Components to a Recipe

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Writing a recipe for a cookbook is very similar to writing it for a blog but here is an overview of the different components that can go into a recipe. A recipe really only needs either ingredients or directions ( the preparation method) to be considered complete. At a minimum most recipes have a title, ingredients list, and preparation method.

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If you need a more robust look at recipe writing we highly recommend The Recipe Writer’s Handbook. It’s a comprehensive guide to writing recipes including the different components, proper styles, and other important considerations.

Recipe Title

The title of the recipe is the name used to refer to the recipe throughout the text of the book, including the table of contents and the index. The name should usually be simple and declarative, quickly conveying what the recipe is for.

• Some of my latest recipe titles are:
• Spicy Pickled Watermelon Rind
• Spring Pea Soup with Carrot Pearls
• Bacon-Bourbon BBQ Jam
• Honey Goat Cheese Flatbreads with Port-Infused Figs
• Chocolate Mint Rum
• White Russian Pudding
• Mom’s Sweet Potato Casserole Bites

Recipe Yield

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The yield of the recipe lets the reader know how much food the recipe actually makes and is a valuable part of any recipe. This can be expressed several ways:

• As servings (how many it can feed)
• 4 Servings
• 8 Servings as a side
• Makes 4 Servings, 12 as an appetizer
• Feeds 12
• As an Amount
• 4 Cups Chutney
• 2 Gallons Iced Tea

Try to be consistent with the yield throughout the recipes in your book, both in wording and in relative size.

Recipe Headnote

Headnotes are the introductory text at the front of a recipes. Many cookbooks, especially more recently written ones, make extensive use of headnotes. Headnotes are a place to sell the reader on the recipe, provide more information they may need, and paint a picture of what the final dish will be.

Some example headnotes are:

Ingredient List

The ingredient list is one of the most important parts of a recipe. It lays out all the ingredients that a reader will need to recreate the recipe at home. It should contain the amount of the ingredient needed, as well as the name of the ingredient. Normally each ingredient is on a separate line and listed in the order it is used in the recipe.

Preparation Method

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The preparation method is another very important part of your recipes. It explains to the reader, step by step, exactly what they need to do to prepare the dish at home. The amount of detail you go into will depend on your avatars and the complexity of your recipe. It’s almost always better to err on the side of too much information than too little information. You will often have to rely on recipe testing to get feedback about whether your preparation methods are clear or not.

Nutritional Information

If your book is focused around healthy eating, providing the nutritional information can be invaluable for your readers. There are many different ways to provide the nutritional information ranging from a simple statement of “this has no sugar in it” to a more complex gram breakdown of fat, sugar, and carbohydrates.

Timing

It can be very helpful to your readers if you let them know how much time a recipe will take to make. This can take the form of the total time or it can be broken down into the preparation time, cooking time, and total time. It’s also good to call out if a part of the recipe will take a really long period of time, such as marinating over night.

Recipe Variations

Providing variations on your recipe is a great way to help readers think of new ways to customize the recipe. This can take the form of suggestions for substitutions, alternate preparation methods, or different directions the recipe can be taken.

Recipe Notes

Recipe notes are a place where you can share more information with the reader. This can include places to purchase hard-to-find ingredients, storage tips, suggestions for timing, re-heating ideas, alternative ingredients, drink pairings and anything else that doesn’t fit into the other components of the recipe.

Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Recipe