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⚡ Block 9–10 Quick Reference — Seasoning & Flavor Building

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Block 9 Recipes — Salt: When, What, and Why

Session Dish Skill Link
Session 34 ⏰ Crispy Chicken Thighs + Roasted Broccoli + Arugula Salad Dry-brine (early salt) Chicken · Broccoli · Salad
Session 35 Pasta all'Amatriciana + Caesar Salad Layered seasoning (during salt) Amatriciana · Caesar
Session 36 Pan-Seared Halibut + White Bean Salad + Sautéed Cherry Tomatoes Finishing salt (late salt) Halibut · White Bean Salad · Tomatoes
Session 37 Cacio e Pepe + Bitter Greens Salad + Roasted Cauliflower with Capers Salt as texture and contrast Cacio e Pepe · Salad · Cauliflower
Service 9 Salt-Crusted Whole Roasted Fish + Fingerling Potatoes + Fennel Orange Salad Salt crust technique Fish · Potatoes · Salad

Block 10 Recipes — Acid, Fat, and Umami

Session Dish Skill Link
Session 38 Chicken Marsala + Creamy Mashed Potatoes + Escarole Salad Acid as a brightness lever Marsala · Mash
Session 39 Glazed Pork Tenderloin + French Lentil Salad + Roasted Carrots Two different acids in one meal Pork · Lentils · Carrots
Session 40 Brown Butter Gnocchi + Roasted Mushrooms + Bitter Greens Salad Fat as flavor (brown butter) Gnocchi · Mushrooms · Salad
Session 41 Mushroom & Anchovy Pasta + Roasted Asparagus + Arugula Salad Umami as background seasoning Pasta · Asparagus · Salad
Service 10 Miso-Glazed Cod + Saffron Risotto + Fennel Citrus Salad All four: salt · acid · fat · umami in balance Cod · Risotto · Salad

Shopping Notes

Buy before Block 9: Kosher salt (Diamond Crystal or Morton), flaky Maldon sea salt or fleur de sel, fine sea salt. These are three distinct tools — don't skip the Maldon.

Buy for Block 9: White fish (halibut or sea bass), canned white beans, cherry tomatoes.

Buy for Block 9: 1–2 whole branzino or red snapper (ask your fishmonger to gut and scale them for you). Fingerling potatoes.

Pantry additions for Block 10: Anchovy paste or tinned anchovies, miso paste (white or red), soy sauce, fish sauce, balsamic vinegar, sherry vinegar.

Block 10 project session: Miso marinade goes on the cod/salmon 24–48 hours ahead — start 24-48 hours ahead.