Good morning. Early Ethan fans will remember the “restaurant vs lower calorie” series on the main channel. After developing over a dozen of these recipes, we have some general takeaways for making smart substitutions that don’t sacrifice on flavor ⬇️.

Recreating restaurant favorites with less calories

Why does this matter?

Eating healthier often start with making foods you actually want to eat. At home, you can scale ratios, swap ingredients, or use smart ingredient substitutions to drastically reduce calories but maintain the taste & texture you’re looking for. 

• Plus, knowing different ways to make these dishes means you’ll be more likely to cook for yourself at home than just opting for the drive-through yet another time.

EXAMPLES

To make lower calorie version of the following, here’s our go-to substitutions:

Burgers → use 90/10 beef, low-fat American cheese, & make smart bun choices (potato buns are less enriched than brioche)

Cheese sauces → instead of the usual cheese, sub cheddar powder + low-fat evaporated milk

Creamy sauces → sub nonfat Greek yogurt for mayo or sour cream

Pizza → use a higher hydration dough (more water, less flour) & leaner toppings

Fried rice → be thoughtful with oil usage, use less rice and more veggies, and use a leaner protein like shrimp

For more details on each of these and more — biscuits & gravy, chicken bacon ranch subs, butter chicken, etc — check out the YouTube playlist of these videos:

RECIPE RECOMMENDATIONS ✅

Try it for yourself…

If you want to hop straight into some recipes, here are some of our most popular lower-calorie dupe recipes on Cook Well:

FOOD TRENDS 🚀

Clarified cocktails

Why am I seeing clarified cocktails everywhere?

Clarified cocktails have been gaining popularity for their smooth flavor, silky mouthfeel, and surprising visuals.

• Clarified cocktails are made translucent via a process of adding and curdling milk intentionally, whose proteins coagulate and grab onto solid particles, which can then be strained out with a coffee filter.

• Not only does the appearance change, but the dairy in the process imparts a creamy mouthfeel, resulting in a more intriguing drink.

We’re about it. Remember, sight and emotions affect our eating experiences, and there’s something charming about a clear liquid packing surprising flavors.

Smart business move: Using food science is a great way for bartenders and home cooks alike to make a fresh take on classic drinks. In a commercial setting, it’s a great way for restaurants or craft bars to batch-prepare large quantities, making it popular on menus everywhere.

Should you try it? While it’s possible but time-consuming to do in small batches at home, it’s perhaps a better excuse to go out and try a classy spot.

READER Q&A 🧠

Can you put cold water in a hot pan?

Answer: The idea that putting cold water on a hot pan will warp it is often overstated and outdated.

Modern pans are made with thicker, more durable materials designed to resist warping under sudden temperature changes. This improvement in cookware technology means most quality pans, especially stainless steel and cast iron, can handle the shock.

In fact, adding cold water to a hot pan is a fundamental cooking technique called deglazing. It’s used in professional kitchens to loosen flavorful bits (fond) stuck to the pan, forming the base of sauces and gravies. Chefs deglaze with wine, stock, or even cold water directly onto hot pans every day without warping them.

If your pan warps under normal use, it might indicate low-quality construction rather than an inherent problem with the practice.

For best results, invest in well-made cookware and don’t hesitate to deglaze—it’s a skill that elevates your cooking, and actually a technique for cleaning your pans.

• Before tossing the pan in the sink — add some water to the still hot pan to release any stuck bits — the pan will almost clean itself!

Have a culinary question? Reply to send it in for a chance to be featured and get your question answered.

WINNING READER SUBMISSION 🏆

Family feast

This week’s dinner winner is Allison H., who made a special meal for her mom with her brother. They prepared apple braised pork chops with brown buttered Pennsylvania Dutch egg noodles, an apple walnut salad with a homemade apple vinaigrette, plus butternut squash soup. Well done!

Reply with your best home-cooked food photos for a chance to win & be featured!

EXTRA HELPINGS 🍽️

A read: A Guide to Peppers

In a minute or less: Chicken Breast Meal Prep

What we’re watching: Chili with Alison Roman

Food science: Baking Basics

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