Extra Helpings - A Blue Apron blog
Meet the new Blue Apron, now more convenient (and delicious) than ever. This is meal planning the way it should be: simple, inspiring, fun—and no subscription needed.
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Furikake Seasoning: Description, Recipes, & Uses
Furikake seasoning is one of those ingredients that does your work for you. All you have to do is add a few teaspoons to the top of your dish, and you’ll instantly boost the flavor, texture, and appearance of whatever you’re serving.

A Guide to Caramelized Onions
Caramelized onions are onions that have been cooked over a low, slow heat until they are soft and browned. During this process the natural sugar in the onion caramelizes and creates a complex, delicious flavor.

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.

Brooklyn Delhi Locks the Flavors of Home into a Jar
The term achaar comes from the Hindi word for ‘pickle,’ and in India dozens of varieties are available. The team at Brooklyn Delhi describes achaar as “India’s equivalent to Sriracha, but without all the sugar.”

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.

All About the Za’atar Spice Blend
The term Za’atar refers to a family of herbs, including thyme, oregano and marjoram. It’s also a spice blend, and one of Blue Apron’s favorite ingredients

All About Calabrian Chile
Everyone has a few ingredients in the pantry that they turn back to time and time again. There are some spices, herbs, and oil you love so much that you find yourself rushing to the store to replace them the second they run out. For the chefs at Blue Apron, Calabrian chili paste is one of those ingredients.

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.

How to Create a Balanced Meal (That You’ll Look Forward to Eating), According to Dietitians
We’ve been told since we were kids that certain foods could be “part of a complete breakfast” and have been coached in health classes, news shows, by doctors, and beyond to fuel up with a balanced diet. But what does it mean to have balanced eating habits, exactly, and why does it matter”

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,

How to Clean the Bottoms of Pans (& Pots Too)
Here’s our tried-and-true guide to how to clean the bottoms of pots and pans, no matter how dirty.

How to Cut a Lemon Wedge the Right Way
Let’s talk about lemons. Why? Because we use them in lots of our meals, and you’re probably cutting them wrong. We have a trick for speeding up the process and getting the most juice out of each wedge. Follow these tips to learn how to cut lemon wedges, and then try your hand at prepping onions, garlic, and carrots.

How to Thicken Soup: 5 Simple Ways
When there’s a chill in the air, a little broth is always the answer. Whether it takes the form of hearty bowl of chicken noodle or a spicy tortilla broth, There’s nothing like a bowl of soup to warm you from the inside out

How to Fix a Broken Sauce
So, it happened. You walked away for too long, or turned the heat up too high, and suddenly you’re left with a separated (or broken) sauce. Don’t fret! Blue Apron chef Emily Ziemski is here with some key steps you can take before, during, and after making your sauce to make sure that it will be a smashing success.

Amanda Freitag’s Go-To After Work Paloma Recipe
Palomas are everything: sweet, sour, simple, and beautiful. Whether you’re looking for a way to unwind after work, or a simple sipper to enjoy while you’re cooking, this three(ish) ingredient cocktail is the way to go.

How to Make Vegetable Stock
When you eat lots of veggies, you end up with lots of veggie scraps. I always strive to reduce food waste in my kitchen, so instead of throwing those scraps in the garbage, I use them to make delicious homemade vegetable stock.

Why Are My Cookies Flat? (& How To Fix Them)
It’s happened to everyone. Your pans were prepared and your expectations were high, but for some reason, your cookies came out flat. What happened? There are a few possible explanations for flat cookies. Before you start over, run through this list. Remember: don’t be too hard on yourself! There’s no use crying over a flat cookie.
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