Milk Street 365 Cookbook
Cook with confidence every day! Dig into 365 essential recipes and tons of foundational resources—from the James Beard Award winning team at Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street.This is Milk Street’s new and comprehensive guide to today’s recipe repertoire, full of fresh flavors and simple yet game-changing techniques. This is everyday cooking you actually want to cook every day.
Milk Street 365 is both inspiration and reference for the contemporary kitchen, with recipes that will change the way you cook at home from soups, stews and salads to flatbreads, pizzas and noodles. Dishes include:
- Velvety Turkish Scrambled Eggs with Yogurt
- Vietnamese Pork and Scallion Omelette
- Butter Beans in Tomato Sauce with Dill and Feta
- Thai Green Curry Chicken and Vegetables
- Taiwanese Five-Spice Pork with Rice
- Garlic-Rosemary Burgers with Taleggio Sauce
- Cheese-Crisped Pinto Bean Quesadillas
Plus deep dives into ingredients, pantry basics, and foundational techniques that every cook should master.
You’ll learn better ways to roast chicken (hint: flat birds crisp better, and seasonings stay in place when slid under the skin) and discover bold finishes for chops and steaks (think a slather of cilantro-lime sauce or a smear of miso butter).
Here, fundamental recipes and their nearly endless variations are paired with lessons on the art and science of good cooking. Sidebars and charts deliver valuable guidance about the tools, ingredients and techniques that comprise the modern kitchen.
It’s a 360-degree approach for all 365 days of the year.
Page Count: 640 pages
Poterie Renault Crème Brulée Mold — Set of 2
Though the region is best known for wine production, the Loire Valley of France also once contained a secret gem frozen in time: Poterie Renault. Dating back to 1847, the French pottery workshop was filled to the brim with stoneware pieces, all handcrafted from some of the richest and finest clay France has to offer. And while the factory shuttered its doors in 2016, it left behind a treasure trove of salt-glazed ceramics that have become collectible items. Included in that collection—reminiscent of charming French country kitchens are these scalloped-edged dishes ideal for crème brulée or other individual desserts. (They also make a handy catch-all dish for candy, rings and jewelry and other small items. This is a set of 2 molds.
Fundodai Liquid Miso Dashi
Restaurant-quality miso soup at home just got easier—no need to spend days making your own dashi or using an instant version with little flavor. Enter Fundodai’s Liquid Miso Dashi, made from a duo of powerhouse Japanese ingredients. It’s crafted in Japan from a miso made of rice and barley paste, incorporated with a rich dashi containing bonito, scallops, sardines and kombu. The dashi’s unique blend of seafood gives it far more flavor and complexity than a typical dashi, while the combination of rice and barley makes for an equally flavorful miso. With a well-balanced salt level, the toasty, nutty miso pairs well with the umami notes from the dashi, dissolving easily into broths, sauces, marinades and more. Use it to add slow-cooked depth to soups and stews in minutes, as a marinade on its own, mixed into sauces, tossed into noodles, as the base for a stir-fry and so much more.
Milk Street 13-Inch 3-Piece Wok — Factory Seconds
Factory seconds are products that are still in complete working order, they’ve simply been set aside because of minor cosmetic imperfections—say, a scuff or scratch or a speckle in the coating. The beauty of factory seconds is that since they’re still completely functional, we can sell them to you at a great rate (usually a fraction of full price), as long as you know they might have a superficial flaw. Our full-sized Hammered Carbon Steel Wok is the first Milk Street product we’re offering as factory seconds; they’re a steal, so they'll go quick.
The typical wok is lousy for home cooking. With a round bottom that doesn’t heat on a flat American burner, poorly conductive steel and low-quality construction, most woks don’t perform well enough to be worth the storage space. That’s why we designed the Milk Street Hammered Wok specifically for American home cooks. After dozens of hours testing 10 woks of varying shapes, sizes and materials, we understand the features that make a great wok. Our redesigned 13-inch wok has high-quality construction, oversized handles for better control, a special dimpled surface for nonstick cooking and a tight-fitting tempered glass lid. It will last a lifetime, and it’s guaranteed to improve your day-to-day cooking.
Flavored Toasted Sesame Seeds (Kimchi & Wasabi)
Adding a punch of flavor and texture, these toasted Japanese sesame seeds are the definition of “good things come in small packages.” Available in Kimchi and Wasabi flavors, this crunchy topping far surpasses your standard toasted sesame seed. Tangy, garlicky and sweet, the Kimchi flavor pairs well with the warm, gentle nuttiness of sesame, while the Wasabi packs a hint of salt and mustard-heat to tickle your palate. Add either flavor just about anywhere, from sauces and stir-fries to noodles, veggies and meat. You may even find yourself popping a handful into your mouth on their own—we certainly have.
Kimchi Toasted Sesame Seeds - (Set of 2)
Adding a punch of flavor and texture, these toasted Japanese sesame seeds are the definition of “good things come in small packages.” Available in a set of two, this Kimchi-flavored crunchy topping far surpasses your standard sesame seed. Tangy, garlicky and sweet, it pairs well with the warm, gentle nuttiness of sesame. Add them just about anywhere, from sauces and oils to stir-fries, salads, noodles, veggies and meat. You may even find yourself popping a handful on their own—we certainly have.
Wasabi Toasted Sesame Seeds - (Set of 2)
Adding a punch of flavor and texture, these toasted Japanese sesame seeds are the definition of “good things come in small packages.” Available in a set of two, this Wasabi-flavored crunchy topping far surpasses your standard sesame seed. The hint of salt and mustard-heat to nudge your sinuses pairs well with the warm, gentle nuttiness of sesame. Add them just about anywhere, from sauces and oils to stir-fries, noodles, veggies and meat. You may even find yourself popping a handful on their own—we certainly have.
Fundodai "Clear" Soy Sauce
Salty, rich soy flavor that’s completely clear in color? From the masters at Fundodai, this clear shoyu made in Japan was inspired by clear colas and non-alcoholic beers, quickly gaining international attention for its unique attributes. Just as full of complex flavor as a typical dark soy sauce, this shoyu is ideal for incorporating into dishes without altering the color like traditional soy would. Transparent or “invisible,” the clear salinity is matched with sweet boozy notes, a bit of tang and tons of umami. Use it anywhere you would soy sauce, especially in dishes in which you’d prefer to avoid a color change. We especially like it to season a lightly colored soup, raw or cooked fish or a fresh pot of rice.
Anything's Pastable: 81 Inventive Pasta Recipes for Saucy People by Dan Pashman — Signed Copy
The innovative James Beard Award–winning podcaster who changed the way you think about pasta shapes with his invention of the viral sensation cascatelli now does the same for pasta sauces in this fun and charmingly obsessive cookbook, which includes a foreword from bestselling author J. Kenji López-Alt.
When Sporkful podcast host Dan Pashman launched cascatelli, a new pasta shape he invented that he designed to hold tons of sauce, stay on the fork, and be incredibly satisfying to bite into, it went viral and was named one of TIME Magazine’s Best Inventions of the Year. VICE called him "a modern pasta legend."
But as Dan was flooded with pictures of what people were making with his pasta, he was disappointed to see how limited the dishes were: tomato sauce, meat sauce, mac and cheese, over and over. A few party animals made pesto.
So Dan set out to revolutionize people’s conceptions of pasta sauces, just as he did with pasta shapes. He traveled across Italy and worked with an all-star team of recipe developers in the US to create a new kind of pasta sauce cookbook for people bored with the old standbys. That’s why there’s no 3-hour marinara recipe or fresh pasta made from scratch in this book. No photos of nonnas caked in flour or the hills of Tuscany. Instead it’s time to show the world—Anything’s Pastable. Here you’ll enjoy dishes inspired by a range of ingredients and cuisines:
Kimchi Carbonara
Cacio e Pepe e Chili Crisp
Keema Bolognese
Mapo Tofu Cascatelli
Shakshuka and Shells
Smoked Cheddar and Chicken Manicotti “Enchiladas”
Linguine with Miso Clam Sauce
Shrimp and Andouille Mac and Cheese
Lesser-known Italian pasta dishes with a twist:
Spaghetti all’Assassina (spicy pasta pan fried until charred and crispy crunchy)
Ciceri e Tria (chewy fresh pasta with crispy fried pasta in a light chickpea broth)
Cavatelli with Roasted Artichokes and Preserved Lemon
Creste di Gallo with Fava Beans and Dandelion Greens
Pasta Frittata
Fun and delicious concoctions that may—or may not—be how they do it in Italy:
Spinach Artichoke Dip Lasagna Pinwheels
Pasta Pizza (the “crust” is fettucine fused together)
Roman Cafeteria Hot Dog Pasta Salad with Canned Veggies
With an incredible array of recipes, Dan showcases the limitless pastabilities when you really know how to use your noodle.
Trunas Seafood Stock Tablets
These clever tablets manage to contain an incredible amount of flavor in a dime-sized package. The primary flavors are a rich roasted fish and a hint of seaweed, though it’s not as briny as homemade dashi. The tablets yield a meaty broth that really does give you the character of traditional stocks, with plenty of alliums, celery and sweet-earthy carrots. Compared to other fish stock products, this one is much more robust, with a roasted fish flavor that stands out from the pack. The other ingredients give it incredible depth, and it never tips into that dreaded “fishy” realm like some concentrated fish products. Because they are so compacted, these tablets need heat to properly dissolve—just throw them directly into your cooking pot.
Salad Sling
Simple but brilliant, the space-saving Salad Sling is our go-to replacement for a bulky, breakable traditional salad spinner. Made from ultra-absorbent microfiber, the Salad Sling is designed with four long “handles;” simply load your greens into the middle, pull the corners together and swing. A combination of the Salad Sling’s absorbent fibers and centrifugal force pull moisture from lettuce (it’s big enough for a whole head), hearty greens and herbs in a matter of seconds. The triple-layer Salad Sling has a waterproof liner to keep any water droplets from flying around your kitchen. Have multiple ingredients to dry? Just empty and flip the Salad Sling and load up the dry side. When you’re done, simply hang it to dry or toss it in the washing machine, then store it away compactly with your kitchen towels. Available in Original and Mini sizes, and as a set of two.
Suncraft Silicone Spatula
Most spatulas are either too soft or too firm—rendering them useless for doing two tasks at the same time, like mixing dough then flexing to scrape the edge of the bowl—or come in two pieces that become home to grime between uses. Thankfully, Suncraft’s Silicone Spatulas solve both of these problems. The Small Silicone Spatula features both a hard stainless steel core and a flexible soft side, so you can use the same tool for as many jobs as needed. Try it for anything from mixing small amounts of ingredients and melting chocolate to scraping out small jam jars.
The Large model has the same strong, stainless steel spine that creates a hard, squared-off tip, plus the silicone exterior that creates a flexible soft edge, so you can use the same tool for as many jobs as needed. It’s perfect for anything from scraping up the remnants of batter from a bowl cleanly and kneading hard butter.
Exclusive to Milk Street, the stainless steel core of these spatulas undergoes the same hardening process as a knife, making it ultra-durable to avoid bending. Equally as durable is the black silicone material itself, which is made extra firm to stand up to the inner core so it won’t rip through. The square silicone handle also offers complete comfort with just the right amount of softness to help maneuver easily. Heat-resistant up to 428 degrees Fahrenheit, use the spatulas while frying or handling hot sugar, then simply stick them in the dishwasher when you’re done.
Lino Chopsticks with Ceramic Rest
Made in Japan, these lovely wooden chopsticks with squared off ends are designed with a flowing spiral shape and painted with transparent color to shimmer in the light. Sleek, elegant and easy to grip, each dishwasher-safe set comes with a convenient ceramic rest, so your chopsticks stay off the table. Available in Blue/White and Pink/Grey.
Cruzilles Pâtes de Fruits Gift Tin
Delightfully fruity, with a crunchy sugar exterior that melts into a tender gummy center, these French Pâtes de Fruits from Cruzilles are full of distinct fresh berry flavor. A traditional French confection, pâtes de fruits have to be made with a high percentage of fruit puree and pulp (Cruzilles uses up to 75%), which gives the jellies a bright fruitiness. They have a higher moisture content than supermarket jellies—so they are not dry, tough or overly chewy—and the light sugar coating prevents stickiness and adds a light crunch. Try all three flavors: Raspberry, Strawberry and Blueberry, made from high-quality berries picked at peak freshness and packaged in an adorable metal pail.
Milk Street Butcher Knife Bundle
Meet the knives we reach for when prepping meat, poultry and fish. The Milk Street Cleaver turns a chuck roast into stew meat and splits chicken legs with minimal effort, while the Bunka knife chisel-like tip will easily peel the tough silverskin off a pork tenderloin, then slice it into fine cutlets.
The Milk Street Cleaver is an all-purpose knife designed to work equally well for vegetables and butchering big cuts of meat. At 7 inches long, 3 inches tall and less than half a pound, this tool is an inch shorter than the average cleaver for a lighter, more nimble experience. However, it maintains full height for shielding fingers during chopping and using as a bench scraper to scoop up and transfer prepped foods to the pot. And, at only 2 millimeters thick at the spine, this cleaver is as thin as possible to maintain stiffness, yet slices with little force.
Unlike most cleavers that feature a basic rectangular blade design, the Milk Street Cleaver boasts some distinctive design points. The blade arcs inward at the heel to allow for multiple grips, while keeping your fingers guarded and preserving the length of the blade. To feel and function like a smaller knife, the cutaway heel lets you choke up close and tight on the blade. Or slide your hand back on the handle for more clearance, leverage and power.
The blade’s edge differs as well. Compared to the typical cleaver’s perfectly straight blade edges, the Milk Street Cleaver gently curves tip to heel for a natural slicing and chopping motion. It’ll feel the same in use as your chef’s knife—but safer while requiring less effort!
The Milk Street Bunka Knife is the turbocharged take on what an all-purpose knife can be. Similar in size to the more widely known santoku, the bunka’s nearly constant 6.75-inch blade width functions much like a nakiri, ideal for precise vegetable prep, safety (shields the fingers when slicing) and scooping up foods like a bench scraper into your mixing bowl or hot skillet. But unlike the squared-off tip of the nakiri, the bunka’s blade tapers into a chisel-like kiritsuke tip (translates as “slit open”), which allows for piercing cuts and fine detail work when prepping ingredients like meat. The nearly flat blade profile arcs subtly to the tip, meaning it can be used for rock chopping or mincing. You know those instances where you thought you sliced a pepper into thin strips and it all stuck together, like an accordion? Not a chance of that with the bunka. The mid-sized, premium German steel blade is also the perfect compromise in length. It’s long enough to cleanly slice proteins or span a whole cabbage, but short enough to always be in complete control without feeling unwieldy. And the ergonomic handle provides a comfortable grip regardless of your hand size. No more slipping and twisting when you really just want to hold tight. It’s a knife you can use for everything from peeling garlic and onions to chopping a precise brunoise and peeling the tough silverskin off a pork tenderloin, then slicing it into fine cutlets. If you’re confident with a razor-tipped chef’s knife and precision handling, the bunka is your answer.
Milk Street Wok Spatula & Wok Skimmer Set
When using a wok, mise en place isn’t just about your ingredients—it’s about your tools, too. The right tools can make all the difference in how your dinner turns out.
The Milk Street Wok Spatula is the right tool for the job. Designed to function flawlessly with the Milk Street Hammered Wok, this heavy-duty stainless steel spatula features a thin, rounded edge that perfectly mirrors the curved sides of the wok, making scooping, stirring and scraping a smooth and effortless task. The spatula’s non-slip textured handle provides the perfect grip for precise control in all conditions, no matter how wet or greasy things get. And it’s light enough to maneuver, allowing you to stay nimble while eliminating hand fatigue. It works well beyond the wok, too—sautéing, stirring pasta, even on the grill.
Milk Street’s Wok Skimmer is custom-designed to work seamlessly with the Milk Street Hammered Wok. This well-built, stainless steel tool features the right handle length and bowl size for nimble and efficient use, unlike flimsy, poorly made tools that aren’t big or wide enough to be effective in a wok. It scoops, strains and drains effortlessly—and excels when used in tandem with the Milk Street Wok Spatula. The satin-finished steel is dishwasher-safe, rust-proof and nearly impervious to wear. And despite its name, the Milk Street Wok Skimmer is terrific beyond the wok. Its uniquely perforated head makes it an ideal tool for lifting blanched vegetables or deep-fried foods out of hot water and red-hot oil. Or use it to strain delicate stuffed pastas, like tortellini or spaetzle, out of a simmering pot to avoid breaking them. It’s even great for skimming broths and stocks.
Nihonichi Premium Tamari
Tamari, the liquid byproduct that results from pressing miso, is so much more than gluten-free soy sauce (a common misconception among American cooks). This premium tamari from Nihonichi is darker, richer and less salty in flavor than the soy sauce in your cabinet, adding layers of umami and a sweet finish—reminiscent of miso—with just a splash. It’s produced in Japan by a revered shoyu manufacturer that traces its roots back to the 1700s. And unlike grocery store brands that may muddy and darken the flavors of your dish, this tamari, naturally brewed in wooden vats, is deeply flavorful and pourable, perfect to add to just about any dish.
Nihonichi Shoyusco Jalepeño Hot Sauce
Nihonichi’s Jalapeño Shoyusco Hot Sauce was wildly different from any other hot sauce our testers had ever tried before. It’s produced in Japan by a revered shoyu manufacturer that traces its roots back to the 1700s. To make their soy sauce, they ferment soy for up to two years in 100-year-old cedar wood vats, unlike the stainless steel tubs other producers use. Once brewed, the soy sauce is combined with balsamic vinegar, which serves as a unique base, lending depth to the light, bright addition of jalapeño heat. There’s a welcome thread of garlic rounded out with white pepper for an addictive, truffle-like quality. Its’ spicy, bright and packed with umami—what’s not to love? It disappears so quickly in Matthew Card’s, Creative Director of Recipes and Products, house, that he buys three bottles at a time.