Chef John’s 10 Best Recipes of 2025 | Food Wishes

beef chuck

🥗Healthier: leaner cuts of beef

💰Cheaper: pork shoulder

Pork shoulder is often less expensive and can be just as flavorful.

soy sauce

🥗Healthier: tamari

💰Cheaper: liquid aminos

Tamari is gluten-free, while liquid aminos offer a similar flavor.

brown sugar

🥗Healthier: honey

💰Cheaper: white sugar

Honey provides natural sweetness, while white sugar is often cheaper.

beef broth

🥗Healthier: vegetable broth

💰Cheaper: water with seasoning

Vegetable broth is lighter and can be made at home easily.

Mix together sour cream, mayo, horseradish, and ketchup to make the awesome blossom sauce; taste and adjust as necessary; refrigerate until needed.

Dice one onion by cutting off the top, halving it, peeling off the skin, and slicing it into small pieces; transfer 2 cups of diced onions into a mixing bowl.

Sprinkle 1.5 teaspoons of kosher salt over the onions and let sit for 15 minutes to draw out moisture.

After 15 minutes, rinse the onions thoroughly under cold running water to remove excess salt; let drain for a couple of minutes before transferring to a dry bowl.

Add a pinch of salt, freshly ground black pepper, cayenne, garlic powder, cornmeal, all-purpose flour, and baking powder to the drained onions; stir to combine.

Add milk to the dry ingredients and stir until a thick batter forms; adjust thickness by adding more flour or milk as needed.

Let the batter sit for 5-10 minutes while heating oil in a skillet over medium-high heat until it reaches about 350°F.

Transfer rounded tablespoon portions of the batter into the hot oil; fry for about 3 minutes on one side before flipping with a spatula and fork.

Fry for another 3 minutes or until beautifully browned and crispy; remove from oil onto a paper towel-lined plate.

Serve the awesome blossom bites with the awesome blossom sauce.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level: