Learn the Art of Effective Recipe Writing

Recipe

A recipe is a set of written instructions that are used for cooking or baking.

1. It provides a list of ingredients to be used while cooking.
2. It provides details about the appliances to be used for cooking.
3. It provides instructions on how to use the appliances.
4. Recipe writing is writing down the instructions for preparing food.
5. Recipes are a set of instructions, so they must follow a set of features to be informative.

Title

An interesting and informative title attracts more audience.

1. Add the name of an exotic location to make it more exciting.

     Example: Turkish Cardamom Coffee

 2. Use words like favorite or best to make it more appealing to the Readers.

     Example: Best Chocolate Fudge.

  3. Mention a season’s name to mark the ideal time for making the dish.

      Example: Spring Lemon Risotto.

   4. Mention the speed at which the dish can be made.

        Example: Quick Fried Chicken

Ingredients

The list of items that are used to prepare a dish.

Ingredients should be listed in order of use.

1. It should be detailed and have accurate measurements.

Example:  Add 2 tablespoons of sugar to the cooking pan.

2. Should provide alternate options for ingredients.

Example: 1 liter of Milk (Can substitute with almond milk if necessary).

Method

   It is the chronologically arranged way with proper instructions on preparing a dish.

1. Each step should specify what should be done.

Example: STEP 2: Dice the tomatoes into four.

2. Should specify how much should be used.

Example: STEP 3: Add 100mltrs of milk into the pan.

3. Should specify the cooking temperature.

Example: STEP 1: Preheat the oven to 375^oF.

Recipe Writing Format

Tone and Style of Writing

1. Match the target audience’s tone and style of a recipe.
2. Use easy-to-comprehend simple words.
3. Instructions should be direct.
4. It should not be confusing.
5. It Should be written as formal instructions.
6. Should be accurate

Robin’s Chicken Pie Recipe

Ingredients:

Crust:

Whole wheat flour – 1 cup

Salt – ½  teaspoon

Dried thyme – ¼ teaspoon

Garlic powder – ½ teaspoon

Unsalted butter – ¼ cup

Water – ¼ cup

Filling:

Chicken breast – 1 ¼ pound

Chopped onion – ½ cup

Carrots – 2 medium

Celery – 2 stalks

Frozen green peas – 1 cup

Unsalted butter – 2 tablespoons

Whole wheat  flour – ¼ cup

Dried thyme – ¼ teaspoon

Salt – ½  teaspoon

Chicken stock – 2 cups

Milk – 1 cup

4 Servings

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time:        75 minutes

Materials:

Medium Mixing bowl

Wooden spoon

Fork

Medium ovenproof dish

Cling film

Chopping board

Sharp knife

Frying pan

Small bowl

Rolling pin

Baking paper

Oven-safe casserole dish

Directions:

Ensure that you have the correct amounts of all the required ingredients.

Crust Directions:

1. Make the crust by mixing flour, salt, and seasonings in a medium bowl.
2. Use a fork to mash the butter into the dry mixture. The butter should now look like little chinks in the mixture.
3. Add cold water and mix until a rough dough forms.
4. Press the dough into a flat pizza shape. Cover it with cling film and place it into the fridge for use later.

Filling Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 190 ^C
2. Chop up chicken and vegetables into small pieces.
3. Heat the frying pan over medium heat.
4. Cook the chicken in 1 tablespoon of butter until white. Then remove the chicken from the pan and place it in a small bowl.
5. Add the second tablespoon of butter to the pan. Cook the onion, celery, and carrot for five minutes; until the onions become translucent, add the peas and cook for one more minute or so until the peas are no longer frozen.
6. Mix the chicken back in.
7. Sprinkle seasonings and flour on top of vegetables and chicken until evenly distributed.
8. Pour in stock and milk and simmer until thickened.

Pie Directions:

1. Move the chicken mixture from the frying pan to an oven-safe casserole dish.
2. Take the crust out of the fridge and roll it out on a floured surface until it is large enough to cover the oven-safe casserole dish.
3. Carefully place the crust on the oven-safe casserole dish and remove the excess crust. Cut a few slits in the top on that air can escape.
4. Place oven-safe casserole dish into the preheated 190^oC oven and bake for 40-50 minutes, until the crust is well cooked.
5. Serve with a green side salad.