Cook Like A MasterChef At Home
Ever dreamt of cooking like one of the MasterChefs? Here's your chance, with MasterChef: The Ultimate Cookbook (Rodale Books, $27), which features more than 100 recipes from the reality TV show. From breakfasts and soups, salads, and starters to pasta and rice dishes, vegetables and sides, seafood, poultry, and meats, and of course, dessert, MasterChef: The Ultimate Cookbook has plenty of recipes to keep home cooks entertained as they follow along with the contestants in the next season.
Most of the recipes and contestants featured in the book are from season three, but there are a few contestants from the first two seasons as well, including Ben Starr, who made a splash with his Pumpkin Carrot Cake; Suzy Singh, who created super-flavorful Garam Masala Chicken Sliders with Chickpea Aioli; and Whitney Miller, who won the first season of MasterChef. Also included are some recipes from the judges themselves; try Joe Bastianich's Pasta Alla Norma to see what it takes to make it as a judge on MasterChef, or learn how to make "cilantro marshmallows" with Graham Elliot's Sweet Corn Bisque recipe.
But just as amazing as the recipes are the stories behind the contestants themselves — take for example, Christine Ha, 33, who hails from Houston, is legally blind, and has an amazing palate; Anna Rossi, 29, from Boston, who competed against her husband in the auditions and won; and Joshua Marks, 24, 7 feet tall and hailing from Chicago, whose background as an army contract specialist wouldn't spell "serious cook" in most people's minds but proves otherwise with his Shrimp Étouffée. These are just a few examples of the amazing stories behind each of the contestants on the show. And if you haven't been able to keep up with the show, or haven't seen it at all, the book has a handy summary of the stories behind each of the contestants, all of whom are amateurs, which no doubt is a major component of the show's broad appeal.
So what are you waiting for? The only thing better than seeing these talented cooks churn out delicious dishes on TV is making them yourself.
Pasta Alla Norma is a classic Sicilian pasta dish, whose name translates to "pasta in the usual manner" according to Italian food writer Giuliano Bugialli. Is it "just the usual," though? You be the judge. (Photo courtesy of Tara Donne)
Clay Pot Catfish with Pickled Carrots and Cucumbers
This is it. You've been waiting with bated breath for this recipe from Christine Ha from season three of the show. Well, here it is. Enjoy! (Photo courtesy of Tara Donne)
The secret to this dish is... you guessed it. Butter, butter, butter. (Photo courtesy of Tara Donne)
Will Budiaman is the Recipe Editor at The Daily Meal. Follow him on Twitter @WillBudiaman.