More Approachable Than You Think
Craving steak au poivre or crème brûlée? You might think you'd have to make a reso at a fancy French spot to satisfy your taste buds, but despite the difficult-to-pronounce names, these dishes aren't as challenging to make at home as you'd expect. Sure, you may need to learn a new technique (or two) or pick up some special ingredients, but who says home cooks can't fix up fancy fare? Here are 20 upscale dishes you can recreate in your own kitchen.
1. Beef Wellington
All those layers of tender beef, mushrooms, and golden pastry might make Beef Wellington a dish that'll test your skills to the limit, but who says you can't simplify it? If the flaky crust is what gets you stumped, go for store-bought puff pastry. Individual Wellingtons made with smaller cuts also tend to be easier for beginners to handle.
2. Crème Brûlée
That crisp caramelized top makes crème brûlée pretty intimidating, but the custard itself isn't actually too hard to whip up. After you've gently baked the simple base (heavy cream, egg yolks, sugar, and vanilla) in a water bath, all you need is a small kitchen torch to get you that signature hardened sugar topping. Be careful, though!
3. Lobster Tails
Craving lobster? Lobster tails can instantly make dinner feel expensive, and thankfully, it's not too complicated: just split or butterfly the shell, season the meat, then broil or bake. For a fancier feel, melt some butter and add some garnishes, like lemon and herbs, to finish the dish.
4. Risotto
Risotto can be tedious work, as it's all about gradually adding liquid and stirring regularly. But hey, if you've got the time and the will to learn a new dish, why not try your hand at it? Once you've mastered the basic method, you can start experimenting with other ingredients, like mushrooms and seafood, too.
5. Duck Breast
The key to making duck breast all starts with how you sear it. First, you'll want to leave the skin-side down in a relatively cool pan to allow the fat to render while the skin crisps up. It might take a few tries to get it perfect! After that, you can top it off with a simple fruit sauce or pan reduction for that restaurant feel.
6. Chocolate Soufflé
Getting that poofy top on soufflés is one of the ultimate tests of a home cook—all we have to say to this is that you'll probably need to fail a few times before it gets better! Make sure to properly whip the egg whites, as that's what provides the lift, then keep folding carefully to allow enough air in so it can rise. Don't worry too much if the finished result isn't perfectly symmetrical; you can always try again.
7. Seared Scallops
After you make scallops yourself, you'll probably never order them at a fancy restaurant again. After all, all that's really required to make this is a few minutes in the pan. Just be sure to dry them thoroughly before cooking, as that'll allow them to develop that gorgeous browned surface.
8. French Onion Soup
A bubbling crock of French onion soup topped with toasted bread and melted cheese certainly looks pretty complex to make. Most of the work, though, comes down to slowly cooking onions until they release all that juicy, caramelized flavor. After you've whipped up the broth, all you need is lots of cheese and toast!
9. Homemade Gnocchi
Sure, you could rely on premade gnocchi, but while handmade pasta sounds like a major undertaking, it's actually surprisingly approachable. Plus, you don't even need to stress over making them look perfectly shaped—that wonky, homemade appearance will only add more charm to the finished dish.
Sebastian Coman Photography on Unsplash
10. Chicken Cordon Bleu
We know, we know: chicken cordon bleu sounds like it belongs exclusively on a restaurant menu. Don't let that discourage you, though. The basic concept is fairly simple, and once you get comfortable rolling or folding the chicken securely, the rest of the recipe will be pretty straightforward.
11. Eggs Benedict
That fancy brunch plate upscale restaurants serve in the morning? Well, who says you need to pay someone else to make it for you? Eggs Benedict is essentially made from toasted English muffins, Canadian bacon or ham, poached eggs, and hollandaise sauce. The hardest steps might be poaching the eggs and emulsifying the sauce, but once you've got both down pat, you're golden.
12. Steak au Poivre
As fancy-pancy as steak au poivre sounds, all it is is a steak coated with peppercorns and paired with a rich, creamy sauce. Serve it up with mashed potatoes or vegetables, and you've got a five-star dish that looks like something you'd order on an expensive night out.
13. Tiramisu
Despite its elegant appearance, tiramisu doesn't even require baking most of the time. You read that right—put simply, it's just layers of coffee-soaked ladyfingers and a rich mascarpone mixture. Don't worry if it doesn't set right; you can dust as much cocoa powder as you want for a polished, authentic look.
14. Mussels in White Wine
Making a large bowl of steaming mussels can certainly look like a challenge. But like the others on the list, it's easier to fix up than it looks: home cooks can dump all the ingredients into a covered pot with white wine, aromatics, and butter, and they'll still get that restaurant-style meal without much hands-on cooking.
15. Coq au Vin
Coq au vin, despite its fancy name, is essentially a slow-cooked chicken dish made with wine, vegetables, herbs, and savory add-ons like mushrooms. Most of the preparation happens early, which allows the ingredients to meld their flavors as the dish simmers.
Geoff Peters from Vancouver, BC, Canada on Wikimedia
16. Panna Cotta
Like the other desserts we've covered on this list, panna cotta might seem like a dessert that requires considerable pastry experience. Don't let its appearance fool you! Most of the elaborate feel comes from the garnishing, where fresh berries and fruit sauce coat the top.
17. Rack of Lamb
You don't need to head to the restaurant for a rack of lamb! Simply season the meat, sear it if desired, then finish it in the oven. If you want that fancier touch, an herb or breadcrumb crust will give it that upscale feel without introducing too many complicated steps.
18. Shrimp Scampi
Shrimps are easy to cook, so home chefs will really only need to master the sauce, which is typically built around garlic, butter, lemon, and white wine. Serve it over pasta or alongside bread—you'll instantly have friends asking for the recipe!
19. Molten Chocolate Cake
Cutting into a lava cake and discovering that warm, gooey center might feel like you'd need some advanced pastry trick, but the key is actually timing. These small cakes use a rich batter and are only baked just enough for the exterior to set and the middle to stay soft. Serve it up in a ramekin, and you'd be surprised how close it mimics the experts!
20. Filet Mignon
Who says you can only order filet mignon at a restaurant? Similar to other steak dishes on the list, you'll want to pay attention to how you sear it. Then, you can use the same skillet to make a simple sauce, combining butter, herbs, broth, and other flavorful additions. Before you know it, it's bon appétit!
KEEP ON READING
20 Groceries You Should Buy Less Of
20 Bad Table Manners Everyone Is Guilty Of
20 Items Only Grandpa Has In His Fridge
20 "Fancy" Foods You Can Actually Make at Home
