VIDEO TUTORIALS
Easy-to-learn culinary techniques for the home cook.
Lumpiang Shanghai -- no Filipino party is complete without these! There are many different kinds of lumpia in Filipino cuisine. Lumpiang Shanghai is the version that is filled mainly with meat, rolled tightly, and fried. Traditionally, minced carrots and water chestnuts are mixed in with the meat for texture, but I like to use jicama instead of the water chestnuts. Get the full recipe here.
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Supreming is a technique which removes the fibrous membrane of citrus fruit so that you can obtain those jewel-like segments seen in salads and fruit bowls.
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Once you've mastered this knife skill, you will find that it doesn't take much longer than peeling an orange and breaking it into sections.
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All you need is a sharp knife, a cutting board, and a bowl to catch the juices (waste not!).
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Chiffonade - a fancy name for a simple technique. To chiffonade is to slice delicate leafy greens into thin ribbon-like strips.
A chiffonade of basil can be used to evenly distribute its herbal flavor in many dishes, especially soups and salads, and it is great for presentation when used as a garnish.
Blanching is a method in which vegetables are cooked in salted boiling water for a short period of time, then immediately plunged into an ice bath to halt the cooking process. Doing so draws out its vibrant color while becoming perfectly tender-crisp.
Blanching is ideal when using certain vegetables in salads, casseroles, omelettes, vegetable platters, and stir fry recipes. It is also a must if you’re planning to freeze raw vegetables because it helps to preserve the nutrients and halt the enzymes which can cause loss of flavor, color and texture.
Cleaning shrimp means the shrimp is peeled and deveined. The "vein" of the shrimp is actually its digestive tract, which is why you want to get rid of it!
Sure, you can find shrimp that has already been cleaned -- totally fine if you're pressed for time or want to prep meals with extra ease. However, pre-cleaned shrimp is usually more expensive. If you want to save a few bucks, why not clean them yourself? Here's how!