Shadowing Practice: Quick & Easy Recipes With Gordon Ramsay - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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Some of the best street food I've ever eaten was in Asia.
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Some of the best street food I've ever eaten was in Asia.
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Every one of those little markets was filled with smells of delicious food that all centered around an Asian staple, noodles.
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Learn to cook those properly and you'll be surprised how quick and easy it is to knock off a delicious dinner.
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First off, we're going to soak our noodles.
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Now these are rice noodles.
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Into a bowl and just pour hot water over the rice noodles.
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soak and rehydrate.
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12 to 15 minutes to soften up.
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If you've got a wok, perfect.
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If not, just a normal sized frying pan with big sloping sides.
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Pan on.
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Get it really nice and hot.
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Chicken breast, very lean, hardly any fat.
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On there you've got this little fillet.
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Just slice that off.
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Now, the secret to getting it really nice and thin and to cut it into strips.
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Take a knife, keep it nice and flat on the board and sort of slice it in half like a sort of scallop.
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Like that.
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We call this butterfly in the chicken.
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Take a rolling pin and nice and gently roll over the chicken.
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What it does is it sort of flattens it and allows you to slice it even thinner.
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And the thinner the slices of the chicken, the sort of crisper it gets, the quicker it cooks.
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Slice it in half.
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Start slicing these nice, thin slices.
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The good news is, one chicken breast can serve two or three easily.
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Next, wash your knife and finely sliced garlic.
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The thinner the garlic, the crispier.
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This is a young, tender broccoli.
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Just slice them down.
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I want a bite to the broccoli.
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And normally you sort of paste the dish with one third noodles, one third vegetables and one third of your protein chicken.
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With a dish that takes literally minutes to put together, it's really important to get everything organised.
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Everything needs to be at your fingertips.
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Touch of olive oil.
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Get that pan really nice and ready.
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Just starting to smoke.
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Drop the chicken in first.
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A bit of salt and pepper.
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Open up those little strands of chicken.
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Nice.
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Once you've started to sear off the chicken, get the garlic in.
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Now, let that get really nice and crispy.
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The way to do it is to sort of spread all the chicken, the garlic, up the side of the pan.
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You see why it's so important to cut the chicken to thin strips, because it colours and cooks at the same time as well.
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Really, really crucial.
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Now that garlic's getting really nice and crispy.
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Broccoli in.
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Feels strange putting raw broccoli in like that.
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Normally, you blanch it in boiling water, dry it out, You want that crunch.
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Now soy sauce.
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That helps to season it but also stains beautifully.
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Soy sauce in.
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Lovely.
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It's exactly what I want.
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Now take that out.
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Give your pan a little wipe out.
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A little teaspoon of olive oil.
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Get that wok.
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Really nicely oiled again.
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Drain your noodles.
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They're beautiful.
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This is a really exciting way of finishing this quick stir-fry.
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Very classic.
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Two eggs in.
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Whisk up the eggs.
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Give that a really good whisk.
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Sort of almost spread it at the side of the pan.
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Lightly season the eggs.
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Noodles in.
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Chicken and broccoli in.
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Give that a really nice mix.
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You want the egg to sort of almost bring the dish together.
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That egg's cooked.
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Make sure you've got that nice, even distribution of chicken, broccoli, garlic.
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Lovely.
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And then just finish that, that fresh lime.
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And there you have a very simple, delicious stir fry with rice noodles.
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Making your gnocchi is so simple to do, yet the results are absolutely stunning.
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And it's a great way of using up leftover baked potatoes.
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You can make gnocchi just with flour and eggs.
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However, the potato gives it a nice, light, sort of creamy, fluffy texture.
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Cut them in half.
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Take your spoon and scoop the inside of those potatoes.
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I'm using leftover baked potatoes, but this really works as well with leftover ball potatoes.
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Two choices.
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You can get a fork and sort of mash the potato and get it nice and light and fluffy.
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Or this little gadget.
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It's called a ricer.
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I suppose it's a posh word for a potato masher.
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Just squeeze gently.
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You can see how nice and light it is, almost like fluffy, little strands of potato.
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You can do this when the potatoes are hot, it'll go through the rice, that's so much quicker.
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Just slice that off there.
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Now a nice spoon of ricotta in.
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Little touch of salt and pepper.
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It's really important to season the mixture as we go along, otherwise the gnocchi becomes really bland.
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Flour over the ricotta, sieved so there's no lumps.
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delicious egg.
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Give that a little whisk.
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Now make a little well in the center.
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You want a nice soft pliable ball of dough.
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Give that a really good mix.
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Get some thyme flours in there.
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And this thyme is light, fragrant, and it's just a really nice herb.
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And with the ricotta, it tastes brilliant.
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Just pick the little tips of the thyme flours.
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Next, flour your hands generously and knead the mixture into a dough.
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Fold in and push.
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And basically what it's doing is get it nice and smooth.
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to get it nice and smooth.
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As it starts to get a little bit wet, then just add a little touch of flour.
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We want something really nice and soft.
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Now don't overwork it.
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It stops the gnocchi from expanding when it hits the pan.
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That's exactly what I want.
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A nice sort of soft, fragrant ball.
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Cut the ball in half, lightly flour the hands and just roll it gently.
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And just think of a big, long cigar.
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The mixture will start getting a little bit sort of wetter, but do not add lots of flour.
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Now, lightly flour the knife, so when you slice the gnocchi, it doesn't stick.
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Cut the dough into bite-sized pieces.
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Just take your finger, dip it in the flour, and push down.
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Why?
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I want my gnocchi to look like a pillow.
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And for me, the most important part there is that not one of them are identically the same shape.
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Water on.
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Bring it up to the boil.
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Little touch of olive oil in there.
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Lightly flour your hand.
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Lift up the gnocchi.
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In to the rolling boiling water.
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Turn that pan to stop them from sticking at the bottom.
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And let them simmer.
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And they start to sort of tell you they're cooked when they start floating.
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Get a pan on.
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Get that nice and hot.
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Now they're just starting to come up to the top.
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And you can continue cooking them like that.
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I like blanching them in the water, taking them out, and then frying them.
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To saute the gnocchi, heat olive oil in a frying pan.
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Gently lift up and look, they've doubled in size.
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Drain it, get rid of the excess water, and straight in to the hot pan.
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This is where they start to take on a completely different texture.
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A nice crisp, sauteed texture on the outside.
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Gnocchi loves fresh pepper.
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So, pepper in.
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And you'll see, as I start turning them, got this really nice little sort of brown colour.
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And they're almost puffing up now like little parcels.
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So I want them nice and sautéed, both sides.
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But light and creamy in the centre.
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Fresh garden peas in.
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And the butter gives it that really nice sort of beignoisette flavour on the end.
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Beautiful.
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Put a little bit of fresh thyme over the peas.
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And then finally, I want to lift it up.
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Fresh lemon.
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Zest the lemon over.
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Smells incredible.
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And then finally, seal the deal with a touch of grated palms and cheese.
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Give your veg some attitude, and you'll get amazingly elegant dishes on a budget that are always guaranteed to impress.
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What more do you want from Great Cooking?
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Cheap to make, easy to cook, and absolutely stunning.
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For me, food always has to be impressive.
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But when it comes to dessert, often you see spun sugar or wild decorations.
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Remember, simple is always the most impressive.
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This cheesecake is so straightforward, yet so delicious.
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Now, cream cheese.
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Leave it out of the fridge for five or ten minutes.
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Go nice and soft.
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Trust me, your arms will be thanking you.
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Sugar in.
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This cheesecake is New York cheesecake because it's baked.
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So there's no base.
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Start creaming the cheese and the sugar.
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Spending the amount of time I do in the States, if there's one thing they know how to do out there, it's the most amazing, impressive cheesecake.
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Rich, delicious, but so simple.
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Work the bowl.
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Lift the bowl to your advantage.
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Really whisk.
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Whisk, whisk, whisk.
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Lovely.
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Nice and creamy.
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Now, get your eggs.
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Add the eggs to the mixture bit by bit.
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Doing it this way, it's more efficient.
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A, you're incorporating a lot of air.
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B, the mixture doesn't separate.
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Blaster your egg.
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Lovely.
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Of course you can use an electric mixer, but why go to the gym where you can just make a cheesecake a day?
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A cheesecake a day?
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Keep the bingo wings away.
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Now, couple of tablespoons of flour.
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Give it a whisk.
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Stop something going lumpy.
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Now, I want to scent that cheesecake.
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I've got the freshness, the zest of the lemon in there.
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I want to sort of tart it up even more.
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Fold in some fresh raspberries.
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Sort of just mix them through.
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Be careful not to crush them.
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Then grease the cake tin with butter.
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This will ensure your cheesecake slides out beautifully.
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Get your mix.
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Let that fall in.
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Now take your cake tin and just tap it.
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The mixture hits the bottom of the cake tin, the raspberries rise and you've got raspberries at the top, the middle and the bottom.
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It also stops all those little pockets of air trapping underneath the mixture in the cake tin, so there's no holes in the cheesecake.
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Now into the oven 180 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes.
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Mmm, slightly soufflé'd up.
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Pull off.
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That's the colour I wanted on top.
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And look at it.
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It's one of the simplest, yet the most stylish cheesecakes anywhere.
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Beautiful.
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I'll see you next time.
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About This Lesson: Master Culinary English with Gordon Ramsay

Dive into the vibrant world of cooking with the legendary Gordon Ramsay in this engaging video lesson. You'll follow along as he demonstrates how to create a delicious stir-fry with rice noodles and chicken, followed by his take on homemade ricotta gnudi (noki). This isn't just about recipes; it's a fantastic opportunity for English speaking practice, especially for learners interested in culinary arts or everyday conversational English.

As you watch, you'll naturally absorb a wealth of kitchen-specific vocabulary, learn action verbs crucial for cooking, and pick up descriptive adjectives to talk about food and its preparation. The instructional nature of the video is perfect for practicing imperatives ("slice that off," "pour the hot water") and sequence words ("first off," "next"). You'll also encounter practical grammar patterns used for giving directions and explaining processes. This lesson is ideal for anyone looking to boost their English fluency by practicing how to give clear instructions, describe dishes, and discuss cooking techniques in a natural, energetic way.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases from the Transcript

  • Knock up a delicious dinner: (informal) To prepare a tasty meal quickly and easily. "You'll be surprised how quick and easy it is to knock up a delicious dinner."
  • Butterfly the chicken: A cooking technique where you slice a piece of meat horizontally almost all the way through, then open it up so it lies flat. "We call this butterfly in the chicken."
  • At your fingertips: Readily available and easy to access or use. "Everything needs to be at your fingertips."
  • Sear off the chicken: To cook the surface of meat quickly at a high temperature to produce a flavorful brown crust. "Once you've started to sear off the chicken get the garlic in."
  • Give that a really good whisk: To beat or stir a liquid mixture vigorously with a whisk. "Whisk up the eggs and give that a really good whisk."
  • Nice soft pliable ball of dough: Describes dough that is flexible and easily molded without cracking. "You want a nice soft pliable ball of dough."
  • A touch of olive oil: A small amount of olive oil. "Touch of olive oil, get a pan really nice and ready."
  • Sloping sides: Refers to the angled, non-vertical edges of a pan, often found in woks or frying pans. "Normal size frying pan with big sloping sides."

Practice Tips for This Video

To maximize your learning from this video, we highly recommend using the shadowing technique. Gordon Ramsay's distinct speaking style offers unique opportunities for effective pronunciation practice and improving your English fluency:

  • Mimic Ramsay's Speed & Energy: Gordon Ramsay speaks quite quickly and with a lot of energy, especially when giving instructions. Try to match his pace and enthusiasm. This will push your speaking muscles and help you develop a more natural, dynamic speaking rhythm.
  • Focus on British Accent Features: Pay close attention to Ramsay's British accent. Listen for specific vowel sounds, consonant pronunciations, and intonation patterns that are characteristic of British English. This is excellent for fine-tuning your accent and achieving clearer pronunciation.
  • Practice Intonation and Stress: Ramsay often emphasizes certain words for impact ("really really crucial," "lovely"). Try to replicate his stress and intonation patterns. This will not only improve your pronunciation but also help you convey emotion and meaning more effectively in your speech.
  • Vocabulary Application: After shadowing a section, pause and try to explain the cooking steps in your own words using the new vocabulary and phrases you've learned. This active recall helps solidify your understanding and application of new terms.
  • IELTS Speaking Relevance: This video is a fantastic resource for IELTS speaking preparation. Practice describing processes (how to make a stir-fry), giving instructions, and discussing food-related topics. These are common themes in IELTS Parts 2 and 3, and mimicking Ramsay's descriptive language can significantly enhance your performance.

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

How to Practice Effectively on ShadowingEnglish

  1. Choose your video: Pick a YouTube video with clear, natural English speech. TED Talks, BBC News, movie scenes, podcasts, or IELTS sample answers all work great. Paste the URL into the search bar. Start with shorter videos (under 5 minutes) and content you find genuinely interesting — motivation matters.
  2. Listen first, understand the context: On your first pass, keep the speed at 1x and just listen. Don't try to repeat yet. Focus on understanding the meaning, picking up new vocabulary, and noticing how the speaker stresses words, links sounds, and uses pauses.
  3. Set up Shadowing mode:
    • Wait Mode: Choose +3s or +5s — after each sentence plays, the video pauses automatically so you have time to repeat it out loud. Choose Manual if you want full control and press Next yourself after each repetition.
    • Sub Sync: YouTube subtitles sometimes appear slightly ahead or behind the audio. Use ±100ms to align them perfectly so you can follow along accurately.
  4. Shadow out loud (the core practice): This is where the real work happens. As soon as a sentence plays — or during the pause — repeat it out loud, clearly and confidently. Don't just mouth the words: mirror the speaker's exact rhythm, stress, pitch, and connected speech. Aim to sound like a shadow of the speaker, not just a word-by-word recitation. Use the Repeat feature to drill the same sentence multiple times until it feels natural.
  5. Scale up the challenge: Once a passage feels comfortable, push your limits. Increase speed to <code>1.25x</code> or even <code>1.5x</code> to train high-speed language reflexes. Or set Wait Mode to <code>Off</code> for continuous shadowing — the most advanced and rewarding mode. Consistent daily practice of 15–30 minutes will produce noticeable results within weeks.

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