Why this French soup is the most difficult dish in the world to make (2024)

Somerecipesare simply impossible to master, which is why we decided to share our cheat versions of some of the most difficult dishes in the world.

Okay, so they're not strictly the same, but they're still delicious.

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1. Consumed

Devil's Dish: A clear soup made from meat, tomatoes, egg whites and stock, simmered slowly to bring impurities to the surface for frothing.

Techn-eeek: Even some of the most experienced chefs can't master the complex clarification process required to make consommé.

Fun cheat: Sauté beef stock with celery, carrot and onion, strain and pour over fried sirloin steak, carrot strips and sliced ​​shallots.

Why this French soup is the most difficult dish in the world to make (1)

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2. Turducken

Devilish dish: A whole turkey stuffed with duck, stuffed with chicken, hence the name tur(key)duck(chick)en.

Techn-eeek: Preparation is essential, as smaller bones must be removed without damaging the bird's appearance. You also need to make sure that the chicken is cooked through, but that the turkey is not dry.

Fun cheat: Stuff a chicken with a mixture of turkey stuffing, sausage meat, breadcrumbs and fresh herbs, rub the skin with a little duck fat and fry as usual.

3. Bearnaise sauce

Devil's dish: a French tarragon-flavored sauce made from clarified butter, vinegar, shallots, egg yolks and herbs, often served with steak.

Techn-eeek: This sauce is made in a bain-marie (a glass bowl over a pan of simmering water), but if it gets too hot, the eggs will scramble and there's no going back.

Nice cheat: Soften the chopped shallots and garlic in butter, add peppercorns, fresh tarragon and a dash of white wine vinegar. Remove from the heat and stir in 2 tablespoons of crème fraîche.

Why this French soup is the most difficult dish in the world to make (2)

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4. Baked Alaska

Devilish dish: ice cream covered with sponge cake, topped with delicate meringue and baked.

Techn-eeek: The trick with this dish is to place it in a very hot oven long enough to ensure that the meringue is firm but that the ice cream in it doesn't melt.

Fun cheat: make your own sponge cake, remove it from the oven and top it with vanilla ice cream and crushed meringue pieces.

5. Croissants

Devil's dish: Pastry made from dough with a layer of butter and can be seen on every breakfast table throughout France.

Techn-eeek: To make perfect croissants, work the dough slowly and patiently let it rest several times to achieve the light, flaky dough.

Nice cheat: thaw the frozen puff pastry, brush it with melted butter and bake until golden brown. Add grated chocolate or cheese and ham halfway through.

Tom Hanks' relatives thought his co*cktail recipe was 'crazy'

6. Soufflé

Devilish Dish: A fluffy, fried egg dish that looks as nice and light as it tastes, derived from the French "to puff up" (just what it should do in the oven).

Techn-eeek: The hardest part of making a soufflé is beating enough air into the egg whites so that they rise in the oven and don't collapse afterwards.

Nice cheat: Beat the eggs until light and frothy, add various grated cheeses and pour into greased muffin tins. Bake until risen and cooked in the center.

7. Macarons

Devil's Dish: Not to be confused with macaroons, these are meringue-based, fragile treats.

Techn-eeek: To make these delicate desserts, you need to separate the egg whites and yolks and then do a long baking process that can leave them raw on the inside or burnt on the outside.

Nice cheat: beat 120 g soft butter with 4 tablespoons of honey and 4 tablespoons of caster sugar. Add a drop of red food coloring and divide it over two ready-made mini meringues.

Why this French soup is the most difficult dish in the world to make (4)

8. Beef Wellington

Devilish dish: Fillet steak covered with pate, mushrooms, a pancake and puff pastry.

Techn-eeek: It is difficult to wrap this dish and also difficult to cook it and ensure that the meat in the center is rare but the dough is golden brown.

Nice cheat: Chop the steak finely and sprinkle it with flour, fry it in oil until brown. Let it cook slowly in red wine with garlic, mushrooms and onions, cover it with puff pastry and bake until golden brown.

9. Chili en nogada

Devilish dish: Poblano chili stuffed with seasoned minced meat and then topped with a walnut sauce and pomegranate seeds.

Techn-eeek: Chile en nogada is a slow process. Traditionally, Mexican cooks started roasting peppers, washing nuts and infusing meat days in advance.

Nice cheat: Fry minced pork with onion, garlic, chili and cinnamon. Pour in the halved red peppers, sprinkle with raisins and almonds and fry slowly.

10. Galantine

Devil's Dish: Boneless meat stuffed, poached, covered in spicy jelly and served cold.

Techn-eeek: It is very time consuming and actually gets its name from the French worddapper, which means 'refined in a sumptuous way'.

Fun cheat: Mix chopped bacon, shallots, pistachios and dried apricots with a few drops of sherry and a dollop of cream. Roll the flattened chicken fillet through it, secure with a stick and fry until done.

Have you tried any of these dishes? What are your tips for a successful dish? What is the most difficult dish you have ever made?

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Why this French soup is the most difficult dish in the world to make (2024)

FAQs

What is the most difficult French dish to cook? ›

One recipe that comes to mind though is the lièvre à la royale, which is notoriously long and complicated, and still viewed as a good test for amateur and even professional cooks to show their advanced skills.

Is French food hard to make? ›

Many French dishes are not for people learning to cook for the first time. Part of the appeal of French cuisine is the difficulty associated with many of its dishes. In general, these recipes are not something that you can whip up for a weeknight dinner.

What is the most challenging dish you have ever cooked? ›

1. Consommé Devilish dish: A clear soup made from meat, tomato, egg whites and stock, slowly simmered to bring impurities to the surface for skimming. Techn-eeek: Even some of the most experienced chefs cannot master the complex clarification process required to make consommé.

What is the most popular French dish in the world? ›

Boeuf Bourguignon – Most Famous Food in France

Boeuf Bourguignon is a French stew made with beef braised in beef stock and red wine, naturally from the Burgundy region. Carrots, garlic, onions and a bouquet garni (fresh herbs tied together) are cooked slowly resulting in a hearty beef stew.

What is the number 1 dish in the world? ›

Pizza is the dominant meal, surpassing barbecue in second place and brunch in third. Chinese restaurants are the most common, representing an average of over 9.5% of all restaurants in the top visited cities, followed by Italian restaurants at more than 8.5% and Indian restaurants at 8%.

What is the rarest dish? ›

From exotic insects to unusual delicacies, today we bring you some of the rarest dishes in the world.
  • FUGU FISH (JAPAN) This much-loved dish of Japanese cuisine is as exotic as it is dangerous. ...
  • BALUT (PHILIPPINES) ...
  • SHEEP'S EYE JUICE (MONGOLIAN) ...
  • CRISPY TARANTULA (CAMBODIA)

Do the French eat healthy? ›

A meal in France, as in many Mediterranean countries, often begins with vegetables, Dr Cohen says, either cooked or in a salad. This means that even if rich sauces, cheese or red meat follow, the meal has started nutritiously. France's latest national dietary survey bears this out.

Do French eat raw food? ›

Eating Raw in Paris

For meat eaters, options abound in the realm of charcuterie, and some traditional foods even include raw meats or animal products.

What is the unhealthiest dish? ›

Worst Restaurant Meals
  • Ham and Cheese Omelet. 1/15. The Count: Approximately 512 calories, 37 grams of fat, 1,277 milligrams of sodium. ...
  • Chicken and Waffles. 2/15. ...
  • Bacon Double Cheeseburger. 3/15. ...
  • Baby Back Ribs (Full Rack) 4/15. ...
  • Chicken Alfredo. 5/15. ...
  • Pepperoni Stromboli. 6/15. ...
  • General Tso's Chicken. 7/15. ...
  • Beef Chimichangas. 8/15.
Mar 16, 2024

What is the weirdest food you ve ever tried while traveling? ›

Some of the most insane ones that come to mind are balut (a developing duck embryo) in the Philippines, snake blood in Vietnam and a duck head in Taiwan. But if I had to choose the craziest, it would be live octopus in Korea.

What is a French dish that takes a long time to cook? ›

Le Cassoulet and a Pot-au-Feu. Both of which need slow overnight cooking to be at their best.

What food takes the longest to cook? ›

On your meal prep day, focus first on foods that take the longest to cook: proteins like chicken and fish; whole grains like brown rice, quinoa, and farro; dried beans and legumes; and, roasted vegetables.

What is the biggest meal for the French? ›

In France, lunch is typically the main meal of the day, and French people spend more time enjoying lunch than most people in other countries.

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