Centr Team

5 recipes to take you to the chef level

Nail the perfectly creamy risotto and you’ll win any wannabe chef’s heart. Sergio’s secret: Cook the rice until translucent, then get into a cycle of adding your liquid (wine or stock) then reducing, while continuing to stir.

Out to impress someone who knows what they like and likes to stay in their lane? The classics are usually the best. Make this the BEST chicken roast dinner you’ve served up by following Dan’s steps to an extra-juicy chicken breast: sear it skin side down first, flip, then pop it in the oven.

There’s always something new to try, even for someone who thinks they’ve done it all. For instance, have you ever considered making your own ricotta from scratch, rather than buying a tub from the store? Once Darren shows you how to do it – with an extra infusion of flavor for that chef flair – you’ll be putting your DIY ricotta on everything.

The kitchen isn’t always harmonious in a mixed vegan and non-vegan household. But everyone loves lasagne. So let Simon help you declare a kitchen truce with his plant-based take on the guaranteed crowd-pleaser – a rich tomato lentil filling topped with a creamy, golden cauliflower cashew cheese.

For an authentic taste of Thailand at home, you can’t go past Palisa’s vegetarian Pad Thai – a recipe straight out of one of Sydney’s most beloved Thai restaurants. You may be surprised to learn it’s as quick and easy to make as most stir-fries, but your guest doesn’t need to know that.