
in thickness.
5 Blend the egg whites, crea m, and salt, and then strai n the mixture.
Skim off any foam that forms on the surface, o r allow it to diss ipate
11 Use a ring cutter or a spoon to scoop a sma ll divot from each
egg white.
on its own.
This puree is versatile, having many uses in addition to making year-round, but we substitute other varieties as they come into
omelets. We like to serve it as a garnish for poached fish or chicken; season. Criminis, morels, chanterelles, and porcinis make flavorful
you can also transform it into a simple, yet intense, cream of mush- substitutes for the shiitakes. Black trumpets are preferable to porto-
room soup (see variation below). hellos when you can find them. If you like the flavor of truffle oil,
Shiitake and portobello mushrooms are generally easy to find add a few drops at step 4.
BREAKFAST EGGS 63
SHIITAKE MARMALADE
This condiment transforms the intense umami flavor of caramelized substitute seasonal mushrooms such as criminis, morels, chanterelles,
shiitake mushrooms into an unctuous marmalade. Fold in some and porcinis. For a different flavor, replace the soy sauce with our
grain mustard, and serve it with steak, or spread the marmalade on rich Brown Chicken Jus (see page 16).
toast topped with grilled sweet onions. When they are available,
The mushrooms should be processed just until they When the mushrooms are brown and the shallots are You can refrigerate the marmalade after step 6. When you
are minced. Use the pulse feature to ensure that the tender but not brown, it is time to add the water, soy are ready to serve it, reheat it in a pan, fold in the chives
mushrooms do not become a paste or puree. sauce, and honey. and tarragon, and season it with salt.
Savory marmalades
The concept of a savory marmalade may seem odd at first, but marmalade
is an excellent form for a flavorful warm condiment. Try making one with
just minced onions and shallots seasoned generously with thyme and black
pepper. You can make a marmalade of minced bacon and apple by adding
a bit of reduced apple juice or maple syrup to serve as a binder.
Showcase the best fruit of the season with this refreshing twist make equally delicious gazpachos when those fruits are at their peak.
on gazpacho. Ajo blanco, one of the original forms of gazpacho, was The raspberry syrup made in the first four steps of this recipe is
made from white bread, garlic, almonds, and grapes, rather than the optional; you can use it to adjust the consistency and sweetness of
tomatoes used most frequently today for the base. the soup. The technique for extracting raspberry juice sous vide,
David Kinch, chef at Manresa in Los Gatos, California, gave us however, works well with all berries. The resulting brightly colored,
the idea to use strawberries in place of tomatoes. We have extended clear syrup can also be used to garnish a light dessert or stirred into
this idea to raspberries. Cherries, peaches, nectarines, and apples sparkling white wine for a refreshing cocktail resembling a kir royale.
2 Toss the raspberries in sugar, and then use the water-d isp lacement
method to seal them together in a zip-top bag while excl uding as much
air as possible. 6 Pass the puree through a sieve.
3 Cook the raspberries sous vide for 1 ho ur. 7 Seaso n the soup with the raspberry syrup (optional), lim e juice, salt,
and pepper. Add more syrup to thin the puree or to sweeten a tart
soup . Add the lime juice to brighten a sweet so up.
Like any good minestrone, this fruity dessert soup is best when made can be made in advance and used in other ways.
with ingredients at their seasonal peak. At our cooking lab, we make Serve the soup in chilled bowls, and pour the broth at the table.
a very fancy version from cucumber sorbet, vacuum-infused fruits, You can chill the minestrone even more by adding a scoop of a high-
and shards of berries that we freeze in liquid nitrogen and then shat- quality, store-bought fruit sorbet such as lychee, raspberry, or passion
ter. This recipe is less technically demanding, albeit one of the more fruit. If you don't have time to make the candied beans, use Chinese
complex in this book. Don't be intimidated by the number of steps; red beans cooked in syrup, which you can find at Asian markets or
it's easier to assemble than it looks, and many of the components other specialty food stores.
a syrup. Sugar crysta ls may form in the syrup if the sugar is not ful ly
dissolved before boiling. 12 Comb ine the sugar, water, and malic acid in a sma ll pot, sti r until
dissolved, and then bring to a boil over medium-high heat to make
a syrup.
2 Pick through the beans to find and discard any broken pieces or sk ins,
and then place t hem in a pot with 500 g of the syrup. Simmer over
med ium-l ow heat for 30 minutes. 13 Place the sl iced rhubarb and reserved sk ins in a rigid vacuum
container, pour in the warm syrup, and vacuum seal it.
3 Pour the syrup off the beans, and replace with 500 g of fresh syrup.
Simmer the beans for another 30 minutes. 14 Refrigerate the rhubarb until co ld, at least 1 hour. Drain and discard
the sk ins. You can reserve the syrup for another use.
4 Repeat step 3 two more times, for a tota l simme ring time of about
2 hours . The beans should turn translucent and fudge-like. Th is is a 15 Slice the cucumber lengthwise on a mandoline, using the th innest
setting avai lable, to make 8-12 rectang ular sheets of cucumber.
variation on the technique used to make prized European sweets such
Try to make the sli ces even in size, and avoid the seedy part of the
as marron glace (candied chestnuts) and sugared fruits.
cucumber.
5 Cool the beans in the remaining syrup, and then refrigerate them.
16 Lift the short edge of each cucumbe r sheet, and rol l it up. The
green edges shou ld be exposed. Store the sheets, covered,
7 Strain the juice with a fine sieve to remove seeds and extra pulp.
17 When you are ready to assemble the minestrone, ch ill four bowls,
and then arrange two or three cucumber rolls in the ce nter of
each bowl.
8 Stir the sugar into the strai ned strawberry juice until it has dissolved.
9 Season the sweetened strawberry juice w ith lime juice to taste, and
then refrigerate the broth. You may need a li ttle more or less sugar or
18 Scatter the beans, fruit, rhubarb, and mint leaves eve nl y amo ng
the bowls in a decorative pattern. Tweeze rs are a handy tool for
lime juice, depending on the sweetness of the berries. this ste p.
Pour the strawberry broth even ly into the bowls at tab leside.
10 Peel the skin from the rhubarb . If your rhubarb is green or muddy-
co lored, discard the sk ins; otherwise, save the reddish skin for use
19 We use a decorative pitcher for serving the broth.
in step 13: it adds a more intense color to the infused slices.
VARIATIONS
Strawberry Panna Cotta Fruit Sa lad
At step 3 in the recipe for Raspberry Panna Cotta (see page 175), sub- Combine slices of kumquats, blueberries, and raspberries with vacuum-
stitute strawberry juice for the raspberry puree. Serve with vacu um - compressed strawberries (see page 7), vacuum-infused rhubarb from
compressed strawberries (see page 7), black peppercorns, and thyme. steps 10-14, cucumbe r rolls from steps 15-16, and mint leaves.
The secret to velvety-smooth potatoes is diastatic malt powder, main liquid is pure leek jus, squeezed from whole, cooked leeks.
an ingredient available from specialty baking- or brewing-supply Delicate strands of blanched leek and potato make an elegant and
stores, that converts potato starches into sugars and leaves no trace flavorful garnish.
of gumminess or graininess. Excessive cream or milk is no longer If you don't acquire the enzyme-rich malt powder, pass the pota-
needed; in fact, you can make this recipe with no cream at all. The toes through a fine sieve after step 4, and then continue with step 10.
VARIATIONS
Vichyssoise with Potato Peel Reduction Roasted-Potato Vichyssoise
For a more intense potato flavor, place the pee ls from the Yukon Gold To give the soup a roasted-potato flavor, make the Vichyssoise with Potato
potatoes in a pressure cooker, add enough water to cover them comp lete ly, Pee l Reduction variation at left, but add 25 g / 2Y2 Tbsp of butter and
and pressure-cook at 1 bar / 15 psi for 30 minutes . Strain the liquid; discard 1 g/ Y. tsp of baking soda to the potato skins before you pressure-cook
the peels. Simmer the liquid over medium heat until its volume is reduce them .
by about ha lf. At step 15, add the potato-peel reduction to the puree along
with half of the cream, leek jus, and salt.
2 Bring the water, potatoes, salt, and suga r to a boil in a large pot. Adding
1-2 g of sugar for every 100 g of water he lps preserve the natural sweet- 12 Vacuum sea l the halved leeks .
4 Drain the potatoes. Wearing gloves makes it easier to handl e th e hot leeks.
18 Bla nch the julienned potatoes for1 minute, plunge them in the ice
water, and then drain them.
9 Transfer the puree to a pot, a nd heat it to at least 75 •c / 167 •F. This
halts the enzymatic reactions. Use a th e rmometer, and note that th e
mixture may boil below this temperature.
19 Toss the blan ched leeks and potatoes together with the chives, o li ve
1o
oil, salt, a nd vinegar in a small bowl. Divide this garni sh a mong fo ur
Coo l the puree, and chill it. chilled bowls .
Why does cabbage get to have all the fun? This twist on a classic Throw in some charred fresh corn kernels, chopped Sous Vide
coleslaw substitutes onions for the traditional red and green cabbage. Chicken (see page 108), and slices of peeled cucumber to trans-
Use just about any kind of sweet onion-Vidalia, Maui, or Walla form this slaw into a composed salad. Or use it on sandwiches,
Walla work just as well. like our Modernist Meatloaf Sandwich (see page 92).
This refreshing salad uses greens for the dressing as well as for the vegetables to make it a main course. You can prepare the dressing
base. Serve it alongside grilled steak, or toss in shaved seasonal (steps 1- 9) a day or two in advance.
VARIATIONS
Herb and Romaine Broth
You can make a beautiful green broth from the cooked greens to serve w ith Substitute any fresh salad greens and herbs in this dressing. We like arugu la
fish or poached chicken. After step 6, blend the cooked lettuce and herbs leaves as a substitute for the romaine; it makes for a more assertive dressing
with 300 g / 300 mL / 1',4 cups of water or vegetable stock. Alternatively, that pairs well w ith roasted root vegetables.
make a puree by blending in just25 g/25 ml /5 tsp of liquid.
Beet Salad
Beets and other root vegetables can give a green salad more substance. Blanching the greens for just 1 minute makes them tender enough to puree but preserves
Seal baby yellow or red beets whole in a zip-top bag, cook them so us vide their bright green color.
in an 85 •c / 185 oFwater bath until tender, 15-20 minutes, and then cool.
Quarter or shave the cooked beets, season them with olive oi l, salt, and After you have blanched and chilled all of the greens, you can bundle them together
pepper, and then toss them with the sa lad .
in cheesecloth to press out any excess water before blending them with the egg, milk,
cheese, and anchovies to form a smooth puree.
Pressure-cooked quinoa is ready to serve in minutes. Slice off just but you can use your favorite flavorful, sweet vinegar and any rich
the tender tips of the cauliflower florets so that they fall apart into nut oil instead. The cauliflower florets and stems left over after
tiny, grain-like pieces. We add honey vinegar and macadamia oil, t r imming can be used to make a soup or puree (see page 76).
We created this recipe to go with our Sous Vide Tuna Con fit (see the chickpeas in mineral water because its high calcium content
the next page), which produces a flavorful oil that you can use in the helps keep the chickpeas from breaking down and preserves their
dressing for this salad. The salad actually improves with a night in integrity. For a more refined presentation, you can also peel the skins
the refrigerator, which gives the flavors more time to blend. We cook from the cooked chickpeas at step 6, before making the salad.
Kalamata olives, 50g Y.. cup 33% ® Toss gently with the chickpeas and the dressing until mixed.
pitted and chopped @ Serve cold.
Capers, chopped 6g 2 tsp 4%
Basil leaves, torn 3g 5-6 leaves 2%
Mint leaves, torn 3g 5-6 leaves 2%
Safety tips for pressure-cooking: see page 5
2 Drain the chickpeas. 7 Combine the vinegar, drained anchovy fillets, lemon juice, and lemon
zest in a blender. Blend until smooth. You can also use an immersion
blender.
3 Combine the mineral water, salt, garli c, thyme, and bay leaf with the
drained chickpeas in a pressure cooker, and then pressure-cook at a
gauge pressure of1 bar / 15 psi for 20 minutes . Start timing as soon as 8 Whi le blending, add the oil gradually to the vinegar and anchovy mix-
ture, and contin ue blending until the dressing is completely emulsified.
full pressure has been reached. Refrigerate the dressing if you will not be using it immediately.
4 Let the cooker cool, or run tepid water over the rim, to depressurize it.
9 Toss the chopped o lives and capers with the herbs, chickpeas, and
dressing to mix them gently.
5
1o
Drain the ch ickpeas, and discard the garlic clove and herbs .
Serve cold. The sa lad is delicious when topped with sl ices ofSous
Vide Tuna Confit (see the next page).
72 MODERNIST CUISINE AT HO ME
SOUS VIDE TUNA CON FIT
The tuna in this recipe is cooked sous vide in jars rather than in bags is more fragile and perishable than the preserved, pressure-canned
as an example of how you can cook in a low-temperature water bath variety. Handle it delicately, store it in the refrigerator, and eat it
without using plastic. Because the tuna is fresh and lightly cooked, it within 3 days.
1 Add the salt and sugar to the water, and stir until they dissolve. This is
the brine. 5 Divide the tuna pieces evenly into three 500 mL / 16 oz canning jars,
and add enough o li ve o il to cover the fish by 1 em /:Y. in. Don't leave
much heads pace, or the jars will float in the water bath. Sea l the jars
tightly.
2 Place the tuna in the brine, and refrigerate it for 24 hours to marinate.
4 Drain the brine from the tuna pieces, rinse them in co ld water, and
then pat them dry with paper towels.
7 Serve the tuna warm, or store it in the sea led canningjars for up to
3 days in the refrigerator.
You can substitute swordfish, black cod, halibut, sa lm o n, or escolar for WHILE YOU'RE AT IT: Tuna Confit Salad and Tuna Melt Sandwich
the tuna in this recipe with excellent results. Make a tuna salad by combining150 g / 1 cup of flaked or chopped tuna
con fit with 30 g / 2 Tbsp of mayonnaise or aioli (see page 25) and 15 g /
We use ordinary cook ing-grade ol ive oi l, as extra-virgin o live oil tends 2 Tbsp chopped pickled onions. To make a tuna melt sandwich, spread the
to overpower the flavor of the tuna. But other mild oils, such as rice bran, tuna salad on sourdough bread, and top with two Perfectly Melting Cheese
avocado, or macadamia nut oil, will work as well. Slices (see page 145). See Grilled Cheese Sandwiches on page 150 for
finishing instructions.
The quality of this soup depends entirely on the quality of the car- optional step, however; you can try the soup both ways and compare.
rots that go into it, so use the highest-quality carrots you can find. Add a swirl of coconut cream and a few sprigs of tarragon in the
Carrot cores, rich in calcium, can add a bitter taste and unpleasant final step to enhance the inherent sweetness of the carrots. Shredded
texture to this delicate soup, so we always remove them. It's an young coconut and ajowan seeds are other favorite garnishes of ours.
Pressure-cooking works well for making soups and purees from to the desired consistency in step 9. Finally, add the garnishes, and
a wide range of vegetables. In each of the variations below, replace serve the soup hot. To make a thick puree from any of these varia-
the carrots in the Caramelized Carrot Soup recipe on the previous tions, skip steps 8-9. These recipes scale up well, but because they
page with the vegetable listed, and then continue with steps 1- 7. rely on the internal water content of the vegetables to produce steam,
Replace the carrot juice with the flavorful liquid indicated, and thin quantities should not be scaled down.
Garnishes: rendered bacon fat (see page 41), pressure-cooked leeks Melt the butter in the base of a pressure cooker. Add the sugar and baking
(see page 119), and low-temperature poached egg (see page 142 in the soda, and stir to combine. Add the bananas, and stir until they are evenly
main volume) coated with the butter mixture. Pressure-cook at a gauge pressure of
1 bar / 15 psi for 28 minutes. Start timing as soon as fu ll pressure has been
reached. Depressurize the cooker by running tepid water over the rim.
Puree the banana mixture in a blend er until it is smooth. Season the puree
with sa lt to taste, and serve it warm or cold.
Garnis hes: fr ied broccoli florets, toasted hazelnuts, and thyme leaves Ga rnishes: shrimp poached sous vide (see page 128), basil, and sli ced
cherry tomatoes
You can combine this recipe and the two that follow into a Modern- much as you would an intense stock, for example to make sauces and
ist Vegetable Stew-see the next page for instructions. Pressure- broths. The technique here lends itself to wonderful variations, such
cooking can extract the essence of vegetables using much less water as jus made from carrots, turnips, parsnips, and other seasonal root
than you typically would when making stock. The concentrated vegetables, or from a combination of vegetables and fruits such as
result is so flavorful that it is really a jus, although you can use it cabbage and apple, or bell pepper and tomato.
PRESSURE-COOKED VEGETABLES
Pressure-cooking is well suited to any firm vegetable, including root Pressure-cooking also works well with hard fruits, such as apples,
vegetables, onions, shallots, leeks, garlic, hard squashes, and stalks Asian pears, and quince. If baby vegetables aren't available, peel and
like celery, rhubarb, chard, and cardoon. The vegetables emerge cut larger ones into bite-size pieces. Make sure all the pieces are the
from the cooker very soft and having a delicate, fudge-like texture. same size so that they cook evenly.
Any whole grain-barley, wheat, spelt, farro, amaranth, quinoa, barley we call for here includes the intact bran, but pearl barley is fine
millet-can be cooked perfectly in a pressure cooker in very little as a substitute and takes even less time to cook.
time (for cooking times, see the table on page 151). The hulled
VEGETABLE STEW
You can compose pressure-cooked barley, vegetables, and vegetable and the plate-up are straightforward, and offer a good example
jus from the three preceding recipes in this chapter to make an of how home cooks can produce restaurant-quality food with
impressively elegant vegetable stew. Both the individual preparations confidence and relative ease.
Seasonal greens a nd herbs a few small leaves of each 0 Garnish. Use your imagination, and experiment with a variety of colors
and arrangements (see variations below).
Pressure-Cooked Vegetable jus, 250 g 250 mL/ 1 cup ® Divide equa lly among the four bowls.
warm
see the previous page
Pressure-Cooked Garlic Confit oil 40 g 45 mL / 3 Tbsp @) Drizzle into the prepared bowls of soup.
see page44
Salt to taste ® Sprinkle over the bowls, and serve the stew immediately.
Cook steaks sous vide to perfection, and then quickly sear the out- over very high heat. The temperatures we give here cook strip steaks
side to a crisp, savory brown. Our two favorite searing methods are just the way we like them; see the table on the next page for recom-
deep-frying in very hot oil and searing with a blowtorch. Alterna- mended cooking temperatures for other kinds of tender steaks
tively, sear the steaks for 30 seconds per side in a large, oiled skillet or chops.
Creamed Spinach (see page 82) and Spinach Butter (see variation on page 39)
make wonderful accompaniments to steak.
2 Place each steak in a separate zip-top bag with just enough oil to coat
the meat. Remove as much air as possible, and seal.
5 Remove the cooked steaks from the bags, and pat them dry.
3 Cook sous vide to a core temperature of 54 ' C/ 129 ' Ffor medium
rare, about 50 minutes. Cooking time will vary with the thickness of 6 Deep-fry the steaks until they turn dark brown and crispy, about
30 seconds, and then drain them on a wire rack.
the meat and its starting temperature; it's best to monitor the internal
temperature by using a probe. A steak that is 5 em I 2 in thick may take
more than 3 hours to reach the target temperature, for example. If you
prefer meat cooked more fully, use the table on the next page to se lect
7 Brush the steaks with melted butter.
the desired core temperature, and set your water bath temperature
1 ' C/ 2 ' Fabove that.
8 Season generous ly with sa lt to taste. Slice and serve immed iate ly.
STEAK 79
Best Bets for Cooking Tender Meat Sous Vide
To cook steak so us vide, follow the steps on the previous page. For more on cooking to a target core temperature and othersous vide techniques, see
chapter 3 in the main volume. For suggested times and temperatures for cooking tough cuts of meat so us vide, see the table on page 99. Flank steak can
be treated as either a tender or tough cut.
You can make perfectly cooked steak even when tailgating or at a add the meat. Start with room-temperature steaks and water that
picnic by simply using your cooler as an improvised water bath. Pour is 8 •c / 14 •p hotter than the target core temperature. Eat the steak
hot water into the cooler, drop in the sealed steaks, and head to the within 4 hours of putting it in the water; steak held longer than that
game or the beach. That's it! You need about 8 quarts of water per is not safe to eat. Fish and tender cuts of chicken also can be cooked
steak to maintain the water temperature, which will drop when you this way; see the tables on pages 127 and 109 for temperatures.
Some professional chefs use water-vapor ovens to cook with greater We highly recommend that you first freeze the outside of the
precision at very low temperatures. Although home ovens don't steaks so that you can sear them without overcooking the interior.
yet offer such "set it and forget it" convenience, you can achieve The preseared meat then cooks to perfection in the low-temperature
similar results by using a warm conventional oven (even a good oven. This technique takes some patience, but the result is worth it.
toaster oven), a digital probe thermometer, and frequent checking If your oven cannot hold a low temperature, try a different impro-
and adjustment to compensate for inevitable drifts in the oven vised setup, such as the recipe on the previous page for cooking in a
temperature. cooler.
1 Place the steaks on a baking sheet, and set in the freezer for 30 minutes
to freeze the exterior. The interior of the meat should remain unfrozen. 6 Place the steaks in the oven, and cook them to a core temperature
of 55 oc / 133 °Ffor medium-rare strip steaks, or to another tempera-
ture se lected from the tab le o n page 80. The cooking time wi ll vary
greatly depending on the thickness of the meat; allow about 50 minutes
2 Preheat the oven to 70 °C/ 160 °For its lowest temperature setting. If
you have a water-vapor oven or home combi oven, set it to 1 °C/ 2 oF for strip steaks 2.5 cm / 1 in thick. The core temp-erature rises slowly at
first but in creases more quickly as time passes. Once the temperature
higher than the desired final core temperature of the steaks (see the
table on the previous page for suggested core temperatures). is within about 10 °C/ 18 °Fof the target temperature, check the steaks
every minute or so to avo id overcooking. The core temperature will
continue to rise a few degrees afterthe steaks come out ofthe oven .
3 Brush the fat on the partially frozen steaks.
4 Heat a dry skillet over high heat, and sear the steaks until they turn
dark brown, about 60 seconds on each side. Press down on the steaks
7 Brush the steaks with melted butter.
to ensure even browning. You may want to sear the fat as well by hold-
ing the steak on its sid e.
8 Season the steaks generously with salt to taste. Slice the meat,
and serve it immediately.
5 Transfer the seared steaks to a rack or a baking sheet. Insert the oven-
safe probe of a digital thermometer into the thickest part of one steak.
STEAK 81
CREAMED SPINACH
Creamed spinach is a classic pairing for grilled steak, and it deserves Xanthan gum absorbs residual moisture, thickening the sauce
more attention than the typical side dish does. We add salt at the without dulling the flavor. A hint oflemon zest and the savory,
start of the recipe to help draw excess moisture from the greens. nutty Comte cheese make this dish bold enough to stand alone.
lfxanthan gum isn't available, you can substitute VAR IAT ION: South Indian Watercress
2 g / y, tsp of Ultra-Sperse 3 or Wondra for the In steps 1-4, use watercress in place of some or all of the
xanthan gum in step 8. Ultra-Sperse 3 is made spinach. At step 5, saute 40 g / 4 Tbsp of minced shallots
from precooked tapioca and has better flavor and 5 g / 2Y, tsp of black mustard seed in 25 g / 25 mL /
release than products based on wheat or 2 Tbsp of mustard oil. Omit steps 7-10. Instead, stir 30 g /
cornstarch. 2Y2 Tbsp each of coconut milk and coconut cream into
the greens, remove the mixture from the heat, and con-
tinue with step 11. Garnish the dish with young coconut
and finely sliced mint leaves.
82 MODERNI ST CUISI NE AT HO ME
GRILLED PORK CHOP
Poor grilled pork chops! People often feel obligated to cook them low-temperature cooking with high-temperature searing. In this
into dry pieces ofleather for safety reasons- but, as we explained recipe, we suggest using a hair dryer to fan the coals so that they
in Modernist Cuisine, this concern is outdated. Pork today is as become extremely hot just before you sear the meat. Be aware that
safe as beef, and should be served done to juicy perfection and some ash will blow off the coals at first, and the embers will then
with a crisp crust-a result you can get every time by combining burn much faster than usual, so do not leave the grill unattended.
Any of the methods li sted in the table on page 192 in the main volume for
cooking steak work for pork chops as well.
STE AK 83
GRILLED STEAK
Cooking steaks on the backyard barbecue is so festive and social that before you give them an initial sear on a hot grill. Then let them thaw
people tend to overlook the quality of the result. Try the Modernist off the grill while the coals smolder. The final cooking is done slowly
technique described here to capture the aroma and appearance of over indirect heat and on a cool, buffering layer of sliced onions (or
a grilled steak with the succulent, even results oflow-temperature another root vegetable). The onions won't be fully cooked at this
cooking. The trick is to maintain a very low and even temperature point, but they will have some of the grilled-beef flavor, so you can
on the grill. You can accomplish this by partially freezing the steaks quickly sear or saute them, and then serve them as a side dish.
2 While the steaks freeze, build a large fire in a charcoal grill. When
most of the coals are completely covered with gray as h, bank them to
one sid e of the grill. This creates a more intense heat source for searing
the meat.
3 Place a clean rack over the coals to preheat for at least 10 minutes .
5 Grill the steaks over very hot coals until they are marked and we ll
seared, about 1 minute per side.
6 Place the steaks on a rack over a baking sheet, and leave at room
temperature until com pletely thawed, about 1 hour.
8 Adjust the airflow of the grill so that the coa ls maintain a low, even
smolder while the steaks are thawing. You wi ll need to add about
three coals every10 minutes to maintain an eve n temperature. Open-
ing and closing the vent every time you add coals also helps remove
the ash and keep the air flowing over the hot coals. Place a stee l pan
ful l of ice opposite the banked coa ls underthe gri lling su rface. The
slow melting and evaporation of the ice moderates the temperature
for more eve n coo kin g.
9 Arrange the onion slices on the cool sid e of the rack, over the pan of
ice. Place the steaks on the o nion sli ces. The on ions act as a buffe r from
the direct heat of the grill rack and the radiant heat of the coa ls. Use
an oven thermometer or infrared thermometer to check the air tem-
perature of th e closed grill at the leve l of the steaks; it shou ld be about
so · c / 176 • f.
10 Cook the steaks covered. Flip and rotate them every 5 minutes, and
remove them from the grill when they reach an internal tempera-
ture of 50 •c / 122 • f for med ium rare, 30-40 minutes. The core tem-
perature cha nges slowly at first, but then rises more quickly. When
the core reaches 43 •c/ 110 •f, check the steaks frequently to avoid
overcooking them . Th e steaks will continu e to cook after they are
removed from the heat, and should reach a final co re temperature
of about 54 •c / 129 •f.
11 Remove the steaks from the grill. Let them rest for 5 minutes.
12 Season the steaks generou sly with sa lt to taste. Sl ice the meat,
and serve it immediately.
STEAK 85
SOUS VIDE LAMB SKEWERS
Pressure-marinating infuses flavor from a liquid into meat, and it can tively, try using beef, pork, chicken, or other meats (see page 80
tenderize tough cuts in as little as 20 minutes. If you are in a hurry, you for cooking temperatures and page 118 for other skewer recipes).
can cook these skewers straight from raw on a hot grill in 3-4 min- Sumac-a tart, red spice used in Native American and Middle
utes. Although lamb loin, which we call for here, is the most flavorful Eastern cuisines-provides a distinctive flavor in this recipe; you
and tender cut, lamb leg or top round can be used instead. Alterna- can find it at Mediterranean markets.
TO MAKE AHEAD
After step 13, seal the skewers in zip-top bags.
When ready to serve, heat the skewers in a 58 •c ;
136 •F bath for 15 minutes. Continu e with step 14.
1 Trim off and d isca rd the sinew, silvers kin, and co nn ective ti ssue.
Se parate any easily removed fat f rom th e meat, an d rese rve it . 6 Grind in small batches. Check th e temperature ofthe grinding p late
with yo ur finger-stop if it gets noticea bl y hot to th e to uch.
Chi ll the meat to nea rfreezing (as low as -1•c ; 30 •f). Chill t he fat
3 to below freezing (as low as - 10 •c / 14 • f).
8 Replace the grind ing p late w ith one that has a fi ner aperture, if needed,
and repeat ste ps 4- 7 unt il t he foo d is full y gro und.
9 Repeat ste ps 4- 8 to gri nd th e fat and any other kin ds of meat th at w ill
3/1•-'A in) or large (1 0 mm /'/8 in) grinding go into the blend.
5 Place a medium (4- 6 mm /
p late in the grind er.
When the hamb u rger was fi rst inve nted, it was a squ are, p resse d pat ty neither too d ense no r too loose-just tight eno ugh to ho ld its shape
on toasted w hi te b read . The tec hniqu e d escrib ed here re-creates th at b ut fri ab le eno ugh to be pl easa nt ly jui cy as it crum b les in you r mo uth .
authentic for m . Yo u can, of course, m ake the patti es ro und if yo u w ill
be servi ng t hem o n bun s. Wh ateve r th e shape, t he patty sho uld b e
3 Cover th e meat w ith pl asti c wrap. The coverin g guards aga inst oxida-
t ion and p reve nts a skin from form ing o n the meat.
3 Place the patt y on a baking tray, and press d ow n ge ntly w ith yo ur palm
or a rub be r spatul a to fl atten the top and bottom .
5 Slide the meat out of the baking tray, and cut it into sq uares, or remove
it from t he loaf pa n, and slice it into patti es 2.5 cm / 1 in thi ck .
CHEESEBURGER 87
MODERNIST HAMBURGER PATTY
YIELD: four patties, 200 g each
TIME ESTIMATE: 2 hours overall, including 1~ hours ofpreparation and 45 minutes unattended
STORAGE NOTES: serve immediately
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: moderate
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: meat grinder or stand mixer with meat-grinding attachment, sous vide setup
The extra effort to grind your own meat (see the previous page) pays a sausage patty, but adding the salt too early can make the burger
off in superior textures and flavors-and it allows you to customize tough or rubbery.
the leanness and the tenderness. We love a combination of short-rib Although we briefly deep-fry our patties to create a nice crust
meat, rib eye, and hanger steak, but we know people who prefer 100% without overcooking the meat, another approach is to use a blow-
short-rib patties. For other options, see the table on the previous page. torch (see page 14 in the main volume) to sear all the sides of the
We performed many trials to figure out both when to salt the meat patty to a dark brown, 11/2-2 minutes per patty. Alternatively, sear
and how much salt to use. More salt makes for bouncier meat, like the patties on a very hot grill for 30 seconds on each side.
88 MODERNIST CUISINE AT HO ME
1 Trim the fat from the rib eye, short-rib meat, and hanger steak, and
then grind each kind of meat and fat separately through a 4.5 mm I 7 Refrigerate untill hour has passed since you added the salt. After an
hour of cu ri ng, the burgers wi ll hold together well while remaining
:y,. in plate. For step-by-step instructions, see page 87. crumbly and tender to the bite . Overcuring produces a tougher cons is-
tency that is more li ke a sa usage patty.
2 Mix the ground meats and fats together, and refrigerate them until
1 hour before cooking.
8 Cook the patties so us vide to a core temperature of 54 °C/ 129 °F,
about 45 minutes.
9 Fill a large, deep pot no more than halffull offrying o il, a nd pre heat
itto 220 °(/428 °F.
4 Wa it until exactlyl hour before cook ing, note the time, a nd then fold
the salt gently into the ground beef mixture. Salt activates the binding
properties of the meat, and fo lding it in makes the meat more homoge-
neous in texture. Do not stir the meat aggressively or for lo ng periods; 10 Remove the cooked patties from the bags, place them o n a tray
lin ed with pape r towels, a nd pat them dr y.
doing so diminishes its tenderness.
5 Weigh and divide the meat into four equal portions of abo ut 200 g /
0.41b each. Form each portion into a square patty 2.5 cm / 1 in th ick.
and crispy, about 30 seconds per patty.
6 Place each patty in its own zip-top bag, a nd pour 5 g/5 ml/1 tsp of
oi l into each bag. Use the water-d isplacement method (see page 6)
13 Season the patties genero usly with salt, a nd serve them hot.
To make cheeseb urge rs, see page 91.
to remove as much air as possible from the bags, and sea l them. Do
not vacuum sea l the bags, as doing so compresses the meat so much
that it becomes denser and less juicy.
This shake tastes like the milk itself, so we use fresh raw milk from strawberries. You can also add flavors directly to the milk, for
a local dairy. You can use regular supermarket milk instead, but it example b y stirring in 5 g I 5 mL I 1 tsp of vanilla extract to make
won't have the same subtle flavors. Use half-and-half, or a mixture a rich vanilla shake. But we prefer the pure milk fl avor.
of heavy cream and milk, to make a richer shake. To avoid any unpleasant flavor, use only high-quality, deodorized
We garnish this sh ake with Freeze-Dried Raspberry Powder, but whey protein isolate, available at health-food stores or online.
good alternatives include cocoa powder, malt powder, and powdered
CHEESEBURGER 89
WHITE SANDWICH BREAD
We included a recipe for the ultimate burger bun in Modernist Cuisine, Try this recipe with different flours and flavors, such as a whole
but frankly it requires a lot of work to make. At home, we either wheat loaf with caramelized onions. Leave the seeds out for a classic
buy top-quality buns or rolls from a local bakery or we take the old- dense, chewy white loaf. It is also a fantastic bread to use for Grilled
school-diner approach of making a white bread that we can broil or Cheese Sandwiches (see page 150), especially if you use one of our
pan fry. The juices from the burger combine nicely with the crispy recipes for constructed cheese slices (see page 145).
texture of the toast.
8 Replace the paddle attachment with a 13 Put the pan in a draft-free place at about
24 oc / 75 oF, a nd allow the dough to rise
4 Measure half of the flour into t he bowl 15 Bake t he b read until the top turns a n
even go ld en color, 15-20 minutes .
of a stand mixer, and reserve t he other
half for step 8. Affix a paddle attachment
9 Knead on medium speed for 8 minutes.
to the mixer.
10 Sprinkle in the seeds, and mix at low
speed until they are eve nl y dispersed.
16 Remove th e bread from the pan imm e -
diately. Set it on a rack, and let it cool
completely before you sli ce it.
MODERNIST CHEESEBURGER
YIELD: four burgers
T IM E ESTIMATE: 10 minutes for assembly of components
STORAGE NOTES: serve immediately
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: easy
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: White Sandwich Bread (see the previous page), Modernist Hamburger Patty (see page 88),
Perfectly Melting Cheese Slice (see page 145), MC Special Sauce (see page 27) or Pressure-
Caramelized Ketchup (see page 30)
The original hamburger was served on toasted white bread with replace them with lettuce, grilled mushrooms, thinly sliced raw
little else. We're paying homage to that tradition, but you can of onions, or thick slices of pickle. Use this guide as a template for
course use store-bought buns instead. If tomatoes are not in season, your favorite burger combinations.
Mode rnist Hambu rger 4 patties 0 Place the cooked burger patties on a baking sheet, and top each with
Patty o ne o r two sli ces of cheese.
seepage 88
0 Broil until the cheese melts, 1-2 minutes.
Perfectly Melting Cheese 4-8 sli ces
Slice
see pagel45
MC Special Sauce or BOg 5 Tbsp ® Divide even ly amo ng four slices of the prepared bread, a nd top with
Pressure-Caramelized t he cheeseburger patties and remai ning bread.
Ketchup 0 Serve immed iate ly.
see page 27 or 30
Tomato or sweet onion, 4 th ick slices
sliced
CHEESEBURGER 91
MODERNIST MEATLOAF SANDWICH
Leftover meatloaf often ends up in a sandwich. But we think this meatloaf should be denser and springier than a burger. Second, keep
delicious next-day treat is a worthy dish in its own right. We use sev- the meat juicy by cooking it sous vide. And finally, flash-fry each
eral tricks to make it great. First, salt-cure the meat before grinding portion of meat to produce a perfect, just-baked crust. You can sub-
it to draw out the sticky myosin protein that improves the texture of stitute a fatty cut of beef, such as short-rib meat, for the pork to make
the meatloaf and reduces the amount of egg needed as a binder. The an all-beef meatloaf; just keep the overall fat content about the same.
5 Combine the cooked onion with the ketchup, beaten egg, bread
crumbs, fish sauce, mustard, Worcestersh ire sauce, Parmesan cheese,
and black pepper.
6 Add the ground meat to the onions and seasonings, and mix them
thorough ly.
7 Form the meatloaf mix into four even patties (round or square) of about
160 g each. We find that patties no more than 2.5 cm / 1 in thick cook
most evenly, and the sandwich is eas iest to eat if the patties are about
2 cm /:Y, in thick.
9 Cook the patties sous vide to a core temperature of 59 °C/ l38 °F,
about 35 minutes.
10 While the patties cook, pour enough frying oil into a deep pot to
reach a depth of about 5 cm / 2 in. Preheat the o il to 190 oc / 374 °F.
Alternatively, preheat 6 mm / Y., in of o il in a deep-s id ed skil let.
11 Remove the cooked patties from the ir bags, place them on a tray
lined with paper towels, and pat them dry.
15 Assemble the sandwiches by dividing the hot patties and on ion slaw
evenly among the bread slices. Serve them immediate ly.
CHEE SEBURGER 93
PRESSURE-COOKED CARNITAS
Carnitas are traditionally made by slowly cooking big chunks of pieces and use them as a filling for our Pressure-Cooked Fresh-Corn
pork in vats oflard. Our recipe reduces both the fat and the cooking Tamales. Alternatively, shred the meat and use it to fill burritos or
time-but not the flavor-by using a pressure cooker. We cut pork tacos. If you have a large pressure cooker, consider doubling the
shoulder (commonly called pork butt or Boston butt) into bite-size recipe; carnitas freeze very well.
3 Let the cooker cool, or run tepid water over the rim, to depressurize it. are moister and less flaky than when pressure-cooked.
Whole Shoulder
4 Strain the cooking liquid into a large pot. If you have time, you can
refrigerate the meat and liquid together overn ight for added flavor.
Use bone-in, skin-on pork shoulder for added flavor. Combine 1.3 kg /
2.9 1b of pork shou ld er with 460 g / 460 mL / 2 cups of Brown Pork Stock
(see variation on page 10) in a pressure cooker, and pressure-cook at a
gauge pressure of1 bar / 15 psi for 2 hours. Depressurize the cooker,
5 Stir the achiote paste and chil i powder into the cooking liquid, and
cook over high heat to reduce the liquid by at least two-thirds until and then carefu lly remove the skin to make Pressure-Cooked Chicharr6n
(see page 96). Discard the bone. Break up the natural muscle groups of
it becomes syrupy, about 25 minutes.
the meat, discarding any excess fat and cartilage. Continue with step 4.
Neutral frying oil 30 g 30 mL/ 2Tbsp Neutral frying oil 30 g 30 mL/ 2Tbsp
see page viii see page vii i
Yellow onion, minced 160g lY• cups Yellow onion, minced 110g 3,4 cup
Dried apricot, small dice 40g Y. cup Vindaloo Spice Mix 25g 3Tbsp
see variation on page 52
Tomato paste 20g 1 Tbsp
Ginger, min ced 20g 1 Tbsp
Honey 20g 1 Tbsp
Garlic, minced 8g 1 Tbsp
Ginger, minced 15g 2Tbsp
Cinnamon, ground 2 tsp Tomato paste 40g 2y, Tbsp
3g
y, tsp Rice vinegar to taste
Cumin seed, gro und 2g
Black pepper, ground to taste
Lemon zest 0.3g Y. tsp
Salt to taste
Salt to taste
Naan as needed
Fresh mint as needed
Lemon wedges as needed Follow steps 1-4 on the previous page to pressure-cook the pork shou ld er
and pork stock. Cook the strained liquid over medium-high heat until
Follow steps 1- 4 on the previous page to pressure-cook the lamb and
reduced to a syrup. In a large ski llet, sweat the onions, ginger, garlic, and
lamb stock . (Alternatively, cook the lamb so us vide with lamb stock in
Vindaloo Spice Mix in o il over medium heat until the onions and garlic are
a 62 •c / 144 •Fwater bath for 48 hours; see the So us Vide Carnitas vari-
nearly trans lucent. Add the tomato paste, and cook over low heat until
ation on the previous page for details.) Cook the stra ined liquid over
the mixture is nearly dry. Add the reduced syrup, and finish with step 6.
medium-high heat until reduced to a syrup. In a large skillet, sweat the
Season the mixture with rice vinegar, salt, and pepper. Serve the pork and
onion, apricot, tomato paste, honey, ginger, cinnamon, and cum in in the
sauce with warm naan.
oil over medium heat until nearly dry. Add the reduced syrup, and finish
with step 6. Season with lemo n zest and sa lt. Garnish with mint and lemon
wedges. Serve with rice or couscous.
Pork Shoulder Fricassee with Apples and Morels Braised Duck with Steamed Buns
Boneless, ski nless 1.3 kg / 2.91b Duck legs, whole 900 g/ 21b
pork shoulder, cut into Duck stock 300g 300 mL/ 1Y. cups
2.5-3 cm / 1-1Y., in cubes see pagelO
Brown Pork Stock 460g 460 mL/ 2 cups Hoisin sauce 35g 3Tbsp
see variation on page 10 (Lee Kum Kee brand)
Neutral frying oil 30g 30 mL / 2Tbsp Steamed buns as needed
see page viii (store-bo ught)
Leeks, white parts on ly, 100g ,y, cups Scallions, julienned as needed
minced
Follow steps 1-4 on the previous page to pressure-cook the duck legs
Dry morel or porcini 14g '/3cup
mushrooms and duck stock . Remove and discard the duck skin, bones, and cartilage.
Shred the meat, or break it into chunks. At step 5, substitute ho isin sauce
Garlic, minced 7g 2Y. tsp
for the achiote paste and ch ili powder. Finish with step 6. Serve the duck
Thyme 1g 1 sprig
and sauce on warm, steamed buns (available at Asian markets) with
Apple juice 150g 150 mL / 2/3cup julienned scal li ons.
Applejack or apple brandy 100 g 125 mL/Y2 cup
Heavy cream 100 g 110 mL/ y, cup
Black pepper to taste Korean Short-Rib Lettuce Wraps
Salt to taste Boneless short ribs, 900 g / 2 lb
Baguette, toasted 1whole cut into 2.5 cm / 1 in cubes
Green apple, thinly sli ced as needed Brown beef stock 300g 300 mL / 1Y. cups
see pagelO
Follow steps 1-4 on the previous page to pressure-cook the pork shou ld er
Korean Wing Sauce 60g
and pork stock . (Alternatively, cook the pork shou ld er sous vide with pork see page116
stock in a 62 •c / 144 •f water bath for 48 hours; see t he So us Vide Carnitas
Butter lettuce leaves as needed
variation on the previous page for details.) Cook the strained liquid over
medium-high heat until reduced to a syrup. In a la rge skil let, saute the Follow steps 1- 4 on the previous page to pressure-cook the short ribs and
leeks, dried mushrooms, garlic, and thyme in the oi l over medium heat. beef stock. (A lternative ly, cook them so us vid e; see page 99.) Remove
Add the app le juice and applejack, and reduce the liquid to a second and discard the excess fat and carti lage. Shred the meat, or break it into
syrup. Combine the two syrups in the skillet, and finish with step 6. Stir in chunks. At step 5, substitute the Korean Wing Sauce for the ach iote paste
the cream, and season the mixture with salt and pepper. Serve on toasted and chili powder. Finish with step 6. Serve the beef and sauce in lettuce
slices of baguette with sl iced green app le. leaves.
CARNITAS 95
PRESSURE-COOKED CHICHARRON
Chicharr6n is pork skin that has been dehydrated, fried, and puffed The key to good chicharr6n is drying the skin by just the right
into crackling. It is an addictive snack or garnish: make plenty, or amount before frying it. The dried pieces should at that point flex
it may disappear before it gets to the table. You can buy pork skin slightly, and then snap in half. If they are too moist or too dry, they
from many butchers and at many Asian and Latin American markets. will not puff properly in the hot oil.
This updated version of the classic Mexican dish combines two lightness. To prevent splattering, dispense the foam into a con-
Modernist techniques. Pressure-cooking the beans directly from tainer with high sides, and spoon the beans onto the serving
the dry state and in low-calcium water causes them to burst and plates. The foam remains stable for only about 10 minutes,
become very tender. We then use a whipping siphon to aerate the so don't dispense the beans from the siphon until you are ready
perfectly smooth, pudding-like puree into a foam of unearthly to serve them.
TO MAKE AHEAD
You can refrigerate the pureed beans for up to 24 hours after step 5. Then
continue with step 6.
After step 7, you can keep the siphon of warm puree in a 50 ' C/ 122 ' F
water bath for up to 1 hour before dispensing the foam.
CARNITAS 97
PRESSURE- COOKED PORK BELLY ADOBO
You may remove the skin if you prefer the texture without it. adobo with steamed rice, mashed sweet potatoes (see variation on
Cubed pork shoulder also works as a leaner alternative. Serve the page 100), or roasted sunchokes.
1 Saute the grated onion, crushed garlic, and oil or lard over low heat
until the onion is tender and lightly browned, 7-10 minutes . 7 Transfer 250 g / 250 mL/ 1 cup of cooking liquid to the pan with the
pork belly. Simmer over medium-high heat, gently turning and basting
unti l the meat is brown and the liquid forms a glaze, 12-15 minutes.
2 Combine the pork bel ly, rice vinegar, soy sauce, fish sauce, sugar,
and aromatics with the onion mixture, and stir.
8 Add the additional bay leaves, star anise, vinegar, and pepper to the
pot of cooking liquid. The flavor of the essential oi ls from the bay leaves
weaken during cooking; adding more now enhances the fresh, spicy
3 Pressure-cook at a gauge pressure of1 bar / 15 psi for 45 minutes.
Start timing as soon as fu ll pressure has been reached. flavor. Bri ng the liquid to a boi l.
4 Let the cooker cool, or run tepid water over the rim, to depressurize it.
9 Remove the pot from the heat, and let it sit for 7-10 minutes, or until
ready to use, to infuse the flavors.
5 Lift the meat from the cooking liquid with a slotted spoon, and put it
in a frying pan .
10 Strain the infused liquid.
6 Strain the cooking liquid into a pot. Skim off as much fat as poss ib le.
Fat skimmers, sold at kitchen-supply stores, work wel l.
11 Spoon the glazed pork belly into serving d ishes. Pour the infused
liquid over the top, and serve the adobo warm.
TO MAKE AHEAD VAR IATI ON: Sous Vid e Pork Be lly Ad obo
After step 4, cool the pressure-cooked pork belly and cooking juices in the Cooking the pork belly so us vide yields a juicier, less flaky texture than
refrigerator overnight, or freeze them. Gently reheat, and continue with pressure-cooking does . At step 3, vacuum seal the pieces of pork be lly and
stepS. sauce mixture. Cook sous vide at 62 •c / 144 •Ffor 48 hours. Continue with
step 6 .
Short ribs cooked so us vide are, in a word, awesome. By varying as we do here. (Don't brown the meat before cooking it for such
the cooking time and temperature, you can produce dramatically a long time, as that causes off-flavors.) The ribs take on a more
different results in texture. If you want short ribs that have the color traditional braised texture and color when cooked at temperatures
and texture of a medium-rare steak, cook them sous vide at 58 •c I higher than this. It is essential to vacuum seal the meat when
136 •p for 72 hours. If you want the ribs fork-tender but still pink, cooking it for such a long timej see page 6 for more details. Both
increase the temperature to 62 •c I 144 •p, and cook for 72 hours, bone-in and boneless short ribs work in this recipe.
TO MAKE AHEAD
After cooking the ribs in step 2, plunge the bag into an ice bath to coo l Vacuum seal the slices, and reheat them for 30 minutes in a water bath set
the meat comp lete ly, and then refrigerate it in the sealed bag. To reheat to the same temperature used to cook the ribs. Then continue with step 4.
the ribs, remove them from the bag, and sli ce the meat from the bones.
Cook so us vide
Tender, yielding Tender, flaky Very flaky Pressure-cook
Ingredient (• C) (• F) (h) (•c) (° F) (h) (• c) (• F) (h) (m in) Note See page
beef short rib 58 136 72 62 144 72 88 190 7 50 use bone-in when availab le; texture is above
65 149 24 best when carved just before serving
beef brisket 60 140 72 63 145 72 70 158 72 40 use the fattier, thick end of the brisket,
ca ll ed the nose, especially when
pressure-cooking
oxtail, jointed 60 140 100 65 149 48 70 158 24 70 remove meat from the bone while warm
lamb shank 62 144 48 85 185 5 88 190 5 60 remove silverskin before cooking 104
lamb shoulder, 62 144 48 65 149 24 85 185 5 40 coat meat with 5% olive oil and 0.1 %
cut into large thyme to prevent strong lamb notes from
cubes developing
pork belly 65 149 36 70 158 18 88 190 8 50 for firm texture, cure with the brine from 102
step 1 on page 102 before cooking
pork shoulder 60 140 72 65 149 36 84 183 4 30 use the more marbled, darker muscles 94
or fresh ham, when availab le
cut into 2.5 em I
1 in cubes
pork ribs 60 140 48 65 149 48 75 167 7 35 serve with our Grilling Spice Mix (see
page 53)
(temperatures in bold are those that we prefer)
Traditional fluffy mashed potatoes are best made with starchy Jeffrey Steingarten and chef Heston Blumenthal, is a heat treatment
varieties, such as the Russet or the Maris Piper. Adding just enough prior to cooking that gelatinizes the starch and stabilizes the starch
liquid and fat to moisten the mixture is all that is needed to finish granules. It is also important to be gentle so as to rupture as few of
the dish . To obtain a silky texture, in the style of the French pommes the granules as possible when making the puree. Sieve the potatoes
puree, choose waxy potatoes, such as Yukon Gold or fingerlings. slowly- never use a food processor-and add lots of fat to prevent
The real secret to a great potato puree, as revealed by food writer any freed starch from forming a sticky puree.
This recipe is our homage to the chefs and passionate food writers who have The ratio of potatoes to fat and liquid determines the texture of mashed
spent a great deal oftime refining the simple but incredible staple of creamy potatoes. Classic recipes use up to half butter; this recipe ca lls for about a
mashed potatoes. joel Robuchon introduced the technique of fine sieving, 2:5 ratio. If that is still too much butter for you, simply use less, or substitute
and both Heston Blumenthal and Jeffrey Steingarten developed the step of olive oi l or rendered chicken, pork, or veal fat for up to half of the butter
cook ing so us vide that pregelatinizes the potatoes. added at step 9.
2 Cut the potatoes into pieces about 2.5 cm / 1 in thick and wide.
3 Place the potatoes and water into a zip-top bag, remove as much air
as possible from the bag (see page 6), and seal it.
4 Cook sous vide for 35 minutes. Th is sets the starch to help prevent the
potatoes from becoming sticky, but it does not fully cook them.
5 Open the bag, and drain out the water. Refrigerate the potatoes,
uncovered, until they have coo led completely, about 30 minutes.
7 Bring the water to a boil. Reduce the heat, and simmer until the
potatoes are tender throughout, about 25 minutes. To ensure that
the potatoes are tender enough to puree, insert a skewer t hrough
the thickest potato: there should be no resistance.
8 Drain the potatoes, and pass them through a ricer. A food mill works
well, too.
9 Stir the butter into the potatoes . Optionally, for a finer texture, arrange
a tam is or fine sieve over a bowl containing t he cubed butter. Then use
a thick rubber spatula or rubber bench scraper to pass the potatoes
through the sieve and into the butter. Mix we ll.
10 Stir the hot cream or milk into the potato puree . You can adjust the
consistency by adding more cream or milk to your liking.
Our twist on a traditional B.L.T. substitutes a crispy yet tender pork Bacon mayonnaise adds a bit of smokiness to the sandwich.
belly for crunchy bacon. Brining the pork belly helps the meat retain If top-quality tomatoes are unavailable, use roasted onion, fresh
its reddish color, firms its texture, and changes its flavor (think ham apple or pear, or sauteed mushrooms instead. Or try our Tomato
or corned beef). Even if you omit the brine, or buy prebrined belly Confit (see page 46). Use leftover pork belly in stews or to enrich
from the store, the result is delicious, altho ugh different. vegetable side dishes.
Cucumber, peeled and sliced 20 thin sli ces @ Divide even ly among the sandwiches, and serve immediately.
Tomato, sliced 12-16 sli ces
Avocado, sliced 12 thin slices
Bibb or Boston lettuce 4-81eaves
3 Remove the pork belly from the brine, rinse it under running water,
and pat it dry.
7 Plunge the bag in ice water to cool the meat, and then refrigerate the
meat in t he bag until it is thoroughly ch illed .
9 Heat a thin film of o il in a frying pan over high heat until it smokes.
Sear the pork belly on one side on ly until it turns a crispy, go ld en
brown and is just warmed through, abo ut 2 minutes.
10 Spread bacon mayonnaise over the sl ices oftoast. For added flavor,
panfry the bread in bacon fat instead of toasting it.
One frequent complaint voiced about lamb is that it has a strong the fresh flavor, you must vacuum seal the meat before cooking it
gamey flavor. The reason this flavor develops is that lamb fat is sou s vide. To make a delicious lamb st ew, try replacing the curry
fragile and tends to oxidize quickly- the same reason that reheated with our Mushroom Jus (see page 15), thinly sliced onions, and
lamb can develop a n unappealing, warmed-over flavor. To preserve fresh spinach.
TO MAKE AHEAD
After breaking up the meat in step 5, refrige rate it until ready to use. 1 Preheat a water bath to 62 •c / 144 •F.
VARIATIONS
2 Trim the fat and si lverskin from the la mb shanks. Even when cooked
sous vid e, silversk in -on any meat-never becomes tender.
Whole La mb Shank
To se rve the lamb sha nk w hole, cook as indi cate d through ste p 4, saving
5 Remove the meat from the bone. Discard any fat and gristle. While t he
lamb is still warm, sepa rate t he muscles by hand, a nd then cut the meat
into bite-size pieces or break it up by using a fork.
the cook ing juices. Sear the cooked shanks until they turn deep brown by
deep-frying them in very hot oil or by using a blowtorch (see page 2).
Clean the bone for a nicer presentation. Strain the reserved cook ingj uices,
and reduce them to add another layer of comp lex ity to the sauce.
6 Warm the Mughal curry sauce in a large pot . Use a thermometer to
ensure that the sauce does not get hotter than the cooking tempera-
ture of t he lamb.
7 Stir the prepared lamb into t he sa uce. Wa rm it gently until it has heated
th rough.
One of the easiest ways to enjoy superjuicy meat with crisp golden bird at low temperature. Although you can buy chicken breasts
skin is to brine chicken pieces, cook them smothered in shaved and thighs from your butcher, it's better to buy a high-qualitywhole
onions, and then panfry their skin. The onions not only add flavor chicken, and to cut it up yourself. You' ll save money, and you can
but also prevent the poultry from drying out as you slow-cook the use the remaining parts in other recipes.
3 Cut the thighs and breasts from the chicken while taking care to keep
the skin intact. Save the legs, wings, and back for another use.
8 Remove the onions, and set them aside for use in step 10.
4 Fill a brine injector or syringe with the brine, and inj ect it into the
thighs and breasts as evenly as you can without piercing the skin.
9 Heat the oil in a large pan over medium-high heat until hot, and then
sear th e chicken, skin-side down only, until the skin becomes brown
and crispy, 2-3 minutes .
5 Pat the skin dry. Place a baking rack or a clean, dry towel in a sheet pan.
Coat the skin lightly with oil, and then arrange the pieces, skin-side
10 Remove the chicken from the pan, and reduce the heat to medium.
Cook the reserved onions in the same cooking oi l until they cara-
down, on the rack or towel.
me lize, about 2 minutes.
6 Cover the chicken pieces with a thick, even layer of shaved onions.
Insert the oven-safe probe of a digital thermometer into the center
11 Slice the chicken, and serve it with the caramelized onions. Season
the dish with additional salt to taste.
of the thickest piece.
This recipe requires advanced planning, patience, and a little properly. Soy sauce is not a traditional ingredient in roast chicken,
practice; it is not something you would make every day. But for but it acts as a drying and browning agent for the skin and also adds
special occasions, this roast chicken is simply amazing. It's especially a great savory flavor. For an even deeper color, stir S g / lh tsp of
important to calibrate your oven (see page 4) to make this recipe sweet paprika into the soy sauce before step 9.
During the refrigeration period, the brine equilibrates and the ski n dries in
the air- both of which help to produce a moist inte rior and a crispy exte rior.
11 Preheat the oven to 95 •c / 205 •F. Use the convecti on baking mode,
2 French t he leg bones. First, make a cut perp endi cular to th e bone and
through th e skin 2.5 cm / 1 in from the end of each leg. Continue the
if ava ilable on your oven.
incision around the bone to release the skin. Next, use the back ofthe
knife to push the skin up toward the body, exposing the bone. Cut off
the joint at t he end of each leg. Frenching t he legs helps heat move into
12 Arrange a rack on a baking sheet, and coat both w ith cook ing spray
or brush them with oil. Place the chicken on the rack . Insert a digital
probe thermometer into the center of the thickest piece.
the th igh meat.
3 M ix the sa lt into th e water, and stir until it has dissolved comp letely. 13 Wrap the exposed leg bones tightly in aluminum foi l to enhance
heat transfer and prevent burn-ing. Bake the chicken in the oven
Th is is the brine. until the core temperature reaches 60 •c / 140 •F, 3-4 hours.
4 Inject 70 ml / Y.. cup ofthe brine into each breast, and then inj ect the
rest of the brine into the t highs and legs . Try not to pierce the skin; 14 Remove t he chi cken from t he oven, and all ow it to rest for 45 min-
utes at room temperature. Our experiments found that th e juiciness
otherwise, it may tear during cooki ng, and leaking juices will soak t he of the carved chi cken peaks after a 45-minute rest.
skin and make it less cri spy. For more details on where to inj ect th e
brine, see page 50.
15 Arrange the oven rack at a height that will place the top of the
chicken abo ut 6 cm / 2% in from the heat source at the top of
5 Bring a large pot ofwate rto a boil, and arrange a bath of ice water
alongsid e. Both must be large enough to allow you to submerge the
the broiler.
chicken fully.
Pre heat the broilerto high.
16
6 Fully subme rge t he ch icken in boiling water for 20 seconds to blanch
it, and then immediately plunge it into the ice water for 20 seco nds.
17 Brush oi l or clarified butter even ly over the entire chi cken, and
arrange it on the rack, breast-side down.
A large perforated skimm er or "spider" is t he best tool for this step.
The sk in becomes ve ry fragil e after this step, so take care not to
Broil the chi cken until the sk in on the back becomes brown and
tear it.
18 crisp, 5-6 minutes.
8 Pat the chicken dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. 2o Carve the roast ch icken, and serve it hot. The skin is crisp iest when it
emerges from the oven, so do not rest the bird agai n before serving.
9 Brush soy sauce even ly over the chicken to improve the co lor and aid
in crisp ing. You can add 5 g / Y2 tsp of paprika to the soy sauce to give
the bird a more amber color.
VARIATIONS
Extra-Juicy Chicken
Pincushion Chicken Add 2.5 cm / 1 in of wate r in a separate pan at step 12, and place it in the
It may seem a tad brutal, but an effective way to cond uct more heat
bottom of the oven, below the baking sheet. Add an extra hourto the
toward the thighs of the ch icken without overcooking its juicy breasts
cooking t im e in step 13; yo ur patience will be rewarded . Remove the pan
is to push 12 steel finish ing nails into each thigh until they contact the bone.
of water at step 15.
Do this at step 12; the nails should fit t hrough t he rack . The thigh meat can
then be cooked more fully while the breast meat remains extreme ly j ui cy. Spatchcock Chicken
Try this variation for your next Hall oween dinner. After step 8, remove the backbone with kitchen shears, and then carefully
flatten t he ch icken. Conti nue w ith the remain ing steps, but broil skin-s id e
D ee p-Fri e d Chicken
up on ly. You do not need to french th e bones .
You can use a deep fryer rat her than the broiler to brown and crisp the
sk in on the cooked chi cke n. Fill a deep stock pot no more than half full Combi Ove n Roast Chicken
with neutral frying oi l (see page vii i). Preheat the oi l to 220 •c ; 428 •F. If you have a home comb i ove n that accurately holds low temperatu res,
Afte r step 14, lower the ch icken carefu lly into the hot oil, breast-side down. the n cook the ch icken at step 13 in convection mode at 62 •c / 144 •F.
Use cauti on to avoid splatters. Deep-fry t he w hole chi cken unti l th e sk in A medium-size roaster takes 3- 3Y2 hours to cook at this temperature.
browns, about 2 minutes. Drain it, and serve it hot. See page 4 fo r
safety information about deep-frying.
Chicken tastes fantastic when cooked sous vide; we almost always add the slices immediately after step 7, or keep the skin on and pan-
use this technique to cook chicken for soups and salads. To use this sear it in hot oil. We brown the meat when serving it in a robust,
chicken in our Chicken Noodle Soup recipe on page 119, either brown chicken stock (see variation on page 9).
If you want to cook the drumsticks as well, If you leave the skin on the breast when making Sous Vide Chicken. you can pan-sear it in
seal them along with the thighs at step 2. hot oil to get the best of both worlds: perfectly cooked meat and beautifully browned skin.
An injection of milk and apple juice into the turkey in this recipe will be surprisingly pink, don't worry; the long cooking time ensures
infuses the meat with phosphates, which make it extremely tender that it is safely pasteurized. If you prefer your turkey to have a more
when cooked. Apple juice is also effective alone, and an apple-juice traditional appearance, taste, and texture, simply set the water bath
brine gives the turkey a pleasantly sweet flavor. to 62 •c I 144 •p, and cook the turkey breast to a core temperature
Although turkey cooked to a core temperature of 56 •c I 133 •p of 61 ·c I 142 •F. It will still be quite juicy.
INGREDIENT WEIGHT VOLUME SCALING PROCEDURE
Apple jui ce 75g 75 mL/ YJ cup 10% 0 Comb in e, a nd stir until disso lved to make a brine.
Whol e milk 75g 75 mL / YJ cup 10%
Salt lOg 2y, tsp 1.3%
Sugar 9g 2 tsp 1.2%
Boneless, skinl ess 750 g/ 1.71b 1 medium or 100% ® Inject the brine into each part of the breast. Capture a ny that esca pes.
turkey breast two sma ll ® Place the breast a nd a ll captu red or leftover brine in a zip -top bag.
Remove the a ir from the bag by using the water-disp lacement method
(see page 6), and sea l it. Refrigerate t he sea led bag for l 2 hours.
@ Preheat a water bath to 57 · c / 135 • F.
® Remove the turkey from the bag, rinse it wit h cool water, and pat it dry.
® Place the breast in a clean zip-top bag, remove as much air as possible
from the bag (see page 6), and seal it.
0 Cook so us vid e to a co re temperature of 56 •c / 133 •f, aboutl)4 hou rs,
and then ho ld it at that temperature for 35 minutes more.
® Serve the turkey warm or cold.
Safety tips for lightly cookedfood: see page ix
duck breast 54 129 2 h17 min 58 136 30 for a firm er texture, soa k for a day before cooking in a 50
brine of 5 g salt and 3.5 g sugar for every 100 g of water
quail breast 50 122 12 56 133 35 leave the skin on, a nd sear it over very high heat
squab breast 54 129 2 h17 min 58 136 30 re move th e skin, and wrap it in thinl y sl iced bacon
before cooking
turkey breast n/ a 56 133 35 serve with a turkey variation of our ]us Gras (see above
62 144 8 page 17)
(times and temperatures in bold are those that we prefer)
*(required to pasteurize)
Duck confit is a classic French preparation in which duck meat is If duck fat is unavailable, substitute butter or neutral-tasting oil.
cooked in an abundance of duck fat. In this Thanksgiving version, You can also substitute duck or chicken legs for the turkey. We serve
dark turkey meat is vacuum-cured with a complex melange that the confit as an accompaniment to slices of juicy Sous Vide Turkey
blends the aroma of autumn herbs with the richness of duck fat. Breast (see the previous page) and Home Jus Gras (see page 17).
We brine these wings in an alkaline salt solution-a technique simi- tenderizes the meat and enhances the Maillard reactions that brown
lar to that traditionally used in Chinese kung pao chicken-which the wings. We then cook them sous vide and panfry them.
1 Stir together the water, salt, and baking soda to make a brine. Make
sure that the salt dissolves completely. 7 Place the cooked wings on a tray, and pat them dry with paper towels.
Excess moisture causes dangerous splattering when the wings are
placed in the oil.
2 Cut each of th e wings into three pieces at the joints. Don't use the wing
tips in this recipe; you can use them to make stock (see page 9).
8 Pour frying oil into a deep skillet to a depth of1 em I 'Is in, and preheat
to 200 ' C/ 392 ' F. A traditional cast-iron skillet holds its temperature
well during frying and browns the wings darkly and quickly.
3 Seal the brine and chicken wing pieces together in a large (4 L/ 1 gal)
zip-top bag. Refrigerate for 3 ho urs.
9 Fry the wings, a few at a time, in the hot oi l just long enough for the sk in
to crisp, about 3 minutes.
4 Preheat a water bath to 65 ' C/ 149 ' F.
11 Brush or toss sauce over the wings, and serve them hot.
6 Place the chicken pieces in a single laye r in a large (4 L/ 1 gal), new zip-
top bag. Use multip le bags, if necessary. Use the water-d isplacement
method (see page 6) to remove the air from the bag, and sea l it.
Cook so us vide for 1 hour.
This adaptation pairs Chinese-style velveting with Korean-style when breading the wings with other starches, such as corn, tapioca,
marinade and sauce. During frying, the starchy coating forms a and water chestnut starches. The michiu rice w ine has a low boiling
barrier against moisture that allows the wing meat to remain juicy point, so it evaporates very quickly during frying and produces a
while the skin browns to a crisp. After many tests, we found that very delicate crust. If michiu wine is unavailable, use sake, dry white
this combination of potato starch and Wondra, a prehydrated flour, wine, or three parts water to one part vodka instead.
crisped and browned the best. We also got good, crunchy results
1 Combine the peanut oil, rice wine, soy sauce, salt, sesame oil, MSG
(if using), and sugar, and mix thorough ly until the salt and suga r are 5 Dust the Wondra and starch mixture over the marinade-soaked
chicken wings, and stir unti l the marinade and starch form a th in
comp letely dissolved. This mixture serves as the marinade. batter and the wings are even ly coated.
2 Toss the ch icken wings with the marinade, cover with plastic wrap,
and refrigerate for 30 minutes. 6 Deep-fry the wings in batches of five to seven until cooked through
and golden brown, about 7 minutes per batch. The cooking time
depends on the size of your pot or fryer. The more oil in the pot,
the less it cools when the co ld wings enter it.
3 toFill176a deep pot or fryer no more tha n halffull offrying oi l, and preheat
"C/ 350 "F. The fry ing temperature forth is recipe is slightly lower
than in the other wing recipes because the Korean-style marinade is
higher in sugar, and we want to avoid overbrowning the batter. 7 Drain the wings on paper towels .
4 Stirthe Wondra and potato starch together until even ly mixed. 8 until
Drizzle Korean wing sauce over the wings generously, and toss them
coated. Serve the wings hot.
This wing recipe captures everything we love about fried chicken. tempura chicken wing. Be sure to bring the wings to room tempera-
We remove the skin so that there is no barrier between the delight- ture before frying them; the frying oil will recover its temperature
ful crunch of the breading and the tender juiciness of the meat. The more quickly after you add the food. If the food goes in cold, it tends
alcohol in the batter vaporizes very quickly and completely. As it to turn out greasy and overcooked. The batter, on the other hand,
does, it lowers the boiling point of the mixture, yielding a delicate should be kept cold.
crust that is crispier than skin ever could be. In effect, this is a
CHICKEN WINGS 11 3
BONELESS YAKITORI WINGS
Boneless chicken wings are an unexpected treat. Use the center Turkey wings make an excellent variation and offer a little
"forewing" portion. The trick is to cut off the bone ends, and then reminder of Thanksgiving. Although turkey wings are larger
slide the bones out while the wings are warm. than chicken wings, the cooking time is the same.
1 Trim the chicken wing pieces. Try to keep the skin intact. First, cut
through both joints; keep the central forewing. Next, cut away the 8 Remove the wings from the bag, and while they are still warm, carefully
extract the bones . Avoid rupturing the skin.
connective tissue. Finally, slide the tip of a knife around the exposed
bones to loosen the meat. This step makes it much easier to remove
the bones after cooking.
9 Pat the wings dry with paper towels.
2 Stir the salt and sugar in the water until they are comp lete ly disso lved.
This is the brine.
11 Coat the wings with the sta rch, and shake off any excess.
3 Cover the wings in the brine, and refrigerate them for12 hours.
12 Fry the w ings until they turn brown and crispy, about 2 minutes on
each side.
4 Drain the brined wings, and pat them dry with paper towe ls.
14 Spoon yakitori sauce over the wings, and serve them hot.
6 Vacuum seal the wings in a single layer with the butter or oil.
TO MAKE A H EAD
After you remove t he bones and dry the cooked wings in step 9, refrigerate
them for up to 3 days. To reheat, seal the wings in a bag, and p lace in a
water bath at 62 •c / 144 •F for 30 minutes.Then continue with step 10.
Our Buffalo wing sauce is essentially a spicy variation of mayonnaise sauce on almost anything. Note that because this sauce contains
made with a flavored oil (which, by the way, can be used by itself). very little water, it won't make your crispy chicken wings soggy. If at
Here we use raw egg yolks, but pasteurized eggs can be substituted any point the sauce starts to separate and get oily, whisk it or puree it
(see page 142 in the main volume) . You can use this spicy, creamy with an immersion blender until smooth.
The flavor of this sauce depends greatly on the kind of honey and cayenne pepper, grated horseradish, or Japanese wasabi. Or add a
mustard you use; experiment with varieties you find intriguing. few drops of liquid smoke for a smoky flavor. The pickled mustard
Maple syrup can be substituted for the honey. Sweet herbs or spices seeds add a great popping texture, and you can add up to twice as
such as tarragon, cinnamon, or cloves provide a change of pace. many of them if you like.
Give the sauce more kick with dry mustard powder, chili powder,
Yakitori is Japanese for grilled (yaki) bird (tori); it is usually made a very hot charcoal fire, and then brushed with this delicious sauce.
with chicken. This popular bar food is somewhat akin to tapas in The pineapple in the sauce contains an enzyme, called bromelain,
Spain. Yakitori comes in many forms, but in the most common style, that tenderizes the surface of the meat. Teriyaki sauce can be substi-
small pieces of chicken are strung on bamboo skewers, grilled over tuted in a pinch.
This sweet and spicy sauce is addictive. It is well worth the time to mouth" (usu kuchi) soy sauce, the variety we prefer for this recipe.
search your local Asian market for these specialty ingredients. Often If you can't find ShaOJdng wine (a Chinese rice wine), substitute
sold in tubs, gochujang is a sweet, complex chili paste that you might medium-dry sherry.
find yourself slathering on almost everything. Look also for "thin
Use a bold blue cheese, such as Maytag, Roquefort, Gorgonzola, or smooth sauce, the sodium citrate we use here as an emulsifier requires
Stilton. Overheating cheese sauces usually is taboo, but to make a that the sauce simmers while you gradually blend in the cheese.
Variations of this condiment are often seen in Chinese "salt and along with the jalapeno. This condiment tastes fabulous not only
pepper" dishes. Adjust the spiciness to suit your taste. For a more with chicken wings but also with fried frogs' legs, fried tofu, grilled
aromatic version, include minced ginger, cilantro, and lemongrass pork chops (see page 83), and cold noodles dressed with sesame oil.
There's something inherently fun about food on a stick. Skewered cooking the meat sous vide to the perfect temperature before
foods pop up in food culture all over the world: in yakitori bars in skewering it. One benefit of this approach is that the skewers can
Japan; in the astounding variety of satay sold by Thai and Malaysian be made in advance, vacuum sealed, and then refrigerated. When
street vendors; in cotton candy, deep-fried ice cream, and corn dogs you are ready to serve them, simply place the bag in a 55 'C / 131 'F
at the Minnesota State Fair; and in candy apples and popsicles- water bath for 15-20 minutes to reheat, and then sear them in a
even in "Spamsicles" and crispy crickets on a stick. very hot pan, on a hot grill, under a blowtorch, or in hot oil. The
We give some of our favorites skewers a Modernist update by sauce is optional.
Pesta Chicken Thighs Korean Pork Belly Deep-Fried Tsukune Chicken Skin Yakitori
Cut 300 g/ 0.7lb of boneless, Cut 300 g/ 0.7 lb of fresh pork Prepare the skewers of chicken Vacuum sea l200 g/ 0.4lb of
skin-on chicken thigh into belly, with its skin on, into meatballs as described in the ch icken sk in in a single layer.
2.5 cm / 1 in pieces. Vacuum 2.5 cm / 1 in cubes. Vacuum seal the Tsukune recipe on the next page. Cook so us vide at 88 ' C/ 190 ' F
sea l the chicken in a single layer. pork in a single layer. Cook so us Finish by deep-frying th e meat- for 12 hours . Separate the pieces
Cook so us vide at 65 ' C/ 149 ' F vide at 62 ' C/ 144 ' Ffor 48 hours. balls in 190 ' C/ 375 ' F neutral frying of skin wh ile they are sti ll warm,
for 1Y, hours. Thread three to Remove the meat from the bag, oi l until cooked through, about and thread them onto skewers.
five pieces of cooked meat onto and thread three to five pieces 3 minutes. Brush with Sous Vide Coo l complete ly, and then finish
each skewer so that all of the skin onto each skewer. Finish by using Spiced Chi li Oi l (see page 36). by deep-frying in 190 ' C/ 375 ' F
faces the same direction. Finish a blowtorch or by deep-frying neutral frying oil until crisp,
by searing the chicken, skin-side the skewers in 190 ' C/ 375 ' F 4-5 minutes. Glaze with Yakitori
down, in a hot dry pan. Brush with neutral frying oil, and then glazing Sauce (see page 116).
Pistachio Pesta (see page 22). with Korean Wing Sauce (see
page 116).
Tsukune
Boneless, sk inless chi cken 400 g/ 0.9lb lo/e cups Chicken meatballs are ca lled tsukune in Japa nese. They are served on
th igh meat, finely ground from 3 thighs skewe rs and are de li ciou s.
Leeks, white parts only, 45g l4 cup Combine all ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer, and stir with the
minced paddle attachment until the mix coheres, about 2 minutes . Refrigerate the
Egg white, beaten 35g 3 Tbsp mixture for1 hour to firm and hydrate it . Adjust the oven rack so that the
Yakitori Sauce 20g 1 Tbsp skewe red meatballs will be about 5 cm / 2 in from the heat source, and
see page 116 then preheat the broiler to high.
Toasted-sesame oil lOg 10 ml / 2\4 tsp Shape the mixture into 2.5 cm / 1 in meatballs by using a small scoop or
Ginger, minced yo ur wet hands. Thread three meatballs onto each bamboo skewer. Place
6g 2tsp
the meatballs on an oiled bro il er rack, and broi l until gold en brown and
Wondra 5g JY, tsp cooked through, 3-4 minutes per side. Serve hot as is, or sweetened by
Salt 4g ltsp brushing on add itional yakitori sauce.
Lamb Skewers with Beef Short Ribs with Fi let Mignon with
Mint Yogurt Chicken Breast Satay Shiitake Marmalade Montpellier Butter
Cut 300 g/ 0.7lb of lamb leg into Vacuum sea l a whole, boneless, Trim 300 g/ 0.7lb of boneless Trim 300 g/ 0.7lb of filet mignon .
2.5 cm / 1 in cubes. Vacuum sea l the skinless chicken breast of about beef short rib, an d cut the meat Vacuum sea l the filet whole .
lamb in a single layer. Cook sous 300 g/ 0.7 lb. Cook the ch icken into 2.5 cm / 1 in cubes. Vacuum Cook sous vide at 54 ' C/ 129 ' F
vide at 56 ' C/ 133 ' Ffor 3 hours. sous vide at 60 ' C/ 140 ' Fto a co re sea l the pieces in a single laye r. to a core temperature of 53 ' C/
Remove the meat from the bag, temperature of 59 ' C/ 138 ' F, and Cook so us vide at 58 ' C/ 136 ' F 127 ' F, about 35 minutes. Remove
and thread three to five pieces onto then hold at that temperature for for 72 hours. Remove the meat the meat from the bag, and cut
eac h skewer. Finish by sea ring th e 1 hour. Remove the meat from the from the bag, and thread three it into 2.5 cm / 1 in cubes. Thread
meat on all sides with a blowtorch. bag, and cut it into 2.5 cm / 1 in to five pieces onto each skewer. three to five pieces onto each
Serve with mint yogurt. pieces. Thread three to five pieces Finish the meat by searing it or skewer. Finish by searing the meat
onto each skewer. Optionally, sea r by deep-frying it in 190 ' C/ 375 ' F on all sides with a blowtorch,
Min t Yogurt: Mix together the cooked meat over a hot grill ne utral frying oil until brown topping with grated Montpell ier
150 g /'le cup of plain yogurt and or und er a blowtorch. The n brush and cri sp. Smother the skewers Butter (see page 38), and blow-
15 g/ 5 Tbsp of chopped fresh mint. with Pressure -Carame lized Peanut with Shiitake Marmalade (see torching again briefly to melt the
Season with sa lt to taste . Sauce (see page 31). page 64), and sprink le grated butter.
Gruyere cheese over the top.
This simple technique makes very tender vegetables in only a few cooking time. If the vegetables are thicker or thinner than noted,
minutes . The thickness of the vegetables determines the correct increase or decrease the time accordingly.
The secret to perfecting this seemingly simple soup is ensuring that of the ingredients are prepared and timed to be assembled quickly
each component is cooked and seasoned to perfection. Make sure all so that the soup is piping hot when it gets to the table.
Use either a traditional white stock or a savory, roasted brown broth fragrant experience. It's like making coffee or tea: although you
as the main ingredient in this recipe. For best results, prepare the can make and infuse the broth ahead of time, the natural perfume
ingredients but do not combine them until you are ready to plate will fade as it sits. We like to infuse the broth in a French press and
the soup, as described on the previous page. The last-minute infu- pour it at the table, but it can also be made in a saucepan and then
sion gently draws out all of the aromatics from the herbs and spices strained.
just before you pour the broth at the table, creating a wonderfully
2 Char both sides of each slice evenly with a blowtorch (use MAPP or
propylene fuel), or sear them in a very hot, dry pan for 20 seconds. The
surface should be dark and blistered, but the interior should rema in 5 Bring the chicken stock to a full boil. Pour over the ingredients in
the French press, and stir. If you are not using a French press, simply
moist. This step removes the raw garlic flavor and adds a complexity remove the stock from the heat, stir in the aromatics, and cover.
to the finished broth.
3 Toast the star anise and peppercorns in a dry frying pan over medium- 6 Leave the stock to infuse for 2 minutes. Then press or strain it, and
serve it hot.
high heat, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 3 minutes. For a
spicier flavor, crack the spices in a mortar and pestle.
Ginger, sliced in half and 50 g y, cup / 1 piece Coco nut milk lOOg 100 mL /Jis cup
charred 6 cm / 2Y2 in Palm sugar, grated 40g y, cup
long Asian fish sauce 20g 20 mL / 3Y, tsp
Sugar 30 g 2Tbsp Ga langal, toasted lOg 2 Tbsp / 3- 4 slices
Asian fish sauce lOg 9 ml / 1% tsp and crushed
Monosodium glutamate Sg ltsp Lime juice 6g 6 mL / lY.. tsp
(MSG), optio nal Lemongrass, Sg 1 Tbsp
Black peppe rcorns 4g l YJ tsp thinly sliced
Star anise 2g 1-2 whole Lime leaf, crushed lg l leaf
Cinnamon stick, 2g 1 large stick Coconut Nood les as needed
crumb led see vari ation on page 123
Tortilla Soup
Chicken stock, very hot 1 kg 1 L/ 4\4 cups
see page 9
Canned tomatoes 100 g Ys cup
Onion, diced SOg Ys cup
Tortilla ch ips, crumb led lOg Y.. cup
Jalapeno ch ili, sl iced Sg ltsp
Cilantro sprigs 4g Y.. cup
Lime juice 2g 2 mL /Ys tsp
Cumin seeds 0.4g Y2 tsp
Masa Harina Noodles as needed
see variation on page 123
The trick to making fresh noodles with extra chew is to add gluten. directions on the package to cook them.
Try using whole wheat, buckwheat, and other flours for variety. A linguine cutter will allow you to make wider noodles from the
If you're short on time, you can use 675 g of store-bought fresh pasta sheets. And if you don't have a pasta machine, you can use a
noodles or dry noodles instead in the chicken soup; follow the rolling pin, and then cut the pasta by hand using a knife .
1 Combine the flour, water, egg, o live oi l, gluten, and salt in the bowl of
a stand mixer. Mix with the dough hook attachment for 8 minutes. The 8 Dust the noodles generously with flour to prevent sticking, and return
them to the cloth- li ned tray, or hang them from a pasta-drying rack.
dough should gradually come together in dense, smooth, elastic ba lls
that do not stick to the sides of th e bowl.
9 Pour a measured amo unt of water into a large pot, add 0.5-0.75 g of
salt for every 100 g of water, and bring the water to a boil. This is less
3 Divide the chi lled dough into four even pieces. 10 Boil the noodles for 30 seconds to make firm noodles or 60 seconds
to make tender noodles. For thicker pasta, cook small test batches
to find the optimal time.
4 Dust a piece with flour, and use the palm of your hand to flatten it.
line a tray with a lightly floured, dry cloth .
11 Dra in the pasta, toss it with oil, rendered fat, or pasta sauce, and
serve it immediately.
y,.
5 Roll the dough through a pasta roller into sheets 2 mm / in thick.
Place the pasta sheets side by side on the tray. The sheets of pasta Pasta sheets
should not overlap; use multiple trays if necessary. This pasta dough, as well as the variations on the next two pages can also be
rolled and cut to wide shapes for use in lasagna or cannelloni.
6 Refrigerate the pasta sheets, uncove red, for about 1 hour. They should
dry slightly and become slightly leathery. You can use a food processor in place of a stand mixer. Ble nd the wet ingre-
dients in the processor. Dry-blend the flour, gluten, and salt. Combine them
with the wet ingredients, and then pulse in the processor until the dough
7 Cut the sheets into spaghetti- like noodles. Any shape of pasta works
in this dish, but thicker noodles require more time to cook.
just starts to cohere . Transfer the dough to a clean surface, and knead it unti l
it becomes elastic and smooth, about 3 minutes. Continue with step 2.
Servi ng suggestion: Saute 345 g / 2Yz cups of freshly shucked sweet Serving suggestion: Toss the cooked, drained noodles with 145 g/
corn kernels in 56 g/ 5 Tbsp of unsalted butter. Toss the cooked, drained o/a cup of Pressure-Carame lized Peanut Sauce (see page 31), and
noodles with corn and butte r, and garnish with grated qu eso fresco o r drizzle with 45 g / 50 ml / 3Yz Tbsp of Press ure-Rende red Chi cken
Cotija cheese and grated lime zest to taste. Fat (see page 41), an d a pinch of ch ili powder.
Use the highest-quality salmon you can find. We like to brine the The cooked fish is delicious served hot or cold; if you're serving it
fish before cooking to season it, firm it, and protect its delicate cold, cook it sous vide in oil rather than butter so that the fat won't
color. If you have time, decrease the salt to 20 g and the sugar to congeal. For firmer salmon, cook it sous vide to a core temperature
15 g, and brine the fish for 24 hours-the effect is even gentler. of 51 ·c I 124 •p.
We love to serve this salmon with simple sauteed asparagus a nd peas TO MAKE AH EAD
during spring. Serve with cabbage, sh iitake mushrooms, and thyme in After draining the brine in step 3, you may refrigerate the salmon fo r up to
the co ld er months. 24 hou rs.
1 Make the brine by stirring the salt and sugar into t he water until com-
pletely dissolved. If you use warm water (wh ich dissolves the sa lt a nd 6 Cook the sa lmon so us vide to a core temperature of45 •c / 113 •F. Fi ll ets
t hat are 2.5 cm / 1 in t hi ck wi ll require about 25 minutes to reach the
sugar more quick ly), cool t he brine comp lete ly before adding t he ta rget temperature atthe irth ickest part. Th inn er pieces may need just
salmon. 12-15 minutes to cook; thicker pieces may take 30 minutes or more.
Clip t he bags to the sid e of the bath.
This is a fun and simple way to begin enjoying the virtues of low- up to 5 hours; see page 80 for an example of this technique.) The
temperature cooking without investing in so us vide equipment. A pot more food you put in the water bath, and the colder that food is, the
of water preserves a constant temperature for up to 1 hour, far more more the water temperature drops. To help hold the heat, bring the
time than is necessary to cook fish-and even enough time to cook food to room temperature before cooking it, and use your largest pot
some steaks. (A picnic cooler keeps the water temperature stable for and an abundantamountofwater.
4 Place a large pot in the sink, and fill it with the hot tap water. If prepar-
ing larger batches of fish, you can use a large cooler, or even fill your
entire sink with water (see page 64 in the main volume).
Your toaster oven can approximate cooking sous vide, and you won't drier cooking environment. Cooking takes longer than in a water bath
need an add itional finishing step. The texture ofthe salmon wi ll be because dry heat is not as efficient at conducting heat, but the resu lt is
sl ightly more dense because of the higher cooking temperature and still excellent.
SALMON 125
CRISPY FISH SKIN
Any flavorful fish skin works well in this recipe. Softer skins, such rather than S hours. The ice-bath cooling in step S is crucial for
as those of cod and snapper, should be cooked sous vide for 3 hours handling and frying the skin properly.
TO MAKE AHEAD
After cooling the fish skins in step 5, refrigerate the sea led bags for up to
24 hours. Continue with step 6.
VARIATIONS
Baked Fish Skin Chips Crispy Chicken or Pork Skin
To make baked chips, brush or spray the cooked skin with oil, season it, Substitute chicken skin or pork skin for the salmon skin. At step 4, cook
and then sandwich it between two sili co ne mats and two baking sheets. so us vide for12 hours if making chi cken skin orfor18 hours if making pork
Bake it in a 165 °C/ 330 °Foven until crisp, 20-45 minutes. skin . Continue with ste p 5. For a recipe for Pressure-Cooked Chicharr6n,
see page 96.
sole or fluke 48 118 52 126 with thin fillets, stack two and vacuum seal them together-the natural gelatin
will bind them gently; with thicker fillets, fold the thin ends under so that the
thickness is even from end to end; cook small fish on the bone, and sear them
in butter
tuna 42 108 55 131 give tuna a quick sear in brown butter after cooking so us vide; for cooking at 51 (brine)
55 •c / 131 •F, we brine the fish first, and then finish it with an aromatic oil 36 (oil)
(temperatures in bold are those that we prefer)
SALMON 127
HOW TO Kill and Shell a Lobster
With seafood, freshness is everything. The best way to get great she llfish Once you buy live she ll fis h, you have to ki ll it, clean it, and shell it.
is to identify a reputable fishmonger or fish market. Shellfish should A lobster tastes better if you ki ll it just before you cook it. Research sug-
smel l like the sea-briny but not overpowering. Buy clams, mussels, and gests that lobsters can feel pain, so it is worth taking the effort to dispatch
lobsters straight off the boat, or from tanks filled with clean water. Look the a nima ls gently. Some claim that th e technique described be low is
for foods that move fast at the market; it helps to eat what the locals eat the most humane method, whi le others put the lobsters to sleep in a
because uncommon foods tend to sit around. freezer before boi ling them (see below).
1 Place the tip of a large, sharp knife at the cross on the shell, about
2.5 cm / 1 in behind the eyes, pointing the blade away from the tail. 5 Blanch the lobster tails in the boiling water for 90 seconds, and then
plunge them in the ice water. Blanch th e claws for 4 minutes, and the n
In one quick movement, cut deep into the head, toward the front submerge them in ice water. Th is step loose ns the meat from the shell
of the lobster. so that it is eas ier to remove.
2 Twist the head from the body, a nd break off the claws. The lobster is
dead as soon as step 1 is complete, but nervous reflexes may sti ll be 6 Clean the meat from the tails by cutting the shell with good kitchen
shears and carefully peel ing it off. Wear gloves to protect your hands
active, so expect the extremities to twitch briefly. from the sharp edges. Wash off any curd-like albumin that may have
ex uded during the blanching.
4 Bring a large pot of water to a roll ing boi l. Arrange an ice bath 8 Cook the meat immediately, or vacuum seal the lobster tai ls and
lobster claws separately, and store refrigerated for up to 24 hours.
alongside.
A quick steam, followed by a plunge in to ice water, relaxes the adductor You must pay attention to how each mussel or clam looks and smells
muscles that hold mussels and clams shut. The treatment makes it easier as you shuck it. If the meat smells terrible, that's a sure sign that it has
to shuck the mollusks, but don't assume that ifthe shel l doesn't open, spoiled. Ifit looks wrinkled a nd dry rather than plump and moist, throw
the meat inside is bad. The she ll could simply be full of mud. it out.
2 Scrub the de bearded mussels with a stiff brush. Smell each mussel,
and discard any that do not close or are strong-smelling.
6 Al low any grit to settle to the bottom of the reserved broth, and decant
the col lected juices through a fine strainer lin ed with cheesecloth or a
coffee filter.
3 water
Place the mussels in a zip-top bag. Steam for 2 minutes over boiling
in a covered pot, and then plunge the bag into ice water.
4 Place a bowl under a strainer, and empty the contents of the bag into
the strainer. Co ll ect the juices- they give a flavorful boost to sauces
and broths. Transfer t he mussels to a clean bowl.
There's nothing worse than a gritty clam. Deep-burrowing clams, such tend to be cleaner. You can e lim inate grit from particularly sandy clams
as the softshell (long-neck) varieties can accumulate a lot of grit. Hard- by soak ing them in a non-iodized sa lt brine, and by cutting away the
shell clams, such as littlenecks, stay closed for most of their li ves, so they small sack of innards that is attached to the bottom of each clam belly.
1 Soak the clams in co ld, salted water in the refrigerator for at least
4 hours to purge the sand . Use 15 g of non-iodized salt for every 1 kg 4 Place a bowl under a strainer, and empty the contents of the bag into
the stra iner. Collect the juices-they give a flavorful boost to sauces and
of water. (Iodine is letha l to clams.) broths. Transfer the clams to a clean bowl.
2 Pull the clams from the brine gently; do not disturb the sand o n the
bottom of the bowl. Scrub each shell with a dish sponge or nailbrush 5 Shuck the clam meat from the shells over the strainer to capture addi-
tional juices. To do so, slip the blade of a small, sharp knife in between
reserved for th is purpose. the two shells of each clam, and sever the adductor muscle near the
hinge. Open the shell, and cut the meat free.
3 Place the clams in a zip-top bag. Steam them for 2 minutes above boil-
ing water in a covered pot to relax the adductor muscles, and then
plunge the bag into ice water. 6 All ow any grit to settle to the bottom of the reserved broth, and decant
the collected juices through a fine strainer lined with cheesecloth.
SHEllFISH 129
LOBSTER ROLL
You m ight think it's h ard to improve on an old-fashioned lobster Green apples and herbs freshen the lobster salad, and infused celery
roll- until you taste one made with lobster cooked with precision and tomato leather add a Modernist twist. Don't bother messing
to attai n ideal sweetness and tenderness. Butter infused with lobster with a boutique hot dog bun in this New England classic- go with
shells (see p age 40) adds extra flavor and color to the toasted bun . the usual supermarket variety. Fancier rolls detract from the lobster.
VARIATIONS
Shrimp or Cra b Roll
Sk ip step 1- 6. At step 7, substitute cooked shrimp o r store- bo ught cooked
crab for the lo bster.
2 Kill, blanch, and clean the lobsters; see the step-by-step procedure on
page 128. 7 Comb ine the diced lobster, mayonnaise, apple, chives, tarragon,
and pepper, and stir unti l thoroughly mixe d.
3 Place the tail meat pieces and half of the oil in a zip-top bag. Place the
claw and knuckle meat with the rest of the oi l in a separate zip-top bag. 8 Season the dressed lobster meat with salt to taste.
Remove as much air as possib le from the bags, and seal them.
9 Spread crustacean b utter generous ly on the inside ofthe buns. Place
the buns, buttered-side down, in a frying pan over medium heat, and
4 Cook the tail meat sous vide to a core temperature of 49 OC/ 120 °F,
about 15 minutes. Immediately plunge the bag in ice water.
toast them until golden, about 2 m inutes.
10 Divide the dressed lobster meat evenly among the toasted buns.
5 Increase the temperature of the water bath to 55 °C/ l31 °F. Cook the
claw and knuckle meat so us vide to a core temperature of 54 °C/ 129 °F,
Garn ish the sandwiches with infused celery and tomato leather,
and serve them immediately.
about 15 minutes, and then submerge the bag in ice water.
SHELLFISH 131
MUSSELS MARINIERE
Throughout France, you see people sitting in bistros and brasseries Forget the old rule that any mussel that doesn't open when
feasting on bowls of sweet, tender mussels that have been cooked cooked is bad. By the time mussels pop all the way open, many of
in wine, savory brine juices, and garlic. This classic dish is easy to them are probably overcooked. A bad mussel either smells very
overcook, however; all too often the mussels end up tough, dry, and strongly or looks dry and shriveled, so inspect them as you shuck
disappointing. Cooking the mussels sous vide solves that problem. them before cooking.
Mussel juices
The natural juices that come out of mussels when they open are very flavorful.
Chefs use mussel juice to add depth to butter sauces for fish and soups. Be
sure to save any extra juices-o r at least have some good bread and olive oil
handy so that you don't waste any of this precious liquid.
2 De beard and scrub the musse ls by following steps 1-2 on page 129.
8 Add the ch ili flakes, a nd cook for a few seconds.
3 Place the mussels with the sha ll ots and wi ne in a heat-safe plastic bag
such as a roasting, free zer, or so us vide bag. The purpose of t he bag is 9 Add the white wine, and continu e cook ing until th e mixture turns
syrupy, abo ut4 minutes.
to capture t he jui ce; it doesn't need to be sea led.
4 Steam the mussels for 2 minutes, plunge them immediately into the ice
water, a nd then shuck the m. Co llect and strain the sh ucking juices (see
and t he n remove the pan from the heat.
steps 3- 6 on page 129). The mussels shou ld not be cooked thro ugh;
this step simply makes them eas ier to sh uck. 11 Stir in the Ita lia n parsley, tarragon, a nd thyme, add th e musse l
meats, stir gently to coat, and then remove them from the pa n
to avoid overcooking them .
5 Place t he strai ned juices and mussel meats in a zip-top bag. Remove
as much air as possible (see page 6), and seal t he bag. Cook the
mussel meats so us vide for 10 minutes. 12 Season the dish with sa lt and lemon juice, a nd serve it immedi-
ate ly. Don't let the mussels sit in the hot juices for more t han
a few seconds, or else they wil l get too firm .
Strain t he mussels, and meas ure 70 g / 70 ml/ y, cup of the juices for
6 use in step 10.
SH EllFI SH 133
CLAMS IN CHOWDER SAUCE
In this lighter take on the classic soup, clams are dressed in a warm, Whey protein isolate, which we add to make the broth foamy, is a
foamy sauce. For a more substantial dish that is closer to a typical protein derived from milk. You can find it at health-food stores, but
chowder, add extra chowder broth, and stir in some caramelized do not confuse it with sweet or flavored whey powders sold for pro-
onions (see page 45) and some microwave-steamed fingerling tein shake mixes. If you prefer more fully cooked clam meats, see the
potatoes cut into bite-size pieces (see variation on page 44). table on page 128 for sous vide time-and-temperature combinations.
TO MAKE AHEAD
After rinsing the clam meats in step 6, sea l them in a zip-top bag with the
remainingjuices, and refrigerate for no more than 24 hours. When ready
to make the chowder, continu e with step 7. In step 16, let the clams sit for
1 minute in the hot sa uce to warm through.
VARIATIONS
Oyster Stew
Substitute diced leeks for the bacon, and substitute oyster meats and juice
for the clams.
Although canned snails are already cooked, the sous vide treatment escargot by stirring them into melted butter with minced garlic and
described here infuses them with flavor and makes them wonder- parsley, or into Montpellier Butter (see page 38).
fully tender. Use braised snails in paella, or serve them solo as classic
It doesn't take much to start a snai l farm, and anthropologists think that
sna ils were one of the first moll usks to have been farmed by humans.
Only oysters have been cu ltivated longer.
SHEllFISH 135
NEAPOLITAN PIZZA DOUGH
This is a classic Neapolitan pizza dough. It's best when rolled thin create an elastic dough; buy it online or at specialty food markets.
and cooked quickly at a very high temperature. Antico Caputo 00 You can substitute all-purpose flour, but you may need to add up
is an extremely fine wheat flour used by most pizzerias in Naples to to 10% more water.
VARIATIONS
Quinoa Pizza Dough 1 Mix the flour, water, honey, sa lt, gluten, and yeast in the bowl of a stand
mixer with a dough hook until fully incorporated.
Quinoa flour, available at health-food stores and go urm et supermarkets,
makes a nutritious pizza dough that has a dense, chewy texture and a nutty
taste. Quinoa dough is less stretchy than dough made only from wheat
flour, so use care when forming it.
2 Mix on medium speed for 5 minutes.
TROUBLESHOOTI NG TIP:
The finished dough shou ld pull away from
the sid es (as shown in the photo on page 297
in the main volume), not the bottom, of the
mixing bowl. If it does not pull away from
the sides, sprink le in a teaspoon of flour,
and let it fully mix, repeating until the sides
of the bowl are clean.
The fermentation of the poolish, described on the next page, adds so it's best to use a stand mixer. If you must knead it by hand, lightly
a complex flavor to this dough and the enzymatic activity enhances flour your hands while handling it rather than stirring in more flour.
the browning of the crust by creating simple sugars. This country- Shape the pizzas gently so as not to tear them.
style dough is softer and stickier than most pizza and bread doughs,
VARIATION: Whole Wheat Pizza Dough Rustic Pizza Dough can be made with many different flours. Other flours
Substitute whole wheat flour for a ll-purpose flour to make a dense, chewy, may yie ld a slightly more complex flavor and a more e lastic texture.
and wholesome variation.
PIZZA 137
POOLISH
YIELD: 1.4 kg
TIME ESTIMATE: 24 hours overall, including 5 minutes ofpreparation and 24 hours unattended
STORAGE NOTES: keeps indefinitely with regular care and feeding
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: easy
Poolish is not a misspelling of polish or Polish. It is the French term make a little more than you need for our Rustic Pizza Dough recipe
for "prefermented dough sponge." Similar in concept to a sourdough on the previous page, but with regular care and feeding, the poolish
starter, poolish is a living organism, sometimes known as a "mother can be kept alive for years. You can use it to make breads and pastries
dough " or "pre-ferment." Temperature and humidity determine the as well as pizza crusts. Don't omit the whole wheat flour; its nutrients
rate at which poolish develops its flavor and aroma. This recipe will help the poolish thrive.
1 Mix the flours, water, and yeast thoroughly. 3 Store the container in a dark area, such as a
kitchen cabinet, where the temperature will 4 ofCheck the appearance, flavor, and aroma
the pool ish after 24 hours. It should
remain within the range 15-21 . C/ 60-70 •F. look bubbly, taste sl ightly sour, and smell
2 the
Place in a conta iner large enough to allow
mixture to expand to four or five times Cooler temperatures slow fermentat ion; sweet and yeasty, slightly like alcohol. Stir
its starting size as it rises, and cover it. warmer temperatures can accelerate fer- before using, and see the note below for
mentation so much that the yeast dies. instructions on how to care for the pool ish.
This pizza crust is light and fluffy, flavorful, and easy to make. The but it is much gentler. Never press or work the dough, or you will
dough is based on Jim Lahey's recipe for No-Knead Country Bread. squeeze out the bubbles; just fold, let rest, and repeat.
Folding the dough may at first seem like a variation on kneading,
Developing flavors
If you a ll ow the dough to fe rment for 48 hours or longer, more complex
yeast and sourdo ugh flavors will deve lop, simila r to what yo u would get
with a pool ish (see the previous page).
If you don 't own a sta nd mixer, you can still ma ke pizza! Here a re simple
instructions for prope rl y kneading dough by ha nd, which ca n be used
when mak ing any o f our reci pes for pizza doug h.
PIZZA 13 9
HOW TO Make a Pizza
You can build a great pizza if you master three c ru c ia l eleme nts: the the pizza to cook through quickly a nd eve nly, producing a combi nation
dough, the toppings, and the baking. Stretching out pizza dough is a of crisp and chewy textures. Baking a pizza well requires the right tools-
delicate art that rewards patience and practice . Topping a pizza is a ll a very hot and stable oven and baking surface, a pizza peel of the right
about balance: finding that idea l ratio of dough to toppings that allows size-and a keen sense of timing.
1 Remove the pizza dough from the refrigerator, cover it, and let it warm
for an hour to room temperature. If the dough was frozen , first defrost 6 Place the dough onto a pizza peel. jerk the peel sharply back and forth;
this prevents the dough from stick ing to the peel.
it in the refrigerator overn ight. Covering the dough keeps the surface
from drying out and forming a crust.
7 Spread the sauce even ly over the dough, but leave the outermost
2.5 cm / 1 in ofthe perimeter dry.
2 While the dough is warming, prepare a baking surface (see page 301
in the main volume for options). Set the oven temperature as high as it
will go; 260 •c ; soo · Fis a minimum. 8 Sprinkle grated cheese even ly over the sauce.
3 Stretch and flatten the dough on a floured work surface by using your
fingers to press the middle of the dough flat, and then work the dough
9 To avoid losing heat from the oven, slid e the pizza from the peel onto
the baking surface as quickly as possible.
10 Cook the pizza until the crust turns brown and blisters, 3-5 minutes.
Some of the larger bubbles shou ld look almost burnt.
4 Dust a pizza peel (o r a baking sheet) with a light, even dusting of flour.
Tap the side of the peel on the counte rtop to knock off any excess
flour. If the cooked pizza crust tastes like burnt flour, the peel was
overfloured.lfthe pizza crust sticks, you probably used too little flour.
11 Remove the pizza from the oven by using the pizza peel or baking
sheet, and slide it on a cooling rack . This keeps the crust crisp.
5 Drape the dough over the back of your hand, and then rotate it slowly.
The weight of the dough should gently stretch it to a circular shape
12 Season the pie with fresh basil, chili fl akes, salt, and olive oil. Don't
forget to season the very edge of the crust, and give it a littl e drizzle
and even thickness, 30-35 cm / 12-14 in. in diameter. Small blisters of o il, too. Serve the pizza immediately.
and bubbles should form in the dough. These are good!
Roasted red pepper, 30 g Va cup Wild mushrooms 125 g :Y., cup Mozzare lla cheese, grated 125 g lo/a cups
sliced (such as chanterelles, Culatello or prosciutto, 50 g 3-5 slices
Olives, sli ced 25g 2Tbsp yellow foot, maitake, thinly sliced
White anchovy fillets or porcinis), sauteed
20g 7-9 fillets Follow steps 1-11. Garnish the baked pizza
Pecorino Romano, shaved 15 g \4 cup Follow steps 1-8. Add the sauteed wild mush- with the culate llo or prosciutto, and serve
Mint leaves 3g 1 Tbsp rooms. (If using black trumpet mushrooms, it immediate ly.
add them raw rather than sauteed .) Continue
Follow steps 1-8. Add the peppers and olives, with step 9.
and continue with step 9. Garnish the baked
pi zza with the a nchovies, Peco rino Romano,
and torn mint leaves, and serve it imm ediately.
A well-cooked pizza has sco rched blisters on the bottom of the crust-
a lthough pizza can also be delicious without a blistered crust. If you don't
see any blisters, your cook ing surface is not hot enough. You can try using a
metal plate, as described on page 301 in the main volume. Also see page 34
in the main volume for a gu id e to ovens and baking eq uipment .
This is a great basic pizza. The variations you can create are endless, the main volume) or use packaged, shredded mozzarella instead.
but don't go overboard with your toppings: more than 150- 200 g of Another approach is to add burrata or another wet mozzarella cheese
toppings ca n render the crust wet and doughy. Many people put too to the pizza after you take it out of the oven. For an illustrated guide
much sauce or cheese on a margherita pizza, so it quickly gets soggy. to m aking pizzas, see the previous pages.
You can vacuum-dry buffalo mozzarella (see photos on page 304 in
PIZZA 141
OVEN-FRIED PIZZA
Old Forge, Pennsylvania, is a coal-mining town known for its unusual creates a crust with a completely different flavor than you find on
style of pizza, which is rectangular and fried in oil for a crispy crust. a baked pizza. When done properly, most of the oil stays in the pan
Our oven-fried pizza is not the true Old Forge style created by the and does not make the pizza greasy. Don't overload the pizzas with
Ghigiarelli family, but it is inspired by the original. Frying the pizza toppings, or they won't cook evenly.
When adding toppings to a pizza, be judicious. Overdressing the pie Season the finished pie just before serving with a drizzle of your best
can knock its flavors out ofbalance and make the dough soggy. Also extra-virgin olive oil and a sprinkling of red pepper flakes and salt.
take care to precook any ingredients that won't cook fully during the The quantities listed here are scaled for a 30-35 em / 12-14 in pizza.
short time the pizza bakes. You can use fresh ingredients as a garnish Steps and substitutions refer to the recipe for Pizza Margherita on
after the baking is done to add contrast in texture and temperature. page 141.
PIZZA 143
MAC AND CHEESE
YIELD: five servings (BOO g/ 5 cups)
TIME ESTIMATE: 30 minutes overall
STORAGE NOTES: serve pasta immediatelyj cheese sauce keeps for 1 week when refrigerated
or up to 2 months when frozen
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: moderate
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: sodium citrate
This recipe has been one of the most popular in Modernist Cuisine Elbow macaroni is the classic pasta for mac and cheese, but any
since that book appeared. Use it as a template to create your own kind of pasta works. Those varieties having a rough surface hold
version of a refined mac and cheese. There are so many potentially the sauce better. Although cheese lovers might be tempted to boost
great cheese mixes and accompanim ents that it was hard to pick just the sauce-to-past a ratio, keep in mind that the sauce is very rich.
the six that we have space for here. A little goes a long way.
INGREDIENT WEIGHT VOLUME SCALING PROCEDURE
Water or milk 26Sg 265 mL / 1'/s cups 93% CD Combine in a pot, whisk to dissolve, and bring to a simmer over medium
Sodium citrate 11g 4% heat.
White cheddar cheese, 285g 4cups 100% 0 Add into the simmering liquid gradually, blending each addition with an
finely grated immersion blender until melted and complete ly smooth.
Water as needed fo r cooki ng the pasta ® Bring a large pot ofwaterto a boil.
Dry macaroni 240g 2 cups 84% @) Boil until al dente according to the package directions, 5-6 minutes.
® Drain. Do not rinse the pasta.
® Stir in the warm cheese sauce, and fold in any accompanime nts you wish
to add (see the variations below).
Salt to taste <V Season the mac and cheese, and serve it immediately.
(adapted from Harold McGee)
VARIATIONS
In the variations below, substitute the cheeses listed for the white cheddar
cheese at step 2, and fold in the add itions listed at step 6.
1 Whisk the sodium citrate into the water or milk in a pot until fully
dissolved, and then bring to a simmer.
Mac and Gruyere 4 Boil the macaroni until it is at dente, as instructed by the package
directions, or for 5-6 minutes.
Cheeses: 285 g / 4 cups of Gruyere
Fold in: roasted ca uliflower and roasted tomatoes
Mac with Goat Gouda and Cheddar 5 Drain the pasta. Do not rinse it.
Cheeses: 142 g / 2 cups of goat Gouda and 142 g/ 2 cups of goat cheddar
Fold in: Pressure-Cara melized Onions (see page 45) and black olives 6 Stir the warm cheese sauce into the pasta. Fold in any flavor accom-
paniments (see the variations at left for ideas).
WHILE YOU'RE AT IT
Broccoli with Cheese Sauce
Fondue
Make a deli cious side dish by substituting steamed broccoli for the pasta.
At step 1, substitute 200 g / 200 mL /7's cup of water and 11 8 g / 120 ml /
We cut the broccoli into bite-size pieces so that the florets are enve loped
by the cheese sauce, just as pasta would be. Also try substituting cau li-
'/2 cup of dry white wine for the water. At step 2, whisk in the cheese rather
than using a blender so that the fondue is appropriately stringy. For a classic
flower, steamed finger ling potatoes, green beans, she ll ed edamame,
Swiss interpretation, use Emmental cheese, and add a dash of kirsch.
sauteed button mushrooms, baby bok choy, or Brussels sprouts.
By using sodium citrate, an emulsifying salt, you can make any cheese sandwiches, vegetables, apple pie, or any other dish needing
cheese into slices that melt as perfectly as American-style sandwich a melted cheese that doesn't separate. You can either form the cheese
cheese does. These slices are perfect for cheeseburgers, grilled into a thin sheet, or mold it into a cylinder or block for slicing later.
We deve loped this cheese slice technique for the Mushroom Swiss Burger
reci pe in Modernist Cuisine. In that version, we added a lot of ad ditiona l
liq uid (beer!). We wanted the cheese to flow well, so we a lso added ca rra-
geenan, a thickener ex tracted from seaweed, to adj ust the viscosity of the
cold cheese. Since t he n, however, we have discovered that the carrageenan
isn't necessary if yo u add less liquid, as we do he re. The sod ium citrate, on
the othe r ha nd, is indispensab le for preventing the cheese from separating
when it me lts.
The key to excellent baked mac and cheese is to parcook (partially undercooking and overcooking is incredibly fine. You can substitute
cook) the macaroni just long enough to ensure that it becomes any of the cheese combinations from the variations on page 144 for
tender rather than mushy during b aking. The threshold between the cheese mixture here.
TO MAKE AHEAD
After coo ling the maca roni in step 6, toss it in enough neutra l-tasting oil to
lightly coat the pasta, a nd refrigerate it until ready to use. Th e cheese sauce
will keep forT wee k when refrigerated and for up to 2 months when frozen .
Th e mac a nd cheese ca n be prepared through step 11, and then refrigerated
for up to 3 days. Keep in mind that the pasta wi ll co ntinue to abso rb moist-
ure, so it will soften over time . Do not top with the cheese crumb le until
just before baking. Baking th e mac a nd cheese from the refrigerator will
require an additional l0 -12 minutes.
4 Parboil the macaroni for 2Y2 minutes. Although the surface of the pasta
will be coo ked, the interior will still be raw and crunchy. The macaroni
wi ll fini sh cooking in the oven.
5 Drain the cooked pasta, but do not rin se it. Proceed immediately to
the next step.
6 Spread the pasta into a single layer on the ch ill ed baki ng sheet, and
allow it to coo l, uncovered, for 5 minutes. This technique efficiently
coo ls th e macaroni, but doesn't rins e any of the starch from its surface.
When it has coo led, meas ure 450 g/3Y2 cups of th e pasta for use in
step 11.
7 Whisk the sodium citrate into the water or milk in a pot until it has
dissolved, and then bring the liquid to a simmer over medium heat.
8 Add the cheeses into the liquid, one spoonful at a time, while the
mixture simm ers on the stove. Use an imm ersion blender to blend
each spoonful until it has melted and becomes comp letely smooth.
9 Cool t he cheese slightly- it sho uld remain fluid -and then measure
450 g/ 2 cups for use in the next step.
12 Divide the mac and cheese eve nly into five ramekins, or pour it
into one large baking dish.
14 Bake until the cheese turns go ld en brow n and bubb ly, 13- 15 minutes.
Place the dish in a baking pan to catch any bubbling sa uce and
prevent burning. Serve hot.
The flavor compounds in cheese, much like those in tea leaves and We also add pureed cauliflower, which mimics the rich mouth-
coffee beans, dissolve in water. We take advantage of that fact by feel and color of cheese sauce but doesn't weigh it down. It is easy to
cooking pasta in cheese water, a technique that transfers flavor to make cheese water, and once you've tasted it, you will probably want
the macaroni and allows us to make a delicate, refined dish that to make extra to keep on hand. It freezes well and makes a wonderful
contains little fat yet retains much of the robust flavor of traditional soup base. You can also use it as a broth for glazed spring vegetables
mac and cheese. or braised winter greens.
4 Pass the puree through a sieve, and measure 75 g / 1,4 cup of it for use
in step 12.
10 Combine the reserved cheese water and the sugar in a medium pot.
Stir until the sugar dissolves, and then bring the mixture to a boil
over high heat. A lot of the natural sweetness of the cheese was left
behind in the cheese solids, so the pinch of sugar helps to round out
7 Cook the cheeses sous vide for 30 minutes. Th e end result should look 12 Cook the pasta until it has absorbed most of the cheese water and is
just a l dente, about 7 minutes. Fold the reserved cauliflower puree
a bit like curdled milk. into the mac and cheese.
8 Remove the bag from the bath, and let it cool for 15 minutes at room
temperature.
13 Season the mac and cheese with salt to taste, and serve it warm.
CHEESE CRUMBLE
YIELD: 250 g/20 cups
TIME ESTIMATE: 1J4 hours overall, including 25 minutes ofpreparation and SO minutes unattended
STORAGE NOTES: keeps for 2- 3 days when refrigerated
LEVEL OF D IF FICULTY: moderate
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: food processor (optional), sodium citrate, tapioca starch
USED IN: Baked Mac and Cheese (see page 146)
INGREDIENT WEIGHT VOLUME SCALING PROCEDURE
Water 60g 60 mL /1,4 cup 30% CD Preheat the oven to 175 °C/ 350 °F.
Sod ium citrate 2.5g 1.25% ® Combine in a pot, whisk until dissolved, and bring to a simmer.
Gruyere cheese, 200 g 3 cups 100% 0 Add gradually to the simmering liquid . Use an immersion blender
finely grated to blend each addition unti l it is melted and completely smooth.
Tapioca starch 100g 7'a cup 50% 0 Add, one-third at a time . Stir well between additions to keep the mixture
smooth and moist throughout. The mixture turns thick very quickly and
resemb les a dough when it is finished.
® While the cheese mixture is still warm, scoop it onto a si licone mat,
and use a rolling pin to roll it into a thin, even sheet.
® Place the mat on a baking sheet, and bake until the cheese cracker is
comp lete ly dry and golden brown, 45-50 minutes.
0 Coo l the cheese cracker, and break it into pieces.
® Grind the cheese cracker in a food processor to make fine crumbs.
Alternatively, place p ieces in a zip-top bag, and crush them with a
ro lling pin or mallet.
Gruyere cheese, 40 g o/a cup 20% ® Combine with the ground or crushed cheese crumbs.
fine ly grated @ Store refrigerated.
Panko bread crumbs 20g 2Tbsp 10%
TO MAKE AHEAD
Top any au gratin dish with this cheese crumble: it goes well on scalloped For extended storage, keep the ground cheese crumbles from step 8 in
potatoes, green bean casserole, and Apple Betty. You can substitute other an airtight conta iner. Mix them with the grated Gruyere and panko bread
firm or hard cheeses, such as cheddar or Parmesan, for the Gruyere. crumbs just before you use them .
To make a great grilled cheese sandwich, generously spread butter use the instructions for the Perfectly Melting Cheese Slice on the
on the exterior of the bread, assemble the sandwich, and panfry it previous page with the ingredients and quantities given below. You'll
over medium heat until the bread is golden brown and the cheese notice that some combinations call for less than half the water of
is fully melted, 2-3 minutes per side. We use a cast-iron skillet, others; it may seem counterintuitive, but crumbly cheeses tend to
but a countertop sandwich grill (or panini press) works well, too. bind better with less water. If you need to finish many sandwiches in
The bread should not be so thick that it detracts from the filling, one batch, toast the slices, assemble the sandwiches, and then bake
but it also needs to hold the sandwich together; we slice ours them in the oven at 190 •c / 375 •p until the cheese melts. These
1-l.S em / 3/s-S/s in thick. To make the cheese slice recipes here, recipes make four sandwiches.
Aged White Cheddar on Sourdough with Apples Goat Cheese on Baguette with Tomato Con fit and Basil
Sourdough bread 8 sli ces Baguette, split in half 4segments
Aged White Cheddar 8 slices and cut into segments
Cheese Slice 10 cm / 4 in long
Honeycrisp app le, 8 slices Goat Cheese Slice 8 slices
thinly sli ced Tomato Confit 120g y, cup
or Grilled Applesauce 120g Y2 cup see page 46
without mustard Pistachio Pes to 80 g 'A cup
see page 42 see page 22
ja lapenos, thinly sliced 30 g 3Tbsp Basil leaves 8-121eaves
Aged White Cheddar Cheese Slice: Goat Cheese Slice:
Water 115g 115 mL /Y2 cup Water 38g 38ml /
Sodium citrate 14 g 2Y, Tbsp
Aged white cheddar 380 g 6 cups Sodium citrate 11 g
cheese, grated Bucheron goat cheese, 380 g 3 cups
rind cut off, crumbl ed
For traditional risotto, chefs insist that the rice requires constant starches. Finishing, which can be done days later, then takes just
stirring and fussing until the very last minute. We agree that good a few minutes before serving.
risotto should be al dente and is best served immediately, but we The results are just as good as the old-fashioned method. Good
prefer a quicker method that requires much less of the cook's atten- stock, fresh vegetable juices, and aged Gouda cheese give this version
tion: parcook the grains, and then chill them on a frozen baking a bold vegetable flavor. Risotto is a wonderful base for a variety of
sheet, which stops the cooking without rinsing away the valuable flavors; see pages 154-155 for suggestions.
1 Place a baking sheet in the freezer, and allow it to ch ill for at least
30 minutes. 6 Quickly spread the rice in a single layer on the frozen baking sheet to
stop the cooking. You can speed the chilling process by putting the
baking sheet back in the freezer for 5 minutes.
2 Place the shallots and oil together in a medium pot, and sweat until the
shallots are tender and translucent but not brown, about 2 minutes.
7 When you are ready to finish the cooking, combine the cooled rice a nd
cook ing li quid, and simmer over medium-high heat, stirring constantly,
until the liquid has thickened and the rice is al dente, 3-5 minutes. Add
3 Stir the rice into the shallot mixture, and cook until the rice turns sh iny
and slightly toasted, about 2 minutes . liquid as needed.
4 Stir the vegetab le stock, vegetab le juices, and vermouth or wine into
the rice mixture, and simmer it for 6 minutes. This parcooks the gra ins,
8 Stir the grated cheese and butter into the warm risotto.
Paella has gained a reputation as a dish for special occasions because Cooked chicken, shrimp, crabmeat, or duck breast can all be folded
it is so time-consuming to make. But it doesn't have to be: with little into the rice instead of, or along with, the snails. For an elegant
more than 25 minutes of total labor, you can use this recipe to make touch, finely shave some fresh porcini mushrooms, when they are
incredibly flavorful and creamy Valencia-style paella. We chose to in season, over the finished dish.
add snails because they are historically an original garnish for paella.
1 Sweat the vegetables in olive oil in the base of a pressure cooker over
medium heat until they become tender and translucent but not brown, 6 Check the rice for doneness. The grains shou ld be al dente: firm to the
bite but not hard or crunchy. If the rice is not quite done, simm er it for
about 3 minutes. 1-2 minutes more, uncovered. Stir it constantly.
2 Stir the rice into the vegetab le mixture, and cook until the rice turns
shiny and slightly translucent, about 2 minutes. 7 Stir the piment6n, thyme, and saffron into the rice. Let the paella rest
for1 minute so that the flavors infuse and the starch sl ightly coo ls and
thickens .
3 Stir the chicke n stock and sherry into the rice mixture.
5 Run tepid water over the rim of the cooke r to depressurize it quickly. To make ahead, see the instructions on page 326 in the main volume.
Each of the variations below includes complete cooking instruc- a dish having a drier consistency, simmer the mixture after pressure-
tions, but follows the general method for making Pressure-Cooked cooking; for a soupy, creamier dish, add more liquid. If parcooking
Paella del Bosco on the previous page. In each case, use a gauge the grain, as described in the recipe on page 152, you may need to
pressure of 1 bar / 15 psi, start timing as soon as full pressure has increase the quantity of liquid by up to 25% to allow for increased
been reached, and depressurize the cooker quickly by running evaporation.
tepid water over the rim before opening it; see the safety tips for You can substitute finely minced sweet onions for the shallots in
pressure-cooking on page 5. If the rice or grain is not quite done these recipes, and use additional butter or olive oil to add richness.
after pressure-cooking, simmer it for 1-2 minutes more. To make
Arborio Rice with Caramelized Squash and Saffron Forbidden Rice with Squid Ink and So us Vide Clams
Shallots, minced 20 g 2Tbsp Shallots, minced 30 g \4 cup
Neutral frying oil 20 g 20 ml / lY2 Tbsp Neutral frying oil 20g 20 mL / lY2 Tbsp
Arborio or similar short-grain 150g :Y.. cup Forbidden rice 150 g :Y.. cup
risotto rice
Pressure-Cooked 150g 150 ml /o/a cup
Fresh ca rrot juice 200g 200 ml /7's cup Crustacean Stock
Chardonnay or other 100 g 100 ml / 3/s cup see page 12
fruity white wine Fino sherry 75g 75 ml / STbsp
Butternut squash puree lOOg :Ys cup Squid ink
see variation on page 76
7.6g JY, tsp
Clam meat, cooked sous vide* 12 clams
Saffron 4-5 threads see page128
Grana Pad a no cheese, grated 90 g 1:Y.. cups Extra-virgin olive oil so g 55 ml /\4 cup
Salt to taste Salt to taste
Marcona almonds as needed Meyer lemon zest, grated as needed
Saute the sha ll ots in oil over medium heat in the base of a pressure cooker Saute the sha ll ots in oil over medium heat in the base of a pressure cooker
until translucent, about 3 minutes. Stir in the rice, and cook for1 minute until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add th e rice, and cook over medium
more. Add the carrot juice and Chardonnay, and pressure-cook for heat for1 minute more. Stir in the crustacean stock, sherry, and squid ink,
6 minutes. Stir in the squash puree, saffron threads, and cheese. Season and pressure-cook for 12 minutes. While the rice is cooking, remove the
with sa lt, and garn ish with a fine shavi ng of Microplaned almonds. bellies from the clams, and chop the remaining pieces. Fold the chopped
clams and olive oi l into the cooked rice. Season with sa lt, and garnish with
the clam bellies and grated lemon zest.
*Safety tips for lightly cookedfood: see page ix
Steel-Cut Oats with So us Vide Braised Snails Barley with Wild Mushrooms and Red Wine
Steel-cut oats 150 g 7's cup Wild mushrooms (ma itake, 140 g PA cups
Chicken stock 230 g 230 ml / 1 cup oyster, shiitake), minced
see page 9 Shallots, minced y, cup
40g
Pas tis or ouzo 50 g 65 ml /\4 cup Unsalted butter 3Sg 3 Tbsp
Pressu re-Cooked Garlic 60g /s cup
3
Neutral frying oil 20 g 20 mL / lY2 Tbsp
Con fit, sieved see page vi ii
see page44
Pearl barley 150 g :Y.. cup
Unsalted butter 50 g \4 cup Mushroom Stock, enhanced 180g 180 ml /:Y.. cup
Parmigiano-Reggiano 40g y, cup with crumbled dry porcinis
So us Vide Braised Snails 6Sg about 8 snai ls see pagelS
see page 135 Red wine (Syrah) 100 g 100 ml /:Ys cup
Salt to taste Gruyere cheese, grated 65g y, cup
Green apple, diced 2Sg \4 cup Salt to taste
Italian parsley, minced 8g 2Y' Tbsp Black pepper to taste
Combine the oats with the chi cken stock and past is or ouzo in a pressure Saute the wild mushrooms and sha llots in the butter and oil over medium
cooker, and pressure-cook for 7 minutes. Stir in the garl ic con fit, butter, heat in the base of a pressure cooker until trans lucent, about 3 minutes .
and Parmigiano-Reggiano. Fold in the snails gently. Season with salt, and Stir in the barley, and cook for1 minute more. Add the mushroom stock
garnis h with the app le and Itali an parsley. Garn ish with addition al snail s and wine, and pressure-cook for 20 minutes. Stir in the grated cheese
and grated cheese, if desired. until melted. Season with salt and pepper. Garnish with additiona l cheese
and sauteed mushrooms, if desired.
Arborio Rice with Sea Urchin and Cocoa Bomba Rice with Chorizo and Broccoli-Gruyere Puree
Shallots, minced 35g Y., cup Shallots, minced 50 g 6 Tbsp
Neutral frying oil 20g 20 ml/ 1Y2 Tbsp Neutral frying oil 40g 45 ml/ 3 Tbsp
see page vii i see page vi ii
Arborio or similar short-grain 150 g 3)! cup Spanish chorizo, casing 150 g :Y.. cup
risotto rice removed
Sous Vide Fish Stock 200g 200 ml /?'a cup Bomba or similar short-grain 150 g :Y.. cup
see pagell paella rice
Dry sake 60 g 60 ml / Y., cup Water 230 g 230 ml / 1 cup
Freshly squeezed grapefruit 40g 40 mL / Y.. cup Wheat beer 80 g 80 ml / Y3 cup
juice Broccoli-Gruyere Puree 150 g :Y.. cup
Sea urchin, pressed through 30 g 3Tbsp see variation on page 76
a sieve* Extra-virgin olive oil 70 g 80 mL /Y3 cup
Grapefruit zest, finely grated 4g 1 Tbsp Salt to taste
Cocoa powder as needed Garlic, thinly sliced and fried as needed
Tarragon leaves as needed until crisp
Saute the shallots in o il over medium heat in the base of a pressure cooker Saute the shallots in oi l over medium heat in the base of a pressure
until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the rice, and cook over medium cooker until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the chorizo and rice,
heat for1 minute more. Add the fish stock, sake, and grapefruit juice, and and cook over medium heatfor1 minute more . Stir in the water and
pressure-cook for 6 minutes. Stir in the sea urchin and grapefruit zest. beer, and pressure-cook for 7 minutes. Stir in the broccoli puree and
Season with salt, and garnish with tarragon leaves, a dusting of cocoa extra-virgin olive oil. Season with salt, and garnish with fried garli c,
powder, and sea urchin tongue. and a few blanched broccoli florets.
*Safety tips for lightly cookedfood: see page ix
The traditional version of polenta can take more than an hour to We cook the polenta in corn stock for an incredibly intense corn
cook; a pressure cooker greatly reduces the time and effort required. taste.
1 Heat the clarified butter or oil in a pan over low heat. Using clarified
butter avo ids any specks of browned butter in the finished po lenta. 6 Pressure-cook at a gauge pressure of1 bar / 15 psi for 12 minutes.
Start timing as soon as full pressure has been reached.
2 Add the cornmeal to the pan, and toast it, stirring constantly, until it
turns golden brown, about 4 minutes. This adds a nice, nutty flavor 7 Depressurize the cooker quickly by running tepid water over the rim.
Let the jars coo l slightly before opening them. This helps to avoid
to the polenta. sp lattering.
3 Divide the cornmeal evenly into two 500 mL/ 16 oz canning jars.
8 Spoon the cooked polenta into a small pot.
4 Stir half(150 g/ 150 mL /o/a cup) ofthe corn stock or water into each jar.
Tighten the lids ful ly, and then unscrew them one-quarter turn so that 9 Stir the mascarpone and the ricotta salata into the polenta over low
heat until the cheeses are fu lly incorporated . For special dinners,
the jars don't explode . we add even more mascarpone for a richer mouthfeel.
5 Place a metal rack or trivet on the base of the pressure cooker, pour in
water to a depth of2 .5 cm / 1 in, and then place the filled jars on
1Q Season the po lenta, and garnish it with marinara sauce (see
page 32), grated ricotta sa lata, and jul ienned basil.
the trivet.
You can make grits from course-ground cornmeal of nearly any the cost of a much blander flavor. Instead, use a pressure cooker
variety: white, yellow, or blue. The kind of corn and size of the grind and enjoy the real dish, quickly and without constant stirring. For a
affect the cooking time and the amount of water needed, however. slightly more traditional take, top a bowl of grits with prawns, either
Avoid instant grits, which offer shorter cooking times but only at seared or poached sous vide (see the table on page 128).
6 Depressurize the cooker quick ly by running tepid water over the rim.
Allow the jar contents to coo l sl ightly before opening them so that
3 Stir the crustacean stock and grits to combine them. Divide the mixture
evenly between two 500 mL / 16 oz canning jars. Tighten the lids ful ly, they don't splatter.
and then unscrew them one-quarter turn; this prevents them from ex-
ploding. Alternatively, freeze the stock, and then vacuum seal it with
the grits in a bag rated fort he higher temperature of a pressure cooker.
7 Spoon the cooked grits into a small pot, and stir them well.
4 Place a metal rack or trivet in the base of a pressure cooker, add water
to a depth of2 .5 cm / 1 in, and then place the filled jars on the trivet.
9 Season the grits with salt. Divide them evenly into four serving bowls.
CORNMEAL 157
PRESSURE-COOK ED FRESH -CORN TAMALES
YIELD: six to 10 servings (1.5 kg/ about 20 tamales)
TIME ESTIMATE: 30 hours overall, including 1 hour ofpreparation and 20 hours unattended
STORAGE NOTES: keeps for 3 days when refrigerated or up to 6 months when frozen
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: moderate
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: stand mixer, food processor, pressure cooker, masa harina, dried corn husks
GOES WELL WITH: Pressure-Cooked Carnitas (see page 94), Salsa Verde (see page 31)
Tamales, made of steamed corn batter, are the Latin American ver- experiment with nontraditional fillings: vegetables or grated Cotija,
sion of a set cornmeal mush popular in the American South or the ricotta, or white cheddar cheese. Instead oflard, substitute rendered
set polenta popular in Italy. These tamales are intensely flavored pork, chicken, or bacon fat (see page 41) to add considerably more
of corn. They are a marvelous side dish. If you prefer more of an flavor. Garnish with pickled chilies and Mexican salsa, either store-
entree, fill them with shredded meat such as carnitas (see page 94), bought or Salsa Verde (see page 31).
short ribs (see variation on page 95), or adobo (see page 98). Or
VAR IATI ON: Corn j u ice Ta m a les W HI LE YOU ' RE AT IT: H ush Pupp ies
For a more intense corn flavor, substitute Corn Juice (see variation on Fo llow steps 2-5 above to make tamale batter. Deep-fry small (lS g / 1 Tbsp)
page 156) for the water or corn stock in the tamale batter. ba lls of the tamale batter in 175 ' C/ 350 ' F neutral frying oil (see page vii i)
until they turn brown and crispy, 3- 4 minutes . You might try a southern
Ohio trick we learned from the family of one of our research chefs: sub-
stitute lemon-lime soda for one quarter of the stock or water. Another
alternative we love is to lighten the batter by whipping 108 g /Y2 cup of
egg whites (from about3 eggs), and then stirring them in afte r step 5. Yet
anothe r option is to grind freeze-dried corn to a powder, and then ro ll
the batter in it to yield an extreme ly crunchy crust and an extra burst
of corn flavor. For deep-frying safety tips, see page 4.
2 Whip th e lard or butter in a stand mixer, scraping the sides of the bowl
frequently, unti l it turns light and airy.
3 Add the masa harina and corn stock or water to the mixer gradually,
alternating additions of the two ingredients. Mix until fully blended to
make th e masa batte r. When the batter is properly whipped, a dollop
will float in a glass of water.
4 Combine the fresh corn kernels, melted butter, sour cream, sugar, and
salt in a food processor, and blend until evenly combined into a corn
puree . The puree doesn't have to be perfectly smooth; the chopped
corn kernels lend a nice texture to the tamales.
5 Fold the corn puree into the masa batter to ma ke the tamale batter.
9 Let the cooker cool, or run tepid water over the rim, to depressurize it.
CORNMEAl 159
MICROWAVED EGGPLANT PARMESAN
Italian eggp la nt, 330g 12 slices 100% ® Arrange the eggp lant slices in a si ngle layer on a microwave-safe plate
peeled and sliced (from 1 eggplant) lined with paper towels, sprinkle with the salt, and cover with add itiona l
6 mm /Y.. in thick paper towels.
Salt 2g V2 tSp 0.6% @ Microwave at 1,100 W for 3 minutes. Work in batches if necessary.
Olive oil 50g 55 mL / Y.. cup 15% ® Brush the eggplant sli ces with olive oil on both sides, place them on
a clean plate, and seal them with microwave-safe plastic wrap.
® Microwave at 1,100 W until fully tender, about 4 minutes.
Marinara sauce 400g To/a cups 121% 0 Spread a generous spoonful of marinara sauce across the bottom of
see page 32 a microwave-safe dish that is 12.7 cm / 5 in sq uare.
Full-fat ricotta c heese 150 g 'I• cup 45% ® Lay four slices of the cooked eggpla nt over the sauce .
Fresh mozzarella, 150 g 1 cup 45% ® Top the eggp lant with one third of the basil and cheeses. Lightly salt
thinly s li ced if desired.
Basil leaves, torn lOg \12 cup 3% @ Top with a noth er ge ne rous spoonful of marinara sauce.
Salt to taste @ Repeat steps 8 -10 twice more, an d top with remaining marinara sauce.
@ Sprinkle the toasted bread and cheese crumbs over the assemb led dish.
@ Microwave at 1,100 W until hot in the center and bubbly on the sid es,
5- 6 minutes. Serve immediately.
4 Microwave the eggplant at 1,100 W for3 minutes; add more time if your
oven is less powe rful than this. The paper towels absorb steam, so the 10 Spread another generous spoonful of marinara sauce over the top.
eggp lant doesn't get soggy. Work in batches if necessary; do not stack
slices on top of one another. 11 Repeat steps 8-10 two more times to build three layers. Spread any
extra marinara sauce over the top.
5 Brush the cooked slices with olive oil on both sides, place them on
a clean microwave-safe plate, and seal them tightly with plastic wrap, 12 Sprinkle the cheesy bread crumbs generously on top.
which traps the steam produced during cook ing. Use only plastic
wrap specifically rated for microwaving.
13 Microwave again at 1,100 W until the food is hot in the center and
bubbly on the sides, 5-6 minutes. The sauce may bubble over, so it's
a good idea to place a plate underneath the dish .
6 Microwave the sli ces at1,100 W until they are tender all the way
through, about 4 minutes. If they are still slightly rubbery, cook
for up to 2 minutes more.
This is such a practical and fast way to cook vegetables perfectly. samba/ ulek, a salt-cured chili sauce (use a 2:1 ratio by weight). Alter-
Sealing the produce in a plastic bag captures steam to help the natively, use our Korean Wing Sauce (see page 116) or 100 g of our
microwave do the cooking. If you can't find black bean and chili Pressure-Caramelized Peanut Sauce with some extra minced lemon-
paste, replace it with a combination of garlic black bean sauce and grass (see page 31) to obtain a different set of flavors.
Combine the hoisin sauce, black bean and ch ili paste, wine, soy sauce,
1 and sesame oil in a pot, and bring the mixture to a simmer.
2 Remove the sauce from the heat, and allow it to coo l sl ightly.
Place the cleaned bok choy halves a nd the water in a zip-top bag.
3 Remove as much air as possible from the bag, and sea l it. Alternatively,
arrange the bok choy on a microwave-safe plate, add water, and then
tightly cover the plate with microwave-safe plastic wrap.
4 Microwave the bok choy at 1,100 W for 2 minutes (or at full powerfor a
bit longer, if your oven is less powerful than this), and then let it rest for
2 minutes in the bag or plastic wrap. If you're using a microwave-safe
dish, cooking may take an extra minute. Microwave ovens vary widely
in their power output, so check the power of yours before cooking,
and adjust the power level or cooking time accordingly.
5 Remove the bok choy from the bag, shake off any excess water from it,
and arrange it on plates.
6 Season the bok choywith the spicy sauce, chili oi l, and salt. Serve
it hot.
Time
Technique Ingredients Preparation Procedure (min)
cooking root vegetables beets, carrots, celery root, whole vacuum seal, or arrange on a plate and seal with 3-7
potatoes, turnips microwave-safe plastic wrap; cook medium beets
for 6 minutes, and rub off the skin
cooking leafy greens bok choy, broccoli, cabbage whole place in azip-top bag with 50 ml / Y., cup of water; 2-5
alternatively, arrange in a microwave-safe dish with
2 mm /Y•• in of water, and cover with microwave-safe
plastic wrap
cooking bulbs and fibrous artichokes, cardoon, celery, whole vacuum seal 2-5
vegetables fennel, leeks, onions
This recipe was adapted from Margaret Lu, the mother ofJohnny you can substitute halibut fillets or small whole snapper, rockfish,
Zhu, one of the development chefs at The Cooking Lab. Mrs. Lu trout, black sea bass, pomfret, or sole for the black cod. Fishes differ
originally made the dish with tilapia. Johnny adapted it to cod, but a bit in their densities, so you may need to adjust the cooking time.
6 Garnish each fillet with the julienned ginger and scallion greens.
2 Combine the scallion whites and ginger coins, and mound them on
eac h fillet in its bag.
7 Heat the peanut oi l in a sma ll pan to 190 •c / 374 •F.
3 Pour half of the Shaox ingwine into each bag and around the fish.
8 Drizzle one half of the hot peanut oil slowly and even ly over the top of
each fillet. The oi l should sizzle and pop as it releases the aromas of the
scrape off the sca llion and ginger. Use caution: t he bags contain very
hot steam. If your microwave ove n is more powerful than 800 W,
lower the power level accord ingly. Set the power leve l of an 1,100 W
oven, for examp le, to 75% or leve l 7.
VARIATIONS
Microwaved Sea Bass, Tilapia, Halibut, or Sole Aromatic Microwaved Cod
To make this recipe with other kinds offish, use the cooking times For a more intensely aromatic dish, combine the Shaoxing wine with
given below. 10 g / 4 tsp of minced ginger a nd 25 g/ 4 tsp of minced scallion, white
parts only. Rub the mixture gently a nd even ly a ll over the surface
Whole black sea bass (450 g): 6Y2 minutes of each fillet, and then place t he fillets in bags as directed in step 1.
Whole tilapia (800 g): 6 minutes Contin ue at step 3.
Halibut fillet (170 g) : 2Y., minutes
Dover so le fillet (170 g): l Y2 minutes
Making beef jerky involves two time-consuming steps: marinating rancid at room temperature. Flank steak is ideal, but any lean cut of
and drying, each of which can take a day or more when done the tra- red meat will do, including venison or lamb. We prefer thick jerky,
ditional way. Modernist techniques can cut the time to just S hours. but if you are using a tougher cut, such as a flatiron steak, cut the
You can use a whipping siphon to pressure-marinate the beef, and strips as thinly as possible. This recipe uses soy sauce and fish sauce
then dry it in mere minutes in a microwave oven. to impart a mild Asian flavor; see below for spicy, smoky, and South
Jerky should be made oflean meat because beef fat quickly turns African variations.
VARIATIONS
Spicy jerky
In step 2, add 4 g/ 2 tsp of red chili flakes to the marinade.
Smoky jerky
In step 2, add 1.7 g / y, tsp of liquid hickory smoke to the marinade.
Biltongjerky
In step 2, add 7.5 g / 1Y2 Tbsp of ground coriander to the marinade,
and increase the quantity of black pepper to 7.5 g / 1Y, Tbsp.
2 Comb in e the soy sauce, fish sauce, sugar, maple syrup, Worcestershire
sauce, and peppers, and stir until dissolved to make a marinade.
3 Stir the strips of meat into the marinade until they are well coated.
5 Drain the marinade from the beef strips, and use paper towels to pat
them dry.
8 Let the strips rest for a minute or two. Cooking a nd rest ing the meat
he lps keep it tender a nd reduces the drying time.
9 Remove the pl astic wrap, drain off the liquid, and blot t he pieces dry
with paper towe ls. Flip a nd rotate the pieces to place the rarer parts
facing up a nd near the outsid e of the plate.
13 Repeat steps 7-12 as needed to coo k the rema ining beef strips.
This recipe, which uses a cooking and drying technique very simi- garnish steak (see page 79), braised short ribs (see page 99), or
lar to that used to make Microwaved BeefJerky, produces delicate, any other meat dish that benefits from a crisp texture and an intense
crispy strands of fried beef. We use them in a Thai-inspired beef burst of umami flavor.
and shallot salad (see the next page), but you can also use them to
We developed this salad as a garnish to our recipe in Modernist To make the salad more substantial, try adding shredded pineapple
Cuisine for short ribs cooked sous vide. It was inspired by the Austra- and green papaya (available at Asian or Latin American markets),
lian chef David Thompson. The crispy beef strands are delicious or julienned jicama and cucumber. For a Western version, try baby
and set up a wonderful contrast with the Asian flavors of the salad. arugula, shredded fennel, and red onion.
The microwave oven is the secret to making an impressive herb gar- basil, dill, carrot tops, baby spinach, and lovage work equally well.
nish quickly, without the mess offrying in oil. After microwaving, the Verbena and lemon balm, however, tend to brown and wilt too
Italian parsley remains a brilliant emerald green, the texture becomes quickly. Inexpensive PVC-based plastic wrap is not recommended;
intriguingly crisp, and the leaves lie perfectly flat. We find that sage, use plastic specifically designed for use in microwave ovens.
2 Brush the plastic wrap with a thin fi lm of oil, or coat it with cooking
spray. 6 Transfer the crisp, fried parsley leaves to a tray lined with paper towe ls,
and season them.
3 Lay the parsley leaves on the prepared plastic wrap. Space the leaves
about 2 cm / 3A in apart. Work in batches as needed. 7 Repeat with the remaining oil and parsley leaves . Change the plastic
wrap on every other batch to keep it from overheating.
4 Brush the tops of the leaves lightly with oil, or use cooking spray or your
fingers to dab on the oil. 8 Serve the fried herbs at room temperature .
With a whipping siphon, you can prepare and cook a fluffy, warm If heavy-duty paper cups are not available, use pairs of stacked
cake in just minutes. It will have a rough, rustic texture unlike a con- regular cups. Never use waxed cups; they will melt. The xanthan
ventional cake-more like a coarse, steamed sponge. Serve it alone gum in this recipe helps bind the batter so that it stays lighter when
or with fruit, ice cream, or Sous Vide Lemon Curd (see page 174). it sets. But the recipe works fine without it.
VARIATIONS
In each of the variations below, first follow step 1 to prepare the cups. Then whisk together Raspberry Macadamia Nut Sponge
the first group of ingredients listed for the variation. Next, sift together the dry ingredients Raspberry juice 150g 150 mL / 2/J cup
listed in the second group. Then continue with steps 6-13. Macadamia butte r 115g '/a cup
Eggs, beaten 100 g 2 eggs
Macadamia o il 76g 80 mL /'/a cup
Peanut Butter Sponge Sesame Sponge
Egg wh ite, beate n 40g 3Tbsp
Whole milk 150g 150 ml/ 2/J cup Whole milk 150g 150 mL/ 2/J cup
Powdered suga r 187g lo/a cups
Natural peanut 115g Y, cup Tah ini 115 g Y2 cup
butte r, smooth Wondra 125g 1 cup
Eggs, beaten 100 g 2eggs
Eggs, beaten 2eggs Freeze-Dri ed 15g 2Tbsp
100 g Toasted-sesame oil 50g 55 mL/',4 cup Raspberry Powd e r
Hazelnut oil 76 g 80 mL /'/a cup Powd ered sugar 187g lo/a cups see page 182
Powd e red suga r 187g 1o/a cups Wondra 125g 1 cup Sa lt 9g 21,4 tsp
Wondra 125g 1 cup Salt 9g 21,4 tsp Powdered milk 5g 2 tsp
Salt 9g 21,4 tsp 8ak ingsoda 0.6g Ya tsp Baking soda 0.6g Yatsp
Baking soda 0.6g Ya tsp
Thickening or gelling
Recipe process Texture Application or garnish Note See page
creme anglaise egg yo lks and heat light, pourable sauce for fruit salads or cook so us vide fo r a smoother 176
warm cakes; base for ice texture
cream or milk shakes
creme brt:llee, egg yolks and heat very rich, smooth stand-alone, single- avoid overcooking, weeping, 172
pot de creme portion desserts or bubbl ing by cooking in a
flan whole eggs and heat bouncy, brittle water bath; vary the ratio of
egg yolk to white to explore
a range of appealing textures
gelato nut milk, dairy or thicken- rich, si lky ice-cream sandwiches; fat co ntent should be 30%-50%; 177
ing gum, and cold composed desserts the finer the ice crystals, the
better; use hydrocolloid thick-
eners to make vegan gelato
panna cotta dairy, gelatin or agar, firm, springy, and very molded and cut desserts firms over time when made 175
and heat smooth; can be rubbery with gelatin; use agar to make
a vegetarian vers ion
pastry cream egg yolks and heat pudding-like pie fillings; napoleons; make as a fluid ge l to avoid 180
cream puff fillings; using starch as a thickener;
puddings blend the yo lks with liquid
whi le sti ll warm
posset dairy, acid, and heat very rich, dense sweet accompaniment to measure weights and tempera- 173
acid ic fruits and sauces lures accurately for consistent
results
sabayon egg yolks and heat foamy, airy pie topping; in savory use a whipping siphon to foam 176
form, an accompan im ent the custard instantly
to steamed vegetab les
Many of our dessert recipes use a flavored liquid. Often the dominant to create variations of many of the recipes on pages 172- 176. You
flavor is infused into cream or milk. You can use the information below may need to a dju st t he yie ld to fit the recipe yo u are adapting.
INFUSIONS
1 Measure 300 g/ 300 ml / 1',4 cups of milk,
3 If the instructions say to sea l the ingredi-
ents together, place them in a zip-top bag, 4 Infuse as instructed; typica ll y this requires
overnight refrigeration or cooking so us vide
cream, sugar syrup, or eq ual parts of cream
and milk. remove as much air from the bag as possible in a preheated water bath.
by using t he water-displacement method
2 Mix the ingredients into the liquid. (see page 6), and seal it.
5 Stra in the infusion, and substitute it in the
custard recipe for the flavored syrup, mil k,
or cream.
Bacon Brown Sugar Infusion Citrus Infu sion Middle Eas te rn Infu sion Popcorn Infu s ion
Replace the sugar in the recipe with Sea l the liquid with 3 g / 1 Tbsp of Seal the liquid with 8 g/ lYz Tbsp of Combi ne the liqu id with 45 g /
brown sugar. Seal the liquid with grated lemo n zest, 3 g/ 1 Tbsp of ca rd amom seeds and 4- 5 threads 2Yz cups of popped, butter-
60 g/ 3/s cup of thin ly sli ced bacon grated lim e zest, and 3 g / 1 Tbsp of saffron in a zip-top bag. Infu se flavored microwave popcorn.
in a zip-top bag, and cook so us of grated orange zest in a zip-top t he mixture overnight, refrigerated. Blend the mixture coarsely; an
vide at 85 "C/ 185 "Ffor 2 hours. bag. In fuse the mixture overn ight, Strain. Add 3 g/ o/a tsp of orange immersion blender works well.
Cool the infused liquid, and then refrigerated. Stra in . b lossom water and 3 g / o/s tsp of Seal the coarse puree in a zip-top
strain it. rose flower water. bag, and infuse the mixture over-
Coconut Infusion night, refrigerated . Strain. Use a
Cinnamon Van ill a Infu sio n Replace t he heavy cream with Mint Infu sio n ladle to press all of the liquid from
Seal the liquid with 10 g / 2 sticks of coconut cream, and t he milk with Seal the liquid with 32 g / 1 cup the swollen popcorn.
cinna mon and 1 g/Y.. tsp of van ill a coconut milk. Sea l t he liq uid with of mint leaves in a zip-top bag,
seeds (scraped from 1 pod) in a 25 g / y, cup oftoasted coconut in and cook so us vide at 80 "C/ 176 "F Earl Grey Tea Infus ion
zip-top bag. Infuse the mixture a zip-top bag. Infuse the mixture for1 hour. Coo l t he infu sed liquid, Sea l the liqu id with 15 g / 3 Tbsp of
overnight, refrigerated . Strain. overnight, refrigerated. Strain. and then strain it. loose-leaf Earl Grey tea in a zip-top
(Alternative ly, if time is limited, bag. Infuse the mixture overn ight,
Fruity Pebble s Infusion lemongrass Ginge r Infusion refrigerated. Strain . Add 3- 5 drops
simply add 2 g / 1 tsp offres hly
Seal t he liqui d with 50 g / 1',4 cups Sea l th e liqu id with 100 g / 1',4 cu p of bergamot essentia l oil (optional).
grated cinnamon and t he va nilla
of Fruity Pebbles brand cereal in of thinly sliced lemongrass and
seeds to the cream and milk
a zip-top bag. Infuse the mixture 15 g/ 1 Tbsp of thinly sli ced ginger
mixture, and sk ip the overn ight
overnight, refrigerated. Strain . in a zip -top bag. Infuse the mixture
infusion.)
overnight, refrigerated. Strain.
FLAVORINGS
The flavorings below a re ad a ptations of the Coffee Creme Brulee recipe
on the next page. You can use the techniques illustrated he re to c reate
a widge range of creamy desserts.
The flavor of coffee custard is much brighter and more intense when As with most egg dishes, accurate temperature control is crucial
the coffee is infused cold than it is in the traditional, hot-infused for making a custard with just the right texture. Use a thermometer
version. Cold-infusing retains many volatile aromas that would dis- to check that your water bath or combi oven hits and holds the set
sipate quickly if the coffee were heated. And the technique could temperature. (If using a combi oven, set the oven to full steam at
hardly be easier: simply soak whole coffee beans in cream overnight. 82 'C / 180 'F in step 3.)
VARIATIONS
Pot de Creme
Skip steps 10-12, and serve the custard chilled. To reduce the cooking time, temper the yolks by heating the infused cream
before step 4. At step 4, whisk the warmed cream gently into the yolks.
Bain-Marie Creme Bru lee
To cook the custard traditionally, preheat the oven to 162 ' C/ 325 ' Fat
step 3. Place a kitchen towel in the bottom of a baking dish, fill it with water
to the level specified in step 3, and then proceed with step 4. At step 7,
cook for 25-30 minutes. Continue with step 8.
Flan
Flan has a more elastic texture than creme bru lee does, but it is made
similarly. Simply substitute whole milk for the heavy cream, and 100 g /
7 Tbsp of blended whole eggs (5-6 eggs) for the egg yolks. You can make
caramel (see the Finishing Variation on the next page) and pour it into the
ramekin before you fill it with custard .
9 Lift the ramekins careful ly from the water bath . Use tongs.
3 Place four100 mL/3 oz ramekins (or smal l cups or bowls) into an
empty water bath, and fil l with eno ugh water to reach 1 em I Ya in below
the tops ofthe vessels. Use a rack or shelf to allow water to circu late
beneath the vesse ls. Preheat the water bath to 82 oC/180 °F. 10 Refrigerate the custards until they are fully chill ed, about 2 hours,
and then remove the plastic wrap.
4 Blend the 200 g/ )ls cup of infused cream with the egg yolks, sugar,
and salt. An immersion blender works well. This is the custard base. 11 Sprinkle sugar over the tops of the co ld custards .
12 Melt and caramelize the sugar by sweep ing the flame of a blowtorch
5 Sieve the mixture, and let it settle. Fewer air bubbles translates into
a richer, denser texture .
over it.
LEMON POSSET
YIELD: six servings (415 g)
TIME EST IMATE: 120 hours overall, including 30 minutes ofpreparation and 12 hours unattended
STORAGE NOTES: keeps for 4 days when refrigerated
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: easy
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: citric acid, So us Vide Lemon Curd (optional, see the next page)
Perhaps the oldest way to make a dairy gel is to add an acid, such as that Shakespeare refers to it in Macbeth. Our Modernist version uses
citrus juice (which contains citric acid). The acid causes the proteins citric acid, which is more consistent than lemon juice, but you can
in the milk to coagulate into curds. Fresh cheeses such as ricotta and substitute 57 g I 57 mL I 1/4 cup oflemon juice. Garnish the posset
paneer are made this way, and so is posset, a creamy delicacy so old with seasonal berries or a citrus salad, according to the season.
By cooking the eggs in basic lemon curd sous vide, you can make curd to room temperature first to make a more fluid foam. You can
large amounts without the hassle of a double boiler or the risk of adjust the acidity of the curd without altering the texture by tailor-
overcurdling. If you have a whipping siphon, you can also foam the ing the amount of citric acid. You can substitute freshly grated lemon
curd by pouring it into the siphon before it has fully set; bring the zest for the lemon essential oil.
VARIATIONS
Fruit Curds
Substitute fresh citrus juice, such as grapefruit, mandarin, orange, Meyer
lemon, or lime juice, for the water and citric acid in step 5. At step 9, add
the grated zest of th e fruit. Alternatively, use fresh pineapple juice that
has been simmered until reduced by half, fresh passion fruit puree, or
cranberry juice in place of the citrus juice.
This panna cotta recipe illustrates how even a very simple dish can Gels made with gelatin strengthen as they age, so the panna cotta
be enhanced by one fundamental Modernist step-weighing the will be firmer if you make it a day or two in advance. Although panna
gelatin! Don't dump in a whole envelope or teaspoonful; use a scale to cotta is usually served cold, you can soften it slightly by warming it
measure just enough gelatin to set the custard. If you scale the recipe, to room temperature before serving. Gelatin melts at 37 •c / 100 •p,
use 0.8 g of Knox brand powdered gelatin for every 100 g of liquid. so don't warm it too much.
Creme anglaise is a thin custard that has myriad uses: transform We chose vanilla seeds to use in this recipe because of the intense
it into a rich milk shake, pour it over fresh berries, or churn it into flavor they lend to the custard. Vanilla lovers may even want to double
unctuous ice cream. The classic stove-top method for making it is the amount of seeds used. But you can substitute many other kinds of
laborious; cook it sous vide instead, and you can do other things flavorings for the vanilla. Try foaming creme anglaise in a whipping
while it cooks. The custard turns out just as smooth. siphon to make an ethereal garnish to fresh fruit or apple pie.
3 Pour the custard into a zip-top bag. Remove as much air as possible
from the bag by using the water-displacement method (see page 6),
a 70 •c / 158 •Fwater bath for 35 minutes. Blend the cooked yo lks while they
are sti ll warm with 50 g/'14 cup of sugar and 175 g / 180 mL / :Y.. cup of milk,
and seal it. water, or fruit juice. Cool, and then pour into a whipping siphon. Charge
with three cartridges of nitrous oxide, and shake. Dispense the foam
immediately, or refrigerate it in the siphon.
4 Cook sous vide for 45 minutes.
5 Remove the bag from the water bath, and immerse it in ice water until
the mixture has coo led comp lete ly.
7 Pass the creme through a fine sieve, and serve it warm or cold. The
vanilla seeds tend to settle over time, so stir or blend as needed
before serving.
This gelato h as become a signature dish from Modernist Cuisine; we The recipe works with any kind of nut butter, whether you buy
serve it at most of our events. Vegans particularly enjoy it because it commercially or make your own by using a powerful blender,
it is as smooth and intense as the best gelato, but contains no eggs such as a Vitamix. The variations listed below are just a starting
or dairy. A sid e benefit of that feature is that the gelato can be melted point; cashew and almond butters also make delicious gelati. Use
and safely rechurned if it free zes too hard. You may find that you the highest-quality nut butter you can find . For pistachio gelato,
need to warm the gelato for 10 minutes before serving it if it has it is crucial to u se 100% pistachio butter that has no coloring or
been in the freezer for 24 hours or more . other additives.
VAR IATIONS
Hazelnut Gelato Strawberry Macadamia Gelato P. B. & j. Gelato
Substitute hazelnut butter and hazelnut oil fo r Substitute fresh strawberry juice for the water, Substitute peanut butte r a nd roasted peanut oil
the pistachio butter and pistachio oil. Because a nd substitute raw macadamia butter a nd raw for the pistach io butter an d pistachio o il, and
of its high fat content, hazelnut gelato does not macadamia oi l for the pistachio butter and substitute either fresh strawberry juice or fresh
look as smooth as pistach io ge lato does, but its pistachio oil. It is important to use raw nut butter Concord grape juice for the wate r. Reduce the
mouthfee l is just as creamy. in this case because the fl avor of roasted nu t amount of sugar used to 125 g/o/a cup.
butter clashes with that of the strawbe rr y juice.
YIELD: 475 g of crust (enough for one 30 em/ 12 in pie or four 11 em/ 41;2 in tarts)
TIME ESTIMATE: 21;2 hours overall, including 30 minutes ofpreparation and 2 hours unattended
STORAGE NOTES: keeps for up to 3 days when refrigerated and 3 months when vacuum sealed and frozen
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: moderate
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: so us vide setup, food processor, almond flour
We tested more than 40 versions of sweet pastry crust (pate sucree) goes well with any tart or pie-although it pairs especially well with
and tart crust (pate sabiee). This recipe combines the advantages velvety custard fillings (see page 181). The recipe is easily adapted
of both kinds of dough and was the best by far. It includes a little to create exciting flavor variations; we've included some of our
almond flour and yields a sweet, delicate, and buttery crust that favorites below.
VARIAT IONS
Double Almond Crust Carrot Crust Raspberry Crust
At step 5, add 2.5 g / :Y., tsp of almond extract. Increase the amount of egg yolks to 63 g / Increase the amount of blended egg yolks
~cup (about 4 yolks). Add 70 g /Ys cup of to 63 g / ~ cup (about 4 yolks). Add 70 g /
Brown Butter Crust
freeze-dried carrot powder at step 4. Ys cup of Freeze-Dried Raspberry Powder
At step 4, substitute frozen chunks of brown
(see page 182) at step 4.
butter (see page 37) for half of the unsa lted Cheese Crust
butter. At step 4, add 60 g/ Ys cup of shredded Chocolate Crust
Parmesan cheese, and reduce the amount Increase the amount of blended egg yolks
Gingerbread Crust
of powdered sugar to 20 g / 3 Tbsp. to 68 g/ 4Y2 Tbsp (4-5 yolks). At step 4, add
At step 4, add 53 g/ 6Y2 Tbsp of Autumn Spice
186 g / lYs cups of finely chopped dark choco-
Mix (see page 55). Coconut Crust
late, 80 g/ 8 Tbsp of granu lated sugar, 34 g/
Increase the amount of blended egg yo lks to 3/s cup of Dutch-processed cocoa powder, and
Peanut Crust
63 g / ~ cup, and add 70 g /% cup of coconut
At step 4, substitute finely ground, roasted 2 g / ~ tsp of vanilla extract. Substitute baking
cream powder at step 4.
peanuts for the almond flour, and add soda for the baking powder. At step 12, add
40 g / 3 Tbsp of smooth peanut butter. 1-2 minutes to the baking time. Take extra care
when removing the parchment paper in step 13.
To keep a pie shell crisp, brush a thin coat of melted cocoa butter onto the
interior of the piecrust. and allow the fat to solidify at room temperature
before you fill the shell with pastry cream. The layer of cocoa fat forms a
moisture barrier that prevents the piecrust from getting soggy.
4 Comb ine the flours, diced butter, powdered sugar, sa lt, a nd baking
powder in a food processor, a nd pulse until the mixture takes on the
texture of co rnmeal.
6 Conti nu e process ing in pulses until th e dough sta rts to bind. Although
it loo ks very dr y, it will eve ntually co he re.
7 Form the dough into a ball, flatten it to a thick disk, and w rap it tightly
with p lastic wrap. Refrigerate it for at least 1 hour to a llow the gl uten
to rest a nd the butter to harden.
10 line the pan with the dough. Do not trim any excess dough; let
it drape over the edges of the pan. Press the dough firmly into
the interio r edges of the pan. If you will not be baking the crust
immediately, store it in the refrige rator.
11 Prick the dough all over with a fork. Press a protective layer of
parchment paper ove r it. Fill the pan with baking beads or dry
beans, a nd press them against the walls so that the dough does n't
droop whi le baking.
12 Place the ta rt pan on a ba king sheet, and bake the crust until it
turns gold en brown, a bout12 minutes for a si ngle piecrust or
8-9 minutes forfour sma ll e r tart crusts. Rotate the pie a half-turn
midway through baking.
13 Remove the beans and parchment carefu lly. If the crust sti ll looks
slightly wet, bake it for an additiona l2-3 minutes.
14 Coo l the crust to room tem pe rat ure, and then trim any excess crust
from t he margins of the pan .
Pastry cream, or creme pdtissiere, is the workhorse of custards. Tradi- vide before they are blended into a cream infused with cinnamon
tional recipes for it are heavy on starch, which stabilizes the egg yolk and vanilla. Our approach eliminates the risk of curdling the custard
emulsion but dilutes the taste and coarsens the texture. and also opens up a virtually endless variety of flavor and texture
This recipe dodges those problems by cooking the egg yolks sous combinations, some of which are presented on the next page.
5 Place the blended and strained egg yolks into a zip -top bag, re move
as much air as possible from the bag by using the water-disp lacement
10 The custa rd can be se rved warm or cold. It will thicken as it cools.
To prevent a sk in from forming, press plastic wrap directly onto the
method (see page 6), and sea l it. custard before storing it.
6 Cook the egg yolks so us vide for 35 minutes. The yo lks wi ll be firm and
fully set after cooking.
Add the gelatin to the mi lk or cream while the liquid is co ld, and then melt
it over medium heat. For more information, see Working with Gelatin,
page175.
184
c onvertmg Temperature converf mg Temperat ure
Celsius to Fahrenheit Fahrenheit to Celsius Celsius to Fahrenheit Fahrenheit to Celsius
(• c) (• F) (• F) (• c) (•c) (• F) (• F) (• c)
185
Converting Weights Converting Weights
To convert we ights from grams to Gram s to ounces Ounces to grams
ounces, divide by 28.35. To convert (g) (oz) (oz) (g)
from ounces to grams, multiply by
45 1.587 45 1,275.8
28.35.
50 1.764 50 1,417.5
Grams to ounces Ounces to g rams
55 1.940 55 1,559.3
(g) (oz) (oz) (g)
60 2.116 60 1,701.0
0.1 0.004 0.1 2.8
65 2.293 65 1,842.8
0.2 0.007 0.2 5.7
70 2.469 70 1,984.5
0.3 0.011 0.3 8.5
75 2.646 75 2,126.3
0.4 0.014 0.4 11.3
80 2.822 80 2,268.0
0 .5 0.018 0.5 14.2
85 2.998 85 2,409.8
0.6 0.021 0.6 17.0
90 3.1 75 90 2,551 .5
0.7 0 .025 0.7 19.8
95 3.351 95 2,693.3
0.8 0.028 0.8 22.7
100 3.527 100 2,835.0
0.9 0.032 0.9 25.5
110 3.880 110 3,118.5
1 0.035 1 28.4
120 4.233 120 3,402.0
2 0 .071 2 56.7
130 4.586 130 3,685.5
3 0.106 3 85.1
140 4.938 140 3,969.0
4 0.141 4 113.4
150 5.291 150 4,252.5
5 0.176 5 141 .8
160 5.644 160 4,536.0
6 0.212 6 170.1
170 5.996 170 4,819.5
7 0.247 7 198.5
180 6.349 180 5,103.0
8 0 .282 8 226.8
190 6.702 190 5,386.5
9 0.317 9 255.2
200 7.055 200 5,670.0
10 0.353 10 283.5
250 8.818 250 7,087.5
11 0.388 11 311.9
300 10.582 300 8,505.0
12 0.423 12 340.2
350 12.346 350 9,922.5
13 0.459 13 368.6
400 14.109 400 11,340.0
14 0.494 14 396.9
450 15.873 450 12,757.5
15 0.529 15 425.3
500 17.637 500 14,175.0
16 0 .564 16 453.6
550 19.400 550 15,592.5
17 0.600 17 482.0
600 21.164 600 17,010.0
18 0.635 18 510.3
650 22.928 650 18,427.5
19 0.670 19 538.7
700 24.691 700 19,845.0
20 0.705 20 567.0
750 26.455 750 21 ,262.5
21 0.741 21 595.4
800 28 .219 800 22,680.0
22 0.776 22 623.7
850 29.982 850 24,097.5
23 0.811 23 652.1
900 31.746 900 25,515.0
24 0 .847 24 680.4
950 33.510 950 26,932.5
25 0.882 25 708.8
1,000 35.273 1,000 28,350.0
30 1.058 30 850.5
1 pound = 453.59 g / 16 oz; 1 kg = 2.2 lb
35 1.235 35 992.3
40 1.411 40 1,134.0
186
Common Conversion Factors Common Conversion Factors
To co nve rt from: To : Multiply by: To co nvert from: To : Multiply by:
oz lb 0.063
lb oz 16 Converting Volume Measures
g oz 0.035 Metric u.s. Imperi a l
oz g 28.35 (ml) (pint) (fl oz)
g lb 0.002 5 1 tsp 'A
lb g 453.592 10 2 tsp y,
oz kg 0.028 15 1 Tbsp y,
kg oz 35.274
20 4tsp 'I•
lb kg 0.454
30 2 Tbsp 1
kg lb 2.2
60 'A cup 2Ya
mm in 0.394
90 y, cup Y• 3Ya
in mm 25.4
120 y, cup 'A 4 'A
em in 0.394
150 5/a cup 'A 5 'A
in em 2.54
180 ~ c up y, 6Y,
m ft 3.3
240 1 cup 'Ia 8Y,
ft m 0 .305
300 1'A cups y, 10Y,
s min 0.017
480 2 cu ps 7'• 17
J BTU 0.001
600 2Y' cups 1 21
BTU J 1,055.10
1,000 4'A cups 1'/4 35
kcal BTU 3.966
BTU kcal 0.252
187
Converting Grams to Volum e for Common Ingredients
You can use th e table below to calculate the approximate liquids from their densities. For thi ck liquids and dry ingre-
volume equivalent of a certain weight of an ingredient. For thin dients, we scooped the ingredient and then leveled it with
liquids, multiply the number of ml in the rightmost column by a straight edge. All volumes have been rounded to the near-
the number of grams to obtain the number of milliliters (ml). est measures that are available from kitchen-supply stores,
For example, 75 g of vinegar is about 75 x 1.16 ~ 87 ml. including half tablespoons, thirds or eighths of cups, and
It is important to understand, however, that all of the recipes eighths of teaspoons. Metric volumes were rounded to the
in this book were developed and tested by weighing the in- nearest 1 ml for volumes up to 10 ml, to 5 ml for volumes
gredients. We did not use volume measurements, for good up to 100 ml, and to the nearest 10 ml or 25 ml above that.
reason: even when using calibrated spoon and cup measures, Due to the effects of rounding, you may notice that, say,
it is nearly impossible to measure volumes with precision and 20 ml is paired with 3V2 tsp in one recipe, but in another the
accuracy. How finely the food is chopped, how firmly it is volume given is 20 ml / 1V2 Tbsp. That can happen if the con-
packed, how rounding was done to get to the nearest common version from the weight resulted in 17.7 ml (rounded to 20 ml)
fraction-these factors and others routinely throw off volume in the first case but produced 22.2 ml (also rounded to 20 ml)
measurements by up to 15%, enough to dimin ish the quality of in the second. When converted to spoon measures, 17.7 ml
some recipes. So we urge you to do as we do, and weigh your and 22.2 ml yield different equivalents.
ingredients when cooking from this book. If you see 4 Tbsp given for a dry ingredient and wonder why
That said, we recognize that measuring volumes is often we did not simply write 1,4 cup, it is because the two are not
faster and is in any case common practice, so we converted actually the same for ingredients, such as flours, that become
our weights to volumes-except for certain ingredients, such packed down at greater volumes. Try it yourself: measure 1,4 cup
as emulsifiers or gelling agents, where the inherent imprecision of flour, and then remove four level tablespoons, one at a time.
of volume measurement can ruin a recipe. To make these vol- You ' ll find that there is still flour left in the cup measure when
umes as precise as possible, we calculated the volumes of thin you are done. To avoid such complexity, weigh the ingredients.
188
DAIRY PRODUCTS 1g 5g 25 g 100 g 450 g Equivalents
Whole milk 1 ml / Y. tsp 5 ml / 1 tsp 25 ml / 2 Tbsp 100 ml /'/s cup 460 ml / 2 cups 1 g =1.03 ml
Heavy cream 1 ml / Y. tsp 6 ml / 1Y. tsp 30 ml / 2Tbsp 110 ml /Yz cup 495 ml / 2 cups 1 g =l.l ml
Creme fniiche, sour cream 1Y. tsp 2Tbsp 'Is cup 1Yz cups
Dry cheeses, such as Parmesan 5 tsp 6 Tbsp 2 cups 7 cups 1 cup =60 g
and Romano, finely grated and
packed
Semisoft cheeses, such as 1 Tbsp y, cup 1YJ cup 6Yz cups 1 cup =67 g
Gruyere, cheddar, and Gouda,
shredded
Soft cheeses, such as cream ltsp 5 tsp y, cup 1Yz cups 1 cup =230 g
cheese, mascarpone, and chevre
Dry cheeses, such as blue cheese y, Tbsp 2Yz Tbsp :Y.. cup 3')4 cups 1cup =115g
and feta, finely crumbled
EGGS (chicken, U.S. size large)
Whole eggs, blended 1Y. tsp 1Yz Tbsp 7Tbsp 45 g each
Egg whites, blended 1Y. tsp 1Yz Tbsp 7Tbsp 30 g each
Egg yolks, blended 1Y. tsp 1Yz Tbsp 6 Yz Tbsp 15 g each
PANTRY ITEMS (scoop to fill the measure, and then level it by using a straightedge)
Salt, kosher ("salt" in our recipes) Y. tsp 1Y. tsp 2Yz Tbsp 1tsp =4g
Salt, fine sea salt Y. tsp /.t tsp
3 5 tsp ltsp =5.5 g
Sugar, granulated white Y. tsp y, Tbsp 2Yz Tbsp y, cup 2'/s cups 1 cup =202 g
Sugar, powdered y, tsp 2Yz tsp 4 Tbsp 1 cup
Sugar, grated palm 2 tsp 3 Tbsp :Y.. cup
Finely ground spices, such as y, tsp 2Yz tsp 3Tbsp 1 tsp =2g
cinnamon, coriander, and
paprika
Chili flakes y, tsp 1 Tbsp 5 Tbsp 1 tsp =2.25 g
Vanilla seeds, scraped from 1g
1 large, moist bean
All-purpose flour 1 Tbsp 4 Tbsp :Y.. cup 3Ya cups 1 cup =llS g
00 wheat flour 2 tsp 3 Tbsp :Y.. cup 3Yz cups
Whole wheat flour 2Yz tsp 3 Tbsp :Y.. cup 3Ya cups
Masa harina 2 tsp 3 Tbsp :Y.. cup 3Yz cups 1 cup =130 g
Wondra 1Yz tsp 3Yz Tbsp :Y.. cup 1 Tbsp =10 g
Vital wheat gluten 1 Tbsp 4 Tbsp :y.. cup llbsp =S g
Baking soda Y. tsp 1 tsp 1Yz Tbsp 1 tsp =Sg
Gelatin, Knox's powdered Y. tsp 1Y. tsp 1envelope =7g
Gelatin sheets, silver (160 Bloom) 1 sheet =2.5 g
Yeast, instant dry Y. tsp 1Y. tsp 5 tsp 1 envelope =7 g
Whole coffee beans 9-12 beans 1 Tbsp y, cup lYz cups 1cup =67g
Dry macaroni, small elbow /.t cup
3 33,4 cups 1cup =125g
Coarse-ground cornmeal, 2Yz Tbsp o/a cup 3 cups 1cup =164g
polenta, and corn grits
189
PANTRY ITEMS, continued 1g 5g 25 g 100 g 450 g Equivalents
Panko bread crumbs 1y, Tbsp y, cup 2 cups 1 cup =76g
Short grain rice, such as Arborio, y, cup 23/a cups 1 cup =200 g
bomba, brown rice
Whole grains, such as barley and y, cup 2Y' cups 1 cup =200g
farro
Small grains, such as quinoa and y, cup 25/a cups
steel-cut oats
Whole dried beans, such as y, cup 2Y' cups 1 cup =200 g
garbanzo, pinto, and black beans
Dried lentils y, cup 2\4 cups
Chopped nuts 2y, Tbsp /4 cup
3
19 0
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES,
continued 1g 5g 25 g 100 g 450 g Equivalents
191
SOURCE S
Scientific Ingredients
Ingredient local Sourcing North America Europe Notes
agar (agar agar) widely availab le at Asian and chefrubber.com msk-ingredients.com Powder or granules are preferred.
specialty food markets, hea lth-food le-sanctuaire.com infusions4chefs.co.uk Flakes or strips can be ground
stores, gourmet supermarkets iherb.com so legraells.co m into powder. Avoid co lored sticks
and sweetened agar dessert
powders .
albumin powder widely availab le at superma rkets, kingarthurflour.com sosa.cat Pure albumin is preferred.
(powdered egg whites, health-food stores, cake decorating chefrubber.com infusions4chefs.co. u k
egg white powder, and craft shops lepicerie.com solegraells.com
meringue powder) modernistpantry.com
calcium chloride often avai lab le where pickling or chefrubber.com solegraells.com Powder or granules are preferred.
(Pickle Crisp: Ball cheese-making supplies are sold; cheesemaking.com infusions4chefs.co. u k liquid is ava ilable from cheese-
brand; Calcic: ask local cheese makers bulkfoods.com msk-ingredients.com making suppliers. Calcium lactate
Texturas brand) and calcium lactate glu co nate
work sim il arly.
freeze-dried fruits widely ava il ab le at supermarkets, chefrubber.com infusions4chefs.co.uk Buy whole fruits and vegetables
and vegetables health-food stores, and outlets justtomatoes.com lyofood.co m and grind into powd e rs as
selling survival goods; check at lepiceri e.com sosa.cat need ed for best resu lts. Spray-
camping and outdoor stores dried juice powders are also
useful, but often contain add i-
tiona! ingredie nts and may not
be as flavorful.
gelatin Knox's insta nt gelatin is available at chefrubber.com infusions4chefs.co.uk Strengths vary greatly. Knox's
supermarkets. Sheet gelatin can be modernistpantry.co m msk-ingredients.com instant gelatin and silver sheets
found at specialty food markets and pastrychef.com sosa.cat (160 Bloom) are most common.
import stores; ask at pastry shops Industrial strength gelatins and
and bakeries, and co nfirm the Bloom gelatins mad e specifically for
strength befo re using fish, beef, or pork are sold by
chefrubber.com.
honey powder widely available at Asian markets and chefrubber.com Honey powders may include
(powdered honey, health-food stores modernistpantry.com cane juice, agave syrup, and
honey granules) stabilizers. Check the label if
you have a preference.
192
Ingredient local Sourcing North America Europe Notes
lnsta Cure #1 widely available where sausage- sausagemaker.com lnsta Cure #2 contains additional
(Prague powder#l) making supplies are sold; also try sodium nitrate and should not be
sporting goods/ outdoor stores that used as a substitution.
cater to hunters, or ask your butcher
liquid soy lecithin avai lable at health-food stores and iherb.com Do not confuse with powdered
some soap- and candle-making lepicerie.com soy lecithin or lecithin powders
suppliers modernistpantry.com used for making light foams.
malic acid ask at brewing- and wine-making lepicerie.com infusions4chefs.co.u k Avoid capsules and tablets, as
supply stores; also try health-food modernistpantry.com they often include additional,
and supplement stores. chefrubber.com unnecessary ingredients.
specialty flours and widely ava ilable at gourmet super- bobsredmill.com toutelabio.com The terms flour and starch are
starches markets, international markets, and kingarthurflour.com often used interchangeably, but
natural foods stores the products can differ greatly.
Review ingredients listed on the
packaging for clarification.
Ultra-Sperse 3 modernistpantry.com
willpowder.com
le-sanctuaire.com
whey protein isolate ava ilab le at health-food and ih erb.com Most common ly so ld in large
supplement stores, and at stores bulkfoods.com tubs. Avoid flavored or sweet-
specializing in sports nutrition ened whey protein powders or
pure powdered whey.
xanthan gum widely ava ilable at natural foods bobsredmill.com infusions4chefs.co.uk Always measure carefully to
(Xantana: Texturas markets and health-food stores chefrubber.com msk-ingredients.com avoid gumminess.
brand; Bob's Red Mill ih erb.com
brand)
193
Where to Buy Meat
Purveyor Address Phone Website Products
Heritage Meats 18241 Pendleton St. SW 360-273-2202 heritagemeatswa.com beef, veal
Rochester, WA 98579
Kapowsin Meats, Inc. 29401118th Ave. E 253-847-1777 pork
Graham, WA 98338
Mad Hatcher Farms 1437 DSt.SW 509-237-1351 poularde, pigeon, rabbit
Ephrata, WA 98823
Stokesberry Sustainable 7429 85th LaneSE 360-485-2558 stokesberrysustainablefarm.com chickens, roosters
Farm Olympia, WA 98513
194
INDEX
A
Achiote Paste, 96
almonds (continued)
Mughal Curry Sauce, 26-27
in Lamb Curry, 104
in Pressure· Cooked Lamb Shanks, 104
Spinach Pesta, 23
aromas
of shellfish, 128
of sourdough, 138
Aromat ic Chicken Broth, 120
in Chicken Noodle Soup, 119
in Pressure-Cooked Carnitas, 94 Alsatian Omelet Filling, 57 Aromatic Microwaved Cod, 163
acids, in marinades, 51 Amaretto Pastry Cream, 181 artichokes
Aerated Blue Cheese Sauce, 117 in Almond and Cherry Cream Pie, 183 Artichoke Soup, 76
aerolatte amchoor, Chaat Masala, 53 Farro with Chicken, Artichokes, and Black Olives,
Clams in Chowder Sauce, 134 anardana, Chaat Masala, 53 ISS
variations, 134 anchovy fillets, white, in Napolitana Pizza, 140 arugula
Oyster Stew, 134 animal fats, viii Capicola Pizza, 143
Pistachio Clam Chowder, 134 annatto seeds, Achiote Paste, 96 in Green Salad with Romaine Dressing, 70
South of France Chowder, 134 in Pressure-Cooked Carnitas, 94 Pizza Cruda, 143
agar apple cider vinegar Asian fish sauce. See fish sauce
for gels and fluid gels, 21 Barbecue Marinade, 51 asparagus, Quinoa with Pistachio Pesto and Asparagus,
Onion Fluid Gel, 21 Pressure-Cooked Pickled Mustard Seeds, 43 ISS
variation, 21 in Honey Mustard Sauce, 115 Autumn Flavors Bok Choy, 162
Strawberry Panna Cotta, 67 Apple Cream Pie, 182, 183 Autumn Spice Mix, 55
Vegetarian Panna Cotta, 175 Apple Foam, 182 in Gingerbread Crust, 178
agave nectar/ syrup in Apple Cream Pie, 183 avocado oil
Cilantro Vinaigrette, 35 applejack/apple brandy, Pork Shoulder Fricassee with smoke point of, ix
Pressure-Caramelized Ketchup, 30 Apples and Morels, 95 in Sous Vide Tuna Confit, 73
in Modernist Cheeseburger, 91 apple juice
Spiced Chili Dressing, 35 Apple Foam, 182
Aged White Cheddar Cheese Slice, ISO in Apple Cream Pie, 183
in Aged White Cheddar on Sourdough with Apples, Kalbi Marinade, 51
ISO Pork Shoulder Fricassee with Apples and Morels, 95
Aioli,25 Pressure· Infused Celery, 49
ajowan seeds, Chaat Masala, 53 Strawberry Juice with Green Apple Foam, 67
albumin powder Sweet Brine for Meats, SO
Striped Mushroom Omelet, 60-61 Vacuum-Infused Celery, 49
Ultrafrothy Milk Shake, 89 in Lobster Roll, 130-131
almond butter, Almond Flavoring, 171 variation, 49
almond flour in Waldorf Salad, 49
Brown Butter Crust, 178 apples
in Apple Cream Pie, 183 Aged White Cheddar on Sourdough with Apples,
Carrot Crust, 178 ISO
Cheese Crust, 178 Apple and Parsnip Soup, 76
in Savory Cheese Pie, 183 Autumn Flavors Bok Choy, 162
Chocolate Crust, 178 Barley Salad, 78
in Chocolate Cream Pie, 183 Fruit Leather, 47
Coconut Crust, 178 Grilled Applesauce, 42
in Coconut Cream Pie, 183 in Aged White Cheddar on Sourdough with
Double Almond Crust, 178 Apples, ISO
in Almond and Cherry Cream Pie1 183 Mac and Cheddar, 148
Flaky Pie Crust, 178-179 in Vacuum-Pickled Vegetables, 48
variations1 178 Waldorf Salad, 49
Gingerbread Crust 1 178 apricots, Fruit Leather, 47
in Ginger Cream Pie, 183 Arborio rice
Raspberry Crust, 178 Arborio Rice with Caramelized Squash and Saffron,
almond oil 154
smoke point of1 ix Arborio Rice with Sea Urchin and Cocoa, 155
Spinach Pesta, 23 cooking and parcooking times for, 151
almonds Pressure-Cooked Risotto, 152
Almond and Cherry Cream Pie, 183 Vegetable Risotto, 152
Caramelized Almonds, 182 variation, 152
in Almond and Cherry Cream Pie, 183 argan oil, ix
195
BABY BOK CHOY
B
baby bok choy. See bok choy, baby
beans (continued)
garbanzo
Pressure-Cooked Chickpea Salad, 72
in Refried Bean Foam, 97
gigante, in Refried Bean Foam, 97
beef knucklebones, Red Wine Glaze1 20
in Braised Short Ribs, 99
beef rib eye steak, Modernist Hamburger Patty, 88-89
in Modernist Cheeseburger, 91
variation, 88
bacon green, in Broccoli with Cheese Sauce1 144 beef short ribs
Bacon Brown Sugar Infusion, 171 lima, in Refried Bean Foam, 97 Beef Short Ribs with Shiitake Marmalade, 118
Bacon Mayonnaise, 25 pinto. See pinto beans, dried best bets for cooking, 99
in Microwaved Potato Salad, 162 beef best bets for hamburger patties, 87
in Pork Belly B.L.T., 102-103 bavette. See beefhanger steak Braised Short Ribs, 99
in Smoked Bacon B.L.T., 102 bavette de flanchet. See beef flank steak Korean Short-Rib Lettuce Wraps, 95
Mushroom Jus, 15 beauty steak. See beef rib eye steak Modernist Hamburger Patty, 88- 89
in Cream of Mushroom Soup, 63 bife de vacio. See beef flank steak in Modernist Cheeseburger, 91
in Mushroom Puree, 63 brisket, best bets for cooking, 99 variation1 88
in Mushroom Soup, 76 butcher's steak. See beef hanger steak beef strip steak
Raviolo Omelet Filling, 57 Chateaubriand. See beef, filet Frozen Steak, 81
Smoked Bacon B.L.T., 102 chuck. See beef chuck Grilled Steak, 84-85
Bain-Marie Creme BrUiee, 172 Delmonico steak. See beef rib eye steak Low-Temp Oven Steak1 81
Baked Fish Skin Chips, 126 entrecOte. See beef rib eye steak variation, 81
Baked Mac and Cheese, 146-147 filet Sous Vide Steak, 79
baking soda best bets for hamburger patties, 87 Sous Vide Steak in a Cooler, 80
Apple and Parsnip Puree, 76 Filet Mignon with Montpellier Butter, 118 beer, Perfectly Melting Cheese Slice, 145
Artichoke Puree, 76 filet mignon roast. See beef, filet in French Onion Soup, 45
Bell Pepper Puree, 76 flank steak. See beef flank steak in Modernist Cheeseburger, 91
Caramelized Carrot Soup, 75 flanken ribs. See beef short ribs in Tuna Confit Salad and Tuna Melt Sandwich, 73
Cauliflower Puree, 76 flatiron steak. See beef flatiron steak beets
Corn Puree, 76 ground. See beef, ground Beet Salad, 70
Dried Caramelized Onions, 45 hanging tender. See beef hanger steak in Pressure-Cooked Carrots and Leeks, 119
French Onion Soup, 45 hanging tenderloin. See beef hanger steak in Vacuum-Pickled Vegetables, 48
Leek and Onion Puree, 76 London broil. See beef flank steak bell peppers
Mushroom Puree, 76 market steak. See beef rib eye steak Bell Pepper Butter, 39
Pressure-Caramelized Banana Puree, 76 oven-busters. See beef short ribs Bell Pepper Soup, 76
in Banana Cream Pie, 183 Philadelphia steak. See beefhanger steak Mediterranean Vegetable Confit, 44
Pressure-Caramelized Ketchup, 30 short ribs. See beef short ribs in Feta on Potato Bread with Vegetable Confit1
in Modernist Cheeseburger, 91 sirloin, best bets for hamburger patties, 87 150
variation, 30 skirt steak. See beef hanger steak roasted1 in Napolitana Pizza, 140
Pressure-Caramelized Onions, 45 Spencer steak. See beef rib eye steak bergamot essential oil1 Earl Grey Tea Infusion, 171
variations, 45 tenderloin tip roast. See beef1 filet berries. See specific types of berries
Pressure-Rendered Chicken Fat, 41 whole filet. See beef, filet Best Bets
Roasted-Potato Vichyssoise, 68 beef, ground for cooking fish sous vide1 127
Squash Puree, 76 best bets for hamburger patties, 87 for cooking shellfish sous vide, 128
baking trays, how to form a square hamburger patty in, Brown BeefJus, 16 for cooking tender meat sous vide, 80
87 Firm Burger Patty, 88 for cooking tender poultry so us vide, 109
bananas Modernist Hamburger Patty, 88-89 for cooking tough cuts of meat, 99
Banana Cream Pie, 182, 183 in Modernist Cheeseburger1 91 for cooking tough poultry so us vide, 110
Blowtorch-Caramelized Bananas, 182 variation1 88 for cooking vegetables in the microwave oven, 162
in Banana Cream Pie, 183 Red Wine Glaze1 20 for hamburger patties, 87
Pressure-Caramelized Banana Puree, 76 in Braised Short Ribs1 99 beverages
in Banana Cream Pie, 183 beef chuck Strawberry Juice with Green Apple Foam, 67
Barbecue Ketchup, 30 best bets for hamburger patties, 87 Ultrafrothy Milk Shake, 89
Barbecue Marinade, 51 Brown Beef Stock Bibb lettuce, Pork Belly B.L.T., 102-103
barley, hulled1 Pressure-Cooked Barley1 78 in French Onion Soup, 45 Big Mac sauce, 27
in Barley Salad, 78 in Korean Short-Rib Lettuce Wraps1 95 BiltongJerky, 164
in Bok Choy Medley, 162 in Pho Soup, 121 bisque, Pressure-Cooked Lobster Bisque 1 40
barley, pearl in Thai Sweet, Sour, and Savory Glaze, 33 bitter almond extract, Almond Flavoring, 171
Barley with Wild Mushrooms and Red Wine, 154 Modernist Meatloaf Sandwich, 92-93 black butter, how to make, 37
cooking and parcooking times for, 151 Pressure-Cooked Brown Beef Stock, 10 black cod
barley flour, Barley Noodles, 123 variations, 10 Aromatic Microwaved Cod, 163
Basic Brine for Whole Poultry, 50 White Beef Stock, 10 best bets for cooking sous vide, 127
variation, SO beef flank steak Microwaved Black Cod with Scallions and Ginger,
Basic Chili Oil, 36 best bets for hamburger patties, 87 163
basil BiltongJerky, 164 variations, 163
Fines Herbes Vinaigrette with Pistachio Butter, 35 Crispy Beef Strands, 166 in Sous Vide Tuna Confit, 73
Genovese Pizza, 143 in Crispy Beef and Shallot Salad, 167 black olives, Farro with Chicken, Artichokes, and Black
Microwaved Eggplant Parmesan, 160 Microwaved BeefJerky, 164-165 Olives, 155
in Microwave-Fried Parsley, 168 variations, 164 black peppercorns
Pistachio Pesto, 22- 23. See also pistachios, Pistachio Smoky Jerky, 164 MCCurry Powder, 52. See also MCCurry Powder
Pes to Spicy Jerky, 164 Vindaloo Spice Mix, 52
Pizza Margherita, 141 beef flatiron steak, Microwaved BeefJerky, 164-165 black salt, Chaat Masala, 53
Sauce Verte, 23 variations1 164 blender. See countertop blenders; immersion blenders
beans beef hanger steak, 88-89 Bloom strengths, 175
cannellini, Fruit Minestrone, 66-67 Modernist Hamburger Patty, 88-89 blowtorches
variations1 67 in Modernist Cheeseburger, 91 Aromatic Chicken Broth, 120
flageolet, in Refried Bean Foam, 97 variation, 88 in Chicken Noodle Soup, 119
196
BUTTON MUSHROOMS
197
CAKE MOLDS
c
cake molds, how to form a square hamburger patty in,
87
carnitas
Braised Duck with Steamed Buns, 95
Korean Short· Rib Lettuce Wraps, 95
Lamb Leg Tajine, 95
Pork Shoulder Fricassee with Apples and Morels, 95
Pork Vindaloo with Naan, 95
charcoal grills (continued)
Grilled Pork Chop, 83
Grilled Steak, 84-85
Sous Vide Steak in a Cooler, 80
cheddar cheese
Aged White Cheddar Cheese Slice, ISO
cakes Pressure· Cooked Carnitas, 94 in Aged White Cheddar on Sourdough with
Instant Chocolate Sponge, 169 variations, 94 Apples, ISO
variations, 169 Pressure· Cooked Chicharr6n, 94,96 Baked Mac and Cheese, 146-147
Peanut Butter Sponge, 169 Sous Vide Carnitas, 94 Broccoli with Cheese Sauce, 144
Raspberry Macadamia Nut Sponge, !69 Whole Shoulder, 94 in Cheese Crumble, 149
Sesame Sponge, 169 carotenes, 39, 40 Cheese Grits, !57
Camembert cheese carrageenan, iota and kappa Fondue, 144
Alsatian Omelet Filling, 57 Strawberry Panna Cotta, 67 goat, Mac with Goat Gouda and Cheddar, 144
Camembert and Gruyere Cheese Slice, ISO Vegetarian Panna Cotta, 175 Mac and Cheddar, 148
in Camembert and Gruyere on Brioche with carrot juice, Stove·Top Carotene Butter, 39 Mac and Cheese, 144
Ham and Mushrooms, 150 in Caramelized Carrot Soup, 75 variations, 144
cannellini beans, Fruit Minestrone, 66-67 variations, 39 Mac with Sharp Cheddar and Swiss, 144
variations, 67 carrot powder, Carrot Crust, 178 Perfectly Melting Cheese Slice, 145
canning jars carrot tops, in Microwave· Fried Parsley, 168 in French Onion Soup, 45
Buffalo Sauce, !IS carrots in Modernist Cheeseburger, 91
in Sous Vide Buffalo Wings, Ill Caramelized Carrot Soup, 75 in Tuna Con lit Salad and Tuna Melt Sandwich, 73
Caramelized Onion Gravy, 24 carotene pigment in, 39 cheese. See also specific varieties of cheese
Cheese Grits, 157 Pressure-Cooked Carrots and Leeks, 119 Cheese Course, 67
Dried Caramelized Onions, 45 in Chicken Noodle Soup, 119 Cheese Crisps, 148
Fingerling Potatoes Confit, 44 variations, 119 Cheese Crumble, 149
French Onion Soup, 45 Pressure·Cooked Vegetable Jus, 77 in Baked Mac and Cheese, 146-147
Mediterranean Vegetable Confit, 44 Pressure·Cooked Vegetables, in Vegetable Stew, 78 Cheese Crust, 178
in Feta on Potato Bread with Vegetable Con fit, Vacuum· Pickled Vegetables, 48 in Savory Cheese Pie, 183
ISO cashews Cheese Grits, !57
Press ure-Caramelized Onions, 45. See also onions, Mughal Curry Sauce, 26-27 Cheese Pastry Cream, 181
Pressure-Caramelized Onions in Lamb Curry, 104 cheese slices
variations, 45 in Pressure·Cooked Lamb Shanks, 104 Aged White Cheddar Cheese Slice, ISO
Press ure-Cooked Drippings, 24 Roasted Red Pepper Pes to, 23 in Aged White Cheddar on Sourdough with
variation, 24 cast-iron skillets Apples, ISO
Pressure-Cooked Garlic Confit, 44. See also garlic, Aged White Cheddar on Sourdough with Apples, Camembert and Gruyere Cheese Slice, 150
Pressure·Cooked Garlic Confit ISO in Camembert and Gruyere on Brioche with
Pressure·Cooked Polenta, 156 Camembert and Gruyere on Brioche with Ham and Ham and Mushrooms, 150
variation, 156 Mushrooms, 150 Feta Cheese Slice, ISO
pressure·cooking in, S Deep-Dish Fried Pi1:1:a, 142 in Feta on Potato Bread with Vegetable Confit,
Pressure· Rendered Chicken Fat, 41 Oven-Fried Piua, 142 ISO
in Chicken Noodle Soup, 119 variation, 142 Goat Cheese Slice, ISO
in Fingerling Potatoes Confit, 44 cauliflower in Goat Cheese on Baguette with Tomato Con fit
in Home Jus Gras, 17 Bok Choy Medley, 162 and Basil, ISO
Provenr;al Garlic Confit, 44 in Broccoli with Cheese Sauce, 144 Perfectly Melting Cheese Slice, 145
safety tip for, 5 Cauliflower Soup, 76 in French Onion Soup, 45
Shrimp and Grits, !57 "Fat-Free" Mac and Cheese, 148- 149 in Modernist Cheeseburger, 91
variation, 157 variations, 148 in Tuna Con fit Salad and Tuna Melt Sandwich, 73
So us Vide Tuna Conlit, 73 Pressure-Cooked Quinoa Salad with Cauliflower, 71 Stilton Cheese Slice, I SO
in Tuna Con fit Salad and Tuna Melt Sandwich, in Vacuum-Pickled Vegetables, 48 in Stilton on Walnut Bread with Shallot
73 celery Marmalade, ISO
Vacuum-Pickled Vegetables, 48 Pressure-Infused Celery, 49 cheese water, from "Fat-Free"' Mac and Cheese, 148, 149
canola oil, smoke and flash points of, viii Vacuum-Infused Celery, 49 in Leek and Onion Soup, 76
Capicola Pizza, 143 in Lobster Roll, 130-131 cheeseburger, Modernist Cheeseburger, 91
Caramel Flavoring, 171 variation, 49 cherries
Caramelized Almonds, 182 in Waldorf Salad, 49 Almond and Cherry Cream Pie, 183
in Almond and Cherry Cream Pie, 183 celery root Cherry Vinaigrette, 35
Caramelized Carrot Soup, 75 in Pressure-Cooked Carrots and Leeks, 119 chervil
Caramelized Onion Gravy, 24 Waldorf Salad, 49 Chervil, Thyme, and Scallion Pesto, 23
carbonating, with a whipping siphon, 3 Chaat Masala, 53 Sauce Verte, 23
cardamom pods, green chamber sealers. See vacuum sealers chicken
MC Curry Powder, 52. See also MC Curry Powder chamomile blossoms, dried, Fish Spice Mix, 54 breasts. See chicken breasts
Vindaloo Spice Mix, 52 in Fragrant Sous Vide Salmon, 124 Chicken Noodle Soup, 119
in Pork Vindaloo with Naan, 95 chanterelles feet. See chicken feet
cardamom seeds Broccoli Raab Pizza, 143 ground. See chicken, ground
Cocoa Nib and Cardamom Dust, 182 in Funghi Pizza, 140 legs. See also chicken thighs
in Chocolate Cream Pie, 183 Mushroom Puree, 63. See also mushrooms, best bets for cooking, 110
Middle Eastern Infusion, 171 Mushroom Puree skin. See chicken skin
carnaroli rice in Shiitake Marmalade, 64 whole. See chicken, whole
cooking and parcooking times for, 151 charcoal grills wings. See chicken wings
Pressure·Cooked Risotto, 152 fan or hair dryer to increase temperature of, 83 chicken, ground
Vegetable Risotto, I 52 Grilled Applesauce, 42 Brown Chicken Jus, 16
variation, 152 in Aged White Cheddar on Sourdough with in Home Jus Gras, 17
Apples, ISO in Shiitake Marmalade, 64
variations, 16
198
COCONUT OIL
199
COD
200
DUCK
D
cream (continued) Crispy Shallots, 167
Chocolate Pastry Cream, 181 Crispy Skinless Chicken Wings, 113
in Chocolate Cream Pie, 183 cucumbers
Coffee Creme Bnilee, 172-173 Fruit Minestrone, 66-67
variations, 172 variations, 67 dates, Lamb Curry, 104
Cream of Mushroom Soup, 63 Fruit Salad, 67 Deep-Dish Fried Pizza, 142
Firm Pastry Cream, 181 in Vacuum-Pickled Vegetables, 48 deep-frying
Ginger Pastry Cream, 181 culatello, Hawaiian Pizza, 140 safety tips for, 4
in Ginger Cream Pie, 183 cumin without a deep fryer, how to, 4
Lemon Pastry Cream, 181 Chaat Masala, 53 deep-frying setup
in Raspberry Lemon Cream Pie, 183 MC Curry Powder, 52. See also MC Curry Powder Beef Short Ribs with Shiitake Marmalade, 118
Lemon Posset, 173 Vindaloo Spice Mix, 52 Bok Choy Medley, 162
Muslim Curry Sauce, 26 in Pork Vindaloo with Naan, 95 Cinnamon-Sugar Doughnut Holes, 137
Pot de Creme, 172 cures Crispy Beef and Shallot Salad, 167
Pressure-Cooked Lobster Bisque, 40 Fish Cure, 51 variation, 167
Pressure-Infused Coffee Pastry Cream, 181 salt in, scaling for amount of, 88 Crispy Chicken Wings, Korean-Style, 112
in Banana Cream Pie, 183 curry leaves, Kerala Curry Sauce, 26 Crispy Shallots, 167
Raspberry Panna Cotta, 175 curry sauces Crispy Skinless Chicken Wings, 113
variation, 175 Kerala Curry Sauce, 26 Deep-Fried Chicken, 107
Sous Vide Vanilla Creme Anglaise, 176 Mughal Curry Sauce, 26-27 Deep-Fried Tsukune Skewers, 118
variation, 176 in Lamb Curry, 104 Garlic Knots, 137
Sous Vide Vanilla-Cinnamon Pastry Cream, in Pressure-Cooked Lamb Shanks, 104 Hush Puppies, ISS
180-181 variations, 26 Korean Pork Belly Skewers, 118
in Apple Cream Pie, 183 Muslim Curry Sauce, 26 Modernist Meatloaf Sandwich, 92-93
variations, 181 custards Pressure-Cooked Chicharr6n, 94,96
Strawberry Panna Cotta, 67 Bain-Marie Creme BrUiee, 172 Sous Vide Steak, 79
Vegetarian Panna Cotta, 175 Coffee Creme Bnilee, 172- 173 dehydrators. See food dehydrators
cream cheese variations, 172 delicata squash, Squash Soup, 76
Baked Mac and Cheese, 146-147 Flan, 172 in Arborio Rice with Caramelized Squash and
Corn Juice Grits, 156 Pot de Creme, 172 Saffron, 154
Pressure-Cooked Polenta, 156 So us Vide Vanilla Creme Anglaise, 176 depressurizing pressure cookers, 5
variation, 156 variation, 176 Deviled Eggs, 62
cream infusions, how to make, 171 diastatic malt powder
Cream of Mushroom Soup, 63 Modernist Vichyssoise, 68-69
cream pies variations, 68
Almond and Cherry Cream Pie, 183 Roasted-Potato Vichyssoise, 68
Apple Cream Pie, 182, 183 Vichyssoise with Potato Peel Reduction, 68
Banana Cream Pie, 182, 183 digital scales, how to tare, 2
Chocolate Cream Pie, 182, 183 digital thermometers
Coconut Cream Pie, 183 checking temperature while cooking sous vide with,
Ginger Cream Pie, 182, 183 avoiding contaminating food with probe and, 2
Raspberry Lemon Cream Pie, 182, 183 how to test accuracy of, 2
Savory Cheese Pie, 183 with oven probe. See digital thermometers, with
Creamed Spinach, 82 oven probe
in Florentine Omelet Filling, 57 digital thermometers, with oven probe
in Mac and Parmesan, 148 Combi Oven Roast Chicken, 107
variation, 82 Extra-Juicy Chicken, 107
creme anglaise Frozen Steak, 81
about, 170 Low-Temp Oven Steak, 81
Sous Vide Vanilla Creme Anglaise, 176 variation, 81
variation, 176 Pincushion Chicken, 107
creme brUlfe Roast Chicken, 106-107
about, 170 variations, 107
Bain-Marie Creme BrUlee, 172 Slow-Baked Chicken with Onions, !OS
Coffee Creme Bnilee, 172-173 Spatchcock Chicken, 107
variations, 172 dill, in Microwave-Fried Parsley, 168
creme pitissiere. See pastry cream Double Almond Crust, 178
crimini mushrooms. See also porto bello mushrooms in Almond and Cherry Cream Pie, 183
Mushroom jus, 15 dough
in Cream of Mushroom Soup, 63 fermentation of, to achieve flavor, 139
in Mushroom Puree, 63 how to knead by hand, 139
in Mushroom Soup, 76 pizza. See pizza dough
in Shiitake Marmalade, 64 doughnut holes, Cinnamon-Sugar Doughnut Holes,
crisps 137
Cheese Crisps, 148 dressings. See also mayonnaise; vinaigrettes
Parmesan Crisp, 70 Sesame Dressing, 35
Crispy Beef and Shallot Salad, 167 Spiced Chili Dressing, 35
variation, 167 Vietnamese-Style Dressing, 35
Crispy Beef Strands, 166 Dried Caramelized Onions, 45
in Crispy Beef and Shallot Salad, 167 drying food. See food dehydrators
Crispy Chicken or Pork Skin, 126 dry-rendering fats, 41
Crispy Chicken Wings, Korean-Style, 112 duck
Crispy Fish Skin, 126 breast, best bets for cooking, 109
variations, 126 Game Bird Jus, 16
201
DUCK
E
duck (continued) egg yolks (continued)
legs Raspberry Crust, 178
best bets for cooking, 110 Rouille, 25
Braised Duck with Steamed Buns, 95 in South of France Chowder, 134
duck fat Earl Grey Tea Infusion, 171 Sabayon, 176
smoke and flash points of, viii edamame, in Brocco1i with Cheese Sauce, 144 Scrambled Egg Pudding, 56
Turkey Confit, 110 edge sealers. See also vacuum sealers in Steamed Herb Omelet, 58-59
how to use,6 Sous Vide Ho ll andaise, 28-29
egg whites variations, 29
Deviled Eggs, 62 Sous Vide Lemon Curd, 174
Eggs Sunny-Side Up, 62-63 in Lemon Posset, 173
variation, 62 in Raspberry Lemon Cream Pie, 183
egg yolks variations, 174
Aioli,2S Sous Vide Vanilla Creme Anglaise, 176
Amaretto Pastry Cream, 181 variation, 176
in Almond and Cherry Cream Pie, 183 Sous Vide Vanilla-Cinnamon Pastry Cream, 180-181
Bacon Mayonnaise, 25 in Apple Cream Pie, 183
in Microwaved Potato Salad, 162 variations, 181
in Pork Belly B.L.T., 102-103 Spicy Hollandaise, 29
in Smoked Bacon B.L.T., 102 Striped Mushroom Omelet, 60- 61
Bain·Marie Creme BrUiee, 172 Tartar Sauce, 25
Barley Noodles, 123 eggplant, Microwaved Eggplant Parmesan, 160
Brown Butter Crust, 178 eggs. See also egg whites; egg yolks; eggs, whole
in Apple Cream Pie, 183 quail, Uovo Pizza, 143
Buffalo Sauce, liS eggs, whole
Carrot Crust, 178 Camembert and Gruyere on Brioche with Ham and
Cheese Crust, 178 Mushrooms, 150
in Savory Cheese Pie, 183 Cheese Grits, 157
Cheese Pastry Cream, 181 Deviled Eggs, 62
Chocolate Crust, 178 Eggs Sunny-Side Up, 62-63
in Chocolate Cream Pie, 183 variation, 62
Chocolate Pastry Cream, 181 Plan, 172
in Chocolate Cream Pie, 183 French Scrambled Eggs, 56
Coconut Crust, 178 in Striped Mushroom Omelet, 60-61
in Coconut Cream Pie, 183 variations, 56
Coconut Noodles, 123 Fresh Egg Noodles, 122
in Thai Soup, 121 in Chicken Noodle Soup, 119
Coconut Pastry Cream, 181 variations, 123
in Coconut Cream Pie, 183 Green Salad with Romaine Dressing, 70
Coffee Creme Brulee, 172-173 variations, 70
variations, 172 Instant Chocolate Sponge, 169
Crustacean Hollandaise, 29 variations, 169
Double Almond Crust, 178 Masa Harina Noodles, 123
in Almond and Cherry Cream Pie, 183 in Tortilla Soup, 121
Egg-Yolk Fluid Gel, 21 Mini Egg Cups, 56
as emulsifiers, 35 Olive Oil Scrambled Eggs, 56
Firm Burger Patty, 88 in Espagnole Omelet Filling, 57
Firm Pastry Cream, 181 Peanut Butter Sponge, 169
Flaky Pie Crust, 178-179 Potato Noodles, 123
variations, 178 Raspberry Macadamia Nut Sponge, 169
Foamed Lemon Curd, 174 Raviolo Omelet Filling, 57
French Scrambled Eggs, 56 Rice Noodles, 123
in Striped Mushroom Omelet, 60-61 Rye Noodles, 123
variations, 56 Scrambled Egg Pudding, 56
Fruit Curds, 174 in Steamed Herb Omelet, 58- 59
Garlic Hollandaise, 29 Sesame Sponge, 169
Ginger Pastry Cream, 181 Shrimp and Grits, 157
in Ginger Cream Pie, 183 variation, 157
Gingerbread Crust, 178 Steamed Herb Omelet, 58-59
in Ginger Cream Pie, 183 Striped Mushroom Omelet, 60-61
Lemon Pastry Cream, 181 Whole Wheat Noodles, 123
in Raspberry Lemon Cream Pie, 183 in Chinese Soup, 121
Mini Egg Cups, 56 Emmental cheese, Fondue, 144
Modernist Mayonnaise, 25 emulsifiers. See. also sodium citrate; soy lecithin, liquid;
in Sweet Onion Slaw, 69 soy lecithin powder
variations, 25 egg yolks as, 35
Montpellier Butter, 38 emulsions, mayonnaise as, 25
in Filet Mignon with Montpellier Butter, 118 escolar1 in Sous Vide Tuna Con fit, 73
Olive Oil Scrambled Eggs, 56 Espagnole Omelet Filling, 57
in Espagnole Omelet Filling, 57 essential oils
Peanut Crust, 178 bergamot, Earl Grey Tea Infusion, 171
in Banana Cream Pie, 183 lemon. See lemon essential oil
Pot de Creme, 172 mandarin, as flavoring for milk or cream infusions, 171
Pressure-Infused Coffee Pastry Cream, 181 "Everything" Pretzels, 137
in Banana Cream Pie, 183 Extra-Juicy Chicken, 107
202
FRU IT CURDS
F
flageolet beans, in Refried Bean Foam, 97 food processors (continued)
Flaky Pie Crust, 178-179 Chervil, Thyme, and Scallion Pesto, 23
variations, 178 Chocolate Crust, 178
flan in Chocolate Cream Pie, 183
fans, to increase temperature of charcoal grill 1 Grilled about, 170 Cilantro Pesto, 23
Pork Chop, 83 Flan, 172 Coconut Crust, 178
farro flash point, of oils, viii in Coconut Cream Pie, 183
cooking and parcooking times for1 151 flavorfu l oils, viii-ix Corn Juice Tamales, 158
Farro with Chicken, Artichokes1 and Black Olives, flavorings, for milk or cream infusions, 171 Double Almond Crust, 178
155 flavors in Almond and Cherry Cream Pie, 183
"Fat-Free" Mac and Cheese, 148-149 fermentation of dough to achieve, 139 Flaky Pie Crust, 178-179
variations, 148 in lobster shells, 40 variations, 178
fats. See also oils of sourdough, 138, 139 Freeze-Dried Raspberry Powder, 182. See also
adding at last minute, 17 in stocks, 13 Freeze-Dried Raspberry Powder
animal, viii. See also specific animal fats Florentine Omelet Filling, 57 Fresh Egg Noodles, 122
smoke and flash points of, viii flour in Chicken Noodle Soup, 119
dry-rendering, 41 almond. See almond flour variations, 123
wet-rendering, 41 barley, Barley Noodles, 123 Gingerbread Crust, 178
fennel, Finocchiona Pizza, 143 bread, Foolish, 138 in Ginger Cream Pie, 183
fermented black bean and chili paste, Sichuan Bok in Rustic Pizza Dough, 137 Green Onion and Sorrel Pes to, 23
Choy, 161-162 in Whole Wheat Pizza Dough, 137 for pan gravy, 18
variations, 162 buckwheat, Buckwheat Pizza Dough, 136 Peanut Crust, 178
feta cheese, Feta Cheese Slice, ISO coconut, Coconut Noodles, 123 in Banana Cream Pie, 183
in Feta on Potato Bread with Vegetable Confit, 150 in Thai Soup, 121 Pistachio Pes to, 22-23. See also pistachios, Pistachio
fibrous vegetables1 best bets for cooking in the potato, Potato Noodles, 123 Pes to
microwave oven, 162 quinoa, Quinoa Pizza Dough, 136 Pressure-Cooked Fresh-Corn Tamales, 158- 159
Filet Mignon with Montpellier Butter, 118 rice, Rice Noodles, 123 variation, 158
Fines Herbes Vinaigrette with Pistachio Butter, 35 whole wheat. See whole wheat flour Pressure-Cooked White Chicken Stock, 9
Fingerling Potatoes Con fit, 44 Wondra. See Wondra in Aromatic Chicken Broth, 120
finishing nails, Pincushion Chicken, 107 00 flour. See 00 flour in Sons Vide Braised Snails, 135
finishing step fluid gels variation, 9
forrisotto,151 Egg-Yolk Fluid Gel, 21 Raspberry Crust, 178
for sauces, 17 how to make, 21 Roasted Red Pepper Pes to, 23
Finocchiona Pizza, 143 Onion Fluid Gel, 21 Sauce Verte, 23
fires. See also blowtorches; charcoal grills; open flame variation, 21 Spinach Pesto, 23
grease, extinguishing, 4 quick-set, 21 food safety. See also safety tips
Firm Burger Patty, 88 fluke, best bets for cooking sous vide, 127 oflightly cooked food, ix
Firm Pastry Cream, 181 Foamed Lemon Curd, 174 with meat tenderizer, 2
fish . See also specific varieties offish foams forbidden rice
cooking sous vide Apple Foam, 182 cooking and parcooking times for, 151
best bets for, 127 in Apple Cream Pie, 183 Forbidden Rice with Squid Ink and Sous Vide
core temperature for, 127 foaming with a whipping siphon and, 3 Clams, 154
varieties of, for making fish stock, 11 lightness of, water bath temperature and, 29 Fragrant Sons Vide Salmon, 124
fish bones powdered soy lecithin for, 17 Freeze-Dried Raspberry Powder, 182
Brown Fish Stock, 11 Refried Bean Foam, 97 in Raspberry Crust, 178
Sous Vide Fish Stock, 11 variations, 97 in Raspberry Lemon Cream Pie, 183
in Arborio Rice with Sea Urchin and Cocoa, ISS Sabayon, 176 in Raspberry Macadamia Nut Sponge, 169
in Bell Pepper Soup, 76 Strawberry Juice with Green Apple Foam, 67 in Ultrafrothy Milk Shake, 89
variation, 11 fond, 18 freezing
Fish Brine, 51 Fondue, 144 of meat, before cooking, 84
variations, 51 fontina cheese of metal baking sheet, for cooling rice, 151, 152
Fish Cure, 51 Mac and Fontina, 148 French Onion Soup, 45
fish sauce Mac with Gorgonzola and Fontina, 144 French presses
Crispy Beef Strands, 166 food dehydrators Aromatic Chicken Broth, 120
in Crispy Beef and Shallot Salad, 167 Dried Caramelized Onions, 45 in Chicken Noodle Soup, 119
Pho Soup, 121 Fruit Leather, 47 Chinese Soup, 121
Pressure-Cooked Pork Belly Adobo, 98 Mango Chili Leather, 47 Goulash Broth, 121
variation, 98 Onion Leather, 47 Pho Soup, 121
So us Vide Pork Belly Adobo, 98 Pressure-Cooked Chicharr6n, 94, 96 Thai Soup, 121
Spiced Chili Dressing, 35 Puffed Chicken Skin, 113 Tortilla Soup, 121
Thai Soup, 121 Tomato Leather, 47 French Scrambled Eggs, 56
Vietnamese Marinade, 51 in Lobster Roll, 130-131 in Striped Mushroom Omelet, 60-61
Vietnamese-Style Dressing, 35 variations, 47 variations, 56
fish skin, in fish stock, 11 food processors Fresh Egg Noodles, 122
Fish Spice Mix, 54 Brown Butter Crust, 178 in Chicken Noodle Soup, 119
in Fragrant Sous Vide Salmon, 124 in Apple Cream Pie, 183 variations, 123
fish stock Brown Chicken Stock, 9 freshness, of shellfish, 128
bottled clam juice as substitute for, 11 in Aromatic Chicken Broth, 120 Frozen Steak, 81
Brown Fish Stock, 11 in Brown Chicken Jus, 16 fruit curds
fish skin in, 11 in Pressure-Cooked Paella del Bosco, 153 Foamed Lemon Curd, 174
Sous Vide Fish Stock, 11 Carrot Crust, 178 Fruit Curds, 174
in Arborio Rice with Sea Urchin and Cocoa, ISS Cheese Crumble, 149 Sous Vide Lemon Curd, 174
in Bell Pepper Soup, 76 in Baked Mac and Cheese, 146-147 in Lemon Posset, 173
variation, 11 Cheese Crust, 178 in Raspberry Lemon Cream Pie, 183
in Savory Cheese Pie, 183 variations, 174
203
FRU IT JELLIES
G
Fruit Jellies, 175 ghee (continued)
Fruit Leather, 47 Muslim Curry Sauce, 26
Fruit Minestrone, 66-67 gherkins, Tartar Sauce, 25
variations, 67 Ghigiarelli family, 142
Fruit Salad, 67 galangal gigante beans, in Refried Bean Foam, 97
fruits. See also specific fruits about, 31 ginger
how to compress for vacuum sealing, 7 Pressure-Caramelized Peanut Sauce, 31 Aromatic Microwaved Cod, 163
Fruity Pebbles Infusion, 171 in Chicken Breast Satay, 118 Ginger Cream Pie, 182, 183
frying. See deep-frying; deep-frying setup Thai Soup, 121 Ginger Oil, 36
frying pans. See cast-iron skillets; nonstick frying pans Game Bird Jus, 16 Ginger Pastry Cream, 181
Funghi Pizza, 140 garbanzo beans. See chickpeas in Ginger Cream Pie, 183
garlic Lemongrass Ginger Infusion, 171
Chili Spice Mix, 55 Microwaved Black Cod with Scallions and Ginger,
in Crispy Skinless Chicken Wings, 113 163
Chinese Garlic Chili Condiment, 117 variations, 163
Garlic Hollandaise, 29 Microwaved Sea Bass, Til apia, Halibut, or Sole, 163
Garlic Knots, 137 Gingerbread Crust, 178
Garlic Oil, 36 in Ginger Cream Pie, 183
Pressure-Cooked Garlic Confit, 44 glazes
in Achiote Paste, 96 Passion Fruit Glaze, 182
inAioli,25 in Coconut Cream Pie, 183
in Broccoli Raab Pizza, 143 Red Wine Glaze, 20
in Caramelized Onion Gravy, 24 in Braised Short Ribs, 99
in Creamed Spinach, 82 Thai Sweet, Sour, and Savory Glaze, 33
in Garlic Hollandaise, 29 gluten. See vital wheat gluten
in Garlic Mashed Potatoes, 100 goat cheese
in Montpellier Butter, 38 Chervil, Thyme, and Scallion Pesta, 23
in Rouille, 25 Goat Cheese Slice, 150
in South Indian Watercress, 82 in Goat Cheese on Baguette with Tomato Con fit
in Steel· Cut Oats with So us Vide Braised Snails, and Basil, 150
154 Mac with Goat Gouda and Cheddar, 144
variations, 44 gochujang
Pressure-Cooked Vegetable Jus, 77 Kalbi Marinade, 51
Provent;:al Garlic Confit, 44 Korean Wing Sauce, 116. See also Korean Wing
Rouille, in South of France Chowder, 134 Sauce
garlic black bean sauce, in Sichuan Bok Choy, 161 - 162 gold gelatin, 175
garlic chives, Rye Noodles, 123 Gorgonzola cheese
gaskets, of pressure cookers, 5 Mac with Gorgonzola and Fontina, 144
gazpacho, Raspberry Gazpacho, 65 Roasted Red Pepper Pes to, 23
gelatin Gouda cheese
Apple Foam, 182 goat, Mac with Goat Gouda and Cheddar, 144
in Apple Cream Pie, 183 Pressure· Cooked Risotto, 152
Firm Pastry Cream, 181 Spinach Pesto, 23
Fruit Jellies, 175 Vegetable Risotto, 152
gelling strengths of, 175 variation, 152
kinds of, 175 Goulash Broth, 121
measuring, 175 grains. See also specific grains
Montpellier Butter, 38 cooking and parcooking times for, 151
in Filet Mignon with Montpellier Butter, 118 Grana Pad a no cheese, Arborio Rice with Caramelized
Raspberry Panna Cotta, 175 Squash and Saffron, 154
variation, 175 grape juice, P. B. & J. Gelato, 177
softening, 175 grapefruit
Strawberry Panna Cotta, 67 Arborio Rice with Sea Urchin and Cocoa, 155
gelato Fruit Curds, 174
about, 170 grapeseed oil
Hazelnut Gelato, 177 Basic Chili Oil, 36
P. B. & ]. Gelato, 177 Garlic Oil, 36
Pistachio Gelato, 177 Ginger Oil, 36
variations, 177 Lemon Oil, 36
Strawberry Macadamia Gelato, 177 Rosemary Oil, 36
gels smoke and flash points of, viii
dairy, acid for making, 173 Sous Vide Lemon Herb Oil, 34
fluid. See fluid gels Sous Vide Spiced Chili Oil, 36
how to make, 21 Thyme0il,36
posset as, 173 Vanilla Oil,36
quick-set method for, 21 gravy
semisolid, 21 Caramelized Onion Gravy, 24
Genovese Pizza, 143 pan, full.flavored, how to make, 18
ghee. See also clarified butter Pressure·Cooked Drippings, 24
how to make, 37 variation, 24
Kerala Curry Sauce, 26 Redeye Gravy, 19
Mughal Curry Sauce, 26-27 in Shrimp and Grits, 157
in Lamb Curry, 104 thickening with Wondra, 18
in Pressure· Cooked Lamb Shanks, 104 grease fires, extinguishing, 4
variations, 26
204
HUSH PUPPIES
205
ICE CHESTS
I
ice chests, Sous Vide Steak in a Cooler, 80
immersion blenders (continued)
Hazelnut Gelato, 177
Home Jus Gras, 17
variation, 17
Mac and Cheese, 144
J
Jaccard meat tenderi ze r
ice-cream machines variation, 144 food safety with, 2
Hazelnut Gelato, 177 Mac and Gruyere, 144 Sweet Brine for Meats, SO
P. B. & ). Gelato, 177 Mac with Goat Gouda and Cheddar, 144 Jack cheese
Pistachio Gelato, 177 Mac with Gorgonzola and Fontina, 144 "Fat-Free" Mac and Cheese, 148- 149
variations, 177 Mac with Jack and Stilton, 144 variations, 148
Strawberry Macadamia Gelato, 177 Mac with Sharp Cheddar and Swiss, 144 Mac with Jack and Stilton, 144
ice-water baths Mini Egg Cups, 56 jalapeno peppers
Bok Choy Medley, 162 Modernist Vinaigrette, 35 Chinese Garlic Chili Condiment, 117
Braised Short Ribs, 99 in Pressure-Cooked Lentil Salad, 74 Salsa Verde, 31
Chervil, Thyme, and Scallion Pesto, 23 variations, 35 Tortilla Soup, 121
Cilantro Pesta, 23 Montpellier Butter, 38 Japanese rice, short-grain, cooking and parcooking
Com hi Oven Roast Chicken, 107 in Filet Mignon with Montpellier Butter, 118 times for, 1S1
Deep-Fried Chicken, 107 Olive Oil Scrambled Eggs, 56 jellies, Fruit Jellies, 175
Extra-Juicy Chicken, 107 in Espagnole Omelet Filling, 57 jerky
freezing lobster, 128 Onion Fluid Gel, 21 BiltongJerky, 164
Green Onion and Sorrel Pesta, 23 variation, 21 Microwaved BeefJerky, 164-165
Grilled Applesauce, 42 Oyster Stew, 134 variations, 164- 16S
in Aged White Cheddar on Sourdough with P. B. & ). Gelato, 177 Smoky Jerky, 164
Apples, ISO for pan gravy, 18 Spicy Jerky, 164
Modernist Vichyssoise, 68 - 69 Perfectly Melting Cheese Slice, 145 Jerusalem artichokes {sunchokes)
variations, 68 in French Onion Soup, 45 Artichoke Soup, 76
Pincushion Chicken, 107 in Modernist Cheeseburger, 91 in Vacuum-Pickled Vegetables, 48
Pistachio Pesta, 22-23. See also pistachios, Pistachio in Tuna Confit Salad and Tuna Melt Sandwich, juicers
Pes to 73 Fruit Minestrone, 66-67
Roast Chicken, 106-107 Pistachio Clam Chowder, 134 variations, 67
variations, 107 Pistachio Gelato, 177 Strawberry Marinara, 33
Roasted Red Pepper Pesto, 23 variations, 177 Vegetable Risotto, 152
Roasted-Potato Vichyssoise, 68 Popcorn Infusion, 171 variation, 1S2
Sauce Verte, 23 Porcini Butter, 39 juices. See also specific types of juices
Spatchcock Chicken, 107 Pot de Creme, 172 FruitJellies, 175
Spinach Pes to, 23 Pressure-Cooked Chickpea Salad, 72 juniper berries, Turkey Confit, 110
Ultrafrothy Milk Shake, 89 Salsa Verde, 31 jus
Vichyssoise with Potato Peel Reduction, 68 Scrambled Egg Pudding, 56 Brown BeefJus, 16
immersion blenders in Steamed Herb Omelet, 58-59 Brown Chicken Jus, 16
Aged White Cheddar Cheese Slice, ISO Sesame Dressing, 35 in Home Jus Gras, 17
in Aged White Cheddar on Sourdough with Sous Vide Vanilla Creme Anglaise, 176 in Shiitake Marmalade, 64
Apples, ISO variation, 176 variations, 16
Bain-Marie Creme BrU.lee, 172 South of France Chowder, 134 Game Bird Jus, 16
Baked Mac and Cheese, 146- 147 Spiced Chili Dressing, 35 Home Jus Gras, 17
Bell Pepper Butter, 39 Spinach Butter, 39 variation, 17
Broccoli with Cheese Sauce, 144 in Bok Choy Medley, 162 Mushroom Jus, 15
Camembert and Gruyere Cheese Slice, 150 Steamed Herb Omelet, 58-59 in Cream of Mushroom Soup, 63
in Camembert and Gruyere on Brioche with Stilton Cheese Slice, 1SO in Mushroom Puree, 63
Ham and Mushrooms, 150 in Stilton on Walnut Bread with Shallot in Mushroom Soup, 76
Cheese Crumble, 149 Marmalade, ISO Pressure-Cooked Vegetable Jus, 77
in Baked Mac and Cheese, 146-147 Stove-Top Carotene Butter, 39
Cheese Pastry Cream, 181 in Caramelized Carrot Soup, 7S
Cherry Vinaigrette, 35 variations, 39
Cilantro Vinaigrette, 35 Strawberry Macadamia Gelato, 177
Clams in Chowder Sauce, 134 Ultrastable Butter Sauce, 17
variations, 134 Vietnamese-Style Dressing, 3S
Coffee Butter, 39 impulse sealers, how to use, 6
Coffee Creme BrU.Iee, 172-173 Infused -Cream Potato Puree, 100
variations, 172 infusions
Deviled Eggs, 62 infusing with a whipping siphon and. See
Eggs Sunny-Side Up, 62-63 pressure-infusing
variation, 62 milk or cream, how to make, 171
Feta Cheese Slice, ISO injectors. See brine injectors and syringes
in Feta on Potato Bread with Vegetable Con fit, Insta Cure #I, PorkBellyB.L.T., 102- 103
ISO Instant Chocolate Sponge, 169
Fines Herbes Vinaigrette with Pistachio Butter, 35 variations, 169
Flan, 172 instant-read thermometers, checking core temperature
fluid gels, 21 in a zip-top bag using, 8
French Scrambled Eggs, 56 iota carrageenan
in Striped Mushroom Omelet, 60- 61 Strawberry Panna Cotta, 67
variations, 56 Vegetarian Panna Cotta, 17S
Goat Cheese Slice, ISO iron frying pans . See cast-iron skillets
in Goat Cheese on Baguette with Tomato Con fit Italian parsley, Sauce Verte, 23
and Basil, ISO Italian sausage, Finocchiona Pizza, 143
206
LU, MARGARET
K
kala namak, Chaat Mas ala, 53
L
lactic acid, in sourdough starters, 138
lightly cooked food
safety tips for, ix
science of, ix
lima beans, in Refried Bean Foam, 97
lime leaves, Makrud, Sous Vide Lemon Herb Oil, 34
Kalbi Marinade, 51 Lahey, Jim, No-Knead Country Bread recipe of, 139 limes/lime zest
kappa carrageenan lamb Citrus Infusion, 171
Strawberry Panna Cotta, 67 leg of Fruit Curds, 174
Vegetarian Panna Cotta, 175 Lamb Leg Tajine, 95 liquid smoke
Kashmiri chilies Lamb Skewers with Mint Yogurt, 118 Barbecue Ketchup, 30
MC Curry Powder, 52. See also MC Curry Powder loin, Sous Vide Lamb Skewers, 86 Smoky Jerky, 164
Vindaloo Spice Mix, 52 in Microwaved Beef jerky, 164-165 loaf pans
in Pork Vindaloo with Naan, 95 shanks how to form a square hamburger patty in, 87
Kerala Curry Sauce, 26 best bets for cooking, 99 White Sandwich Bread, 90- 91
ketchup Lamb Curry, 104 in Modernist Cheeseburger, 91
Barbecue Ketchup, 30 Pressure-Cooked Lamb Shanks, 104 in Modernist Meatloaf Sandwich, 92- 93
Pressure-Caramelized Ketchup, 30 Whole Lamb Shank, 104 lobster meat
in Modernist Cheeseburger, 91 shoulder, best bets for cooking, 99 claws, best bets for cooking so us vide, 128
variation, 30 lard, pork, smoke and flash points o~ viii Lobster Roll, 130-131
Kinch, David, Raspberry Gazpacho, 65 leafy greens. See also specific leafy greens variation, 130
kitchen sinks, how to poach salmon in, 125 best bets for cooking in the microwave oven, 162 Pressure-Cooked Crustacean Butter, 40
kneading dough, by hand, how to, 139 leathers in Crustacean Hollandaise, 29
Knox brand gelatin, 175 Fruit Leather, 47 in Lobster Roll, 130-131
kombu seaweed, Seaweed Fish Brine, 51 Mango Chili Leather, 47 variations, 40
Korean Pork Belly Skewers, 118 Onion Leather, 47 Sous Vide Crustacean Butter, 40
Korean Short-Rib Lettuce Wraps, 95 Tomato Leather, 47 tails
Korean Wing Sauce, 116 in Lobster Roll, 130-131 best bets for cooking sous vide, 128
in Crispy Chicken Wings, Korean-Style, 112 variations, 47 Sous Vide Lobster Tail, 130
in Korean Pork Belly Skewers, 118 leeks lobster shells and heads
in Korean Short-Rib Lettuce Wraps, 95 Finocchiona Pizza, 143 flavorin,40
in Sichuan Bok Choy, 161-162 Leek and Onion Soup, 76 pigment in, 40
in Spicy Hollandaise, 29 MC Special Sauce, 27 Pressure-Cooked Crustacean Butter, 40
kumquats, Fruit Salad, 67 in Modernist Cheeseburger, 91 in Crustacean Hollandaise, 29
Modernist Vichyssoise, 68-69 in Lobster Roll, 130-131
variations, 68 variations, 40
Pressure-Cooked Carrots and Leeks, 119 Pressure-Cooked Crustacean Stock, 12. See also
in Chicken Noodle Soup, 119 pressure cookers, Pressure-Cooked Crustacean
variations, 119 Stock
Pressure-Cooked Vegetable jus, 77 Pressure-Cooked Lobster Bisque, 40
Roasted-Potato Vichyssoise, 68 Sous Vide Crustacean Butter, 40
Tsukune, 118 lobsters
in Deep-Fried Tsukune Skewers, 118 buying fresh, 128
Vichyssoise with Potato Peel Reduction, 68 freezing, 128
lemon balm, Sous Vide Lemon Herb Oil, 34 how to kill and shell, 128
lemon essential oil juices from, 40
Foamed Lemon Curd, 174 meat of. See lobster meat
Sous Vide Lemon Curd, 174 shells and heads of. See lobster shells and heads
in Lemon Posset, 173 lovage, in Microwave-Fried Parsley, 168
in Raspberry Lemon Cream Pie, 183 Low-Temp Oven Steak, 81
variations, 174 variation, 81
lemon thyme, Sous Vide Lemon Herb Oil, 34 Lu, Margaret, Microwaved Black Cod with Scallions
lemon grass and Ginger, 163
Lemongrass Ginger Infusion, 171
Sous Vide Lemon Herb Oil, 34
Thai Soup, 121
lemons/ lemon zest
Citrus Infusion, 171
Lemon Oil, 36
Lemon Pastry Cream, 181
in Raspberry Lemon Cream Pie, 183
Lemon Posset, 173
Meyer, Fruit Curds, 174
in Vacuum-Pickled Vegetables, 48
lentils, green, Pressure-Cooked Lentil Salad, 74
lettuce
Bibb, Pork Belly B.L.T., 102-103
Boston, Pork Belly B.L.T., 102-103
butter
Green Salad with Romaine Dressing, 70
Green Salad with Romaine Dressing variations,
70
Korean Short-Rib Lettuce Wraps, 95
romaine. See romaine lettuce
207
MAC AND CHEDDAR
M
Mac and Cheddar, 148
marinades
about, 51
Barbecue Marinade, 51
Kalbi Marinade, 51
Mediterranean Yogurt Marinade, 51
meat grinders (continued)
Pressure-Cooked White Chicken Stock, 9
in Aromatic Chicken Broth, 120
in Sous Vide Braised Snails, 135
variation, 9
Mac and Cheese, 144 Mexican Marinade, 51 Pressure-Rendered Chicken Fat, 41
variations, 144 Vietnamese Marinade, Sl in Chicken Noodle Soup, 119
Mac and Fontina, 148 marinara sauce in Fingerling Potatoes Con fit, 44
Mac and Gruyere, 144 Marinara, 32 in Home Jus Gras, 17
Mac and Parmesan, 148 in Microwaved Eggplant Parmesan, 160 meat tenderizers
Mac with Goat Gouda and Cheddar, 144 variations, 32 food safety with, 2
Mac with Gorgonzola and Fontina, 144 Pineapple Marinara, 32 Sweet Brine for Meats, SO
Mac with jack and Stilton, 144 in Hawaiian Pizza, 140 meatballs, Tsukune, 118
Mac with Sharp Cheddar and Swiss, 144 Strawberry Marinara, 33 in Deep-Fried Tsukune Skewers, 118
macadamia butter marinating attachment, vacuum sealers with meatloaf, Modernist Meatloaf Sandwich, 92-93
Raspberry Macadamia Nut Sponge, 169 Vacuum-Infused Celery, 49 Mediterranean Vegetable Confit, 44
Strawberry Macadamia Gelato, 177 in Lobster Roll, 130-131 in Feta on Potato Bread with Vegetable Confit, ISO
macadamia nut oil variation, 49 Mediterranean Yogurt Marinade, 51
Pressure-Cooked Quinoa Salad with Cauliflower, 71 in Waldorf Salad, 49 Mexican Marinade, 51
smoke point of, ix Vacuum-Pickled Vegetables, 48 Meyer lemons, Fruit Curds, 174
in Sous Vide Tuna Confit, 73 marmalades, savory. See savory marmalades michiu rice wine, Crispy Chicken Wings, Korean-Style,
Strawberry Macadamia Gelato, 177 masa harina 112
macadamia nuts, Green Onion and Sorrel Pes to, 23 Corn Juice Tamales, 158 Microplanes, Parmesan Crisp, 70
macaroni and cheese Hush Puppies, 158 microwave ovens
Baked Mac and Cheese, 146-147 Masa Harina Noodles, 123 Aromatic Microwaved Cod, 163
"Fat-Free" Mac and Cheese, 148-149 in Tortilla Soup, 121 Autumn Flavors Bok Choy, 162
variations, 148 Pressure-Cooked Fresh-Corn Tamales, 158- 159 best bets for cooking vegetables in, 162
Mac and Cheddar, 148 variation, 158 BiltongJerky, 164
Mac and Cheese, 144 mascarpone cheese Bok Choy Medley, 162
variation, 144 Corn juice Grits, 156 Crispy Beef and Shallot Salad, 167
Mac and Fontina, 148 Creamed Spinach, 82 variation, 167
Mac and Gruyere, 144 in Florentine Omelet Filling, 57 Crispy Beef Strands, 166
Mac and Parmesan, 148 in Mac and Parmesan, 148 in Crispy Beef and Shallot Salad, 167
Mac with Goat Gouda and Cheddar, 144 variation, 82 Instant Chocolate Sponge, 169
Mac with Gorgonzola and Fontina, 144 Pressure-Cooked Polenta, 156 variations, 169
Mac with Jack and Stilton, 144 variation, 156 Microwaved BeefJerky, 164- 165
Mac with Sharp Cheddar and Swiss, 144 Mason jars. See canning jars variations, 164
mace blades match a green tea, Green Tea Flavoring, 171 Microwaved Black Cod with Scallions and Ginger,
MCCurry Powder, 52. See also MCCurry Powder mayonnaise 163
Sous Vide Spiced Chili Oil, 36 Aioli,2S variations, 163
Vindaloo Spice Mix, 52 Bacon Mayonnaise, 25 Microwaved Eggplant Parmesan, 160
in Pork Vindaloo with Naan, 95 in Microwaved Potato Salad, 162 Microwaved Potato Salad, 162
mackerel, best bets for cooking sous vide, 127 in Pork Belly B.L.T., 102-103 Microwaved Sea Bass, Tilapia, Halibut, or Sole, 163
maitake mushrooms in Smoked Bacon B.L.T., 102 Microwave-Fried Parsley, 168
Barley with Wild Mushrooms and Red Wine, 154 Modernist Mayonnaise, 25 Peanut Butter Sponge, 169
Funghi Pizza, 140 in Sweet Onion Slaw, 69 Raspberry Macadamia Nut Sponge, 169
Makrud lime leaves, So us Vide Lemon Herb Oil, 34 variations, 25 Sesame Sponge, 169
malic acid Rouille,25 Sichuan Bok Choy, 161 - 162
Barbecue Ketchup, 30 in South of France Chowder, 134 variations, 162
Crustacean Hollandaise, 29 Tartar Sauce, 25 Smoky Jerky, 164
Fruit Minestrone, 66-67 MC Curry Powder, 52 Spicy Jerky, 164
variations, 67 in Kerala Curry Sauce, 26 Middle Eastern Infusion, 171
Garlic Hollandaise, 29 in Mugha l Curry Sauce, 26- 27 milk
Pressure-Caramelized Ketchup, 30 variations, 26 Amaretto Pastry Cream, 181
in Modernist Cheeseburger, 91 in Muslim Curry Sauce, 26 in Almond and Cherry Cream Pie, 183
variation, 30 variation, 52 Bain-Marie Creme Brlllt~e, 172
Pressure-Infused Celery, 49 MC Special Sauce, 27 Cheese Pastry Cream, 181
Sous Vide Hollandaise, 28-29 in Modernist Cheeseburger, 91 Chocolate Pastry Cream, 181
variations, 29 McDonald's Big Mac sauce, 27 in Chocolate Cream Pie, 183
Spicy Hollandaise, 29 meat. See also specific varieties of meat Coffee Creme Brulee, 172- 173
Vacuum-Infused Celery, 49 how to grind like a pro, 87 variations, 172
in Lobster Roll, 130- 131 puncturing, hazards of, 2 Firm Pastry Cream, 181
variation, 49 Sweet Brine for Meats, SO Flan, 172
in Waldorf Salad, 49 tender cuts of, best bets for cooking so us vide, 80 Ginger Pastry Cream, 181
malt powder. See diastatic malt powder tough cuts of, best bets for cooking, 99 in Ginger Cream Pie, 183
Mandarin Flavoring, 171 meat grinders infusions of, how to make, 171
mandarin oranges Brown Chicken Stock, 9 Lemon Pastry Cream, 181
Fruit Curds, 174 in Aromatic Chicken Broth, 120 in Raspberry Lemon Cream Pie, 183
Fruit Leather, 47 in Brown Chicken Jus, 16 Onion Fluid Gel, 21
mandolines, Pressure-Cooked Quinoa Salad with in Pressure-Cooked Paella del Bosco, 153 variation, 21
Cauliflower, 71 Modernist Hamburger Patty, 88-89 Pot de Creme, 172
mango powder, green, dried, Chaat Masala, 53 in Modernist Cheeseburger, 91 Pressure-Infused Coffee Pastry Cream, 181
mangoes, Mango Chili Leather, 47 variation, 88 in Banana Cream Pie, 183
Modernist Meatloaf Sandwich, 92-93
208
N-ZORBIT
milk (continued)
Raspberry Panna Cotta, 175
variation, 175
Sabayon, 176
So us Vide Vanilla Creme Anglaise 1 176
Mughal Curry Sauce, 26-27
in Lamb Curry, 104
in Pressure-Cooked Lamb Shanks, 104
variations, 26
mushrooms
N
nails, Pincushion Chicken, 107
variation, 176 button. See button mushrooms Napolitana Pizza, 140
Sous Vide Vanilla-Cinnamon Pastry Cream, crimini. See crimini mushrooms Neapolitan Pizza Dough, 136
180 - 181 Mushroom Jus, 15 variations, 136
in Apple Cream Pie, 183 in Cream of Mushroom Soup, 63 needle -nose pliers, Turkey Confit, 110
variations, 181 in Mushroom Puree, 63 neutral oils, viii
Strawberry Panna Cotta, 67 in Mushroom Soup, 76 nonstick frying pans
Sweet Brine for Meats, 50 Mushroom Puree, 63 Eggs Sunny-Side Up, 62-63
Ultrafrothy Milk Shake, 89 in Cream of Mushroom Soup, 63 variation, 62
Vegetarian Panna Cotta, 175 in Mac and Fontina, 148 Fragrant Sous Vide Salmon, 124
milk shake, Ultrafrothy Milk Shake, 89 in Striped Mushroom Omelet, 60- 61 Steamed Herb Omelet, 58- 59
Mini Egg Cups, 56 variation, 63 Striped Mushroom Omelet, 60-61
mint Mushroom Soup, 76 noodles
Mediterranean Yogurt Marinade, 51 Mushroom Stock, in Barley with Wild Mushrooms Barley Noodles, 123
Mintlnfusion,l71 and Red Wine, 154 Coconut Nood les, 123
Mint Yogurt, 118 portobello, Mushroom Puree, 63. See also in Thai Soup, 121
in Lamb Skewers with Mint Yogurt, 118 mushrooms, Mushroom Puree Fresh Egg Noodles, 122
Napolitana Pizza, 140 in Vacuum-Pickled Vegetables, 48 in Chicken Noodle Soup, 119
Roasted Red Pepper Pes to, 23 wild. See chanterelles; morels; oyster mushrooms; variations, 123
Sauce Verte, 23 porcini mushrooms; shiitake mushrooms; wild Masa Harina Noodles, 123
mirin, Yakitori Sauce, 116 mushrooms in Tortilla Soup, 121
in Boneless Yakitori Wings, 114 yellow foot, Funghi Pizza, 140 Potato Noodles, 123
in Chicken Skin Yakitori Skewers, 118 Muslim Curry Sauce, 26 Rice Noodles, 123
in Tsukune, 118 mussel juice, 132 Rye Noodles, 123
miso1 white, Mushroom Jus, 15 mussels Whole Wheat Noodles, 123
in Cream of Mushroom Soup, 63 best bets for cooking so us vide, 128 in Chinese Soup, 121
in Mushroom Puree, 63 buying fresh, 128 Nouvelle cuisine movement, 18
in Mushroom Soup, 76 debearding, 129 nuts. See also specific types of nuts
Modernist Cheeseburger, 91 how to shuck, 129 softening, 26
Modernist Hamburger Patty, 88-89 juices from, 132 N-Zorbit, Fish Spice Mix, 54
in Modernist Cheeseburger, 91 MusselsMariniere, 132-133 in Fragrant Sous Vide Salmon, 124
variation, 88 mustard, Honey Mustard Sauce, 115
Modernist Mayonnaise, 25 mustard seeds
in Sweet Onion Slaw, 69 black, Kerala Curry Sauce, 26
variations, 25 Pressure-Cooked Pickled Mustard Seeds, 43
Modernist Meatloaf Sandwich, 92-93 in Honey Mustard Sauce, 115
Modernist Vichyssoise, 68-69
variations, 68
Modernist Vinaigrette, 35
in Pressure-Cooked Lentil Salad, 74
variations, 35
monosodium glutamate
Aromatic Chicken Broth, 120
in Chicken Nood le Soup, 119
Chinese Soup, 121
Crispy Chicken Wings, Korean-Style, 112
Pho Soup, 121
Montpellier Butter, 38
in Filet Mignon with Montpellier Butter, 118
morels
Infused-Cream Potato Puree, 100
Mushroom Puree, 63. See also mushrooms,
Mushroom Puree
Pork Shoulder Fricassee with Apples and Morels, 95
in Shiitake Marmalade, 64
mortar and pestle, Fish Spice Mix, 54
in Fragrant Sous Vide Salmon, 124
mother dough, 138
mounting step, 17
mouthfeel, of fluid gels, 21
mozzarella cheese
Finocchiona Pizza, 143
Funghi Pizza, 140
Genovese Pizza, 143
Hawaiian Pizza, 140
Microwaved Eggplant Parmesan, 160
Napolitana Pizza, 140
Pizza Margherita, 141
MSG. See monosodium glutamate
Muenster cheese, Alsatian Omelet Filling, 57
209
OATS
0 onions, red
Sous Vide Lamb Skewers, 86
Sweet Onion Slaw, 69
in Modernist Meatloaf Sandwich, 92-93
p
oats, steel-cut in Vacuum-Pickled Vegetables, 48 P. B. & J. Gelato, 177
cooking and parcooking times for, 151 open flame. See also blowtorches; charcoal grills packaging food, for cooking sous vide. See sous vide
Steel-Cut Oats with Sous Vide Braised Snails, 154 Salsa Verde, 31 cooking, packaging food for; vacuum sealers
oils, viii- ix. See also essential oils; specific types of oils orange peel, dried, Autumn Spice Mix, 55 paella
Basic Chili Oil, 36 in Gingerbread Crust, 178 cooking and parcooking times for, 151
for deep-frying, 4 oranges/ orange zest how to parcook and finish, 151
flavorful, viii- ix Citrus Infusion, 171 how to pressure-cook, 151
Garlic Oil, 36 Fruit Curds, 174 Pressure-Cooked Paella del Bosco, 153
Ginger Oil, 36 mandarin variations, 154 - 155
Lemon Oil, 36 Fruit Curds, 174 palm sugar
for mayonnaise, 25 Fruit Leather, 47 Pressure-Caramelized Peanut Sauce, 31
neutral, viii Mexican Marinade, 51 in Chicken Breast Satay, 118
Pressure-Cooked Spiced Chili Oil, 36 ouzo, Steel-Cut Oats with Sous Vide Braised Snails, 154 Thai Soup, 121
refined, viii oven probe thermometers. See digital thermometers, Thai Sweet, Sour, and Savory Glaze, 33
Rosemary Oil, 36 with oven probe pancetta, Potato Noodles, 123
smoke and flash points of, viii Oven-Fried Pizza, variation, 142 panko bread crumbs
Sous Vide Lemon Herb Oil, 34 ovens. See also combi ovens; conventional ovens; Cheese Crumble, 149
So us Vide Spiced Chili Oil, 36 microwave ovens in Baked Mac and Cheese, 146- 147
Thyme Oil, 36 toaster, how to bake salmon in, 125 Microwaved Eggplant Parmesan, 160
unrefined, viii oxtail panna cotta
Vanilla Oil, 36 Brown BeefJus, 16 about, 170
Old-Forge-style pizza, 142 Brown Beef Stock Raspberry Panna Cotta, 175
olive oil in French Onion Soup, 45 variation, 175
Mediterranean Vegetable Confit, 44 in Korean Short-Rib Lettuce Wraps, 95 Strawberry Panna Cotta, 67
Olive Oil Scrambled Eggs, 56 in Pho Soup, 121 Vegetarian Panna Cotta, 175
in Espagnole Omelet Filling, 57 in Thai Sweet, Sour, and Savory Glaze, 33 pans
Pressure-Cooked Garlic Con fit, 44 jointed, best bets for cooking, 99 frying. See cast-iron skillets; nonstick frying pans
variations, 44 Pressure-Cooked Brown Beef Stock, 10 loaf. See loaf pans
Provenpl Garlic Con fit, 44 variations, 10 paper cups, Instant Chocolate Sponge, 169
smoke point of, ix White Beef Stock, 10 variations, 169
Sous Vide Tuna Con fit, 73 oyster mushrooms, Barley with Wild Mushrooms paprika. See also piment6n, sweet (dulce)
in Tuna Con fit Salad and Tuna Melt Sandwich, 73 and Red Wine, 154 hot, Goulash Broth, 121
olives oysters parcooking risotto and paella, how to, 151
black, Farro with Chicken, Artichokes, and Black best bets for cooking sous vide, 128 Parmesan cheese
Olives, 155 Oyster Stew, 134 in Cheese Crumble, 149
Napolitana Pizza, 140 Cheese Crust, 178
omelets in Savory Cheese Pie, 183
fillings for Cilantro Peste, 23
Alsatian Omelet Filling, 57 Mac and Parmesan, 148
Espagnole Omelet Filling, 57 Parmesan Crisp, 70
Florentine Omelet Filling, 57 Pizza Cruda, 143
Raviolo Omelet Filling, 57 Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
Steamed Herb Omelet, 58-59 Florentine Omelet Filling, 57
Striped Mushroom Omelet, 60-61 Microwaved Eggplant Parmesan, 160
onions Pistachio Pes to, 22- 23 . See also pistachios, Pistachio
Caramelized Onion Gravy, 24 Pes to
Dried Caramelized Onions, 45 Steel-Cut Oats with Sous Vide Braised Snails, 154
French Onion Soup, 45 parsley
green. See scallions Italian, Sauce Verte, 23
Leek and Onion Soup, 76 Microwave-Fried Parsley, 168
Onion Fluid Gel, 21 parsnips
variation, 21 Apple and Parsnip Soup, 76
Onion Leather, 47 in Pressure-Cooked Carrots and Leeks, 119
pearl. See onions, pearl passion fruit, Passion Fruit Glaze, 182
Pressure-Caramelized Onions, 45 in Coconut Cream Pie, 183
in Alsatian Omelet Filling, 57 pasta. See macaroni and cheese; noodles
in Caramelized Onion Gravy, 24 pasta machines
in Mac and Fontina, 148 Barley Noodles, 123
in Mac with Goat Gouda and Cheddar, 144 Coconut Noodles, 123
in Savory Cheese Pie, 183 in Thai Soup, 121
variations, 45 Fresh Egg Noodles, 122
Pressure-Cooked Vegetable Jus, 77 in Chicken Noodle Soup, 119
Pressure-Cooked Vegetables, in Vegetable Stew, 78 variations, 123
red. See onions, red Masa Harina Noodles, 123
Salsa Verde, 31 in Tortilla Soup, 121
Slow-Baked Chicken with Onions, 105 Potato Noodles, 123
Sweet Onion Slaw, 69 Rice Noodles, 123
in Modernist Meatloaf Sandwich, 92-93 Rye Noodles, 123
onions, pearl Whole Wheat Noodles, 123
Pressure-Cooked Vegetables, 78 in Chinese Soup, 121
in Vacuum-Pickled Vegetables, 48
210
POPPY SEEDS
211
PORCIN I MUSHROOMS
212
QU INOA FLOUR
213
RAD ISHES
R
radishes
Pressure-Cooked Vegetable Jus, 77
ricotta sa lata cheese
Corn Juice Grits, 156
Pressure-Cooked Polenta, 156
variation, 156
Quinoa with Pistachio Pes to and Asparagus, 155
risotto
s
sabayon
about, 170
Pressure-Cooked Vegetables, in Vegetable Stew, 78 cooking times for, 151 Sabayon, 176
in Vacuum-Pickled Vegetables, 48 how to cook, 151 safety. See also food safety
ramekins how to parcook and finish, 151 of plastic bags and wrap in cooking, 168
Bain-Marie Creme BrUiee, 172 how to pressure-cook, 151 safety tips
Coffee Creme Bnilee, 172-173 Pressure-Cooked Risotto, 152 for blowtorches, 2
variations, 172 variations, 154- 155 for canning jars, 5
Plan, 172 Vegetable Risotto, 152 for deep-frying, 4
Pot de Creme, 172 variation, 152 for lightly cooked food, ix
rapeseed oil, smoke and flash points of, viii Roast Chicken, 106-107 for pressure-cooking, 5
raspberries variations, 107 for vacuum sealing, 6
Freeze-Dried Raspberry Powder, 182. See also Roasted Red Pepper Pesto, 23 safflower oil, smoke and flash points of, viii
Freeze-Dried Raspberry Powder Roasted-Potato Vichyssoise, 68 saffron
Fruit Leather, 47 romaine lettuce Arborio Rice with Caramelized Squash and Saffron,
Fruit Salad, 67 Green Salad with Romaine Dressing, 70 154
Raspberry Flavoring, 171 variations, 70 Middle Eastern Infusion, 171
Raspberry Gazpacho, 65 Herb and Romaine Broth, 70 Muslim Curry Sauce, 26
Raspberry Lemon Cream Pie, 182, 183 Romanesco, Bok Choy Medley, 162 Tomato Sofrito, 32
Raspberry Macadamia Nut Sponge, 169 root vegetables. See also specific vegetables sage
Raspberry Panna Cotta, 175 best bets for cooking in the microwave oven, 162 in Microwave-Fried Parsley, 168
variation, 175 Rosemary Oil, 36 Uovo Pizza, 143
Raviolo Omelet Filling, 57 Rouille,25 sake, Yakitori Sauce, 116
recipes, scaling, for sodium citrate, 145 in South of France Chowder, 134 in Boneless Yakitori Wings, 114
red wine roux, 18 in Chicken Skin Yakitori Skewers, 118
Barley with Wild Mushrooms and Red Wine, 154 Rustic Pizza Dough, 137 in Tsukune, 118
Red Wine Glaze, 20 variation, 137 salads
in Braised Short Ribs, 99 rye flour, Rye Noodles, 123 Barley Salad, 78
Redeye Gravy, 19 in Goulash Broth, 121 Beet Salad, 70
in Shrimp and Grits, 157 Crispy Beef and Shallot Salad, 167
refined oils, viii variation, 167
Refried Bean Foam, 97 Fruit Salad, 67
variations, 97 Green Salad with Romaine Dressing, 70
Refried Bean Puree, 97 variations, 70
reheating, of Braised Short Ribs, 99 Pressure-Cooked Chickpea Salad, 72
rhubarb Pressure-Cooked Lentil Salad, 74
Fruit Minestrone, 66-67 Pressure-Cooked Quinoa Salad with Cauliflower, 71
variations, 67 Sweet Onion Slaw, 69
Fruit Salad, 67 in Modernist Meatloaf Sandwich, 92-93
rice. See also Arborio rice; bomba rice; carnaroli rice; Tuna Confit Salad and Tuna Melt Sandwich, 73
forbidden rice; Japanese rice, short-grain; risotto; Waldorf Salad, 49
Vialone Nano rice salmon
cooking and parcooking times for, 151 best bets for cooking sous vide, 127
parcooked, cooling, lSI, 152 Fragrant Sous Vide Salmon, 124
rice bran oil, Rice Noodles, 123 how to bake in a toaster oven, 125
rice flour, Rice Noodles, 123 how to poach in a kitchen sink, 125
in Pho Soup, 121 in Sous Vide Tuna Con fit, 73
rice vinegar salmon skin
Pressure-Cooked Pork Belly Adobo, 98 Baked Fish Skin Chips, 126
Sesame Dressing, 35 Crispy Fish Skin, 126
Vietnamese Marinade, 51 variations, 126
Vietnamese-Style Dressing, 35 Salsa Verde, 31
rice wine salt. See also brines; marinades
Crispy Chicken Wings, Korean-Style, 112 amount in cures, scaling for, 88
Yakitori Sauce, 116 black, Chaat Masala, 53
in Boneless Yakitori Wings, 114 Fish Cure, Sl
in Chicken Skin Yakitori Skewers, 118 in marinades, 51
in Tsukune, 118 smoked. See smoked salt
ricers samba! ulek, in Sichuan Bok Choy, 161-162
Garlic Mashed Potatoes, 100 sandwiches
Infused-Cream Potato Puree, 100 Aged White Cheddar on Sourdough with Apples,
Potato Puree, 99, 100-101 ISO
variations, 100 Camembert and Gruyere on Brioche with Ham and
Sweet Potato Puree, 100 Mushrooms, 150
ricotta cheese Crab Roll, 130
Broccoli Raab Pizza, 143 Feta on Potato Bread with Vegetable Confit, ISO
Florentine Omelet Filling, 57 Goat Cheese on Baguette with Tomato Con fit and
Microwaved Eggplant Parmesan, 160 Basil, ISO
Lobster Roll, 130- 131
variation, 130
214
SMOKE PO INT
215
SMOKED BACON B.L.T.
Smoked Bacon B.L.T., 102 sour cream, Sweet Onion Slaw, 69 sous vide setup (continued)
smoked salt in Modernist Meatloaf Sandwich, 92- 93 Ginger Oil, 36
Grilling Spice Mix, 53 Sourdough International, 138 Ginger Pastry Cream, 181
Redeye Gravy, 19 sourdough starters1 138 in Ginger Cream Pie, 183
in Shrimp and Grits, 157 sous vide cooking Gingerbread Crust, 178
Smoky Jerky, 164 how to check the core temperature during, 8 in Ginger Cream Pie, 183
snails packaging food for Green Salad with Romaine Dressing, 70
Snails with Porridge dish of Heston Blumenthal, 154 how to compress fruits and vegetables for, 7 variations, 70
Sous Vide Braised Snails, 135 how to seal food in a zip-top bag and 1 6 Grilled Applesauce, 42
in Pressure-Cooked Paella del Bosco, 153 vacuum sealers for. See vacuum sealers in Aged White Cheddar on Sourdough with
in Steel-Cut Oats with Sous Vide Braised Snails, setup for. See sous vide setup Apples, ISO
154 water baths for. See water baths Grilled Pork Chop, 83
snapper, best bets for cooking sous vide, 127 so us vide setup Infused-Cream Potato Puree, 100
sodium citrate Aioli,2S Korean Pork Belly Skewers, 118
Aerated Blue Cheese Sauce, 117 Amaretto Pastry Cream, 181 Korean Short-Rib Lettuce Wraps, 95
Aged White Cheddar Cheese Slice, ISO in Almond and Cherry Cream Pie, 183 Lamb Curry, 104
in Aged White Cheddar on Sourdough with Bacon Brown Sugar Infusion, 171 Lamb Leg Tajine, 95
Apples, ISO Bacon Mayonnaise, 25 Lamb Skewers with Mint Yogurt, 118
Baked Mac and Cheese, 146-147 in Microwaved Potato Salad, 162 Lemon Oil, 36
Blue Cheese Sauce, 117 in Pork Belly B.L.T., 102-103 Lemon Pastry Cream, 181
variation, 117 in Smoked Bacon B.L.T., 102 in Raspberry Lemon Cream Pie, 183
Broccoli with Cheese Sauce, 144 Baked Fish Skin Chips, 126 Lobster Roll, 130-131
Camembert and Gruyere Cheese Slice, 150 Basic Chili Oil, 36 variation1 130
in Camembert and Gruyere on Brioche with Beef Short Ribs with Shiitake Marmalade, 118 Mac and Cheddar, 148
Ham and Mushrooms, ISO Beet Salad, 70 Mac and Fontina, 148
Cheese Crumble, 149 Boneless Yakitori Wings, 114 Mac and Parmesan 1 148
in Baked Mac and Cheese, 146-147 Braised Short Ribs, 99 Mini Egg Cups, 56
Feta Cheese Slice, 150 Brown Butter Crust1 178 Mint Infusion, 171
in Feta on Potato Bread with Vegetable Confit, in Apple Cream Pie, 183 Modernist Hamburger Patty, 88- 89
ISO Brown Fish Stock, 11 in Modernist Cheeseburger, 91
Fondue, 144 Brown Vegetable Stock, 13 variation, 88
Goat Cheese Slice, ISO Carrot Crust, 178 Modernist Mayonnaise, 25
in Goat Cheese on Baguette with Tomato Confit Cheese Crust, 178 in Sweet Onion Slaw, 69
and Basil, ISO in Savory Cheese Pie, 183 variations, 25
Mac and Cheese, 144 Cheese Grits, 157 Modernist Meatloaf Sandwich, 92-93
variation, 144 Cheese Pastry Cream, 181 Modernist Vichyssoise1 68-69
Mac and Gruyere, 144 Chicken Breast Satay, 118 variations, 68
Mac with Goat Gouda and Cheddar, 144 Chicken Skin Yakitori Skewers1 118 Montpellier Butter1 38
Mac with Gorgonzola and Fontina, 144 Chocolate Crust, I 78 in Filet Mignon with Montpellier Butter, 118
Mac with Jack and Stilton, 144 in Chocolate Cream Pie, 183 MusselsMarinihe, 132-133
Mac with Sharp Cheddar and Swiss, 144 Chocolate Pastry Cream, 181 Olive Oil Scrambled Eggs, 56
Perfectly Melting Cheese Slice, 145 in Chocolate Cream Pie1 183 in Espagnole Omelet Filling, 57
in French Onion Soup1 45 Coconut Crust, 178 Onion Fluid Gel, 21
in Modernist Cheeseburger1 91 in Coconut Cream Pie1 183 variation, 21
in Tuna Con fit Salad and Tuna Melt Sandwich, 73 Coconut Pastry Cream, 181 Peanut Crust, 178
scaling for, 145 in Coconut Cream Pie, 183 in Banana Cream Pie, 183
Stilton Cheese Slice, ISO Coffee Butter, 39 Pesto Chicken Thigh Skewers, 118
in Stilton on Walnut Bread with Shallot Coffee Creme Brulee, 172-173 Porcini Butter, 39
Marmalade, 150 variations, 172 Pork Belly B.L.T., 102-103
softening nuts and seeds, 26 Crispy Chicken or Pork Skin, 126 Pork Shoulder Fricassee with Apples and Morels, 95
sole Crispy Fish Skin, 126 Pot de Creme, 172
best bets for cooking sous vide1 127 variations, 126 Potato Noodles, 123
Microwaved Sea Bass1 Tilapia, Halibut, or Sole, 163 Crustacean Hollandaise, 29 Potato Puree, 99, 100-101
sorrel, Green Onion and Sorrel Pes to, 23 Deviled Eggs, 62 variations, 100
soups. See also chowders; stews Double Almond Crust, 178 Pressure-Infused Coffee Pastry Cream, 181
Apple and Parsnip Soup, 76 in Almond and Cherry Cream Pie, 183 in Banana Cream Pie, 183
Artichoke Soup, 76 Eggs Sunny-Side Up, 62-63 Puffed Chicken Skin, 113
Bell Pepper Soup, 76 Egg-Yolk Fluid Gel, 21 Raspberry Crust1 178
Broccoli- Gruyere Soup, 76 "Fat-Free" Mac and Cheese, 148- 149 Raspberry Gazpacho, 65
Caramelized Carrot Soup, 75 variations, 148 Rosemary Oil1 36
Cauliflower Soup1 76 Filet Mignon with Montpellier Butter, 118 Rouille, 25
Chinese Soup, 121 Firm Pastry Cream, 181 in South of France Chowder, 134
cold. See cold soups Flaky Pie Crust, 178-179 Sabayon, 176
Corn Soup, 76 variations, 178 Scrambled Egg Pudding, 56
Cream of Mushroom Soup1 63 Plan, 172 in Steamed Herb Omelet, 58 - 59
French Onion Soup, 45 Foamed Lemon Curd, 174 Shrimp and Grits, I 57
Leek and Onion Soup, 76 Fragrant Sous Vide Salmon, 124 variation, 157
Mushroom Soup, 76 French Scrambled Eggs, 56 Smoked Bacon B.L.T., 102
Pho Soup, 121 in Striped Mushroom Omelet, 60-61 Sous Vide Braised Snails, 135
Pressure-Cooked Lobster Bisque, 40 variations, 56 in Pressure-Cooked Paella del Bosco, 153
Squash Soup, 76 Fruit Curds1 174 in Steel-Cut Oats with Sous Vide Braised Snails,
in Arborio Rice with Caramelized Squash and Garlic Hollandaise, 29 154
Saffron, 154 Garlic Mashed Potatoes, IOO Sous Vide Buffalo Wings, Ill
Thai Soup, 121 Garlic Oil, 36 Sous Vide Carnitas, 94
Tortilla Soup, 121
216
STRIPED MUSHROOM OMELET
sous vide setup (continued) spice mixes stand mixers, with whisk
Sous Vide Chicken, 108 Autumn Spice Mix, 55 Corn juice Tamales, 158
in Chicken Noodle Soup, 119 in Gingerbread Crust, 178 Pressure-Cooked Fresh-Corn Tamales, 158-159
in Farro with Chicken, Artichokes, and Black Chaat Mas ala, 53 variation, 158
Olives, 155 Chili Spice Mix, 55 star anise
So us Vide Crustacean Butter, 40 in Crispy Skinless Chicken Wings, 113 Aromatic Chicken Broth, 120
So us Vide Fish Stock, 11 Fish Spice Mix, 54 in Chicken Noodle Soup, 119
in Arborio Rice with Sea Urchin and Cocoa, 155 in Fragrant Sous Vide Salmon, 124 Autumn Spice Mix, 55
in Bell Pepper Soup, 76 Grilling Spice Mix, 53 in Gingerbread Crust, 178
variation, 11 MC Curry Powder, 52. See also MC Curry Powder Pressure-Cooked Pork Belly Adobo, 98
So us Vide Hollandaise, 28-29 Vindaloo Spice Mix, 52 So us Vide Pork Belly Adobo, 98
variations, 29 in Pork Vindaloo with Naan, 95 Thai Sweet, Sour, and Savory Glaze, 33
Sous Vide Lamb Skewers, 86 spice pastes, Achiote Paste, 96 starch. See also flour
Sous Vide Lemon Curd, 174 in Pressure-Cooked Carnitas, 94 potato
in Lemon Posset, 173 Spiced Chili Dressing, 35 Boneless Yakitori Wings, 114
in Raspberry Lemon Cream Pie, 183 Spicy Hollandaise, 29 Crispy Chicken Wings, Korean-Style, 112
variations, 174 Spicy Jerky, 164 tapioca. See tapioca starch
Sous Vide Lemon Herb Oil, 34 spinach starter cultures. See poolish
So us Vide Lobster Tail, 130 Cilantro Pesto, 23 Steamed Herb Omelet, 58- 59
So us Vide Pork Belly Adobo, 98 Creamed Spinach, 82 steel plates, Pizza Margherita, 141
Sous Vide Spiced Chili Oil, 36 in Florentine Omelet Filling, 57 Steel-Cut Oats with Sous Vide Braised Snails, 154
in Deep-Fried Tsukune Skewers, 118 in Mac and Parmesan, 148 Steingarten,Jeffrey, Potato Puree, 100
in Sichuan Bok Choy, 161 - 162 variation, 82 stews
in Spiced Chili Dressing, 36 in Microwave-Fried Parsley, 168 Oyster Stew, 134
variations, 36 Pistachio Pesto, 22- 23 Pressure-Cooked Pork Belly Adobe, 98
So us Vide Steak, 79 Spinach Butter, 39 variation, 98
Sous Vide Steak in a Cooler, 80 in Bok Choy Medley, 162 Sous Vide Pork Belly Adobo, 98
Sous Vide Tuna Confit, 73 Spinach Pesto, 23 Stilton cheese
in Tuna Confit Salad and Tuna Melt Sandwich, squab breast, best bets for cooking, 109 MacwithJackand Stilton, 144
73 squash Stilton Cheese Slice, 150
So us Vide Turkey Breast, 109 butternut, Squash Soup, 76 in Stilton on Walnut Bread with Shallot
Sous Vide Vanilla Creme Anglaise, 176 in Arborio Rice with Caramelized Squash and Marmalade, 150
variation, 176 Saffron, !54 stocks
Sous Vide Vanilla-Cinnamon Pastry Cream, delicata, Squash Soup, 76 Brown Beef Stock
180-181 in Arborio Rice with Caramelized Squash and in French Onion Soup, 45
in Apple Cream Pie, 183 Saffron, 154 in Korean Short-Rib Lettuce Wraps, 95
variations, 181 zucchini, Mediterranean Vegetable Confit, 44 in Pho Soup, 121
Spicy Hollandaise, 29 in Feta on Potato Bread with Vegetable Confit, in Thai Sweet, Sour, and Savory Glaze, 33
Sweet Potato Puree, 100 ISO Brown Chicken Stock, 9
Tartar Sauce, 25 squid ink, Forbidden Rice with Squid Ink and So us in Aromatic Chicken Broth, 120
Thyme Oil, 36 Vide Clams, 154 in Brown Chicken Jus, 16
Turkey Confit, 110 stand mixers in Pressure-Cooked Paella del Bosco, 153
Vanilla Oil, 36 with dough hook. See stand mixers, with dough hook Brown Pork Stock, 10. See also Brown Pork Stock
Vegetable Stock, 13. See also vegetables, Vegetable with meat-grinding attachment. See meat grinders Brown Vegetable Stock, 13
Stock Montpellier Butter, 38 fish. See fish stock
South Indian Watercress, 82 in Filet Mignon with Montpellier Butter, 118 flavors in, 13
South of France Chowder, 134 with paddle. See stand mixers, with paddle Pressure-Cooked Brown Beef Stock, 10
soy lecithin, liquid with whisk. See stand mixers, with whisk variations, 10
Cherry Vinaigrette, 35 stand mixers, with dough hook Pressure-Cooked Crustacean Stock, 12. See also
Cilantro Vinaigrette, 35 Barley Noodles, 123 pressure cookers, Pressure-Cooked Crustacean
Fines Herbes Vinaigrette with Pistachio Butter, 35 Coconut Noodles, 123 Stock
Home jus Gras, 17 in Thai Soup, 121 Pressure-Cooked Vegetable Stock, 13
variation, 17 Fresh Egg Noodles, 122 Pressure-Cooked White Chicken Stock, 9
Modernist Vinaigrette, 35 in Chicken Noodle Soup, 119 in Aromatic Chicken Broth, 120
in Pressure-Cooked Lentil Salad, 74 variations, 123 in Sous Vide Braised Snails, 135
variations, 35 Masa Harina Noodles, 123 variation, 9
Sesame Dressing, 35 in Tortilla Soup, 121 Toasted Corn Stock, 14. See also Toasted Corn Stock
soy lecithin powder vs., 17 Neapolitan Pizza Dough, 136 Vegetable Stock, 13. See also vegetables, Vegetable
Spiced Chili Dressing, 35 variations, 136 Stock
Ultrastable Butter Sauce, 17 Potato Noodles, 123 White Beef Stock, 10
Vietnamese-Style Dressing, 35 Quinoa Pizza Dough1 136 Stove-Top Carotene Butter, 39
soy lecithin powder Rice Noodles, 123 in Caramelized Carrot Soup, 75
liquid soy lecithin vs., 17 Rustic Pizza Dough, 137 variations, 39
using, 17 variation, 137 strawberries
soy sauce Rye Noodles, 123 Cheese Course, 67
Crispy Beef Strands, 166 White Sandwich Bread, 90-91 Fruit Minestrone, 66-67
in Crispy Beef and Shallot Salad, 167 in Modernist Cheeseburger, 91 variations, 67
Kalbi Marinade, 51 in Modernist MeatloafSandwich,92- 93 Fruit Salad, 67
Sesame Dressing, 35 Whole Wheat Noodles, 123 P. B.&]. Gelato, 177
Vietnamese-Style Dressing, 35 in Chinese Soup, 121 Strawberry Juice with Green Apple Foam, 67
soybean oil, smoke and flash points of, viii Whole Wheat Pizza Dough, 137 Strawberry Macadamia Gelato, 177
Spatchcock Chicken, 107 stand mixers, with paddle, White Sandwich Bread, Strawberry Marinara, 33
spice grinders. See coffee grinders 90-91 Strawberry Panna Cotta, 67
in Modernist Cheeseburger, 91 Striped Mushroom Omelet, 60-61
in Modernist Meatloaf Sandwich, 92-93
217
SUGAR
T
sugar toaster ovens, how to bake salmon in, 125
brown tomatillos, Salsa Verde, 31
Bacon Brown Sugar Infusion, 171 tomato juice
Barbecue Ketchup, 30 Barbecue Marinade, 51
Fish Brine, 51 tahini Sous Vide Lamb Skewers, 86
variations, 51 Cilantro Vinaigrette, 35 tomatoes
Fish Cure, 51 Sesame Sponge, 169 Barbecue Ketchup, 30
palm. See palm sugar tajine, Lamb Leg Tajine, 95 Bolognese Sauce, 32
Seaweed Fish Brine, 51 tamales Goulash Broth, 121
Sweet Brine for Meats, SO Corn Juice Tamales, 158 Kerala Curry Sauce, 26
sumac, Sous Vide Lamb Skewers, 86 Pressure-Cooked Fresh-Corn Tamales, 158 - 159 Marinara, 32
sunchokes (Jerusalem artichokes) variation, 158 in Microwaved Eggplant Parmesan, 160
Artichoke Soup, 76 tamarind, Thai Sweet, Sour, and Savory Glaze, 33 variations, 32
in Vacuum-Pickled Vegetables, 48 tapioca maltodextrin, Fish Spice Mix, 54 Mughal Curry Sauce, 26-27
sunflower oil, smoke and flash points of, viii in Fragrant Sous Vide Salmon, 124 in Lamb Curry, 104
Sweet Brine for Meats, SO tapioca starch in Pressure-Cooked Lamb Shanks, 104
Sweet Onion Slaw, 69 Cheese Crumble, 149 variations, 26
in Modernist Meatloaf Sandwich, 92-93 in Baked Mac and Cheese, 146-147 Muslim Curry Sauce, 26
sweet potatoes, Sweet Potato Puree, 100 Hazelnut Gelato, 177 Pineapple Marinara, 32
Swiss cheese, Mac with Sharp Cheddar and Swiss, 144 P. B. &J. Gelato, 177 in Hawaiian Pizza, 140
swordfish, in Sous Vide Tuna Con fit, 73 Pistachio Gelato, 177 Pizza Cruda, 143
syringes. See brine injectors and syringes variations, 177 Pizza Sauce, 32
Strawberry Macadamia Gelato, 177 Pork Belly B.L.T., 102- 103
tarragon, Fines Herbes Vinaigrette with Pistachio Pressure-Caramelized Ketchup, 30
Butter,3S in Modernist Cheeseburger, 91
Tartar Sauce, 25 variation, 30
tea Strawberry Marinara, 33
Earl Grey Tea Infusion, 171 sun-dried, Mac and Parmesan, 148
green, matcha, Green Tea Flavoring, 171 Tomato Confit, 46
temperature in Goat Cheese on Baguette with Tomato Confit
of conventional ovens, how to calibrate, 4 and Basil, ISO
cooking in Tomato Leather, 47
government agency guidelines for, ix Tomato Leather, 47
safe, 2 in Lobster Roll, 130-131
for cooking tender poultry, 109 variations, 47
cooking times and, ix Tomato Sofrito, 32
for cooking tough poultry, 110 in Espagnole Omelet Filling, 57
core. See core temperatures Tortilla Soup, 121
for deep-frying, 4 Tortilla Soup, 121
internal, for grilling steak, 85 tough cuts of meat
lightness of foams and, 29 best bets for cooking, 99
for making lemon curd, 174 core temperature for cooking sous vide, 99
poolish and, 138 tough poultry, best bets for cooking, 110
of water baths, lightness of foam and, 29 trumpet mushrooms, black, Mushroom Puree, 63 .
tender cuts of meat, best bets for cooking so us vide, 80 See also mushrooms, Mushroom Puree
tender poultry, best bets for cooking sous vide, 109 Tsukune, 118
Thai basil, Thai Sweet, Sour, and Savory Glaze, 33 in Deep-Fried Tsukune Skewers, 118
in Crispy Beef and Shallot Salad, 167 tuna
Thai chilies best bets for cooking sous vide, 127
Mango Chili Leather, 47 Sous Vide Tuna Con fit, 73
Vietnamese Marinade, Sl in Tuna Confit Salad and Tuna Melt Sandwich,
Thai Soup, 121 73
thermometers Tuna Con fit Salad and Tuna Melt Sandwich, 73
for deep-frying, 4 turkey
digital. See digital thermometers breast
instant-read, checking core temperature in a zip-top best bets for cooking, 109
bag using, 8 So us Vide Turkey Breast, 109
oven probe. See digital thermometers, with oven legs
probe best bets for cooking, 110
thickening Turkey Confit, 110
with Ultra-Sperse 3, 82 wings, best bets for cooking, 110
with Wondra, 18 turmeric, fresh
Thompson, David, Crispy Beef and Shallot Salad, 167 Kerala Curry Sauce, 26
thyme Mughal Curry Sauce, 26-27
Chervil, Thyme, and Scallion Pesta, 23 in Lamb Curry, 104
lemon, Sous Vide Lemon Herb Oil, 34 in Pressure-Cooked Lamb Shanks, 104
Thyme0il,36 variations, 26
tilapia, Microwaved Sea Bass, Til apia, Halibut, or Sole, Muslim Curry Sauce, 26
163 turnips
Toasted Corn Stock, 14 in Pressure-Cooked Carrots and Leeks, 119
in Corn Soup, 76 Pressure-Cooked Vegetable Jus, 77
in Hush Puppies, 158 Pressure-Cooked Vegetables, in Vegetable Stew, 78
in Pressure-Cooked Fresh-Corn Tamales, 158-159
in Pressure-Cooked Polenta, 156
218
VITAL WHEAT GLUTEN
u
Ultrafrothy Milk Shake, 89
Ultra-Sperse 3, 82
v
vacuum sealers
Baked Fish Skin Chips, 126
vegetables (continued)
Vegetable Stock, 13
in Cauliflower Soup, 76
in Farro with Chicken, Artichokes, and Black
Olives, ISS
in Pressure-Cooked Risotto, 152
Ultrastable Butter Sauce, 17 Barley Noodles, 123 in Quinoa with Pistachio Pes to and Asparagus,
Uovo Pizza, 143 Boneless Yakitori Wings, 114 ISS
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), cooking Braised Short Ribs, 99 variations, 13
temperature guidelines of, ix Chicken Skin Yakitori Skewers, 118 in Vegetable Risotto, 152
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, cooking Coconut Noodles, 123 Vegetarian Panna Cotta, 175
temperature guidelines of, ix in Thai Soup, 121 velveting, 112
Crispy Chicken or Pork Skin, 126 venison, in Microwaved Beef]erky, 164-165
Crispy Fish Skin, 126 Vialone Nano rice
variations, 126 cooking and parcooking times for, 151
Fresh Egg Noodles, 122 Pressure-Cooked Risotto, 152
in Chicken Noodle Soup, 119 Vegetable Risotto, 152
variations, 123 variation, 152
Lamb Curry, 104 vichyssoise
with marinating attachment. See vacuum sealers, Modernist Vichyssoise, 68-69
with marinating attachment variations, 68
Masa Harina Noodles, 123 Roasted-Potato Vichyssoise, 68
in Tortilla Soup, 121 Vichyssoise with Potato Peel Reduction, 68
Modernist Vichyssoise, 68 - 69 Vietnamese Marinade, 51
variations1 68 Vietnamese-Style Dressing, 35
Pork Belly B.L.T., 102- 103 vinaigrettes
Potato Noodles, 123 Cherry Vinaigrette, 35
Pressure-Cooked Pork Belly, 102 Cilantro Vinaigrette, 35
Rice Noodles, 123 Fines Herbes Vinaigrette with Pistachio Butter, 35
Roasted-Potato Vichyssoise, 68 Modernist Vinaigrette, 35
Smoked Bacon B.L.T., 102 in Pressure-Cooked Lentil Salad, 74
Sous Vide Buffalo Wings, Ill variations, 35
Tomato Confit, 46 Vindaloo Spice Mix, 52
in Goat Cheese on Baguette with Tomato Confit in Pork Vindaloo with Naan, 95
and Basil, ISO vital wheat gluten
in Tomato Leather, 47 Barley Noodles, 123
Turkey Confit, 110 Buckwheat Pizza Dough, 136
Vichyssoise with Potato Peel Reduction, 68 Coconut Noodles, 123
Whole Wheat Noodles, 123 in Thai Soup, 121
in Chinese Soup, 121 Fresh Egg Noodles, 122
vacuum sealers, with marinating attachment in Chicken Noodle Soup, 119
Vacuum-Infused Celery, 49 variations, 123
in Lobster Roll, 130-131 Masa Harina Noodles, 123
variation, 49 in Tortilla Soup, 121
in Waldorf Salad, 49 Neapolitan Pizza Dough, 136
Vacuum-Pickled Vegetables, 48 variations, 136
vacuum sealing, safety tips for, 6 No-Knead Pizza Dough, 139
vacuum storage containers, Vacuum-Pickled Potato Noodles, 123
Vegetables, 48 QuinoaPizzaDough, 136
vacuum-sealed bags, checking core temperature in, 8 Rice Noodles, 123
vanilla seeds Rustic Pizza Dough, 137
Cinnamon Vanilla Infusion, 171 variation, 137
So us Vide Vanilla Creme Anglaise, 176 Rye Noodles, 123
variation, 176 Whole Wheat Noodles, 123
Sous Vide Vanilla-Cinnamon Pastry Cream, in Chinese Soup, 121
180- 181 Whole Wheat Pizza Dough, 137
in Apple Cream Pie, 183
variations, 181
Vanilla Oil, 36
vegetables. See also specific vegetables
best bets for cooking in the microwave oven, 162
Brown Vegetable Stock, 13
how to compress for vacuum sealing, 7
in Pressure-Cooked Carrots and Leeks, 119 •
Pressure-Cooked Vegetable Jus, 77
Pressure-Cooked Vegetable Stock, 13
Pressure-Cooked Vegetables, 77
in Vegetable Stew, 78
in Vacuum-Infused Celery, 49
variation, 49
Vacuum-Pickled Vegetables, 48
Vegetable Risotto, 152
variation, 152
219
WALDORF SALAD
w
Waldorf Salad, 49
walnut oil, smoke point of, ix
White Sandwich Bread, 90-91
in Modernist Cheeseburger, 91
in Modernist Meatloaf Sandwich, 92-93
white wine vinegar, Vacuum-Pickled Vegetables, 48
Whole Lamb Shank, 104
Whole Shoulder, 94
xanthan gum (continued)
Mango Chili Leather, 47
Onion Leather, 47
for pan gravy, 18
Passion Fruit Glaze, 182
in Coconut Cream Pie, 183
walnuts whole wheat flour P. B. & ). Gelato, 177
Sauce Verte, 23 Poolish, 138 Pistachio Gelato, 177
Waldorf Salad, 49 in Rustic Pizza Dough, 137 variations, 177
water baths. See also sous vide cooking; so us vide setup in Whole Wheat Pizza Dough, 137 Pistachio Pes to, 22-23. See also pistachios,
temperature of, lightness of foams and, 29 Whole Wheat Noodles, 123 Pistachio Pesta
water displacement, how to seal food in a zip-top in Chinese Soup, 121 Pressure-Caramelized Ketchup, 30
bag by, 6 Whole Wheat Pizza Dough, 137 in Modernist Cheeseburger,91
watercress, South Indian Watercress, 82 wild mushrooms. See also chanterelles; maitake variation, 30
wet-rendering fats, 41 mushrooms; morels; oyster mushrooms; porcini Pressure-Cooked Drippings, 24
wheat gluten. See vital wheat gluten mushrooms; shiitake mushrooms variation, 24
whey protein isolate Barley with Wild Mushrooms and Red Wine, 154 Raspberry Gazpacho, 65
Clams in Chowder Sauce, 134 Funghi Pizza, 140 Roasted Red Pepper Pesto, 23
variations, 134 wine Sauce Verte, 23
Oyster Stew, 134 port, Shallot and Port Wine Marmalade, ISO South Indian Watercress, 82
Pistachio Clam Chowder, 134 in Stilton on Walnut Bread with Shallot Spinach Pesto, 23
South of France Chowder, 134 Marmalade, 150 Strawberry Macadamia Gelato, 177
Ultrafrothy Milk Shake, 89 red Strawberry Panna Cotta, 67
whipping siphons Barley with Wild Mushrooms and Red Wine, 154 Tomato Leather, 47
Aerated Blue Cheese Sauce, 117 Red Wine Glaze. See red wine, Red Wine Glaze in Lobster Roll, 130-131
Apple Foam, 182 rice. See rice wine variations, 47
in Apple Cream Pie, 183 Shaoxing. See Shaoxing wine Ultrastable Butter Sauce, 17
BiltongJerky, 164 Wondra Vegetarian Panna Cotta, I 75
Chocolate Cream Pie, 182, 183 Aerated Blue Cheese Sauce, 117
Crispy Skinless Chicken Wings, 113 Blue Cheese Sauce, 117
Crustacean Hollandaise, 29
Foamed Lemon Curd, 174
foaming with, 3
French Scrambled Eggs, 56
variation, 117
Creamed Spinach, 82
in Florentine Omelet Filling, 57
in Mac and Parmesan, 148
y
in Striped Mushroom Omelet, 60-61 variation, 82 Yakitori Sauce, 116
variations, 56 Crispy Chicken Wings, Korean-Style, I 12 in Boneless Yakitori Wings, 114
Fruit Curds, 174 Instant Chocolate Sponge, 169 in Chicken Skin Yakitori Skewers, 118
Garlic Hollandaise, 29 variations, 169 in Tsukune, 118
how to use, 3 pan gravy, 18 yellow foot mushrooms, Funghi Pizza, I40
Instant Chocolate Sponge, 169 Peanut Butter Sponge, 169 yogurt
variations, 169 Raspberry Macadamia Nut Sponge, 169 Mediterranean Yogurt Marinade, 51
Microwaved BeefJerky, 164-165 Sesame Sponge, 169 Mint Yogurt, 118
variations, 164 South Indian Watercress, 82
z
Mini Egg Cups, 56 Stilton Cheese Slice, ISO
Olive Oil Scrambled Eggs, 56 in Stilton on Walnut Bread with Shallot
in Espagnole Omelet Filling, 57 Marmalade, 150
Pressu re-Infused Celery, 49 thickening with, 18
Pressure-Infused Coffee Pastry Cream, 181 Tsukune, 263
in Banana Cream Pie, 183 00 flour
Refried Bean Foam, 97 Barley Noodles, 123
X
variations, 97 Buckwheat Pizza Dough, 136
Refried Bean Puree, 97 Coconut Noodles, 123
Sabayon, 176 in Thai Soup, 121
Smoky Jerky, 164 Masa Harina Noodles, 123
Sous Vide Hollandaise, 28-29 xanthangum in Tortilla Soup, 121
variations, 29 Bacon Mayonnaise, 25 Neapolitan Pizza Dough, 136
Sous Vide Lamb Skewers, 86 in Microwaved Potato Salad, 162 variations, 136
Sous Vide Lemon Curd, 174 in PorkBellyB.L.T., 102- 103 Potato Noodles, 123
in Lemon Posset, 173 in Smoked Bacon B.L.T., 102 Rice Noodles, 123
in Raspberry Lemon Cream Pie, 183 Barbecue Ketchup, 30 Rye Noodles, 123
variations, 174 Caramelized Onion Gravy, 24 Zhu,Johnny, Microwaved Black Cod with Scallions
Spicy Hollandaise, 29 Chervil, Thyme, and Scallion Pesta, 23 and Ginger, 163
Spicy Jerky, 164 Cilantro Pesta, 23 zip-top bags
Strawberry Juice with Green Apple Foam, 67 Creamed Spinach, 82 for cooking so us vide
whisks in Florentine Omelet Filling, 57 checking core temperature in, 8
handheld, Eggs Sunny-Side Up, 62-63 in Mac and Parmesan, 148 how to seal food in, 6
stand mixers with. See stand mixers, with whisk variation, 82 limitations for long cooking periods, 99
White Beef Stock, 10 Fruit Leather, 4 7 zucchini, Mediterranean Vegetable Confit, 44
white miso, Mushroom Jus, 15 Green Onion and Sorrel Pesta, 23 in Feta on Potato Bread with Vegetable Confit, 150
in Cream of Mushroom Soup, 63 Hazelnut Gelato, 177
in Mushroom Puree, 63 Home Jus Gras, 17
in Mushroom Soup, 76 variation, 17
white poppy seeds. See poppy seeds, white Instant Chocolate Sponge, 169
variations, 169
220