Barefoot Contessa: Back to Basics Season 15 Episode 1 Cook Like a Pro: Easy High Low

In the season 15 premiere of Barefoot Contessa: Back to Basics, Ina Garten takes on the challenge to teach viewers how to cook like a pro with her easy high-low recipes. Throughout the episode, Ina shares some of her go-to recipes for both easy weekday meals and extravagant dinner parties that are impressive yet simple to prepare.

To begin, Ina makes her ultimate tomato soup with grilled cheese croutons. She uses canned San Marzano tomatoes to make the soup, which cut down on prep time and add depth of flavor. Ina adds a secret ingredient, honey, to balance out the acidity in the tomatoes. The grilled cheese croutons are made using a homemade garlic butter and shredded gruyere cheese, which is then baked in the oven until golden brown and crispy. This dish is perfect for a cozy night in or casual dinner party.

Next up, Ina shares her recipe for croutons and a basic vinaigrette that can be used in a variety of salads. She starts by cutting up a loaf of sourdough bread into medium-sized cubes and baking them in the oven with olive oil, salt, and pepper until they're golden brown. For the vinaigrette, Ina mixes together dijon mustard, freshly squeezed lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper and slowly adds in olive oil while whisking until the mixture is emulsified. She adds herbs and spices, such as thyme and red pepper flakes, to the vinaigrette to enhance the flavor of the salad.

Ina then moves on to the main course and prepares a simple roasted salmon with green herbs. She rubs the salmon with a mixture of dijon mustard, olive oil, salt, and pepper and seasons it with fresh herbs, such as dill and scallions. She roasts the salmon in the oven until it's cooked to perfection. To accompany the salmon, Ina makes a side of roasted asparagus with parmesan, which is made by tossing asparagus with olive oil, salt, and pepper and roasting them in the oven until they're crispy. She adds freshly grated parmesan cheese and lemon zest to the dish for added flavor.

Finally, Ina demonstrates how to make a simple yet elegant dessert: chocolate ganache cupcakes with chocolate buttercream frosting. She starts by making the chocolate ganache frosting, which is made by combining heavy cream and semisweet chocolate and stirring until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth. For the cupcakes, Ina uses a store-bought cake mix and adds in sour cream and coffee to enhance the flavor. She pipes the chocolate buttercream frosting onto the cupcakes and tops them off with the rich chocolate ganache frosting.

Overall, this episode of Barefoot Contessa: Back to Basics is a great resource for anyone who wants to elevate their cooking skills without spending hours in the kitchen. Ina's easy high-low recipes are perfect for both beginner cooks and those who are short on time but still want to impress their guests with delicious and flavorful meals.