Julia Turshen is the beloved chef and recipe developer behind bestselling cookbooks with Mario Batali, Gwyneth Paltrow, and more. Her food philosophy is both beautiful and empowering: she’s on a mission to make cooking at home approachable, delicious, and enjoyable through “small victories.” For Julia, a few foundational recipes, a well-stocked pantry, and a little creativity are the keys to happy cooking.

Now, just a few weeks before launching her own cookbook this September, she’s joined the Skillshare community to teach a class, The One Dough You Need to Know: Baking with Yeast. Between takes, we asked what she always has on hand in the kitchen.

What are your kitchen pantry must-haves?

There are a few things that are always in my kitchen: coffee, half-and-half for coffee, eggs, hot sauce, mustard, cans of LaCroix sparkling water, lemons, and extra-virgin olive oil. We always have very dark chocolate, mainly for my wife, but I dip into it sometimes, too. Similarly: peanut butter, mainly for our dogs, occasionally me.

What's in your fridge that surprises guests?

Kimchi!

How do you make a dish extra special?

Lemon and salt, always. They both help everything they touch taste more like itself. Think of a tomato . . .

Advice for beginning cooks?

Take a deep breath, and keep it simple. It’s just dinner!

Favorite LaCroix flavor?

Choosing a favorite LaCroix flavor is tough! I'd say a tie between coconut (somewhat of an acquired taste) and my forever favorite, pamplemousse.

Join Julia Turshen’s new class The One Dough You Need to Know: Baking with Yeast and explore her philosophy that the best dishes are small, delicious, and made at home. You'll learn a foundational yeast-dough recipe and how to make Julia's signature raspberry jam buns (shown below), perfect prep before checking out her new cookbook!

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Julia Turshen's Raspberry Jam Buns with Creme Fraiche Frosting. Check out her Skillshare class for the full recipe!
Julia Turshen's Raspberry Jam Buns with Creme Fraiche Frosting. Check out her Skillshare class for the full recipe!
Written By

Alyssa Demirjian

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