The Most Difficult Dish to Cook, Ranked

Voting rules: Choose the dish you think is the most difficult!

Updated on Apr 28, 2024 06:24

Many of us have faced the challenge of attempting a complex recipe, only to end up with a messy kitchen and a dish that didn't quite meet our expectations. This experience often leaves us wondering where things went wrong. By ranking the most challenging recipes, we can provide insights and prepare others for what lies ahead when they decide to tackle these culinary giants. Each dish on this list has been tried and tested by brave culinary adventurers who cast their votes based on difficulty level, intricacy of techniques, and the often intricate ingredients required. Your votes help to shape this list, highlighting which recipes truly test the limits of home cooks and professional chefs alike. It’s more than just a ranking; it's a resource for any cook aiming to push their boundaries in the kitchen.

What Is the Most Difficult Dish to Cook?

1

62
votes
Soufflé

A soufflé is a notoriously difficult dish to prepare as it requires perfect timing and precise technique to achieve the desired light and airy texture.
A soufflé is a delicate and elegant dessert that originated in France. It is made by combining a light and airy base, typically with a flavored ingredient like chocolate, fruit, or cheese, and then folding in beaten egg whites to create a fluffy texture. The soufflé is known for its impressive rise and delicate nature, demanding precision and skill to successfully execute.

Preparation time: Around 30 minutes

Baking time: Around 15-20 minutes

Number of ingredients: Varies depending on the flavor, but typically around 5-7

Key ingredients: Eggs, sugar, butter, flavoring ingredient (e.g., chocolate, fruit, cheese)

Level of difficulty: High
2

25
votes
Parkerman & Christie from San Diego, USA · CC BY 2.0

Beef Wellington

Beef Wellington is a classic French dish that is notoriously difficult due to the need for perfectly cooked beef, a perfectly crisp pastry crust, and a perfectly balanced filling.
Beef Wellington is a classic British culinary masterpiece made with tender fillet steak, coated with a layer of savory mushroom duxelles, encased in a crisp puff pastry shell, and baked until golden and succulent. This dish offers a perfect combination of flavors and textures, with the flaky pastry providing a delightful crunch against the tender beef and rich mushroom filling.

Ingredients: Beef fillet, mushrooms, puff pastry, prosciutto, Dijon mustard, egg wash

Preparation Time: Approximately 1 hour

Cooking Time: Approximately 40 minutes

Serving Temperature: Hot/warm

Serves: 4-6 people
Beef Wellington in other rankings
- Position 1 of 10 in Most difficult meat to cook
- Position 3 of 10 in Most difficult protein to cook
- Position 5 of 10 in Most delicious recipe ever
- Position 6 of 10 in Most popular British dish
- Position 7 of 10 in Most popular Christmas dinner in America
- Position 8 of 10 in Most popular roast dinner
3

20
votes
stef yau · CC BY 2.0

Baked Alaska

Charles Ranhofer

A baked Alaska is a dessert that involves layering ice cream, cake, and meringue, then baking it quickly in a hot oven. This dish is difficult to prepare because it requires perfect timing and technique to ensure that the ice cream doesn't melt and the meringue doesn't burn.
Baked Alaska is a unique and challenging dessert that combines ice cream, cake, and meringue. It consists of a base layer of sponge or pound cake topped with a layer of ice cream, which is then covered with a dome-shaped meringue. The entire dessert is quickly baked in a very hot oven, just long enough to brown the meringue while keeping the ice cream interior frozen.

Difficulty level: Very challenging

Temperature: Baked at a high temperature, around 500 degrees Fahrenheit (260 degrees Celsius)

Time constraints: Needs to be baked quickly to avoid melting the ice cream

Meringue texture: The meringue should have a crispy exterior and a soft, marshmallow-like interior

Flavor combinations: Customizable with various cake and ice cream flavors
Baked Alaska in other rankings
- Position 2 of 10 in Most difficult cake to bake
- Position 2 of 10 in Most difficult dessert to make
- Position 9 of 10 in Most difficult thing to bake
4

15
votes
Vitquaytothi · CC BY-SA 4.0

Peking Duck

Peking Duck is a traditional Chinese dish that requires the duck to be cooked in a specific way to achieve the desired crispy skin and tender meat. This dish is difficult to prepare because it requires a lot of preparation and skill to get it just right.
Peking Duck is a famous Chinese dish that is known for its succulent and crispy roasted duck. The dish originated in Beijing, China, and is renowned for its rich flavors and unique cooking process.

Cooking method: Peking Duck is traditionally roasted using an open fire or a closed oven.

Preparation: The duck is marinated with a combination of spices and then air-dried to achieve its signature crispy skin.

Serving style: Peking Duck is typically served with thin pancakes, spring onions, cucumber, and hoisin sauce.

Carving technique: The duck is usually carved tableside by a skilled chef, ensuring each slice contains both crispy skin and tender meat.

Flavor profile: Peking Duck offers a perfect balance of savory and sweet flavors, with the crispy skin providing a delightful crunch.
Peking Duck in other rankings
- Position 1 of 10 in Most popular duck dish
- Position 1 of 10 in Most delicious bird
- Position 1 of 10 in Most delicious Chinese food
5

11
votes
Sushi

Sushi is a Japanese dish that is difficult to prepare because it requires a lot of skill and technique to prepare the rice, cut the fish, and roll the sushi properly.
Sushi is a traditional Japanese dish that consists of vinegared rice combined with various fillings, usually raw or cooked seafood, vegetables, and sometimes tropical fruits. The rice is often wrapped in seaweed (nori) and comes in different shapes and sizes, such as rolls (maki), hand-pressed bites (nigiri), or small clumps (temari). Sushi emphasizes simplicity, freshness, and balance of flavors, making it not just visually appealing but also a delight for the taste buds. The combination of colors, textures, and presentation contributes to its overall beauty.

Ingredients: Typically includes raw or cooked seafood, vegetables, tropical fruits, and vinegared rice.

Vinegared Rice: The rice used in sushi is seasoned with rice vinegar, sugar, and salt, giving it a distinct tangy and slightly sweet flavor.

Nori: Seaweed sheets that are commonly used to wrap sushi rolls, adding a savory taste and a contrasting texture.

Maki: Sushi rolls wrapped with nori, filled with ingredients, and sliced into bite-sized pieces.

Nigiri: Hand-pressed sushi with a small mound of rice topped with sliced raw or cooked seafood.
6

7
votes
stevendepolo · CC BY 2.0

Coq au Vin

Julia Child

Coq au Vin is a classic French dish that is difficult to prepare because it requires a lot of preparation and cooking time to achieve the desired flavor and texture.
Coq au Vin is a classic French dish that is considered one of the most delicious chicken dishes in the world. It is a slow-cooked chicken stew where chicken pieces are braised in red wine, typically Burgundy, along with bacon, mushrooms, onions, and various herbs and spices. The dish has a rich and robust flavor with tender chicken and a thick, flavorful sauce. Coq au Vin is often served with crusty bread or buttery mashed potatoes.

Main Ingredients: Chicken, red wine, bacon, mushrooms, onions

Origin: France

Cooking Time: Around 2-3 hours

Serving Temperature: Hot

Flavor Profile: Rich, savory, and earthy
Coq au Vin in other rankings
- Position 2 of 10 in Most delicious chicken in the world
7

9
votes
Croquembouche

Croquembouche is a French dessert that is difficult to prepare because it involves creating a tower of cream-filled pastry puffs and then coating them in caramel. This dish requires a lot of skill and technique to get it just right.
Croquembouche is a French dessert that consists of a towering cone-shaped arrangement of small choux pastry puffs filled with various creams and held together with caramel. It is often adorned with spun sugar, chocolate, or other decorative elements.

Origin: France

Year of Creation: 19th century

Main Ingredients: Choux pastry, pastry cream, caramel

Shape: Cone

Height: Varies, typically around 40-60 cm (16-24 inches)
8

3
votes
Arnaud 25 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Beef Bourguignon

Beef Bourguignon is a classic French dish that is difficult to prepare because it requires a lot of preparation and cooking time to achieve the desired flavor and texture.
Beef Bourguignon is a traditional French dish that originated in the Burgundy region. It is a slow-cooked stew made with beef, red wine, onions, carrots, mushrooms, and bacon. The dish has a rich, hearty flavor and is typically served with crusty bread or over buttered noodles. The long cooking time allows the flavors to meld together and the meat to become tender, resulting in a delicious and comforting dish.

Popular variations: Using different meats like lamb or chicken

Wine pairing: Red Burgundy wine

Main ingredients: Beef, red wine, onions, carrots, mushrooms, bacon

Cooking time: 3-4 hours

Preparation time: 30 minutes
9

6
votes
Paella

Paella is a Spanish dish that is difficult to prepare because it requires a lot of skill and technique to cook the rice properly and to balance the flavors of the other ingredients.
Paella is a traditional Spanish rice dish that originated in the Valencia region. It is renowned for its vibrant colors, rich flavors, and enticing aroma. Paella is traditionally cooked in a shallow, wide pan known as a paellera, which allows for even heat distribution and the formation of a delicious crust at the bottom of the rice. The dish typically consists of short-grain rice cooked with a variety of ingredients, such as saffron, chicken, rabbit, seafood (including shrimp, clams, and mussels), and vegetables (such as bell peppers, tomatoes, and green beans). It is seasoned with spices like paprika and often garnished with lemon wedges. Paella is enjoyed as a communal dish, bringing people together to savor the flavors of Spain.

Origin: Spain

Type of rice: short-grain rice

Cooking vessel: a wide, shallow pan called a paellera

Key ingredients: saffron, chicken, rabbit, seafood (shrimp, clams, mussels), vegetables (bell peppers, tomatoes, green beans)

Seasonings: spices like paprika
10

9
votes
Macarons

Macarons are a French dessert that is difficult to prepare because it requires a lot of skill and technique to get the delicate meringue shells and filling just right.
Macarons are delicate French sandwich cookies that consist of two almond meringue shells filled with various flavored fillings. These cookies are known for their smooth, crisp exterior, and chewy, slightly creamy center. Macarons come in a multitude of flavors and colors, making them not only delicious but also visually appealing.

Shell Texture: Smooth and crisp

Center Texture: Chewy and slightly creamy

Flavors: Varies (e.g., chocolate, raspberry, pistachio, salted caramel, lavender, etc.)

Color Varieties: Extensive range of vibrant colors

Size: Approximately 1.5 to 3 inches in diameter

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Ranking factors for difficult dish

Number of ingredients

A dish with a long list of ingredients will likely be more complex and challenging to prepare.
Preparation time

The amount of time it takes to prepare the dish, including any marinating, resting, or chilling requirements.
Cooking techniques

The complexity and number of cooking techniques involved, such as frying, baking, or grilling, and whether they require advanced skills or specialized equipment.
Steps in the recipe

If a recipe has a large number of steps or if the steps are intricate, it may be more difficult to cook.
Precision and attention to detail

Some recipes require precise measurements, timing, temperatures, or attention to detail when preparing or assembling the dish, which can increase the level of difficulty.
Special equipment or tools

If a recipe requires specialized equipment or tools, such as a sous vide machine, pressure cooker, or high-quality knives, it can be more challenging to prepare.
Adaptability and room for error

Some dishes require very specific ingredients, techniques, or conditions to be successful, while others are more forgiving and adaptable to changes or mistakes.
Experience level

The cook's experience level with the techniques and ingredients involved in the dish can affect the perceived difficulty level.
Cultural or regional familiarity

Some dishes may involve unfamiliar ingredients or techniques for certain individuals, making them more challenging to prepare.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most difficult dish to cook. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or Dish is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

1467 views
168 votes
10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each Dish once every 24 hours. The rank of each Dish is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

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More information on most difficult dish to cook

Cooking is a form of art that requires a combination of skills, creativity, and patience. While some dishes may seem easy to prepare, others can be quite challenging, even for experienced cooks. So, what is the most difficult dish to cook? The answer may vary depending on who you ask, but there are certain dishes that are universally known for their level of complexity. From intricate techniques to hard-to-find ingredients, these dishes are not for the faint of heart. In this article, we will explore some of the most difficult dishes to cook and the reasons why they are so challenging. So, grab your apron and let's get cooking!