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    Home / Recipes / Photo

    55 Jan 19, 2015 Photo  |  

    21 Essential Recipes Every Cook Should Know

    A simple yet versatile recipe that can be made time and time again without much thought or consideration.

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    Golden Brussels Sprouts

    That’s how I define an “essential recipe.”

    I love testing out new recipes, cooking seasonally, and taking on delicious diy projects (jam, pickles, ferments, etc.), but underneath it all, I’ve got a core group of staple recipes that I know I can conjure up at any time.  They are my go-tos.  My fall-backs.  My weeknight saviors.  Today, I’ve gathered up 21 of these recipes, and shared them below.

    If you’re just learning to cook or you want to improve your cooking skills, go through the list below, and practice these simple recipes and techniques.  Start to memorize the ingredients and cooking times.  Try not to make substitutions until you’ve mastered the original recipe.  Take note of tastes, smells and textures.  Practice seasoning with salt and pepper (and sometimes acid).  Most of all, have fun.

    Continue reading for 21 essential recipes, including breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert!

    Hard Boiled Eggs

    To be enjoyed as a snack, salad add-in, appetizer or even a full meal.  The base for all deviled eggs.

    Foolproof Hard-Boiled Eggs

    Frittata

    Simple and adaptable eggs for a crowd.  A great use-up for stray bits of veg sitting in the fridge.  Can be enjoyed hot or room temperature.  Easily packs and reheats for lunch.

    Kale and Bacon Frittata

    Toast

    For when time and energy are low, and you just want something to eat.  Or the perfect blank canvas for many appetizers.

    Avocado Toast 5 Ways

    Salad Dressing

    Oil.  Vinegar.  Salt.  Pepper.  Done.  Making salad dressing at home can be as easy or as complicated as you like.  Start with a basic vinaigrette, and branch out from there.

    Salad with Pickled Vegetables

    Chicken Stock / Vegetable Stock

    Homemade stock is a game changer.  Simply prepared, this fridge/freezer staple can amp up the flavors anywhere stock is called for (grains, soup, braises, etc.).  Or just add salt, and enjoy as is!

    Vegetable Stock

    Pureed Vegetable Soup

    A versatile technique that can be used with any vegetable.  Cook raw or roasted vegetables in water or stock, season to taste with salt and pepper, puree and that’s it.  Lunch or dinner is served!  The process is making soup is a great way to hone your seasoning skills.  The great Ina Garten once said, “When it comes to taste, the only difference between a pot of really good chicken soup and sink full of dirty dishwater is salt.”

    Broccoli and Potato Soup

    Chili

    A heartier soup perfect for a party or not.

    Turkey Chili

    Old Fashioned

    For those of you who like rye or bourbon.  Can be made with a few simple pantry ingredients.

    Old Fashioned Cocktail

    Pizza

    The key to making good pizza at home?  Store-bought dough.  The next time you’re at your favorite pizza place (Dominos, Papa John’s and Little Caesar’s excluded), ask them if they will sell you a ball of dough.  This should cost $1 – $2.50.  Top simply with canned tomato sauce (“pizza” sauce not needed), low-moisture mozz, salt, pepper, dried oregano, a drizzle of evoo, and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.

    Kimchi and Bacon Pizza

    Tomato Sauce

    Made almost exclusively with pantry items.  Crowd pleaser.  Freezes well for future meals.

    Spaghetti and Tomato Sauce

    Brine

    A simple way to infuse flavor and moisture into uninteresting cuts of meat (boneless chicken breasts, boneless pork chops, turkey).

    Brined Pork Chops

    Roast Chicken

    Crispy skin.  Tender meat.  Impressive yet approachable.  Save the bones for chicken stock.

    Roast Chicken with Lemon

    A Good Hamburger

    It’s all about the meat.

    Jorge's Bacon Cheeseburger

    Roasted Potatoes

    Minimal prep work resulting in maximum flavor.  Let the oven do the work.  Technique can be applied to many other vegetables.

    Parchment Roasted Potatoes

    The Best Brussels Sprouts

    Golden and nutty on the outside.  Tender on the inside.  A brussels sprouts dish that even sprout-haters will love.  Enjoy with bacon or without!

    Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Miso-Mustard

    Steak

    Sometimes it’s ok to take a break from white meat.

    Frozen Seared Steak

    Braised Beef

    Braising in general is wonderful way to turn a cheap cut of meat into a tender, juicy mass of deliciousness.  Can be made in the oven or a crock pot.

    Mexican Braised Beef Tacos

    A Simple Cake

    Memorize this recipe, so you can whip up something sweet on a moment’s notice.

    Brown Butter Snacking Cake

    Caramel Sauce

    Caramel is just cooked sugar.  Add cream or butter (or both!), and you’ve got caramel sauce.  Add salt and you’ve got salted caramel sauce.  Ooooooooo.

    Ginger Cake with Salted Caramel Sauce

    Freshly Whipped Cream

    Heavy cream.  Vanilla.  Sugar.  Done.  No need to buy processed, whipped oil from the grocery store.

    Cool Whhip

    Really Good Rice Krispie Treats

    Everyone loves a good rice krispie treat.  4 ingredients.  Minimal effort.

    Salted Brown Butter Rice Crispy Squares

     

    55
    Brandon and Federico
    Brandon

    I’m Brandon: food explorer, recipe curator, cocktail shaker, dessert lover. Kitchen Konfidence is how I document my time spent in my favorite space, the kitchen. Did you make a recipe? Tag @brandiego on Instagram so I can see the how it went!

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    Categories: Photo Tags: roundup

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Amanda Paa says

      January 19, 2015 at 10:11 am

      Yes to all of these, especially the roast chicken! Such an easy way to make several meals. I’m still trying to master the caramel sauce and am going to make my own chicken stock this week. Great post!

      Reply
    2. Millie l Add A Little says

      January 19, 2015 at 12:14 pm

      All so classic and necessary for a happy life! 🙂

      Reply
    3. She Rocks Fitness says

      January 19, 2015 at 12:22 pm

      Yes to ALL of these! Thanks for sharing them with us! 🙂

      Reply
    4. Averie @ Averie Cooks says

      January 19, 2015 at 1:47 pm

      Wow, this is SUCH a great post! So many gems that I forgot about (or missed) but that shouldn’t ever be forgotten! I love that there are staples here, real day-in-day-out food and nothing super fancy or complicated! I really don’t make/eat pizza that often (I’d love to but I already do enough cardio) but that’s such a great tip about asking for a ball of dough or having a scratch cake in your head memorized and lots of stuff you can make from your own pantry. Love it!

      Reply
    5. The Food Hunter says

      January 19, 2015 at 4:23 pm

      This is great!

      Reply
    6. Erin @ Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts says

      January 19, 2015 at 5:51 pm

      So many seriously great, classic, and necessary recipes! Love this list!

      Reply
    7. Cory says

      January 19, 2015 at 6:22 pm

      Perfect for the beginner and the seasoned cook. Nice job!

      Reply
    8. Cynthia/What A Girl Eats says

      January 19, 2015 at 9:06 pm

      Great list Brandon, I feel so fortunate to have attended chef’s school when I was in my 20s and was able to tuck these into my bag of tricks!

      Reply
    9. Sippitysup says

      January 20, 2015 at 2:56 pm

      Nice list. GREG

      Reply
    10. Lizthechef says

      January 22, 2015 at 8:12 am

      A terrific collection – need to brush up on caramel sauce – really, this could be a mini-cookbook for beginner cooks. What about an e book??

      Reply
    11. Arthur in the Garden! says

      January 24, 2015 at 2:05 pm

      Great tips!

      Reply
    12. Susan says

      February 20, 2015 at 7:45 am

      What a fantastic collection. Love all the suggestions and can’t wait to try a bunch of yours.

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        March 2, 2015 at 3:21 pm

        Thanks Susan!

        Reply
    13. Shanna @ pineapple and coconut says

      February 20, 2015 at 8:10 am

      I happen to know how to make all of these yayayayayayay!! But you make them look way prettier than I do. Because I make them and stuff in my face, never photograph. And a photo of me stuffing my face probably isn’t pretty. LOL. I still want that stainless steel table of yours.

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        March 2, 2015 at 3:21 pm

        Haha yay!!! You are all set then 🙂

        Reply
    14. pam (Sidewalk Shoes) says

      February 20, 2015 at 12:23 pm

      I love that you included an old fashion in there!

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        March 2, 2015 at 3:20 pm

        Thanks Pam! It’s an essential cocktail 😉

        Reply
    15. [email protected] says

      February 21, 2015 at 2:34 pm

      Love your delicious collection, thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        March 2, 2015 at 3:19 pm

        Thanks Michelle!

        Reply
    16. Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious says

      February 21, 2015 at 8:58 pm

      Your list is MAGNIFICENT!

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        March 2, 2015 at 3:19 pm

        Thanks Dorothy!

        Reply
    17. Lauren @ Wicked Spatula says

      February 23, 2015 at 4:11 am

      Such a great list!

      Reply
      • Brandon Matzek says

        March 2, 2015 at 3:18 pm

        Thanks Lauren!!

        Reply

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    Brandon and Federico

    I'm Brandon: food explorer, recipe curator, cocktail shaker, dessert lover. Kitchen Konfidence is how I document my time spent in my favorite space, the kitchen. Read More…


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