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Lightning recipes
Fast food from the star chef: Christian Henze makes cooking a matter of minutes for everyone
Christian Henze is a professional when it comes to speeding up cooking.
© Christian Henze
If anyone knows how to cook quickly, then star chef Christian Henze. His lightning-fast recipes made him a bestselling author. Now he has refilled – and breaks a lance for fast food.
When bon vivant and billionaire Gunter Sachs came home at night after his scene walks, with a bunch of illustrious guests with growling stomachs in tow, then Christian Henze was in demand. The star chef was responsible for catering to the celebrity for years. And because it usually had to be quick, Henze had to do magic. The fixed answer from the kitchen with just a few ingredients became one of his favorite disciplines, his cookbook full of quick recipes a bestseller. But because fast was not fast enough, the cook has now added more.
Mr. Henze, your new book is the continuation of the bestseller “Feierabend Blitzrezepte”. It now also has the word “Express” in its title. Blitz, Express – how fast is cooking fast enough when it comes to getting people to the stove after a long day at work?
Personally, I work a lot and also cook a lot. But at home, especially during the week, I’m a pretty lazy cook. Then it has to be done quickly. In other words, everything really has to be ready in a few minutes. The first book allowed me to learn a lot, so that the second is a whole world better. My dear mom said: Christian, this is the best book that you have made in a long time. She is a big fan. And mom is important, her opinion is sacred.
Their promise is: the food will be on the table in a maximum of 15 minutes. That sounds almost too good to be true. During this time, my water doesn’t even boil …
Every dish has three to five main ingredients. These are specially selected so that they can be prepared quickly. The 15 minutes are not a fictional number. The dishes are easy to create during this time. We know that because we tried all the recipes twice. And: When cooking quickly, it is important to follow the sequence. That, for example, you turn on the oven first or put the pan on the plate so that it is hot when you need it. You can learn the processes, then you can do it quickly.
To be honest, your book is about fast food. You are a star chef, hand on heart, can quick cuisine be as tasty as it is elaborately cooked?
The subject of fast food, i.e. cooking quickly, belongs to our time, it is not a bad thing at all. But on the contrary. Cooking well has nothing to do with elaborate cooking and nothing to do with many ingredients. Cooking well, that always means: Few ingredients of good quality in a simple, comprehensible preparation. This is even the case in an exclusive kitchen.
So true to the principle: less is more. Which ingredients are a must-have in the pantry for you?
I assumed that the cookers had vinegar, oil, flour, mustard, tomato paste, salt, pepper and sugar in stock. Another mega ingredient is a piece of parmesan. Parmesan is the Mediterranean all-rounder. Noodles dripping wet in a bowl, freshly grated Parmesan cheese on top, a good sip of olive oil, a little salt, mix everything, put it on the table – awesome.
“After-work flash recipes express: a maximum of 15 minutes with only 5 ingredients”, the new cookbook by star chef Christian Henze, has been published by Becker Joest Verlag, 192 pages, 24 euros.
© Becker Joest Verlag
Can you tell us about one of your express dishes?
I spontaneously think of salmon grilled. Ideally, you have a few potatoes left over from the day before, salmon, and herb butter. All three are seared vigorously in a pan. I give you my word: It tastes so good. Besides, only one pan and a wooden spoon were made dirty.
You say something. After cooking is before washing up …
Of course we have considered that. There is little washing up in any of our dishes.