INTRODUCTION

EVERY TIME YOU STEP INTO YOUR KITCHEN TO COOK OR BAKE, YOU PUT SCIENCE TO WORK

In fact, physics and chemistry come into play whenever you simmer, steam, bake, freeze, boil, purée, or ferment food. Knowing the basics of food science will give you the tools to be the boss of your kitchen, and whether you’re baking for friends or auditioning for a cooking show, you’ll be ready to take on any challenge with confidence.

Edible Kitchen Science Lab lays out fifty-two delicious ideas for exploring food science in your own kitchen by making everything from healthy homemade snacks to marvelous main dishes and mind-boggling desserts. The recipes are designed to mix and match so that you can pair pasta with your favorite sauce or whip up the perfect frosting for any cake. There are plenty of fun, edible decorations included to make every recipe photo-worthy. Whether you gravitate towards trendy or classic, you’ll find something to appeal to both your taste buds and your eyes.

Although most of the recipes in this book are based on food I’m familiar with, it’s fun to find ways to incorporate your own tastes and traditions into everything you create. Green sauces like pesto can be turned into chimichurri by substituting different herbs, while homemade panir can be substituded for ricotta, sashaying from curry to lasagna with ease. Design your dream dessert by choosing your favorite frosting, fillings, and decorations to create something as beautiful as it is delicious. Ask your friends and family for their favorite versions of a recipe, and use your knowledge of food science to combine them into a dish that suits your taste and cooking style.

The Science Behind the Food section included with each recipe will help you understand the science concepts and nutrition behind the dishes. You’ll learn how acids like vinegar and lemon juice enhance flavors, how flour and eggs trap steam to make popovers pop and how crystals form in ice cream. Before long, you’ll have the confidence to throw together a feast, bake and decorate show-worthy cakes, or use what you’ve learned to create your own recipes.

Let’s get cooking!