Blackening (cooking) Blackening (cooking) Blackening is a cooking technique used in the preparation of fish and other foods. Often associated with Cajun cuisine, this technique was popularized by chef Paul Prudhomme. The food is dipped in melted butter and then dredged in a mixture of herbs and spices, usually some combination of thyme, oregano, chili pepper, peppercorns, salt, garlic powder and onion powder. It is then cooked in a very hot cast-iron skillet. The characteristic brown-black color of the crust results from a combination of browned milk solids from the butter and charred spices. While the original recipe calls for redfish, the
Cooking apple Cooking apple A cooking apple is an apple that is used primarily for cooking, as opposed to a dessert apple, which is eaten raw. Cooking apples are generally larger, and can be tarter than dessert varieties. Some varieties have a firm flesh that does not break down much when cooked. Cooking apples are also known as culinary apples. Culinary varieties with a high acid content become a froth when cooked, which is desirable for some recipes. In Britain a large range of apples are grown specifically for cooking. Worldwide, dual-purpose varieties (those used for both cooking and eating raw) are