Cooking Basics

Build your culinary confidence in the kitchen with our guide to cooking basics! Master essential techniques like how to brown butter, make caramelized onions, and whip up roasted garlic to elevate even the simplest dishes.

We’ll show you how to incorporate pantry staples like whole grains, dried beans, and pickled onions to create exciting flavor combinations.

Go beyond basics and try DIY recipes from our essential homemade sauces, seasoning blends, and salad dressing recipes to homemade pita chips, tortilla chips, and pizza dough.

We’re Sonja and Alex Overhiser, married cookbook authors and food bloggers who share fresh, seasonal recipes and the joy of cooking! Our recipes are made by two real people and work every time.

Browse essentials & basics:

Tomato Sauce RecipeEssential Sauce RecipesItalian DressingSalad Dressing RecipesPickled Red OnionsPickled Red OnionsHow to cook black beansHow to Cook Black BeansPinto Beans RecipeHow to Cook Pinto BeansPizza saucePizza SauceHomemade pizza dough recipePizza DoughCaramelized onion recipeCaramelized OnionsRoasted garlicHow to Roast GarlicBrown butterHow to Brown ButterHow to make gheeHow to Make GheeHow to Make Dill PicklesDill Picklesnut butter recipeHow to Make Almond ButterCashew butter recipeCashew ButterStir fry sauceStir Fry SauceTahini sauceTahini SauceTortilla Chips

Top Cooking Basic Recipes

Whole Grains Recipes

All Cooking Basics