Extra Helpings - A Blue Apron blog
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A Guide to Cooking with Wine
Cooking with wine is a great way to add complexity to sauces, soups, and braises. This is a crash course in cooking with wine, designed to help you figure out how to choose a bottle and what to do with it.
Baked Sweet Dumpling Squash Recipe
There are a number of varieties of squash, and if you’re a subscriber you’ll be trying many of them soon. But since Food Network’s Fall Fest is about pumpkins today, we wanted to share a recipe for stuffed dumpling squash that could just as easily be made with a tiny sugar pumpkin that looks more like a jack o’lantern than the one we have pictured.
Is a Rub or a Marinade Better for Flavorful Grilling?
Marinades and rubs go hand in hand with grilling. Both methods are used to add more flavor to your meal. But what, exactly, is the difference, and how do you know when to do what?
How To Make Onions Less Strong: Taming The Taste of Raw Onion
Today we’re talking raw onions, one of the most common, most flavorful ingredients in our pantry.
Salad Greens: Our Favorite Types & How To Use Them
We’re never far from a salad craving here at Blue Apron. Whether we’re aiming to highlight seasonal ingredients or balance out a rich meal, a bowl of crisp greens beckons us. If you’re a salad fiend (or you want to be one), this is your moment to discover new types of lettuce.
How to Remove Rusty Brown Lettuce Spots
Everyone loves a good salad, but sometimes lettuce can be a pain. Delicate leaves can wilt or decay, and hearty lettuces like romaine can develop rusty brown spots. Don’t despair!
How to Dice Carrots
Rounded vegetables like carrots tend to roll around, and can be tricky to dice evenly. Learn how to dice a carrot safely with these easy tips.
How to Pit Olives
Olives add a salty complexity to salads, flatbreads, and cheeseboards. These fruits are native to Southern Europe and Northern Africa, and are an essential part of many traditional recipes from those regions.
How To Make a Rice Dome
Instead of scooping rice into the bottom of your bowl, then pouring the curry on top, we do exactly the opposite. On top of our steaming, lemongrass-scented bowl of tofu or shrimp curry, we scoop out a perfect dome of rice.
How To Properly Cook Ground Beef
Properly cooked ground beef should be browned and flavorful. If you end up with grey or dry meat, it’s time to examine your technique. You might be accidentally steaming your protein instead of gently sautéing.
How to Make the Best Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Grilled cheese is delicious any time of day. Two slices of white bread with gooey American cheese is a perfect lunch order at your favorite diner. Whole wheat toast with melted slices of Swiss makes a perfect snack after a stressful day. For a full-on dinner, we love to create gourmet sandwiches with great artisan bread, imported cheese, and fresh vegetables.
How To Boil Rice: Cooking Tips & More
The advantage of this method is clear. When you cook rice like pasta you don’t have to double check the ratio of water to rice, or measure the water. You also don’t have to watch the stove quite as closely, since there’s no risk of the bottom burning.
Italian Salsa Verde Recipe
Mexican salsa verde is a green sauce made with tomatillos and hot green peppers. It can be used to top meats, tortillas, or enchiladas. It can be mild or quite spicy.
All About Chimichurri
Chimichurri is a bright green sauce common in Argentine and Uruguayan cuisine. Authentic chimichurri must include fresh herbs, spicy pepper, something acidic, and lots of good olive oil.
How To Slice Delicata Squash
Delicata squash is known for its characteristically delicate rind. Its cream-colored skin is so thin that it can be eaten. When roasted, the skin gives the squash a satisfying bite. Before roasting, you have to know how to slice squash.
How To Dice Sweet Potatoes
Chopping sweet potatoes can be tricky. First of all: sweet potatoes are quite hard when raw, and it can take a little force to get a knife through them. This means you should be extra careful to keep your fingers out of the way.
7 Common Types of Pears (Varieties & More)
Get to know the humble pear. From smooth-skinned Bartlett to leathery looking (but very delicious) Bosc pears, we’re here to help you pick the best pears for eating, baking, and salads.
Can You Substitute Butter for Oil?
Let’s chat about fat. Whether you’re making a stir-fry or a birthday cake, fat plays an essential role in the flavor and texture of your dish. You can’t skip the fat, but in most cases, you can substitute. If you’re halfway through cooking before you realize that your olive oil container is empty,
What Went Wrong with My Thanksgiving Turkey?
Most of us only make a whole turkey once a year. Cooking an extra-large bird isn’t the easiest kitchen task, and we don’t get a lot of practice! If you’re in charge of the main dish this Thanksgiving, a little preparation can help you pull it off perfectly. These are some of the most common problems with Thanksgiving turkey and how to avoid them
Here’s How: Take the Bite out of Shallots with Vinegar
Nearly as often as we ask you to mince your garlic into paste, we instruct you to transfer your minced shallot to a small bowl with some vinegar. After that, as you get back to cooking your steak or your chopped apple salad or your farro. Meanwhile, the vinegar gets to work on the shallot. It’s amazing how much better your meal will be just because you left the shallots alone!
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