Think of Thailand and Pad Thai automatically comes to mind. Sadly, it's quite difficult to find a decent pad Thai in restaurants outside of Thailand. They are often too sweet, gluey, or soggy and drenched in too much sauce. Worse yet, some contain ketchup! Making great Pad Thai at home is actually not that difficult once you get everything set up. The first step is learning about authentic ingredients, some of which may be foreign to you. Learning and practicing how to properly cook and balance the flavors for this mouth watering dish will be the key to your success!
The chef's knife is the single most important tool in the kitchen, yet knowing how to properly use it is a skill many home cooks overlook. Failing to hone this invaluable skill becomes a barrier to good cooking since poor knife skills make prep work feel like a horrible chore. A dull blade poses not only a hazard, but also compromises the integrity of everything you make. I am committed to dispelling any apprehensions surrounding the use of a sharp chef's knife through safe and simple exercises. Embrace knife proficiency, for it instills not only confidence, but also a newfound eagerness to explore the realms of cooking.
Dive into the savory world of vibrant tomato-based pasta dishes such as Penne all'Arrabbiata, Puttanesca, and Penne Alla Vodka. Learn the basics, from choosing quality, dried pasta to the best canned tomatoes for your budget. You'll master a simple - yet delicious - basic tomato sauce and ways to change it up to create a variety of different sauces with ease. Learn the skill of cooking dried pasta to perfection, along with the art of plating and serving, so you can impress your guests with both taste and presentation. This class promises a fun and tasty experience that will have you feeling like a pasta pro in no time.
Join me in unraveling the secrets behind cooking three iconic Italian pasta dishes and their exquisite sauces: aglio e olio (garlic and olive oil), carbonara (guanciale and egg sauce), and cacio e pepe (cheese and pepper). While these recipes boast simplicity with their few, but high-quality ingredients, mastering the proper cooking techniques are often a challenge home cooks have trouble with. Fear not! We'll delve into understanding how to prevent these sauces from splitting or curdling and the proper way to cook, sauce, and serve these insanely delectable and comforting dishes.