Home Cooking

Samin Nosrat & Hrishikesh Hirway

From Samin Nosrat (chef and author of the cookbook Salt Fat Acid Heat) and Hrishikesh Hirway (creator and host of the podcast Song Exploder), Home Cooking is a mini-series to help you figure out what to cook—and keep you company—during the quarantine. If you need help or just want some creative inspiration for your kitchen, we’ve got you covered. Do you have a quarantine cooking question, story, or anxiety you want to share with us? Send a voice memo to us at alittlehomecooking@gmail.com, or call us at 201-241-COOK.

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Our Editor's Take

Samin Nosrat and Hrishikesh Hirway host Home Cooking, a cooking advice podcast. Samin wrote Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking. This bestseller won a James Beard Award. Hrishikesh is a music fan who has created several podcasts. As a composer, he uses the moniker "The One AM Radio." Fun fact-he composes the music listeners will hear on the Home Cooking podcast.

Hrishikesh and Samin are friends who love to talk about food. The Home Cooking cohosts

started the podcast at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. They wanted to support people who just started out cooking. The idea was to give people meal ideas and something fun to listen to while preparing food. They invite listeners to call or email a voice memo. Callers might ask what they can cook with what they have. Some ask different questions about food. For example, one listener has a lemon intolerance. She asks what substation options there are for lemon juice and zest. Hrishikesh invents a new word for lemon's cuisine ubiquity-lemo-centric. Samin recommends that the listener explore the wide available varieties of vinegar.

A variety of people have been guests on the Home Cooking podcast. Journalist Sam Sanders and singer Camila Cabello have both joined. In one episode, British chef Nadiya Hussain discusses her family's chicken korma recipe. In another, Antoni Porowski talks about pierogies. There is a connection between food and culture.

In one episode, Samin and Hrishikesh discuss an Indian dish called sabudana khichdi. Hrishikesh mentions that it is a specialty in Maharashtra. His family comes from there. It is a simple dish with potatoes, peanuts, and tapioca. Samin is drinking boba during the show and says that she loves tapioca. Hrishikesh says that he does not like tapioca. He found it surprising that it is an ingredient in the dish, which he likes. Samin asks Hrishikesh's mother for the recipe.

Even when there is no quarantine, Home Cooking is an enjoyable resource for folks who want meal ideas and some company in the kitchen.

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Mulberry Me Alive (with Dr. Sumesh Uncle Hirway)

Mulberry Me Alive (with Dr. Sumesh Uncle Hirway)

It’s Thanksgiving, and so, like giblets and your racist aunt, this is the only time this year that you’ll have to deal with us. Welcome to the first (and possibly only) installment of our chill era, featuring our favorite retired food scientist, Dr. Sumesh Uncle Hirway.

Episodes

Mulberry Me Alive (with Dr. Sumesh Uncle Hirway)

Mulberry Me Alive (with Dr. Sumesh Uncle Hirway)

It’s Thanksgiving, and so, like giblets and your racist aunt, this is the only time this year that you’ll have to deal with us. Welcome to the first (and possibly only) installment of our chill era, featuring our favorite retired food scientist, Dr. Sumesh Uncle Hirway.

Happy Tangsgiving! (with Camila Cabello)

Happy Tangsgiving! (with Camila Cabello)

We’re back for a special episode of the podcast, and we’re getting questions and giving thanks as we get ready for the high holy day of home kitchens. We got a special surprise in the form of a question from international pop superstar Camila Cabello! Also, we finally made shirts that say “Shrimp J*nga Forever!” and you can get one at homecooking.show/shrimpjenga. You can listen to Hrishi’s new song here, and watch his TED Talk here, For recipes and a transcript of this episode, visit homecooking.show/16.

Starch Nemesis (with Waffles & Mochi)

Starch Nemesis (with Waffles & Mochi)

Hello again! We’ve climbed out of our cave and here we are, blinking bewilderedly in the light of the bright sun, trying to remember how to make this podcast. Join us as we slice up a veritable fruit salad of questions, including one about raisins from our new puppet friends Waffles & Mochi. They’re the titular characters of the new Netflix kids show that just came out. Samin is in the show, too, so you should go watch it as soon as you’re done listening to this! For recipes, resources, and a transcript of this episode, visit homecooking.show.

Bittersweet (with Helen Zaltzman)

Bittersweet (with Helen Zaltzman)

We’re wrapping up this pandemic year and our pandemic podcast in a carefully-sealed bag, so as not to let the flavors intermingle with other flavors in your podcast cookie tin. For our cookie-themed episode, we‘ve got chocolate chip cookies, no-bake cookies, and smart cookie Helen Zaltzman (@HelenZaltzman) tells us about her gingerbread creations. Plus, a Chef Detective mystery about a lost family favorite from an out-of-print magazine. For recipes, transcripts, and more, visit homecooking.show/14.

Thanksgiving, Part 2: Umami and Me (with Tracy Clayton and our families)

Thanksgiving, Part 2: Umami and Me (with Tracy Clayton and our families)

Happy Thanksgiving! Our special family guests this week include Samin’s younger brothers Pasha & Bahador, Hrishi’s dad Dr Sumesh Hirway, and Hrishi’s niece Asha. Plus, the wonderful Tracy Clayton (@brokeymcpoverty) tells us about the Thanksgiving opinion that could get her excommunicated from her old Kentucky home. This episode is dedicated to Kanta Hirway, Hrishi’s mom. Without her incredible home cooking and mischievous sense of humor, this podcast (and Hrishi) would have never been. Her Thanksgiving mango pie was the connection point for Samin and Hrishi’s first collaboration, and we hope you’ll try making it in her honor. Words cannot express how much she will be missed, but she expressed her love through food, anyway—so eat well and take care of each other For recipes, resources, and more, visit homecooking.show/episodes/13.

Thanksgiving, Part 1: Sage Wisdom (with Demi Adejuyigbe)

Thanksgiving, Part 1: Sage Wisdom (with Demi Adejuyigbe)

According to our callers, a big part of Thanksgiving seems to be making food for your loved ones that you only kind of like yourself. But can we make these dishes a little better for the people cooking them?! We’re gonna try. Plus, Demi Adejuyigbe (@electrolemon), tells about his quarantine baking adventures. For recipes, transcripts, and more, visit homecooking.show/12.

Snacktoberfest (with Sumesh Uncle and Sonoratown)

Snacktoberfest (with Sumesh Uncle and Sonoratown)

Dr. Sumesh Uncle Hirway, Ph.D (@sumeshhirway) is back with more tips, Jen Feltham of Sonoratown (@sonoratownla) teaches us a tortilla trick, and Samin & Hrishi talk treats. For recipes, resources, and a transcript of this episode, visit homecooking.show/11.

Fronds with Benefits (with Jason Mantzoukas)

Fronds with Benefits (with Jason Mantzoukas)

We’re joined by actor Jason Mantzoukas, one of our favorite people. He’s a novice in the kitchen who needs a little help getting comfortable with some cooking basics. Plus, we call up Hrishi’s dad, a.k.a. Sumesh Uncle the Food Scientist, for some information on his newest favorite gadget: an air fryer.

Old Bay Leaves, New Bae Arrives

Old Bay Leaves, New Bae Arrives

We’re back for a third batch of episodes! Samin and Hrishi help a listener who is over-encumbered by a number of cucumbers, and Chef Detective fills in the missing pieces from a family recipe for pull-apart bread. For recipes, resources, and a transcript of this episode, visit homecooking.show/9.

Kohlrabi: Turnip for What? (with Antoni Porowski)

Kohlrabi: Turnip for What? (with Antoni Porowski)

What is kohlrabi and what do we do with it? Plus, Queer Eye’s Antoni Porowski (@antoni) talks to us about pierogis, and more! For recipes, resources, and a transcript, visit homecooking.show/8.

Gettin’ Jalapeño Business (with Rachel Khong)

Gettin’ Jalapeño Business (with Rachel Khong)

Samin and Hrishi brainstorm snack ideas for hiking, but sometimes wander off the trail, and author Rachel Khong (@rrrrrrrachelkhong) breaks down her quest to find the best way to cook rice—without a rice cooker. For recipes, resources, and transcripts, visit homecooking.show/7.

I Scream, You Scream, Please Scream Inside Your Heart for Ice Cream (with Nadiya Hussain)

I Scream, You Scream, Please Scream Inside Your Heart for Ice Cream (with Nadiya Hussain)

The wonderful Nadiya Hussain (@nadiyajhussain), Great British Bake-Off winner and host of Netflix’s “Nadiya’s Time to Eat,” joins us to tell us about her family’s chicken korma recipe. Samin melts Hrishi’s dreams of starting an ice cream parlor, and Hrishi mortifies Samin with a request for a new kind of email submission. For recipes and resources, go to homecooking.show/6.

White Fra-chili-ty (with Sam Sanders)

White Fra-chili-ty (with Sam Sanders)

We’re back! The pandemic has extended its run, so we have, too! But now, it’s hot out and everyone’s sweaty and no one wants to turn on their ovens. That’s okay, we have ideas. Plus, the wonderful Sam Sanders (@samsanders) joins us to tell us about his impressive Struggle Frittata, and more. For recipes and resources, visit homecooking.show/5.

Guess What? Chicken Butt Is Delicious (with Yo-Yo Ma)

Guess What? Chicken Butt Is Delicious (with Yo-Yo Ma)

We’re closing out our miniseries with happy bellies, full hearts, and international treasure Yo-Yo Ma (@YoYo_Ma). In this episode, we talk about comfort, memories, the act of cooking as an act of love, and the art of wrapping food inside other food. For ideas, recipes, resources, and more, visit homecooking.show.

Cod Save America (with Wesley Morris and Dr. Sumesh Hirway)

Cod Save America (with Wesley Morris and Dr. Sumesh Hirway)

There’s so much sardine advice packed into this episode. Plus, Pulitzer Prize-winning cultural critic Wesley Morris (@wesley_morris) tells us about the crumb cake he’s already made twice during quarantine, and Hrishi’s dad, a food scientist, weighs in on food safety. For ideas, recipes, resources, and more, visit homecooking.show.

Here's What Else You Knead to Know Today (with W. Kamau Bell and Stella Parks)

Here's What Else You Knead to Know Today (with W. Kamau Bell and Stella Parks)

White flour is in short supply, so what should you do when you want to bake? We’re joined by pastry wizard Stella Parks (@bravetart) to help us answer your questions, and comedian W. Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) tells us about the magic of two-ingredient pancakes – an easy breakfast that his daughters love. Visit homecooking.show for a complete list of foods discussed in the episode, as well as cooking ideas and resources!

Bean There, Done That (with Josh Malina)

Bean There, Done That (with Josh Malina)

Quarantine cooking is no joke—or is it? In our inaugural episode, Hrishi makes one too many puns, Samin answers the eternal bean question (to soak or not to soak), and Josh Malina (@JoshMalina) schools us in the art of the latke. Visit homecooking.show for a complete list of foods discussed in the episode, as well as cooking resources and a downloadable dancing can!

Introducing our new podcast for cooking in the time of quarantine. Send us your questions!