Cooking in Captivity

Sourdon't 2.0: A Recipe!

A sourdough recipe can only get you so far. If cooking is an art and baking is a science, bread-making is straight up alchemy. Turning flour, water, and salt into edible gold requires a hefty dose of magic—but this is half the fun.

Jessica KwongNovember 1, 2022Comment

When they go low, we go pie.

Pie is tricky. But after a lifetime of experimentation, I’ve discovered a lot of helpful tricks that I’m excited to share them with you! Join me for an online masterclass where you’ll learn how to make the perfect apple pie—and help support food sovereignty for indigenous peoples!

Jessica KwongSeptember 24, 2021cooking in captivity, recipe, Indian Food, chickenComment

Chicken Biryani with Onion Raita

Biryani is a regal dish that comes in many regional varieties, all with rich flavors, colors, and textures layered one on top of another—chicken, basmati rice, fresh herbs, saffron milk, and ghee. If your recipe calls for a hundred different spices, you’re doing it right!

Jessica KwongMay 5, 2021cooking in captivity, recipe, Indian Food, chicken Comments

Pizza with Clam and Ramps

Most of us have one person, one experience, one news story that finally nudged us over the line from denial to realism on COVID-19. My person was Lu, who lives in southern Italy. This is her wonderful pizza recipe.

Jessica KwongMay 13, 2020cooking in captivity, pizza, friendsComment

Turmeric Chicken Curry

Making this intense, flavorful curry brought back fond memories of watching my beloved grandma cook, her slippered feet shuffling around the kitchen as if in dance.

Jessica KwongMay 1, 2020cooking in captivity, captive cook, curry Comment

Bolognese with Sourdough Pasta

Traditional bolognese (the way nonna would make it) is a rich, silky meat sauce. It shouldn’t be drowning in tomatoes or tarted up with basil, a five-meat medley, or, lord help us, fish sauce. The key ingredient is time.

Jessica KwongApril 28, 2020cooking in captivity, cooking, pasta, italianComment

Sourdon't.

I’m a millennial in quarantine—of course I made sourdough. And I’m here to tell you, don’t do it. Do anything else. Crochet. Journal. Talk to your plants. Anything but this. Unless, of course, you’re a type-A masochist with a lot of time on your hands…

Jessica KwongApril 23, 2020sourdough, cooking in captivity, breadComment

Best Granola Ever

Inspired by the granola you get after a meal at Eleven Madison Park, so you know she fancy.

Jessica KwongApril 16, 2020cooking in captivity, granola, breakfast, snackComment

Sourdough Banana Pancakes

If you, like me, have inexplicably bumbled your way into baking bread and don’t know what to do with your excess sourdough starter, make these!

Jessica KwongApril 13, 2020 Comment

Really Good Friday Minestrone

Pandemic or not, when you’re exhausted after a long week and need something quick and filling, look no further than this incredibly easy minestrone.

Jessica KwongApril 10, 2020cooking in captivity, soup, minestrone Comments

Chicken Pot Pie

I needed this pie to be comforting AF, and guess what? It was.

Jessica KwongApril 8, 2020chicken pot pie, cooking in captivity, anxiety, pieComment

Laksa Lemak

I’ve always been pretty intimidated by Asian cooking. Nevertheless, captivity has emboldened (or addled) me, and this weekend I made one of my favorite things: Laksa Lemak, or Singaporean curry soup noodles.

Jessica KwongApril 6, 2020cooking in captivity, laksa, asian, cookingComment