Since the beginning of 2021, I've been broadcasting my Stella Culinary School Podcast live in our Facebook Group, and posting the video replay on my secondary YouTube Channel, @StellaCulinaryLive. In last week's episode, I described a "homework" assignment designed for cooks to practice their basic flavor building, as well as drill their knife skills. Because it incorporates the flavor structure and technique lesson's I've been teaching on this channel, I thought my subscribers over here might enjoy this segment as well.

While this drill incorporates the concept of a Greek Salad, this video is not meant as an instructional on how to make a "traditional" Greek Salad.

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT

Make your play on a Greek Salad, or a salsa / chutney / garnish inspired by the Greek Salad methodology laid out in this video.

FOCUS ON THE BASIC KNIFE SKILL TECHNIQUES OF:

* The Pinch Grip
* Guide Hand
* Julienne. If making a salsa or chutney, focus on the dice, making sure everything is as even as possible.

FLAVOR STRUCTURE FOCUS

When dressing your vegetables and building your flavor structures, remember; fat first, acid second, salt third. Take it from there. More advanced students, add a protein of choice. Recommended proteins are pan roasted chicken / fish, shrimp, scallops, steak.

REMEMBER ...

This is a jumping off point designed to challenge you at your own skill level. If you're at a beginner level, focus on your knife skills and making a greek salad as I described in the podcast. Really pay attention to how the fat, acid, and salt change the perceptible flavor as they are added.
If you're more advanced, start riffing on this concept, while focusing on your knife movements and efficiencies. Are your knife skills really as good as you think they are? They can always be better! Focused practice makes perfect!

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Culinary Knife Skills: https://stellaculinary.com/cks
Cooking Techniques: https://stellaculinary.com/ct
F is for Flavor:    • F is for Flavor | Culinary Boot Camp ...  
Culinary Boot Camp: https://stellaculinary.com/bootcamp
FB Group:   / stellaculinary  
Stella Culinary Live Podcast:    / stellaculinarylive  


TURNING IN YOUR ASSIGNMENT

Take a picture of your finished dish, and post it to our Facebook Group, or at mention me on Twitter / Instagram, ChefJacob on both. You can also post a video to your YouTube Account, and tag me in the comments of this post. If you'd like to get feedback on your knife skills, have someone video your hands with your cell phone doing a knife cut and then post as described above.

I will be reviewing your submissions in an upcoming video podcast.

Please remember that all pictures, videos, and comments are public, and I may use them in an upcoming episode of the Stella Culinary Podcast.

#SCS073 #KnifeSkills #FlavorStructure