8 Easy Culinary School Recipes

Basic yet Essential Technique Learned in Cooking Class

Learning how to cook really great food requires a look at the most basic recipes. There are many secrets in the culinary arts that chefs learn at school, secrets that often apply to the simplest of foods.

How to mix dressings, cook a perfect steak, and make great rice–these are all things you might learn at culinary school. Even if you think you have these recipes nailed, a few tips and tricks will cause you to re-examine what you know. One thing you learn in the kitchen is that you never stop learning.

  • 01 of 08

    Basic Dressings Are a Must

    Oil and Vinegar Salad Dressing Recipe

     The Spruce

    Sauces and dressings are quite often the keys to great food. If you can understand how to make a great vinaigrette, you will understand the elements and requirements that go into other dressings. This is culinary school 101 and you can take this vinaigrette recipe in any direction you like once you know the finer details.

  • 02 of 08

    Learn How to Cook Rice Pilaf and Risotto

    rice pilaf
    Lauri Patterson / Getty Images

    Many chefs agree that a basic rice dish is one of the hardest things to master in the kitchen. It seems simple enough, but it's very easy to overcook or undercook your rice. While it may be edible, it will not be the mark of a true chef.

    Risotto is one of the most challenging rice dishes for new chefs and there is a traditional method as well as a shortcut used in many restaurants. To begin, you should learn the 'right way' to make risotto which does take longer, but it's worth it.

    Rice pilaf is a little easier, but there are some tricks to this lightly spiced rice dish that you should know. Most importantly is your choice in the pan because it must be worthy for both the stovetop and the oven.

  • 03 of 08

    The Essentials of Ratatouille

    Ratatouille
    Smneedham / Getty Images

    You will get a lot of practice chopping vegetables as you learn to make ratatouille. Four, five, or more vegetables may go into this dish and there are many directions you can take it. It is essential for learning how to perfectly sauté veggies, a skill you will use over and over again.

  • 04 of 08

    The Elements of a Puréed Soup

    Irresistible French Potato and Leek Soup

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

    Cream-based soups are essential in any chef's repertoire and again, there are a few tricks that will help you along. This easy potato and leek soup will run you through the basics of preparing the vegetables, puréeing them in a blender) or with an immersion blender), and finishing it off with the perfect amount of seasoning.

    Continue to 5 of 8 below.
  • 05 of 08

    The Simplicity of Cooking Chicken

    Chicken Marengo: Napoleon's favorite

    The Spruce / Danilo Alfaro

    Chicken is a tricky meat to cook and the more practice you get with it, the better. It's very easy to undercook or overcook and neither is a desirable result.

    Chicken Marengo is a classic French recipe that is an ideal introduction because it uses thinner filets of chicken breast. It's also delicious so you can reap the benefits of your experiments.

  • 06 of 08

    Steps for Grilling the Perfect Steak

    Grilled strip steak with compound butter
    nicolebranan / Getty Images

    Many home cooks swear that they can grill the perfect steak; it's a matter of pride. Yet those same people will head to a restaurant for a great steak because chefs have studied this meat and learned how to truly perfect it.

    Not only will you find tips for grilling a great strip steak with this recipe, but you will learn about compound butter which is another culinary school essential. During your steak training, give the Bearnaise sauce a try as well. A great chef can never have too many sauces in their arsenal.

  • 07 of 08

    Can You Make Crème Brûlée?

    Caramelizing creme brulee
    Adam Gault / Getty Images

    Ah, crème brûlée. It is a culinary school staple and rather fun to make because you get to play with a torch to caramelize it. Though this custard dish is easy, it is also easy to mess it up and other chefs will be very critical of any creme brulee put in front of them. Do yourself a favor and learn how to make this one with perfection.

  • 08 of 08

    The Secret to Perfect Pie Crust

    Flaky pie crust

     Leah Maroney

    We have not discussed baked goods because that is an entirely separate topic of conversation. However, it would serve any chef-in-training well to learn how to make a basic pie crust. There's a lot of science that goes into it in order to create either a flaky or a mealy crust for different dishes.

    Even if you're not going to bake a sweet dessert pie, this tutorial will provide valuable tips for any savory pie dishes you make in the future.