How To Master 5 Basic Cooking Skills | Gordon Ramsay

Gordon Ramsay

7 Mar 201607:40

Summary

TLDRThis instructional video offers a detailed guide on various cooking techniques. It begins with chopping onions without tears by cutting close to the root and using proper knife grip. The video then transitions to cooking Basmati rice, emphasizing the importance of rinsing and using the right water-to-rice ratio for fluffy texture. It also includes seasoning with cardamom and star anise for added flavor. Next, it demonstrates filleting a salmon, highlighting the importance of a sharp knife and the technique for removing skin and pin bones. The video concludes with tips on sharpening knives and cooking pasta al dente, ensuring even cooking and preventing sticking.

Takeaways

🧅 To prevent an onion from making you cry, leave the root intact until you've made the initial cut.
🔪 Use the weight of the knife to slice the onion, with three fingers guiding it for safety.
🍚 Basmati rice is considered the king of rice for its light and fluffy texture.
💧 Rinsing rice under cold water before cooking prevents it from becoming clumpy.
🌿 Add cardamom pods and star anise to the rice for extra flavor and fragrance.
🥄 Season the rice while it's cooking to ensure even distribution of flavor.
💧 Use a ratio of one part rice to one and a half parts water for cooking.
🕒 Let the rice steam without lifting the lid to ensure it cooks evenly.
🍣 Use a sharp knife and a gentle technique to skin a salmon fillet.
✂️ Use tweezers to remove pin bones from the salmon after the skin is removed.
🗡️ Sharpen your knife before each use to ensure efficiency and safety in the kitchen.
🍝 Cook pasta in a large pot of well-salted, boiling water with a drizzle of olive oil to prevent sticking.
📏 Test pasta for doneness by feeling for a firm yet not crunchy texture, known as 'al dente'.

Q & A

Why is it important to leave the root on when chopping an onion?
-Leaving the root on prevents the onion from 'bleeding' and reduces the release of sulfur compounds that cause tearing.
What is the recommended technique for slicing an onion without crying?
-Use a sharp knife and let the weight of the knife do the work, slicing rapidly with three fingers guiding the knife close to the root.
How should you hold the onion while chopping to prevent tears?
-Hold the onion like a tennis ball, gripping it together with your fingers and using the weight of the blade to cut through.
What is the key to cooking Basmati rice perfectly?
-Use 400 grams of rice, rinse it with cold water to prevent clumping, and cook it with one part rice to one and a half parts water.
What spices are suggested to enhance the flavor of Basmati rice?
-Three cardamom pods and whole star anise are recommended for adding a fragrant aroma to the rice.
How long should Basmati rice simmer after it comes to a boil?
-Basmati rice should simmer for eight to ten minutes after reaching a boil.
Why is it important not to lift the lid while cooking rice?
-Not lifting the lid allows the rice to steam and cook evenly without releasing the heat and moisture needed for proper cooking.
How do you remove the skin from a fillet of salmon?
-Use a sharp knife to make a cut at the tail, lift the skin, and then slice the salmon away from the skin while pulling it towards you.
What tool can be used to remove pin bones from a salmon fillet?
-Fish tweezers or normal tweezers can be used to locate and pull out the pin bones from the salmon fillet.
Why is it crucial to keep a knife sharp in the kitchen?
-A sharp knife is safer and more efficient to use, reducing the risk of accidents and ensuring precise cuts.
How should you hold a knife when sharpening it on a steel?
-Hold the knife at a 45-degree angle with a confident grip, ensuring your fingers are behind the steel to avoid injury.
What is the recommended method for cooking pasta to achieve al dente texture?
-Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling, salted water with a drizzle of olive oil to prevent sticking, and test for doneness by feeling for a firm but not crunchy texture.

Outlines

00:00

🍳 Cooking Techniques: Chopping Onions and Cooking Rice

This paragraph demonstrates essential cooking techniques, starting with the proper way to chop an onion to prevent tears and ensure even cutting. The chef advises leaving the root intact, using the weight of the knife, and positioning fingers correctly for safety. The segment then shifts to cooking Basmati rice, highlighting the importance of rinsing the rice to prevent clumping. The chef introduces cardamom pods and star anise for added flavor, emphasizing the need for cold water and the correct rice-to-water ratio. The process involves bringing the water to a boil, reducing the heat, and not lifting the lid to let the rice steam. Finally, the rice is fluffed with a fork to achieve a light and fluffy texture.

05:02

🔪 Kitchen Skills: Sharpening Knives and Cooking Pasta

The second paragraph focuses on the importance of using and maintaining a sharp knife, which is crucial for efficiency and safety in the kitchen. The chef explains the correct way to sharpen a knife using a steel, emphasizing the proper grip and the technique of stroking from the base to the tip. The segment then moves on to cooking pasta, detailing the steps to ensure it's cooked 'al dente'. This includes using a large pan, seasoning the water, adding olive oil to prevent sticking, and testing the pasta for the right firmness. The chef also shares a trick of mixing the cooked pasta with a little olive oil and seasoning to prevent it from sticking together, resulting in perfectly cooked pasta.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Chop

Chopping refers to the act of cutting food into smaller pieces, typically with a knife. In the context of the video, chopping is used to describe the process of cutting an onion. The script emphasizes the technique of using the weight of the knife and guiding it with the knuckles to achieve a fine chop, which is crucial for releasing the onion's flavor and preventing it from becoming mushy.

💡Basmati Rice

Basmati Rice is a long-grain aromatic rice variety commonly used in South Asian and Middle Eastern cuisines. The script highlights Basmati Rice as the 'king of all Rice's' due to its light, fluffy, and delicious texture when cooked properly. The video provides a detailed method for cooking Basmati Rice, including rinsing to prevent clumping and using specific spices like cardamom and star anise to enhance its flavor.

💡Rinse

Rinsing is the process of washing food, such as rice, under running water to remove dust or other impurities. In the video script, rinsing is mentioned as a preparatory step before cooking Basmati Rice. It is important because it helps to ensure that the rice does not become clumpy and maintains its individual grains, contributing to the desired fluffy texture.

💡Cardamom Pods

Cardamom Pods are the seed pods of the cardamom plant, which are used as a spice. The script describes piercing these pods before adding them to the rice to allow the flavor to be released. Cardamom Pods are used in the video to impart a unique and aromatic flavor to the Basmati Rice, enhancing the overall taste experience.

💡Star Anise

Star Anise is a spice that resembles a star in shape and is used in various cuisines for its distinctive anise-like flavor. The video script mentions using whole Star Anise to make the rice fragrant. It is used as a seasoning in the cooking process, contributing to the aromatic profile of the dish.

💡Season

Seasoning in cooking refers to the process of adding salt, pepper, or other flavorings to enhance the taste of food. The script emphasizes seasoning the rice with salt and pepper, which is important for balancing the flavors and making the dish more palatable. Seasoning is a critical step in the cooking process, as it directly affects the final taste of the dish.

💡Steaming

Steaming is a cooking method that involves cooking food with steam, which is water vapor. In the context of the video, steaming is mentioned as the secret to cooking great rice. The rice is allowed to steam while cooking, which helps it to absorb the water evenly and results in a light and fluffy texture.

💡Fluff

Fluffing is the act of gently separating the grains of cooked rice or other similar dishes to make them light and fluffy. The script describes fluffing the rice with a fork after it has been cooked and the water has been absorbed. This step is crucial to prevent the rice from becoming sticky and to enhance its texture.

💡Fileted Salmon

Fileted Salmon refers to a piece of salmon that has been deboned and skinned, leaving a clean fillet. The video script provides a detailed method for filleting salmon, which is important for preparing the fish for cooking. The process involves using a sharp knife to separate the skin from the flesh and then removing any pin bones, resulting in a clean and easy-to-cook fillet.

💡Pin Bones

Pin Bones are the small, thin bones found in fillets of fish, such as salmon. The script describes the process of removing these bones after the skin has been removed. Pin bones are important to remove because they can be hard and sharp, making the fish difficult to eat. The video provides a method for easily extracting these bones using tweezers.

💡Sharpening

Sharpening refers to the process of maintaining the sharpness of a knife, which is essential for efficient and safe cooking. The video script emphasizes the importance of keeping a knife sharp, as it makes cutting tasks easier and reduces the risk of accidents. The script provides a method for sharpening a knife using a steel, which involves a series of long strokes to maintain the edge of the blade.

💡Al Dente

Al Dente is an Italian term used to describe pasta that is cooked so that it is still firm when bitten into. The script mentions cooking pasta 'Al Dente', which is important for achieving the ideal texture that is neither too soft nor too hard. The video provides a method for testing pasta for doneness by feeling its firmness with the fingers.

Highlights

How to properly chop an onion without causing tears by leaving the root intact and using the weight of the knife.

Technique for holding the onion and guiding the knife to achieve a fine chop.

The importance of using a sharp knife in the kitchen for efficiency and safety.

Method for cooking Basmati rice to achieve a light and fluffy texture.

Rinsing rice under cold water to prevent clumping and enhance its texture.

Seasoning rice with cardamom pods, star anise, salt, and pepper for added flavor.

Cooking rice with a 1:1.5 rice to water ratio for optimal results.

The secret to steaming rice without lifting the lid to maintain flavor and texture.

How to skin a salmon fillet using a sharp knife and a gentle technique.

Removing pin bones from salmon with tweezers for a clean fillet.

The process of sharpening a knife using a steel for maintaining its edge.

Proper knife grip and technique for sharpening to prevent injuries.

Cooking pasta 'Al Dente' by boiling it in a large pan with olive oil and salted water.

Timing pasta cooking to achieve the perfect firm texture.

Drain and season pasta immediately after cooking to prevent sticking.

Final thoughts on the importance of cooking techniques and knife skills in the kitchen.